I am humbled and honored to SERVE as SAHRMA's President for 2019.  Without question, I have some very big shoes to fill.  Our organization owes tremendous gratitude to Jeri George for her leadership in 2018, a year in which SAHRMA rebranded itself, launched a new website, and saw tremendous membership growth.  I will no doubt rely heavily upon Jeri in her new role as Past President, as well as on our 2019 Board of Directors.

As we embark on a new year, we will undoubtedly reflect upon our personal and professional successes of the past year, as well as our goals for the coming year.  This annual exercise of reflection is particularly productive for HR professionals, who may be evaluating what worked and what didn't in the areas of hiring, professional development, performance management, and employee retention.  A yearly review of positive and negative trends will enable you to build upon successes and to focus on areas requiring improvement.  And, taking time to dust off the employee handbook and identify policies requiring update is never a bad idea, either.

As a Board, we will embark on our own yearly review on January 12, at which time we will meet to not only bond as a group, but also to identify goals aimed at achieving our mission of LEARNING, CONNECTING, and SERVING.  Our success as a Board depends heavily on member engagement through active committee participation.  I encourage you to visit our website and review the information concerning each of our committees.  Volunteering for a committee not only enhances your experience as a SAHRMA member but serves to CONNECT you with other members from whom you can LEARN and who can LEARN from you! There is no greater gift nor reward than SERVICE.