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Wisconsin HR Professionals, How Are You Kicking Off Your Summer?



As the Wisconsin weather starts to warm up and we put away our winter coats for another year, summer will be here before we know it! Along with the cookouts, spending time on the lake, or just enjoying the sun, how about starting your summer with a high-energy, knowledge-packed, HR professional development event that is FREE? If you are ready for the challenge, we invite you to register for this year’s HR Summer School!

What is HR Summer School?
Forget the stuffy, windowless conference rooms. HR Summer School is a virtual, world-class experience designed specifically for HR professionals who want to move the needle. Led by Ben Eubanks and George Rogers, two of the top HR industry experts around, and featuring some of the brightest minds in the industry, this isn't just another webinar—it’s a movement.

Why Wisconsin HR Professionals Should Be There:
  • Zero Travel, All the Impact: We know how precious a Wisconsin summer is. Stay on your patio, keep your toes in the grass, and join us from your laptop. No airports, no hotel food, just pure learning.
  • Earn Your Credits: Need to stay on top of your SHRM or HRCI certifications? We’ve got you covered with credits that help you stay ahead of the game.
  • Practical Strategy: You won't just hear "fluff." You’ll get actionable tactics on talent acquisition, employee engagement, and leadership that you can implement at your organization the very next day.
  • A Global Community: Connect with thousands of peers who are facing the same challenges you are. Share ideas, network, solve problems, and realize you’re not on an island.
  • A Manageable Schedule: This year’s event takes place virtually June 2nd - 4th from 10 am to 12:30 pm CDT each day.

The Best Part? It’s FREE.
Yes, you read that right. In the spirit of making HR education accessible to everyone, and thanks to some amazing sponsors, the event is free to register. There is quite literally nothing standing between you and the next level of your career. In addition, Wisconsin State Council SHRM has partnered with HR Summer School and will receive a donation to support the SHRM Foundation for each Wisconsin registration made through the link below.

Are you ready to represent Wisconsin at the head of the class?
Don’t let the summer pass you by without investing in the most important asset your company has: YOU.

👉 REGISTER FOR HR SUMMER SCHOOL HERE (https://hrsummerschool.org/wi26/)

Let’s show the world how Wisconsin does HR. We’ll see you in class!

P.S. Know a fellow HR pro or colleague? Forward this to them! Great things happen when the Wisconsin HR community grows together.
 


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Contact Information

 

Jeff Palkowski,MHRM, SHRM-SCP, PHR, PMQ
State Director

Em:  statedirector@wishrm.org
Term Start:  1/1/2025

Biography

Jeffery C. Palkowski, MHRM, SHRM-SCP, PHR, PMQ, is a veteran Human Resources professional and influential voice in the HR community with over two decades of HR leadership experience. Following a distinguished career in public service—including key roles at the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the Wisconsin State Legislature—Jeff has dedicated his expertise to advancing the HR profession through strategic advocacy and volunteer leadership since 2003. Prior to his career in human resources, he served as a financial services executive, notably as Vice President of Investor Services at a leading national mutual fund service provider.

Currently, Jeff serves as the State Director for the Wisconsin State Council SHRM and represents the SHRM Foundation as the Ambassador for Council and Chapter Giving and Leadership Circle member. His leadership extends to the national level as the SHRM North Central Region’s alternate representative on the Membership Advisory Council. Jeff’s deep commitment to the SHRM community is evidenced by 20 years of service in diverse roles, including Director of Government Affairs, Communications/Social Media Director, District Director, and Advocacy Captain for Wisconsin’s 1st Congressional District.

An early adopter in HR social media engagement, Jeff is a Hootsuite Social Marketing Certified professional. From 2019 to 2024, he was a mainstay on the SHRM Annual Conference Influencer Teams and founded the WI SHRM SMILE (Social Media) Team to energize state conference engagement. His expertise was recently featured in SHRM’s promotional video for the 2025 Annual Conference & Expo titled “Why SHRM25 is a Must-attend Event.”

Jeff is a frequent guest on premier HR podcasts, such as SHRM HR Storytellers, HR Break Room, Speakeasy HR, We’re Only Human Show, HR Mixtape, HR Like a Boss, and Life in the Leadership Lane. A contributor to Bruce Waller's book “Drive with Purpose,” Jeff also maintains an industry blog at HRSushiBar.com and is a sought-after speaker at events such as DisruptHR Madison and HR Summer School.

In recognition of his HR volunteer service, Jeff was honored with the HRUnite! Ambassador Award in both 2022 and 2024. In 2025, Jeff was also named to the “The Most Inclusive HR Influencer List.” He holds a Master of Human Resource Management with distinction from the Keller Graduate School of Management and a Bachelor’s in Mass Communications-Journalism from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. In addition to his SHRM-SCP, PMQ, and PHR credentials, Jeff holds SHRM specialty certifications in AI+HI and Volunteer Leadership.
 

 

Additional Information

The State Director is the chief elected officer of the State Council and effectively establishes policy, strategies, and objectives consistent with SHRM, Region and National Board policies. The State Director provides guidance to Council members.