Make plans and mark your calendar to join us for this year's WI SHRM Student Summit to be held at the University of Wisconsin - Whitewater in Whitewater, WI on April 5, 2025.
Over the course of an exciting day, there will be guest speakers, panel discussions and a breakout session.
As future leaders and professionals, you are the next generation to shape the way businesses interact with their most valuable asset—their people. Whether you're a current HR student, considering a major switch, or just curious about a career in HR, the Student Summit will provide valuable insights and knowledge to help prepare you for your future in HR. We have a fantastic lineup of speakers and thought leaders who will share their expertise, offering you a look beyond academic perspectives and getting to the heart of real world application.
Register now and take full advantage of this opportunity to learn and network. Together, let’s explore how Human Resources is not just about hiring and managing employees, but about building a thriving, inclusive, and effective workplace for the future.
Questions or interested in volunteering at the event? Please contact:
Emily Blakeslee, College Relations Director | collegerelationsdirector@wishrm.org
Event Pricing |
Event Venue |
|
| Student - Undergrad or Graduate Student Student Chapter Advisor SHRM Member NonSHRM Chapter Member |
$0 $0 $25 $25 $25 |
University of WI - Whitewater |
| Time | Description |
|---|---|
| 8:00 - 9:00 am | Registration and Networking Breakfast |
| 8:50 - 9:00 am | Welcome Attendees & Host Student Chapter Welcome Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP, SPHR and Breanna Techert, UW-W SHRM Student Chapter President |
| 9:00 - 9:45 am | HR Games Speaker: Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Start the day with a fun, interactive session designed to test your knowledge of key HR topics including recruitment, workplace culture, labor laws, and employee relations. Competing individually, this fun and educational game will challenge you and reinforce key HR concepts, all while adding an element of friendly competition. |
| 9:45 - 10:30 am | Networking That Gets You Hired: Real Skills for Real Jobs Panelists: Ty Day and David Wilson Through guided role-play exercises, you’ll gain confidence in making meaningful connections, navigating conversations with ease, and leaving a lasting impression. We’ll also cover strategies for leveraging LinkedIn to expand your network, schedule calls with professionals, and how to properly follow-up after the call. Whether you're networking at conferences, career fairs, or online, this session will provide practical tools to help you build confidence and connections. |
| 10:30 - 10:45 am | Break |
| 10:45 - 11:45 pm | HR Career Paths Panel Discussion Moderator: Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Panelists: Stephanie Hartmann, Aaron O'Donahue, Andrew Marcotte, SHRM-SCP Join us for an engaging panel discussion featuring a diverse group of experienced HR professionals as they share their insights on the evolving landscape of human resources. This session will cover key trends, challenges, and best practices in HR. Attendees will have the opportunity to ask questions, gain valuable career advice, and hear firsthand how industry leaders are shaping the future of HR. Whether you're a student, new professional, or seasoned expert, this panel offers essential takeaways to help you stay ahead. |
| 12:00 - 1:00 pm | Networking Lunch |
| 1:00 - 2:30 pm | Session Breakouts |
| Session 1 | Communicate, Collaborate and Expand Your Network through SHRM's Mentorship Programs Speaker: Faith Stipanovich, SHRM-SCP SHRM understands that pursuing your purpose and kick-starting your career can be daunting without a professional network. That’s why the SHRM Foundation offers mentorship experiences designed to help you build your network, hone your skills, and deepen your HR expertise. Additionally, it provides a fantastic platform for sharing your unique perspectives and ideas with experienced HR professionals. With programs that range from one-time virtual career mentoring events to a comprehensive three-month coaching program, SHRM mentorship prepares you for the workplace. |
|
| Session 2 | Continued Education After College?!? Speaker: Jennifer Jirsa, SHRM-SCP, PHR Keeping current with the latest HR trends, technologies, and best practices is crucial after graduation. We will learn about ways to keep up-to-date, as well as the benefits of continuing education after college. Continuing your growth doesn't require you to return to a classroom. In this session, you will learn from HR professionals' experience and pick up some career-enhancing tools. |
|
| Session 3 | The Power of Connections and Networking to Enhance Your Career Success Speaker: Sheree Yates, SHRM-SCP, PHR In today's dynamic and interconnected business world, the ability to build and leverage a strong network is a crucial skill for career success. You’ll learn practical strategies which enable you to take action towards creating and enhancing meaningful professional connections. We'll explore approaches to networking, its significance in the modern job market, and identify ways you can leverage your network to propel your career forward. |
|
| 2:30 - 3:00 pm | SHRM Membership and Certification Overview Speakers: Faith Stipanovich, SHRM-SCP & Kortney Jenks, SHRM-CP Pursue your purpose with a SHRM Membership and SHRM Certification! Learn about being a part of a robust HR network of nearly 340,000 professionals, all united in the mission to create a world of work that truly works for all. SHRM Members gain access to invaluable resources, world-class educational opportunities and premier events. The SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP certifications are recognized and valued by employers in all industries as the premier human resources certifications. |
| 3:00 - 3:30 pm | Closing Remarks and Networking Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
| Note: Conference agenda may change without prior notice. |
 |
Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP, SPHR About the Speaker: Emily is a strategic HR leader with a disciplined and flexible approach to problem-solving that balances business goals with employee needs. She has a proven record of driving initiatives that enhance performance, grow company culture and employee engagement, and increase ROI. And am a firm employee advocate and servant leader who empowers staff and designs strategies to attract and retain critical talent in a highly competitive market. |
 |
Ty Day, MBA Candidate About the Speaker: Ty Day is an MBA candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Strategic Human Resource Management. With over 7 years in business development, sales, and marketing, he brings a strategic and relationship-driven approach to HR. Ty has experience influencing cross-functional teams, driving business transformation, and growing and nurturing a strong network. This summer, he will be in Lake Forest, Illinois for a HR Leadership Development Internship with AbbVie. |
 |
David Wilson, MBA Candidate About the Speaker: David Wilson is an MBA candidate at the University of Wisconsin-Madison, specializing in Strategic Human Resource Management. With over eight years of experience in brand marketing at Fortune 500 companies, he is excited to apply a data-driven, strategic approach to HR. A certified Prosci® Change Management Practitioner, David is passionate about aligning people strategies with business objectives to drive organizational success. This summer, he will be in Houston for a corporate HR internship at Chevron. |
 |
Stephanie Hartmann About the Speaker: Stephanie Hartmann is the current Deputy Chief Human Resources Officer at UW-Whitewater. Stephanie has been with the Human Resources department since 2011 when she started as a temporary employee. After a short time she transitioned into a Project position in April 2012, eventually securing a full time position in September 2012 as an HR Assistant. Stephanie functioned in the HR Assistant role until 2013 when she moved into an HR Assistant Advanced position, in 20217 she became the Benefit Specialist/HR Manager for campus until 2023 when she was hired into her current role. Stephanie is a UW-Whitewater alumni graduation in 1991 with a degree in Public Relations and Marketing. Stephanie resides in Whitewater with her husband, son, their two cats and dog. |
 |
Aaron O'Donahue, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, sHRBP About the Speaker: Experienced Human Resources professional with a demonstrated history of working in various industries. Skilled in Communication, Compliance, Leave of Absence Administration, Continuous Improvement, Benefit Plan Administration, Compensation Management, Employee Relations, Strategic Planning, and Recruitment. |
 |
Andrew Marcotte, SHRM-SCP About the Speaker: Andrew is the Director of Human Resources at Blain’s Farm & Fleet. He provides strategic HR leadership to the Home Office and Distribution Center teams. He oversees HR Business Partners and Learning and Development functions, driving initiatives that enhance associate growth, leadership development, and organizational performance. With deep expertise in talent management, Andrew manages key processes like annual goal setting, performance reviews, and talent assessments across all functions. He also leads the design and delivery of onboarding and orientation programs, including new leader transition and assimilation strategies, fostering a positive and engaging associate experience. In addition to his HR leadership, Andrew serves as the Change Management Lead for the company’s ERP implementation, guiding the development and execution of a comprehensive change strategy. Andrew holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from Olivet Nazarene University, his SHRM-SCP, and is pursuing his MBA in Data Analytics and Strategy from the University of Illinois Urbana-Champaign. He is an active board member for the Blackhawk Human Resource Association and the Southwest Workforce Development Board, contributing to advancing the region's HR practices and workforce development. Passionate about empowering the next generation of HR leaders, Andrew is committed to sharing insights and experiences to help students and early-career professionals navigate the evolving HR landscape. |
 |
Faith Stipanovich, SHRM-SCP About the speaker: Faith Stipanovich, SHRM-SCP is SHRM’s Manager, Academic and Student Communities. She holds a master’s degree in human resource management from LaRoche University, Pittsburgh, PA, and a bachelor’s degree in Human Resources Management from Geneva College, Beaver, PA. Transitioning from her role as a Senior HR Business Partner at Matthews International, where she supported multiple business units across the Memorialization Division, primarily working with leaders in bronze manufacturing, Funeral Products Distribution, and sales, Faith joined SHRM in December 2019 as a Field Services Director and moved to her current role in February 2024. Prior to working at Matthews, she worked as a public servant for Allegheny County managing the Payroll Department for over 7000 employees and was part of the team responsible for implementing an HRIS and new payroll enterprise system. Faith spent her early career working as a Paralegal at various law firms throughout the city of Pittsburgh. It was during these early career days that Faith discovered her passion for employees and employee law. Prior to joining SHRM Faith served as the Northeast SHRM MAC in 2019 and served on the SHRM Labor Relations Expertise Panel. She held multiple positions on the Pennsylvania State Council of SHRM and her local chapter the Pittsburgh Human Resources Association. |
 |
Jennifer Jirsa, SHRM-SCP, PHR About the speaker: Jennifer has close to 20 years of experience in Human Resources. She has worked with global manufacturing and human services industries. Currently, she is employed at MyPath as their Senior Benefits Manager. She has a strong knowledge of benefits, employee development, recruitment practices, strategic planning, employee relations and organization change. Jennifer is a graduate of UW-Whitewater with a Bachelor of Business Administration/HR Major. She currently holds the SHRM-SCP and PHR credentials. Her past volunteer experience was with Jefferson County Human Resource Management Association (JCHRMA). She served on their board for 10 years in the roles of past president, president, student liaison, secretary, and treasurer. She has also served as the District Director – Southwest for WI SHRM for 2 years, Membership Director for 3 years and most recently as Secretary. |
 |
Sheree Yates, SHRM-SCP, PHR About the speaker: Sheree has over 20 years of Human Resources and leadership experience. She is the Senior Director of Human Resources for Educational Credential Evaluators, a non-profit located in Milwaukee. She has a strong knowledge of strategic planning, organizational change, leadership, employee development, and benefits. Sheree has a BA in Psychology from the University of WI - Milwaukee, an MS in Organizational Change Leadership program from the University of Wisconsin - Platteville and will be completing a MS in Strategic Management from the University of WI - Platteville in 2025. She is a certified HR professional (SHRM-SCP, PHR) and an active leader in the Wisconsin HR community having served on the SHRM Racine and Kenosha and Milwaukee Metro SHRM chapters boards and the WI SHRM State Council as Certification Director, District Director, Foundation Director, and CLA Director. Sheree is actively engaged in the academic community and has served on boards at UW Platteville and Pius XI High School. |
 |
Kortney Jenks, SHRM-CP About the speaker: Kortney has been in the Human Resources field for 16 years in a variety of industries and Human Resource functions. She received her bachelor’s degree in business administration with a concentration in Human Resources Management from the University of Wisconsin – Green Bay. Kortney received her SHRM-CP certification in December 2016. Kortney currently works at the City of Oshkosh in Oshkosh, WI as their HR Generalist. In her role she supports recruiting, wellness, and training. Kortney strives to continue her learning and growth in the HR Profession. |
Emily Blakeslee, SHRM-SCP
College Relations Director
Em: collegerelationsdirector@wishrm.org
Term start: 01/01/2025
