In Memory of SHRM Volunteer Leader Ed Carpenter, SHRM-SCP

IN MEMORY OF

SHRM Volunteer Leader, Ed Carpenter, SHRM-SCP

By FAITH STIPANOVICH, SHRM FIELD SERVICES DIRECTOR

The HR Community was saddened to learn that Benjamine E. Carpenter, “Ed” as he was known to all of us, passed away unexpectedly on Thursday, September 30, 2021, leaving behind Patsy, his wife of 42 years and his lovely daughter Amanda.

Ed was a very active SHRM volunteer leader and truly loved working in HR. Ed’s journey as a SHRM volunteer leader began in 2007 when he became president of the recently established local SHRM chapter, Southern Indiana SHRM. In 2008, Ed became SHRM-SCP certified. Through his certification, he was able to serve as adjunct professor at Ivy Tech College, where he taught the SHRM Certification Prep Course for seven years in addition to being a study group facilitator for his chapter. For several years following, he served as the chapter certification director and workforce readiness director. In 2017, the chapter celebrated its 10th anniversary, and its success and growth as a chapter won it the Chapter of the Year at HR Indiana’s State Conference – making this anniversary celebration that much more memorable. This momentum engaged and challenged members to make HR fun again, resulting in the chapter receiving its first SHRM Pinnacle Award that same year.

In his motivation to help others, Ed became driven to learn more about the work of the SHRM Foundation. He sought out information to help educate his local members on opportunities including scholarships for HR professionals to prepare and achieve SHRM certification or to attend conferences for professional growth development. Serving as the HR Indiana State Council’s Foundation director and by creating an environment where events were fun and engaging, the state council was able to gain visibility and help raise awareness of the SHRM Foundation’s work. The money that volunteers raised at the State Conference in 2018, helped the Indiana state council achieve recognition as the second-highest contributors that year and HR Indiana continued to hold that position in 2019 and 2020.

In addition to his role as the corporate director of human resources for Superior Van & Mobility based in its corporate office in Louisville, KY where if delivered full support of all human resource functions for the company’s 10 locations., Ed most recently served again as the Chapter President for Southern Indiana SHRM where he worked tirelessly with his chapter volunteers during the pandemic to provide continued chapter programming and resources.

It was often said that Ed had a wonderful gift for helping others to be able to see their own worth and be able reach their goals. May his good work live on through our memories of him.