APRIL 2006                                           Vol. 2 Issue 4 In this Issue... MT-SHRM Receives 2005 Merit Award Six Sigma and Human Resources? Leadership Development Program Class of '06 Wine and Cheese Mixer Draws Big Crowd Employer Benefit Council Slated for April Spotlight on the Board New Feature!  Members in the News THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR         Do employees have a clue what benefits cost? We are a local company that has been recognized as a Future 50 company the last three years in a row. We produce benefit statements for employers from 50 to 100,000+ employees.   Contact Tom Smith, President, at (615) 377-4777   MT-SHRM Receives 2005 Merit Award Rita Baumgartner President   Dear ,   I am very pleased to tell you that I have received a letter from Dorothy Hill, Southeast Region Director for SHRM, announcing that our Chapter has once again received SHRM's Superior Merit Chapter Award for our scope of work during 2005.    The annual Merit Award program recognizes chapters for outstanding activities and programs in four broad areas: Chapter support to the professional development of members Chapter support of SHRM Chapter support of the profession Professional operation of the chapter Many thanks to Denis Blackwelder, past president, and to all our Chapter's leaders and volunteers during 2005 who made this award possible.  We can all be very proud of our Chapter's achievements!   Back to Top >>>   Six Sigma and Human Resources? Gayla Zoz Vice Chair, Public Relations   Can Sigma techniques be used to drive improvement in human resources functions?  The answer is yes, according to Bradley W. Zylstra, CMA, Director of Business Process Improvement for Volt Information Sciences.  Zylstra will present a special luncheon/workshop program at the April MT-SHRM meeting on Thursday, April 13, 2006 at the Regal Maxwell House Hotel, 2025 Metro Center Boulevard in Nashville.    During the luncheon from 11:30 am to 1 pm, Zylstra will present "Using Six Sigma to Drive Improvement." During the afternoon workshop from 1 pm to 3 pm, he will feature two case studies that demonstrate how Six Sigma was used to improve employee retention and to develop recruiting strategies.   In his role as Director of Business Process Improvement for Volt Information Sciences, Zylstra is responsible for the firm's Six Sigma program.  He has more than 20 years of experience in managerial accounting and has worked in the entertainment, broadcasting, professional services and staffing industries.  Zylstra has a B.S. in Accounting cum laude from Brigham Young University.  He is also a Certified Management Accountant and Six Sigma Master Black Belt.   Registration deadline is Monday, April 10, 2006.  Cost for lunch only is $25; cost for workshop only is $50; cost for both is $65.  Registration fees are payable by credit card on Cvent or by check (no cash accepted) at the door on the day of the meeting.    Back to Top >>>   Leadership Development Program Class of ‘06 Corrine Thomas Dennison SPHR, Professional Development Committee   We are half way through our 2006 Leadership Development Program.  This is the third LDP program for our Chapter, and this years' class has 16 human resources professionals attending.    The program is offered by the Professional Development Committee each spring and is open to all MT-SHRM members.   Many thanks to our facilitators who have donated their time to the leadership program.  Facilitators include Bob McKown, Dayle Savage, Marty Nord, Judy King, Mark Cappellino, Elizabeth Crook, Gary Minor, Betty Johnson and Sherry Tarbutton.    To date, class members have learned about themselves as leaders using a personality assessment tool, analyzed their ability to create vision in their organizations, learned about communication and influencing others and experienced some true teambuilding work.   Click here for more information about the Leadership Development Program.   Back to Top >>>   Wine and Cheese Mixer Draws Big Crowd  Art Smith SPHR, CCP, Communications Chair   If you're among the more than 70 MT-SHRM members who attended the HR Career Transition Group's wine and cheese mixer hosted by DBM, you know what a great event it was.  Not only was it a great opportunity to sample some fabulous international wines and cheeses, it was a great time to meet and network with members of the group who are in transition.   The HR Career Transition Group consists of individuals with all levels of HR experience and expertise that are in the process of looking for their next professional opportunity. The goal of the group is to help HR professionals in job transition, new graduates, or those seeking advancement in the HR field. The purpose of the group is to facilitate networking, share job opportunities, discuss current job market trends, learn interviewing skills, assist with resume development and self-marketing techniques.  Guest speakers who are leaders in their field often speak to the group.   The group meets every Monday at the office of Lee Hecht Harrison in Brentwood from 7:30 am - 9:00 am unless the calendar of events gives an alternate date/time.  For more information, contact Barbara Stewart or click here to read more.   Back to Top >>>   Employer Benefit Panel Slated for April Bob Cleland CFE   The Middle Tennessee Healthcare Executives Association (MTHEA) is holding an Employer Benefit Panel on Thursday, April 20, 2006 from 11:30 am to 1 pm at Baptist Hospital, 2200 Church Street, Nashville, Tenn. in the Gladys Stringfield Owen Education Center Auditorium, to discuss current issues that some of the largest employers in Middle Tennessee are experiencing, and to discuss what they view as the future of their respective benefit packages.    Three major topics that impact all employers will be discussed: 1) Compliance with recent amendments to the overtime provisions of the Fair Labor Standards Act; 2) Potential joint employer implications of using locum tenens and other contract employees; and 3) Challenges employers are experiencing in hiring new employees.   The moderator will be Stan Graham a partner in Waller Lansden Dortch & Davis, LLC labor and employment group.  Scheduled panelists include Sabrena Ruderer, HCA's Vice President of Employee Benefits, Larry Kirk, Bridgestone-Firestone's Division Manager for Human Resources, Jean R. Delbridge, Cardinal Health's Human Resource Manager and Marlin Chapman, Nissan-North America's Vice President of Employee Benefits.  This event is being sponsored by Mutual of America.   The cost for this event is $25 for MTHEA members and $30 for non-members. Click here to make a reservation.   Questions pertaining to this event may be directed to Bob Cleland at 615-726-7969.  On the day of the event Bob can be reached at 615-430-2484.    Back to Top >>>   Spotlight on the Board - Kellie Conn, SPHR, President-Elect   The President-Elect, at the request of the President, or in her absence or disability, may perform any of the duties of the President.  Responsibilities include serving in a leadership capacity with the State HR Conference when scheduled in Nashville, applying on behalf of the Chapter for the Superior Merit Award and coordinating Chapter volunteers in committees that support the goals of the organization.   "As President-Elect, my goal is to increase volunteer opportunities for our membership while providing programs that help to advance the HR profession," says Kellie.   Kellie has a long history of leadership and volunteer roles in our Chapter.  In 2005, she served as the Member Relations Chair, in 2004 she was Vice Chair of Professional Development, and in 2000 Kellie founded the HR Leadership Group.  She is also a member of the Nashville Area Employers' Council and the Middle Tennessee HR Executive Forum.  In 2004 Kellie was honored with the Human Resource Management Excellence Award for the state of Tennessee.   Kellie has been the HR Manager for Wood Personnel Services since 1997 where she supports 40 internal and 1100 contract and temporary employees.  She also works with private and not-for-profit organizations focusing on employment law and hiring practices, and has been a guest lecturer for the Middle Tennessee State University School of Business on HR topics.  In 2003, Kellie was presented at the American Staffing Association's national conference as part of their Ask an Expert program.   Kellie holds a Master of Science Degree in Industrial/Organizational Psychology and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).   Kellie Conn can be reached at 615-399-6518.   Back to Top >>>   Members in the News   Lisa Barrett, Operations and Compliance Counsel with Universal Health Services has attained the SPHR certification.  Congrats, Lisa!   Back to Top >>>

THIS MONTH'S SPONSOR Committee Links >>> Find out what's going on... Professional Development  Legislative Communications Diversity Community Involvement New HR Career Tranistion Membership Finance Workforce Planning MT-SHRM South Member Relations Check out the Wine & Cheese Mixer...   Quick Links >>>   About MT-SHRM General Information Board Members Career Connections About Career Connections Submit/Remove HR Jobs HR Job Listings Membership Information Join MT-SHRM Now Join National SHRM Guidelines for Membership Eligibility MT-SHRM By-laws Events Upcoming Events Calendar Events Photo Gallery  News & Resources Professional Development Advertising Opportunities Other HR Web Sites Legislative Issues Newsletter Archive   Looking for an HR Professional? Quick!  Post a job on  Career Connections and get the right person, right now!     MT-SHRM 2006-2007 Board of Directors   Rita Baumgartner - President   Denis Blackwelder - Past President   Kellie Conn  - President-Elect   Tracy Anthony - Workforce Planning Chair   John Gilbert - Member Relations Chair   Lynn Hutson - Programs Chair   Danny Nelms - Membership Chair   Tish Meshew - Finance Chair   Kevie Mikus - MT-SHRM South Chair   Jimmy Patterson - Legal Advisor   Mark Peters - Legislative Chair   Art Smith - Communications Chair     MT-SHRM Communications Committee   Art Smith - Communications Chair   Kathy Story - Vice Chair, Newsletter   Patty Bouchillon -Vice Chair, Web Site   Dan Aronoff - Co-Vice Chair Marketing   Gary Bynum - Co-Vice Chair Marketing         Contacts   Please forward comments, suggestions and/or questions to communications@mtshrm.org   To change your subscriber information, contact Anne Powers   For Connections Newsletter sponsorship, contact Dan Aronoff      Connections Newsletter   is published monthly by Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management © 2006 Past Issues