About the Work Elevated Conference 2023
If excellence has a name . . . it must be HR.
Inspired by tales of exploration, swashbuckling adventures, and globetrotting heroism, we present the GBS Benefits Work Elevated Conference 2023.
This year arrives amidst increased efforts to attract talent, retain employees, advance DEI, and improve transparency. In a constantly changing world, the Quest for HR Excellence may seem as mythical and unobtainable as the Holy Grail. There’s always some new twist, another map, another Mola Ram or Rene Belloq. Exactly when does “fortune and glory” get deposited into our accounts?
To succeed, HR practitioners will need to adopt an adventurous mindset. Adventurers are daring and vigilant, adaptable and persistent, resourceful and prepared. And as famed archaeologist Indiana Jones shows us, education is essential. WECon not only prepares HR practitioners to achieve their current goals, but also to become HR adventurers, able to navigate changes with an array of strategies, tools, and supports. Through continuous learning, HR practitioners commit to — and rediscover — excellence every day.
So, no, our quest does not end in excellence. Rather, WECon is where excellence begins.
See you at the trailhead.
About WECon
The Work Elevated Conference (WECon) is the annual Utah SHRM conference that elevates the human resources profession.
Our purpose is to create an inclusive society where human resource professionals can obtain certifications and education to advance the profession of people operations across the state of Utah.
Our mission is three-fold:
- To empower Utah workplaces to elevate their workforce.
- To be the leading expert in advancing the education of human resources professionals throughout the state of Utah.
- To elevate individuals in their professional development and maximize human potential.
Our vision is to encourage all human resource professionals to obtain certifications and education that will allow them to be the voice and expert in their field. This will enable organizations to create a better workplace, positively impacting all communities across the state of Utah.
In 2022, National SHRM awarded Utah SHRM the Pinnacle Award for “Enhancing the SHRM Community.” The award honors the highest achievements in affiliate development and contributions.
Utah SHRM was recognized for its successful recovery and renaissance after COVID-19 threatened to disintegrate its network and the future of the Work Elevated Conference.
Recognizing the pandemic as a pivotal moment, the Utah SHRM Council established an organizational structure that enhanced its communication, transparency, and collaboration, including a top-ranking onboarding system that facilitated new hires and volunteers.
From these efforts, the 2022 Work Elevated Conference was a success. Honored by the Pinnacle Award, Utah SHRM continues to elevate its capacity to adapt, learn, and elevate its service to the HR community.
History of WECon
The Work Elevated Conference has roots in 1987, when it was known as the Crossroads Conference.
The conference was founded by the Salt Lake Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), formed in 1964 at the height of the Civil Rights Movement. The conference facilitated the crossing of paths — professionals coming together to exchange information and expertise. Eventually, Salt Lake SHRM led to the development of the statewide SHRM council. Utah SHRM continues to run the conference today.
In 2020, under the direction of Elisa Garn, the conference was re-envisioned as the Work Elevated Conference (WECon). The transformation parallels Utah’s slogan: Life Elevated. “Life Elevated” reminds Utah residents to not only elevate how they see the world, but how they see themselves in it. “Work Elevated” does the same for HR practioners. Our aim is not only to provide a toolkit of practical solutions for today’s challenges, but to encourage HR practitioners to rethink what their workplace could become — and importantly, the power they have as individuals and teams to bring that future to life.
The WECon Committee makes tremendous effort each year to provide the latest expertise, inspiration, and practical solutions. Over the years, WECon has expanded its learning tracks to Culture and Recruiting, Employment Law, Public Sector, Comp & Benefits, and New Practitioner.
Now attracting attendees from surrounding states, WECon continues to support National SHRM’s vision of “Better Workplaces for a Better World.”
Timeline
1964
Salt Lake SHRM founded at the height of the Civil Rights movement
1987
First Crossroads Conference facilitating the exchange of expertise among Utah professionals
2001
Utah SHRM founded to advance the interests of the HR profession, serving HR professionals, local SHRM chapters, and the community
2020
Crossroads re-envisioned as the Work Elevated Conference, aiming to elevate the HR profession and businesses across Utah
2023
Next Work Elevated Conference to take professionals across Utah and surrounding states on a Quest for HR Excellence
Be a Part of History
Conference Archive
Committee
- Tony Benjamin, Conference Chair
- Steven Smith, Utah SHRM Executive Director
- Karisa Stahle
- Cassandra Hart, Speakers
- Heather Anderson, Marketing
- Jessica Munson, Marketing
- Ben Eden, Vendors
- Lisa Duckworth, Fundraising
- Kristine Hull, Food
- Jameson McDougal, Marketing
- Muse, Registration
- Aric Bostick, Master of Ceremonies
- Sadia Al-Hilo
Sessions
- Keynote: The Power of Attachment-Informed Leadership — Aric Bostick
- Keynote: Leadership Under Extreme Uncertainty — Sunnie Giles
- State and Federal Caselaw Update — Michael Judd and Elena Vetter
- Independent Contractor and Employee Classifications — Christina Jepson and Sean Monson
- Political and Religious Speech in the Workplace — Christina Jepson
- Labor Issues for the Non-Union Employer — Nate Thomas and Christian Vanderbolt
- New Sharks in the Water! FLSA Collective Actions — Sean Monson and Aaron Worthen
- Legislative and Regulatory Update — Mike O’Brien and Elena Vetter
- Welcome to HR from 0 to 60 in One Hour — Heather Anderson
- Key Employment Laws Every New HR Professional Must Know — Mark Tolman and Paul Smith
- Clever Recruiting Techniques in 2022 — Jordan Boogaard
- Jump Start Your Career — Nancy Conway and Jessica Munson
- Veterans at Work: Building the Business Case to Hire Veterans, Spouses — Lisa Duckworth
- Avoiding Employment Claims Through Effective Documentation and Investigation — Mark Tolman and Susan Baird Motscheidler
- It’s a Short Way to the Top if You Wanna Go HR! — Joe Tate
- The Ethics of Leadership — Dan Chase
- Empathetic Leadership: How Empathy and Vulnerability Lead to Connection and Trust — David Kitchen
- Return Utah — Shay Baker
- HR Analytics: A Big Drip? — Jeff Mulitalo
- Achieving Pay Equity: A Public Sector Success Story — David Salazar
- — Christine Hashimoto and Jaqualin Peterson
- Unity in Diversity: A Workshop for Senior Leaders — Sara Jones
- Women in the Workplace: How to Build an Environment that Attracts and Retains Top Female Talent! — Cassidy Gonzalez
- Understanding the New Applicant — Brenda Anderson
- Crucial Conversations: The Key to Better Results and Better Relationships — Mark Carpenter
- Employee Experience: Is this Phrase on Your Radar Yet? — Maddison Grigsby
- Confronting The Facts, Unwavering Faith in the End Game — Stacee Pederson and Portia Louder
- Frameworks of Culture: Building Culture from Inception — Elisa Garn
Committee
- Danny Reeder, Sponsorships
- Adam Stonehocker, Exhibitors
- Shawn Choate, Speakers
- Amber Mayer, Emerging Professionals
- Nick Staley, Logistics
Sessions
- Keynote: Getting Proximate Abigail Palmer Cox
- Gil Brady
- Sheree Haggan
- Dave Ulrich
- 5 Ways to Lower your Rx Spend — Matt Magiera
- DEI as a Business Model: How can DEI elevate your company? — Ross Romero
- Re-Recruiting Employees — Dr. Chris Hartwell
- How to Build Your Onboarding Playbook — Jared Olsen
- 2021 Employment Law Review — Mark Tolman
- How to Pass the SHRM Exam — Elisa Garn
- The Hero’s Journey vs. The Employee’s Journey — Jared Olsen
- COVID Fuels Employer Focus on Mental Health — Lindsey Steckler
- Fast Track to Empowerment, Recruiting, Reskilling and Retaining Diverse Workforces — Trina Limpert
- Legal: Flip the Script — Kristen Van Orman
- Better Managers, Better Companies: How Building Strong Managers is your Closest Thing to a Silver Bullet — Steve Arntz
- Tips for Upgrading Your Teams — Ted Lasso and Logan Mallory
- OSHA Takes Aim at COVID 19 – The Updated Interim Enforcement Plan for Non-Healthcare Employers — Zack Wiseman
- Moving from Personnel Department to Value Creation Enablers: How Strategic HR in a Myopic Environment Can Be Eye Opening — Jeff Bettinger
- Creating Lasting Behavior Change in the Workplace: Get Healthier, Happier Employees and Better Outcomes — Emily Stone
- Fast Track to Empowerment: Recruiting, Reskilling, and Retaining Diverse Workforces — Trina Limpert
- Preparing Remote Workers for the “New Abnormal” — Wayne Turmel
- Employee Financial Success: Building a Financial Wellness Program — Cass Fuentes
- SECURE Act 2.0 in 2021: Are You Prepared? — Brian Urie
- Creating High Performance Teams — Randy Garn
- How HR Function as a Diplomat: Managing Culture Differences. Diversity is Important, But How Do You Actually Navigate It? — Dustin Bradshaw
- Panel: Candor and Communication in the C-Suite — Brian Urie
- Empowering Insecurities — Sharon Steed
- Counseling Without a Couch: Understanding Human Patterns in Communication and Decision Making — Cass Fuentes
- Get Clear on Your Values: Ethics and the HR Profession — Barry Rellaford
- Building a People Centric Culture on a Budget — Mark Shaerrer
- Career Development: Building Your Personal Brand while Building Your Employee Brand — Carrolyn Morris
- From Idea to Action — Robbyn Scribner
- Culture Vulture — How Our Misunderstanding of Mental Health at Work is Eating at Your People, Profits, and Productivity — James Hadlock
- How to Effectively Use People Analytics — Tony Wiseman
- Creating Cultures of Inclusion — Sharon Steed
- It’s Time for a Paradigm Shift in Mental Health — Clay Olsen
- Vaccination and Returning to the Office — Cassie Whitlock
- Building a People Centric Culture on a Budget — Mark Shaerrer
Note: Conferences prior to 2017 omitted