Editors note: We've changed the dates for the professional photos. Stacey will be joining us in March and June.  Bring your smiling faces and get a professional photo to make your LinkedIn profile shine even more.

 

BSHRM is happy to welcome back Stacy Higgings to our February 8th (Rosewood Hall) and March 14th (Winfrey) and June meetings. Stacey will be joining us again to offer her services as professional photographer before, during, and after the luncheons. 

For those that are interested, the cost is $25 per person which gets you three photos delivered electronically approximately 2-3 weeks following the luncheon. 

Stacey Higgens bio:

My philosophy has always been to follow the road less travelled. The scenery is better, the people more interesting, and every turn of the road brings something exciting or terrifying or wonderful.  I have been blessed by the people and places I have encountered, and it is this that made me want to help others preserve their memories. I know I have succeeded when someone can feel the emotion captured in a single photograph. My photography style is very relaxed, and in-the-moment.  Whether you are young, or just young at heart there is poetry within you, waiting to be written.

Besides photography, my great loves are my beautiful family, my ancient cat Zen, and the New Orleans Saints. I put hot sauce on everything, cannot function without my chicory coffee, and firmly believe that listening to the blues will cure what ails ya.

My services include child and family photography, corporate headshots, events, and fine art.  Please visit my portfolio at www.redrabbitstudiosllc.com, or connect on Facebook at www.facebook.com/sbphotographybystacey .

in 2011, SBPhotography was incorporated as Red Rabbit Studios, LLC. All images, art, and style are the original ideas of Stacey B. Higgins and copyright of Red Rabbit Studios, LLC.

Be sure to sign up for the luncheons at www.bshrm.org. If you have questions about the headshots, please contact Stacey at stacey@sbphotographyonline.com.

 

Welcome to our Member Spotlight for January. Each month we spotlight one of our active members by asking them a few nosey questions, some related to life and other related to our profession. Thanks to Laura for helping us kick off 2012.

 

1. Let’s start with the basic information; tell our readers who you are and what you do.

Laura Lavender, PHR. Recruiter for Children’s of Alabama. 

2. Tell us a little about what you do in your day job

I am the sole recruiter for the Specialty Care Services Division. I also support over 20 inpatient areas in their hiring decisions. I manage both the internal and external HR websites and maintain employment website listings. As the HR representative on the Children's Social Media Task Force, I manage the company’s YouTube Channel as well as generate input for the other social media outlets.

3. What do you love most about your job?

I love helping people reach their goals. Whether it is landing the “perfect job I have always dreamed out” or changing careers, I am happy I can help.

4. What made you choose HR as a career?

Well, I was originally an accounting major and realized I hated it (no offense to accountants). I was able to hear a speaker during a business seminar talk about HR and instantly thought to myself – I want to know more.

5. How long have you been a member of BSHRM? And do you serve on any of our committees?

I have been a member of BSHRM for 5 years.

6. Are you also a member of SHRM?

Yes, since college.

7. What is the weirdest question you have ever been asked by a candidate or employee?

An applicant once asked me why I wasn’t applying for the position and did I meet the qualifications (they were a little upset that I had informed them that they failed to meet the minimum qualificationsJ )

8. What do you say to a candidate to politely turn them down for your position?

I explain another candidate was chosen for the position and how much we appreciate their time and interest.

9. What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it and if so why?

I am currently reading The Hunger Games. So far so good.

10. What is your favorite all time movie? Why is it your favorite?

Hands down, Edward Scissorhands. Don’t ask me why, I have loved it since I was a child.

11. You’ve just been granted a wish and can invite four people from any time period in history to dinner. Who would you invite and why?

Tough one. Off the top of my head I will go with Will Ferrell, Johnny Carson, Tina Fey and Lucille Ball. The best dinners are those where you leave the table with a belly ache, not from the food - but from the laughter.

12. What is your favorite way to spend those precious weekends?

I love spending time with my friends and family. I TRY to relax. I do love to travel so any chance to get away, I am down!

13. Are you a cat person or a dog person?

DOG! Lula, my bullmastiff, and I are a pet therapy team with Hand-in-Paw.

 

This post is brought to you by April Dowling, SPHR. April is the VP of Communications for BSHRM and in her spare time serves as the Manager of HR for AloStar Bank of Commerce; I may have that backwards.  If you'd like to be a featured guest on the BSHRM blog you can contact us at bhamshrm@gmail.com. Visit our website at www.bshrm.org.

It's a new year and BSHRM has mostly a new Board of Directors. With that in might, I thought it might be fun to introduce the Board to the community. Each month we'll run a post highlighting one Board member. We're kicking the series off with our wonderful Chapter President, Andrea Goolsby PHR. 

1.      Let’s start with the basics, tell us your name and what you do when you aren’t being Chapter President (what brings home the bacon). 

      Andrea S. Goolsby, PHR - Talent Development Director, Saks Fifth Avenue, Birmingham Store

2.      What do you see as the biggest challenge for HR professionals in 2012?

I truly believe the largest challenge will lie in recruiting and retaining top talent.  As we continue to experience changes in the available applicant pools for open positions, implementing programs and platforms to attract top talent in addition to creating meaningful engagement fostering long-term retention will be critical elements. 

3.      So you work for Saks Fifth Avenue, huh? Care to share that employee discount; I could use a new pair of boots?

Unfortunately, I am unable to share my employee discount; however, I'm happy to introduce you to a personal shopper who can create a customized, memorable shopping experience for you.  How nice would it be to have someone shop FOR you?!?!  (They're great at finding deals, as well.)

4.      Well since you can’t share your discount with us, can you tell us what you love most about your role at Saks Fifth Avenue?

As Talent Development Director, I wear many HR hats.  However, the "coolest" part of my job is that I have the unique privelege of assisting in the professional development of our employees - charting their development courses, enhancing performance from "good to great", so to speak.  To witness this evolution is quite rewarding from a coaching standpoint. 

5.      Madame President, if we may be so humble as to ask, what prompted you strive for the Chapter President role? How did you get to the Presidency?

I truly believe that we, as humans, are at our best (we exhibit our best attributes and fundamentally learn how to be good people) when we are in roles of service.  Volunteering helps me to be a better person.  I've always been quite active in service organizations and quickly joined BSHRM upon moving to Birmingham a few years ago.  As you know, I've served on the BSHRM Board for three years now.  When asked if I would be interested in serving as Chapter President, I accepted with one condition - that I would have a "rockstar" board to work with.  With this fabulous board in place, we're ready to get to work...

6.      What’s your favorite thing about serving on the board at BSHRM?

Besides the satisfaction received from giving back to the organization that supports my career (i.e., places food on my table), I enjoy the networking opportunties.  As I mentioned to the Board and Advisory Board a few days ago, I knew two people when I moved to Birmingham - my husband and my mother-in-law.  This organization has allowed me to meet people that I will maintain a relationship with for the rest of my life.

7.      In keeping with the BSHRM topic, what advice do you have those that might have Chapter President on their list of goals?

Do your homework!  Start by serving on a BSHRM committee, move to a committee chair, and then pursue a BSHRM Board position.  This will give you insight on the roles and responsibilities. If you're still interested, make your interest known - we're always looking for the next leaders of this organization.  After all, we are HR professionals - we see the value in developing talent and creating a solid succession plan for our organization.

8.      On a personal note, do you have any children or pets?

I don't have pets or children - just a fabulous husband, Raymond.  By the way, Raymond's also an HR professional and BSHRM member.  Yes, we have interesting dinner conversations from time to time...

9.      What was the last good book you read? Professional and for leisure.

The last professional book?  Let's see, I recently re-read  "Good to Great" by Jim Collins a few months ago.  I need to refresh my memory on a couple of things.  Leisurely, I really don't read books that often, we're huge moviegoers - two recent must-sees:  Sherlock Holmes and Mission:Impossible...  Let me know what you think about them...

10.   And lastly, is there anything you’d like to add or say to the BSHRM family?

      In my opinion, we are the best HR chapter in the state of Alabama (yes, I'm extremely biased).  The reason we're so great is because of the strong commitment each of you have to this chapter.  I ask that you continue to support this chapter and this Board in the programs and initiatives that we embark upon this year.  Together, we can make an even larger footprint and positive difference in our community. 

 

Thanks to Andrea for being our first in the series as well as taking on the Chapter President role. It's going to be a great year for BSHRM and Alabama HR community.

This post is brought to you by April Dowling, SPHR. April is the VP of Communications for BSHRM and in her spare time serves as the Manager of HR for AloStar Bank of Commerce; I may have that backwards.  If you'd like to be a featured guest on the BSHRM blog you can contact us at bhamshrm@gmail.com. Visit our website at www.bshrm.org.

Joining the 34 member HR Leadership Academy graduate team has its many rewards. Why should you apply to be part of the BSHRM Leadership Academy?

• Network and make new friends 
• Earn 26.25 certification hours (including strategic HRCI credit) 
• Learn from 20+ accomplished HR leaders in our community 
• Gain valuable project management, teamwork and presentation skills 
• Enhance your company’s HR Toolkit 

BSHRM is proud to announce the launch of our third HR Leadership Academy designed to enhance and grow the Birmingham HR professional’s ability to be strategic business leaders and optimize talent to achieve their organization’s vision and goals. 

Application deadline is November 18, 2011. To learn more, visit the BSHRM website at http://www.bshrm.org/mc/page.do?sitePageId=99045

 

Alabama has made national news again, this time it’s over the controversial new immigration law.  I cant pretend to be an expert on this law but I have do a few thoughts and I love to hear some of yours.

My hometown, Albertville, was on the news last night. It was heartbreaking to see the images they chose. Albertville, at least while I was there, was a beautiful small town with old homes and well kept lawns.  According to those pictures, my hometown is now a small dilapidated trailer park with an overflowing dumpster.   

From what I understand, I haven’t been back in many, many years, the population of Mexican immigrants has grown rapidly; to the point non Mexican is almost the minority.  Many work at the chicken plants, or various other plants, in Albertville or one of the other surrounding towns.

According to what I heard, over 30% of the workforce has left. Just up and moved out of the state or are hiding at home afraid to be seen by the authorities.   There was one clip, and I cant find it online to save my own life, showing a long line of people standing in line for what appeared to be an application to fill these positions.  The voice over was about the number of positions now vacant. 

The HR Professional side of me wants to know how the chicken farm employed illegal immigrants. Do they have an HR person?  Did the workers not complete the I-9? Did they pay them under the table? If so, the influx of documented workers is going to be a blow to their payroll taxes, not to mention benefits.  And if I were them, I’d expect an ICE visit anytime now.

What do you think about this new law?  I didnt even get into how it’s going to affect, if it remains on the books, tag renewals.  As if the lines in Jefferson County aren’t bad enough.  Are you in favor of it? Do you think it’s unconstitutional?   Tell us what you think in the comments section.

 

About the author: April Dowling, SPHR is an HR Professional in Birmingham Alabama.  She's been in HR for seven years and is currently a one person HR Department at a local Alabama based Financial Institution.  Her posts reflect her own thoughts and opinions, some of which she barely understands, and do not reflect the opinions or beliefs or anything else of her employer in any shape, form, or fashion.  

1.      Name, Company and Position – Rebecca Bowen, Employer Relations  
Specialist in UAB Career Services

2.      Tell us about what you do there. – I work with outside companies to post jobs and recruit UAB students and alumni

3.      What is your favorite part of your job? – I love working with a student and seeing them get hired in a position that is a great fit with a great company.  It is very fulfilling.

4.      How did you “get in to HR” and why?- I started my career in retail management and loved the HR side of the business.  I like finding the right position for each candidate.  I call it “career matchmaking”

5.      How long have you been a member of BSHRM? For one year

6.  What is the weirdest question you have ever been asked by a candidate or employee?– I have been asked a lot of crazy questions, but a few of my favorite are, “How extensive are the background checks?” and a candidate prior to her interview asked me, “Can you watch my child while I go to the restroom?”

7.  What do you say to a candidate to politely turn them down for your position?- “If you are selected for a second interview, we will give you a call.”

8.  What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it? Why?- I read UAB’s Freshman Discussion Book, Thinking in Pictures by Temple Grandin.  This book is written by an autistic woman and talks about the disorder from an insider’s perspective, but it also spoke about how we all handle situations differently, not good-not bad, just different.   

9.  What is your favorite all time movie? Why? – Shawshank Redemption.  I love anything with Morgan Freeman, but I also like how Red finally understands what freedom is, on a beach in Mexico.

10.  You’ve just been granted a wish and can invite four people from any time period in history to dinner. Who would you invite and why?

Betsy Ross- I have always admired her using her skills, as minimal as they may have seemed, to create an icon we still use to this day. 

Rosa Parks- A woman that saw beyond her time and stood up for herself and what she believed.  

Walt Disney- He had a vision and did everything in his power to see it to fruition.

Squanto- the Indian who taught the Pilgrims how to survive.  I have always wanted to know why he spent so much time helping strangers.

11.  What is your favorite way to spend the weekend? Why? – With my family.  I have an 18 month old son named Miller who takes up most of my free time.

12.  Are you a cat person or a dog person?-  My husband has 2 dogs, so I think that makes me a dog person too.

13.  What would you choose as you “last meal”?- STEAK

 

This year, we are continuing with our Annual SHRM Diversity Award to be presented to organizations that demonstrate the value they place on programs and activities related to Diversity. 

The 2011 Diversity Award will be presented to three organizations (small, medium, and large) that are inclusive of Veterans in the way they do business.  Organizations can be nominated for a variety of ways by which this is accomplished.  It could be in their recruiting efforts,  policies/procedures, benefits/services they provide, and/or the pro-veterans organizations that they actively support (as well as many other programs/activities).

 

The BSHRM Diversity Committee chose Veterans for 2011 for a few of reasons, but mainly for its relevance with the times:

1.       SHRM has recently identified Veterans as an under-represented diversity area due to the volume of our service men and women who will be returning home over the next several years from active duty and re-assimilating into the civilian workforce. 

2.       Our Diversity Program is scheduled for November 9^th (two days before Veterans Day) at the November Chapter Meeting (details to come).

3.       As this is an under-represented area of diversity, we felt it was timely to educate HR professionals on what Veterans can bring to their organizations.

 

The BSHRM Diversity Committee invites you to review our announcement on the BSHRM website and to nominate your company or one in which you feel demonstrates their value of Veterans as an area of diversity in our workforce.  It is important that we as HR pros and leaders in our organizations are mindful of the many backgrounds and experiences that are available to us.  Though there is always a legal component that needs to be managed in business, a variety of opinions, values, and aptitudes lend to greater innovation and “out of the box” ideas that a group of similar individuals would not have the ability to create. In other words, EMBRACE your differences! 

We look forward to receiving your nominations for the Veterans Diversity Award and seeing you at the November BSHRM Diversity Luncheon when the recipients will be announced.  Any questions or comments can be directed to Kevin Lane (BSHRM Diversity Chair) atLaneK@SouthernResearch.org or by calling him at 205-581-2745.

 

1.     Name, Company and Position

Elma Bell Taylor, PHR, Birmingham Jefferson Convention Complex, Director of Human Resources

 

2.     Tell us about what you do there.

My focus includes directing the full range of HR functions for the BJCC.  By default, I also act as psychologist, mom and sometimes the police to management and staff … (LOL) … I love my job! 

3.     What is your favorite part of your job?

My favorite part is coaching and encouraging a team member to reach back, dust the cobwebs off a goal that they had given up on (like obtaining a college degree), and just do it.  The fulfillment I see in them, once that goal has been revived or obtained, is priceless.

 

4.     How did you “get in to HR” and why?

I didn’t land on HR … HR landed on me.  I was working for the federal government and kept telling myself – there’s got to be more to life than this (Oops!).  So, I went back to school to obtain an HR degree and never looked back. 

 

5.     What advice would you give to the newbies trying to break into HR?

The advice I would give to the newbies is network, join SHRM and BSHRM, get LinkedIn and Face booked (is that a word) with others in the profession.

 

6.     What advice would you give to a person who is still “green” in HR?

The advice I would give to a person who is still “green” in HR is to join societies, participate in the mentorship program, and attend educational seminars.  There is a light at the end of the tunnel, if they’re always learning and making application. 

 

7.     What’s your career goal in HR?

Become a strategic partner in my organization, within the next year (Ouch!)

 

8.     How long have you been a member of BSHRM?

I believe since 2002.

 

9.     Are you actively involved in any of BSHRM’s committees or initiative? Tell us about it.

After many years of being a “pew” member of BSHRM, I decided to get involved about a year ago.  I’m active with the Community Relations Committee and the Student Initiatives Subcommittee.

 

10.  Complete the following sentence… "I know the day is going to be a struggle when…."

A manager walks in and asks, “Have you had your coffee, yet?”

 

11.  What is the weirdest question you have ever been asked by a candidate or employee?

Once a candidate called me and asked if we drug test, because he smokes marijuana and that was common in the construction field.  Unfortunately, I wasn’t recruiting for construction.

 

12.  What do you say to a candidate to politely turn them down for your position?

Thank you so much for your interest in employment, but, we’ve selected another candidate whose experience/education more closely aligns ….

 

13.  What was the last book you read? Would you recommend it? Why?

Franklin Has a Sleepover (recommend if you have a toddler, puts them right to sleep).  Currently, reading Generations, Inc by Meagan and Larry Johnson.  Haven’t finished but would recommend for better understanding of workplace conflict, due to generational thinking.

 

14.  What is your favorite all time movie? Why?

Imitation of Life (still cry every time); it’s a wonderful film on race, while depicting the depths of a Mother’s love.

 

15.  You’ve just been granted a wish and can invite four people from any time period in history to dinner. Who would you invite and why?

President Obama and his wife, because they are overdue for a night on the town (surely the paparazzi wouldn’t follow them to Birmingham).

Apostle Paul, because I think he was a bad shut yo’ mouth.

Harriet Tubman, because her courage, strength and resilience is inspiring.

 

16.  What is your favorite way to spend the weekend? Why?

Hanging out at Railroad Park with my hubby and 3 year old son - who truly believes he can do tricks with his ‘tricycle” like the big boys and cries profusely when we won’t let him.

 

17.  You can take two things with you when you are stranded on a desert island. What do you take and why?

My eyeglasses, because I wouldn’t get past the shore without them and my bible because I don’t want to misquote anything, when I’m reminding the Father of how He delivered the three Hebrew boys and Jonah (how about sending me a boat, air balloon, Coast Guard, anything).

 

18.  Are you a cat person or a dog person?

Dog - although I don’t have either.

 

19.  What would you choose as your “last meal”?

Everything that Nikki’s West sells!  :) 

 

20.  What else does BSHRM need to know about you?

Laughter is my medicine!