Advising Others to Volunteer: IHRIM Spotlights Tim Stewart, HRIP, HRMS Director, XO Communications

IHRIM is pleased to feature Tim Stewart in our current Volunteer Spotlight.  Tim, HRMS Director, XO Communications, LLC., has been an IHRIM member since 2011.   

Please tell us a little about your professional life such as what your job entails; how you got involved with HR technology; major accomplishments; current projects or challenges.

I’ve been working in the field of HR Technology & Systems for over 10 years, and I’m currently the HRMS Director for XO Communications, LLC.  I’ve always had a thirst for technology and my work on many technology-based projects along with my interest in managing people landed me a leadership role for our HRIS department.  I’ve had the opportunity, over these 10 years, to manage many HR Systems and implementations including:  Core HR, Payroll, Benefits, LMS, Self-Service, and Talent Management.  One of my major accomplishments includes the design and implementation of an in-house built self-service environment that resulted in the streamlining of employee change processes & workflows.

When did you join IHRIM and why?  What is the greatest value you get from your membership?   Is there any advice you would give other members?

I joined IHRIM in 2011 as I was seeking a professional certification in HR.  The greatest value I receive in having an IHRIM membership is the opportunity to learn and connect with others who have similar interests and passions for IT and Human Capital.  My advice to other members?  Volunteer!  With the variety of perspectives offered and shared by other IHRIM members, you can be assured you’ll learn something new!

What was the primary reason you became an IHRIM volunteer? Please describe your most recent IHRIM volunteer with the Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) Certification Refresh Project.

I volunteered to help with the HRIP Certification Refresh Project for one simple reason:  I believe in the value of the HRIP professional certification.   When I studied for the HRIP exam in 2011, I found that the knowledge domains within the HRIP coursework were a close blueprint for HRIS professionals.  This blueprint provided me a great opportunity to assess my own knowledge in HRIS, and it strengthened the framework in how I see my role as an HRIS Professional.

What have you enjoyed most about this volunteer experience?

I enjoyed helping ‘refresh’ the HRIP exam by writing a number of new questions for the exam and  then participating in the technical review by actually taking the test and helping evaluate all the new questions.

I wanted to find a way to give back and this was a great opportunity for me to help make a difference with a program that I believe in.

How do you see being a volunteer benefiting your career?  

Supporting a professional organization not only provides greater opportunities to network, but it also reflects your commitment to your profession and your personal growth.

And one fun question...If you had an opportunity to time travel when and where would you go?

I have a passion for geoscience ( B.S. Degree is in Geology), and given this… I would travel back to the early 1900’s and share with Alfred Wegner that in the somewhat distant future his theory of continental drift would be found as ‘theoretically’ correct.  He was faced with a lot of criticism when he announced this theory of ‘moving continents’ to the world; unfortunately he didn’t have the means to prove it in his lifetime.

#HRISchat May 20: Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path

#HRISchat Session 21
Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path
Tuesday, May 20, 2014
12PM EDT/ 9AM PDT

In case you missed it, findings from the CedarCrestone 2013–2014 HR Systems Survey noted a big shift was underway: more organizations are replacing their core HR technology products instead of upgrading their existing systems. SHL’s 2013 Global Assessment Trends report noted that fewer than 1 in 5 HR professionals are satisfied with their information systems’ ability to manage talent data; and research from McKinsey & Company cited that the average technology investment delivers less than half of its anticipated value. With all that, it is easy to see why the development of a smart HR Technology plan is vital to the growth of an organization.

But you have to take stock before you make any big decisions. What are some key things you need to keep in mind as you create this technology roadmap? What kind of legacy applications would you have to deal with? How much will any upgrades cost the organization? What about all this buzz around cloud and SaaS?

To help address these questions, we are excited to be joined by industry thought leaders, Paul Rasieleski, Corporate HRIS Manager, FM Global and Wes Wu, Managing Consultant, Knowledge Infusion/Appirio and author of the systematicHR.com blog. In addition to guest moderating this session of #HRISchat, Paul and Wes will be presenting ‘Deciding on the Right HR Technology Path’ at the 2014 IHRIM Conference.

This session of #HRISchat and the conference presentation will benefit anyone who is considering or attempting to define an HR technology path and isn’t sure how to go about it.

Here are the questions:         

 Q1: What are some key things you need to keep in mind as you decide on the right HR technology path?

 Q2: What are the biggest barriers to the development of a smart HR Technology plan?

 Q3: When does it make sense to get new HR Technology vs. upgrading your existing systems?

 Q4: What are the benefits of developing an HR Technology plan for your organization?

 Q5: How will technology shape HR Technology plans over the next 12 months? 2 years?

New to #HRISchat? Don't worry, it's easy! Go to www.tchat.io, enter HRISchat next to the # symbol and click "go." It will likely prompt you to login to Twitter. Then just watch for the questions and provide your answers.

We look forward to your participation Tuesday May 20, 2014 at 12PM EDT/9AM PDT.

May 6 #HRISchat with Karen Beaman: Driving Globally Strategic Payroll

#HRISchat Session 20

Driving Globally Strategic Payroll

Tuesday, May 6, 2014
12PM EDT/ 9AM PDT

U.S. government statistics cite that a majority (approximately 75%) of the world’s purchasing power is situated outside of our nation. One survey from NFIB found that nearly three-fourths of small business owners would like to expand their workforce worldwide. While global expansion offers the promise of increased business, it also presents a number of payroll challenges. One key to keeping your company on course when implementing a global business strategy is to maintain a globally strategic payroll program.

The phrase “globally strategic payroll” is open to misinterpretation and has sparked many animated discussions. There are some who assert that, by its nature, payroll is not a strategic function of the business, while others point out that the complexity of country-level regulations and the immaturity of global payroll technologies prevent the function from ever being truly “global.”

With this global strategic payroll paradox in mind, we are excited to be joined by industry luminary, Karen V. Beaman, founder and Chief Executive Officer of Jeitosa Group International.  In addition to guest moderating this session of #HRISchat, Karen will be presenting ‘Driving Globally Strategic Payroll: The Paradoxical Journey to Efficiency and Innovation’ at the 2014 IHRIM Conference to be held June 1-4 at the Anaheim Marriott.

“As more organizations look outside their home borders for new growth opportunities, understanding the leading practices for managing a global payroll program is essential for success,” says Karen. “I look forward to presenting at #IHRIM2014 to, among other things, provide an objective analysis of the global payroll landscape and describe the specific strategies employed by top-performing organizations that help them reconcile the conflicting forces in the global payroll environment”

The #HRISchat questions: 
         

 Q1: With globalization continuing to accelerate, what are some key things to consider when developing a strategic payroll program?

 Q2: What does it mean to have payroll become a strategic function within your organization?

 Q3: What are some of the best ways to make global payroll a reality?

 Q4: What are the benefits of having smart global payroll strategies employed by your organization?

 Q5: How will technology shape the global payroll strategies over the next 12 months? 2 years?

New to #HRISchat? Don't worry, it's easy! Go to www.tchat.io, enter HRISchat next to the # symbol and click "go." It will likely prompt you to login to Twitter. Then just watch for the questions and provide your answers.

We look forward to your participation Tuesday May 6, 2014 at 12PM EST/9AM PST.

 

For more information on the IHRIM 2014 Conference & Technology Expo, June 1-4, Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA, go to http://bit.ly/IHRIM2014.

Live Long, and Prosper: Spotlight on IHRIM Volunteer, Cindy Imber, HRIP, SPHR, Sr. Manager of Global HR Applications, Columbia Sportswear

This month’s Volunteer Spotlight shines on Cindy Imber, HRIP, SPHR, who is currently the Sr. Manager of Global HR Applications for Columbia Sportswear.  Cindy has worked with HR systems for over 15 years and implemented or upgraded over 10 HR systems including HRIS, Payroll, Performance, Compensation, and Recognition.   Cindy will be presenting the session -  Creating a Powerful Culture for Recognition & Rewards at Columbia Sportswear - at the IHRIM 2014 Conference, June 1-4, in Anaheim, CA.

Please tell us a little about your professional life such as what your job entails; how you got involved with HR technology; major accomplishments; current projects or challenges, etc.

I quickly got involved in HRIS because of my major in Management Information Systems. It seemed like a perfect fit and not many people in HR at the time knew what a relational database was.  Over the years I moved from being more technical focused to business analyst work to now managing HRIS and Payroll. Recently in my role as the Sr. Manager over HRIS and Payroll I have created a plan for the next three years of global HRIS/Payroll system upgrades and implementations; great for job security too. Many ideas on this plan have been helped by attending the IHRIM conference and learning about new trends. We want to keep up with best practices and ways to best support our employees but we need to plan for resources. One new system we implemented last year is a global recognition program which I will be speaking about at IHRIM in June 2014. This year is a full plate of electronic filing, new time and attendance and selecting a new payroll system and an applicant tracking system for China. 

When did you join IHRIM and why? 

I first joined IHRIM in 1997. I started a new job and my manager was a member and took me to my first IHRIM Annual Conference my second week on the job because someone else was too busy with a project. 

What is the greatest value you get from your membership?  

I would say both the connections I have made and the learning sessions at the annual conference. 

Is there any advice you would give other members?

Take advantage at the conference to connect with others and link with them because there will be a time when you or they can benefit from connecting again. 

What was the primary reason(s) you became an IHRIM volunteer and joined the Volunteer Connections Group?  

IHRIM over the years has always provided me with many opportunities for learning both about technology but also how to grow in the world of HRIS. I wanted to be able to share my knowledge and help enhance that opportunity for newer members.  

Please describe your IHRIM volunteer experience as a session coordinator for the conference.

I have presented three times at IHRIM in the past and really appreciated the session coordinator’s help during those times. I thought it would be great to be able to help someone else presenting for the first time knowing what it was like to be in that position. Being a session coordinator gave me the opportunity to see sessions I normally would have not have selected; so I learned about some new areas. Then I was still able to have the conference CD so I wouldn’t miss out on the sessions I normally would have attended. 

What have you enjoyed most about your volunteer experience(s)?

The people! It really is amazing how smooth everything runs with mostly just volunteers. Everyone is working hard to make it a great experience for the attendees. 

How do you see being a volunteer benefiting your career?

Keeping connected with IHRIM keeps me up to date on the latest ideas and trends. This way I can be the first to bring them back to my company or at least I am knowledgeable when my VP brings them up in a meeting. “Have you heard about xxx?” Volunteering and expanding my network gives me more ability to reach out to others when I run into tough spots and need advice from others in HRIS.

Any other perspective you want to share with the IHRIM audience?

Even if you don’t volunteer I encourage IHRIM members to be involved. This might be asking questions in sessions at the annual conference, participating in webinars, or posting/commenting on questions in CORE. 

One final question - if you could meet one person in your lifetime who would it be and why?

Well it would be hard because he has already passed on but it would be Gene Roddenberry. He was such a visionary of what the future could be like. Almost all of the technology on Star Trek, outside of the super-fast space travel, has come to life. Here are just a few items communicators, disks for computers, computers that talk to you and take commands from you, computers that hold all the history and information of the past not to mention all the medical equipment. It’s amazing the speed of technology advancement over the last 20 years, let alone since Star Trek was first aired in the 60’s. I just hope the actual space travel part will come true and maybe I will get to experience it in my lifetime.
 
For more information on IHRIM’s Volunteer Program and how you can get involved, go to http://bit.ly/IHRIM_Volunteer_Program.

On the Air with Lynne Mealy, IHRIM President/CEO

On March 18, I was the guest on the DriveThruHR Radio.   For those unfamiliar with DriveThruHR, it is a lunchtime chat about topics relevant to HR professionals. Each 30-minute episode features a guest speaker who shares her or his knowledge and experience in human resources. The show runs daily, Monday through Friday, at 12:00 pm Central Time.  The host on my show was Bryan Wempen, @bryanwempen, who shares hosting duties with William Tincup, @williamtincup, and Nisha Raghavan, @thehrbuddy.

This was not my first appearance, and I have always enjoyed the questions posed to me and the ability to talk about IHRIM, the annual conference and the industry in general.  The March 18 show was no different as Bryan and I discussed what keeps HR awake at night as well as the trends in HR technology, both current and in the future.  And, once again I was able to share with listeners information about the upcoming IHRIM 2014 Conference & Technology Expo to be held June 1-4 in Anaheim, CA.

If you missed the show, you can take a listen to the recording at:
http://www.blogtalkradio.com/drivethruhr/2014/03/18/lynne-mealy-at-lunch-with-drivethruhr.

Bryan asked some really great questions with the first being: 
What keeps you – as an HR or HR system – professional awake at night?
Let me know your answer to this question by posting your comments here.

Catch you on the flip side!

Lynne E. Mealy, HRIP
President/CEO, IHRIM

March 11 #HRISchat with Jason Averbook: How HR and IT Professionals Must Adapt and Adopt to Meet the Demands of Today's Workplace

#HRISchat Session 18:
How HR and IT Professionals Must Adapt and Adopt to Meet the Demands of Today's Workplace

Guest Moderator: Jason Averbook
Tuesday, March 11, 2014
12PM EDT/ 9AM PDT

 

New Accenture research reports that “the vast majority of professionals surveyed (91 percent) agree that the most successful employees will be those who can adapt to the changing workplace, and nearly as many (89 percent) report that they thrive on or don’t mind change. Although technology is increasingly gaining traction in the workplace today, Dion Hinchcliffe notes in ZDNet that “its strategic adoption and meaningful application by the typical worker is actually just beginning.”

IHRIM and Hive Tech HR (formerly Gaucho Group) are excited to be joined on the March 11 #HRISchat by HR technology expert and prominent industry thought leader Jason Averbook. In addition to guest moderating this session of #HRISchat, Jason will be providing the keynote ‘2014 and Beyond: How HR and IT Professionals Must Adapt and Adopt to Meet the Demands of Today's Workplace’ at the opening session of the IHRIM 2014 Conference to be held on June 1-4, 2014 in Anaheim, CA.

Jason's keynote at the IHRIM Conference will highlight:

• the future of work an understanding of what HR will need to do to prepare for the continued transformation of the workplace
• how what we know and do today will look massively different into the future
• points from his upcoming book "HR From Now to Next"

For more information on his keynote presentation, go to IHRIM 2014 Keynotes.

“The workplace is changing at mind-bending speeds, and the workforce is morphing along with it,” says Jason. “New technologies, evolving best practices, and an increasingly global, mobile working environment can yield amazing results for the corporations who can harness these developments successfully.”

We will be addressing the following questions during the #HRISchat:
Q1: What is happening in the world outside of HR that will require HR to move from Now to Next?
Q2: What capabilities does HR need to move from Now to Next?
Q3: What skills do we need to move HR from Now to Next?
Q4: Does technology play a role in moving HR from Now to Next?
Q5: How will technology shape the workplace over the next 12 months? 2 years?

New to #HRISchat? Don't worry, it's easy! Go to www.tchat.io, enter HRISchat next to the # symbol and click "go." It will likely prompt you to login to Twitter. Then just watch for the questions and provide your answers.

We look forward to your participation Tuesday 3/11 at 12PM EDT/9AM PDT!

IHRIM: Your Book of Opportunities in 2014

According to the US government (USAgov.com), the top 5 most popular New Year’s resolutions are:

• Lose Weight
• Volunteer to Help Others
• Quit Smoking
• Get a Better Education
• Get a Better Job

While I wish IHRIM could help with the first resolution (top on my list, again, this year), and we don’t have a smoking cessation program, IHRIM can help you with three resolutions – Volunteering, Education, and Career Growth.

Volunteer to Help Others
The IHRIM Volunteer Program provides you opportunities to become an active participant in our community by sharing your skills and knowledge to help IHRIM and the HRIM profession to grow.

There are many benefits including both personal growth and professional development that can be gained through active participation on a committee or other volunteer assignment. Skills in communication, teamwork, project planning and oversight, and financial responsibility are constantly developed through participation. If you hold an HRIP credential, your volunteer activities will earn you recertification credit hours (RCHs) to help you meet your continuing certification requirements.

Get a Better Education
IHRIM’s mission is to “To be the leading professional association for knowledge, education, and solutions supporting the Human Resource Information Management community.”  Since our inception in 1980, providing our members and the HRIM community at large quality education has always been one of IHRIM’s primary goals. Add in the knowledge from not just our educational programs but also our publications, and the solutions from networking with colleagues and the leading HR technology vendors, and you have a blend of opportunities to further your professional development.

But sometimes it is easier said than done when trying to balance work, family, and other personal responsibilities with continuing your education. This is why IHRIM offers you a variety of options to fit your needs and budget. Our 2014 Conference & Technology Expo, to be held June 1-4, 2014 at the Anaheim Marriott, Anaheim, CA, is your one stop shop for learning.  In one location, you have access to ½ day and full day pre-conference courses and over 50 educational sessions targeted to your career needs, a variety of networking activities that allow you to connect with colleagues from around the world and admission to our Exposition Hall, where you have the opportunity to visit with the leading service providers in our industry.

Our webinars are offered throughout the year at no cost to members. Our topical Forums are offered both online and in person (our Workforce Analytics Forum will be held in New York on March 18).  We have courses available as in-house offerings – a great value if you are looking to educate both you and your team.

Get a Better Job
Getting a better job does not necessarily mean you leave your current employer; your goal may be to get a better position within your current organization. And what better way to demonstrate your expertise and experience than getting your HRIP credential and adding it to your resume! IHRIM’s Human Resource Information Professional (HRIP) certification program is designed to assess the knowledge and competencies of professionals in the HR information management field. Passing the exam indicates a demonstrated comprehensive understanding and proficiency of the defined body of knowledge in HR information management. Plus, the recertification requirements ensure that you keep abreast of changes in the field.

And similar to education, we make it convenient for you to prepare and sit for the certification exam. IHRIM offers three delivery methods to accommodate individuals (as well as groups) to take the exam, including conveniently located testing centers around the world, live proctoring that allows candidates to take the exam wherever and whenever is most convenient, and at host locations, such as in conjunction with an industry event or the annual IHRIM Conference.

If you are attending the IHRIM 2014 Conference we are offering both the HRIP Review Course and the HRIP Exam.

If you are looking for a new position or in-between jobs, I encourage you to peruse the job opportunities on our Career Center, custom tailored for the Human Resource and Human Resource Information Management industry. Looking to fill a position? Create an Employer Account and post your Human Resource Information Management jobs today.

Make 2014 a year you take full advantage of your IHRIM membership. With IHRIM’s help, this can be your year to stick to your resolutions of volunteering, becoming better educated and advancing your career. If you are not yet an IHRIM member, make joining IHRIM your number one resolution!

- Lynne E. Mealy, HRIP

This posting originally appeared in the January IHRIM eUpdate.  To read the full issue, go to http://www.ihrim.org/eupdate/IHRIM_eUpdate_Jan2014.pdf