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• Getting Rewards Right: What They Are, What They Do, and How to Manage Them

  • When
    12 Feb 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual Only: Zoom Link will be shared with registrants

  Register

  

  
  

  Getting Rewards Right: What They Are, What They Do, and How to Manage Them

  By

  S. Richard Park, Ph.D., Principal & CEO at Talent Alignment, LLC

  Thursday, February 12th, 8:00AM - 9:00AM

  Virtual Only

  
  

  Today’s organizations can offer more than 150 different rewards, benefits, and perks—and that’s where the complexity begins. Decisions around cost-sharing, eligibility, cadence and timing, individual versus team rewards, short- versus long-term incentives, and financial versus non-financial offerings all add layers of challenge.

  Adding to this complexity, every employee brings strong opinions about what their organization should offer—often shaped by what the company down the street provides or what friends and peers receive from their employers.

  Be ready to engage in what promises to be a lively and thought-provoking discussion on the true value of rewards, benefits, and perks—and how they can be intentionally designed to support your business and your people.

  What you’ll Learn:

  • Examine the full range of rewards and their potential to drive organizational performance.
  • Evaluate options for designing and delivering effective incentive systems.
  • Understand the value of a clearly defined rewards philosophy and its role in supporting business strategy.

  
  
  

  About the Speaker:

  
  

  Rick partners with executive business leaders to create a competitive advantage through people. He has held specialized roles in assessment design and validation, workforce development, rewards, performance management, culture, and other critical people systems.

  Rick’s passion for business strategy prompted him to transition into HR Executive roles supporting CEOs and other executives with global responsibilities. He has worked in technology (Dell, Microsoft), manufacturing (Georgia-Pacific, KSB SE & Co. KGaA), and HR consulting (AON). 

  Today Rick leads an HR consulting firm called Talent Alignment, LLC. He brings a practical approach to the firm’s clients by focusing on delivering a competitive advantage through people. Rick’s ability to speak to executive leaders in business terms is much appreciated by his partners and their clients.

  Rick earned a Ph.D. in Industrial/Organizational Psychology to help prepare him for a career in HR, Talent Management, and OE. His volunteer work involves coaching incarcerated individuals and groups. He enjoys playing guitar, cycling, announcing high school sports, and home projects. He and his wife Lisa enjoy traveling, exploring restaurants, and spending time with their two adult children Lauren and Michael (and their dog Dempsey).

  
  

  
  

  Attendees earn one (1) recertification credit for SHRM and/or HRCI certifications. 
  

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• Paving the Way: Leveraging Labor Market Insights for Strategic Planning

  • When
    12 Mar 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual Only: Zoom Link will be shared with registrants

  Register

  
  

  
  

  Paving the Way: Leveraging Labor Market Insights for Strategic Planning

  By

  Matthew Insco, Branch Chief, BLS West Region Information Office

  Thursday, March 12th, 8:00AM - 9:00AM

  Virtual Only

  
  

  Understanding labor market dynamics is essential for making informed workforce decisions in an increasingly complex economic environment. This presentation will equip attendees with the information, context, and practical tools needed to make data-driven decisions, communicate effectively with organizational leadership, and anticipate future workforce challenges with confidence.

  Participants will gain a clearer understanding of how broader economic conditions translate into real-world impacts on labor costs, talent availability, and compensation strategy. The session will explore key labor market signals and projections to help HR professionals move from reactive decision-making to proactive strategic planning.

  
  

  This presentation will include:

  • A breakdown of key economic indicators, including inflation and labor turnover, and how headline figures influence labor costs and workforce decisions

  • An overview of labor market projections to support strategic workforce and talent planning

  • Practical guidance on translating economic data into insights that resonate with business leaders

  
  

  Learning Objectives:

  • Learn how to leverage publicly available economic data for strategic workforce planning

  • Develop the ability to interpret economic signals and understand their implications for your workforce

  • Learn how to locate and interpret key Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS) datasets to support compensation benchmarking and planning

  
  

  About the Speaker:

  The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics (BLS), an agency within the U.S. Department of Labor, measures labor market activity, working conditions, price changes, and productivity in the U.S. economy to support public and private decision making.

  Matt Insco is the Branch Chief of the BLS West Region Information Office. He leads a team responsible for disseminating BLS data through press releases, analytical articles, and the BLS website. The office conducts outreach on behalf of BLS and supports data users by helping them access, understand, and interpret BLS statistics. Matt is a graduate of the University of California, Riverside, and has worked at BLS for over 25 years.

  
  

  Attendees earn one (1) recertification credit for SHRM and/or HRCI certifications. 
  

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• SHRM Skagit-Island Spring Workshop

  • When
    9 Apr 2026
  •  
    9:00 AM - 4:00 PM
  • Location
    TBD

  
  

  Spring 2026 Full-Day HR Workshop — Call for Speakers & Sponsors

  SHRM Skagit-Island is excited to begin planning a full-day, in-person HR workshop this April in Mount Vernon, and we’re currently seeking speakers and sponsors to help bring this event to life.

  This year, we intentionally moved our regular chapter meetings to a virtual format to better serve members across the three counties we support, allowing greater access to high-quality speakers and content regardless of location. At the same time, we recognize the importance of in-person connection and the value of immersive, hands-on programming that has long been a hallmark of SHRM Skagit-Island.

  With that in mind, we’re thrilled to introduce our Spring Full-Day Workshop—an opportunity to come together in person for deeper learning, meaningful discussion, and renewed connection within our HR community.

  We currently have 2–3 speaker slots available, along with sponsorship opportunities for organizations interested in supporting HR professionals across our region. If you are a speaker—or know someone—who would be a strong fit, or if your organization is interested in sponsoring this event, we’d love to connect.

  Please reach out to info@sihrma.org to express interest or request additional details. We look forward to collaborating with our community to make this a standout event for 2026.

  
  

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• Understanding the WA Cares Fund: What HR Professionals Need to Know

  • When
    14 May 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:00 AM
  • Location
    Virtual Only: Zoom Link will be shared with registrants

  Register

  
  

  
  

  Understanding the WA Cares Fund: What HR Professionals Need to Know

  By

  Mariah Davis, MSW, Outreach Specialist at Northwest Regional Council (NWRC)

  Thursday, May 14th, 8:00AM - 9:00AM

  Virtual Only

  
  

  Washington is the first state in the nation to establish a worker-earned, worker-funded long-term care benefit, making the WA Cares Fund a pioneering approach to addressing the growing long-term care needs of an aging population. As the program continues to evolve, HR professionals play a critical role in helping employees understand and navigate this benefit.

  Beginning in July 2023, most Washington workers started contributing to the WA Cares Fund through payroll deductions. July 2026 marks the first time eligible individuals may access benefits, making now an especially important moment for employers and HR teams to be informed, prepared, and compliant.

  This session will provide a clear, practical overview of the WA Cares Fund, including how the program works today, key legislative updates since its introduction, and how HR professionals can appropriately support employees who may need to use the benefit. Attendees will gain context not only on compliance requirements, but also on the broader workforce and societal challenges the program is designed to address.

  Learning Objectives:

  • Understand what the WA Cares Fund is and how the benefit works

  • Review key legislative changes since the program’s creation in 2019

  • Learn how to direct employees to appropriate resources and supports when accessing the benefit

  This session is ideal for HR professionals, people leaders, and managers supporting Washington-based employees who want to stay informed, compliant, and ready to guide their workforce through an important and evolving benefit landscape.

  
  

  About the Speaker:

  Mariah Davis, MSW, is an Outreach Specialist at Northwest Regional Council (NWRC), where she provides education and outreach about the WA Cares Fund. Her professional background includes working with children, adolescents, women experiencing homelessness, and older adults. She is passionate about advocating for equitable, accessible long-term care options that support individuals and families across the lifespan. 

  
  

  Attendees earn one (1) recertification credit for SHRM and/or HRCI certifications. 
  

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