note from the editor

Looks like Spring is finally here – at last! The SHRM Spring conferences are in full swing, and most are in person. The mask mandates due to COVID have been lifted. Great to see people traveling again. We kicked off the season with the SHRM Workplace Policy Conference in Washington, D.C. in March at the historical Washington Hilton. We were fortunate to see the cherry blossoms in full bloom around the U.S. Capitol this year. A special treat was dinner at The Monocle Restaurant across from the Capitol with dear friends. It was great seeing Republican and Democrat legislators dining together while partisan warfare was raging a few feet away! The historical photos that line the walls of the beautiful dining area were such a treat! Check out the highlights of the SHRM Workplace Policy Conference on Pages 40-41. In addition, we have highlights from the SHRM Talent Conference in Denver.

We are excited to have Shonda Kines, SHRM-CP, PHR, CCP, CBP, FLMI, Director of the Mississippi SHRM State Council on our May cover. She began her volunteer service to SHRM in 2011 when she was elected to serve on the Board of Directors of the Capital Area Human Resource Association in Jackson, MS. Shonda is also Director, Human Resources for the Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Company in Jackson. Shonda was honored in 2016 with the Mississippi HR Professional of the Year Award. Read all about her professional journey in the HR community on Page 6. Shonda and her team have planned a great conference in Biloxi. We will bring you the highlights in our June issue. We are looking forward to seeing our MSSHRM friends again!

We have some excellent articles in this issue covering all the hot topics in our profession. Hat’s off to our sponsors like ADP who contributed an article on the latest in HR compliance. Mary Moffatt with Wimberly Lawson provided an article on the latest from the DOL on mental health parity and group health plan compliance. McGriff’s article takes a look at the rising Rx costs. We have an awesome article on coaching and the new leadership model from WGU and how to foster ownership through communicating with purpose by PerformancePoint. Don’t miss the Team Foster article on 10 ideas to beat spring fever at work!

Watch your email for our May webinars to help you earn lots of SHRM and HRCI recertification credits! Save the date - May 24 for my next webinar sponsored by Data Facts!

cynthia@hrprosmagazine.com @cythomps on Twitter

Congratulations, Shonda!

Your Southern Farm Bureau Life Insurance Friends applaud your service to Mississippi SHRM and your leadership of the 25th Annual Mississippi Human Resource Conference & Expo in Biloxi!