Hello GMA SHRM Members,

Fall is here, bringing fresh energy and new opportunities. As we head into the final stretch of the year, it’s a good time to look back, set some goals, and finish the year feeling accomplished.

We invite you to embrace this season with us by joining in on upcoming opportunities to learn and connect:

Professional Development Summit (PDS) – Tuesday, September 16

• Michelle Venturini will present 20 Years Later: HR Is Still Looking for Its Seat at the Table
• Rena Somersan will lead Compensation Matters!

Don’t wait—register today to reserve your spot!

Virtual HR Advice Network Roundtables 
Bring your questions, share your experiences, and connect with peers.

Choose from three roundtables each month and register for the one that fits your schedule.

Looking Ahead
We’re excited for WI SHRM’s 2025 State Conference, October 8–10 at the Kalahari Resort in Wisconsin Dells—a highlight of the fall season! If you haven’t registered yet, now’s the time. Volunteer opportunities are also still open if you’d like to get involved.

Member Referral Contest
Our referral contest is back! Invite friends, colleagues, or peers to join our community and they’ll save $40 on their first-year dues with code SAVE40 (new memberships only). You’ll also be entered for a chance to win an Amazon gift card. Hurry—contest ends October 17!

We look forward to connecting with you this fall and building on the opportunities ahead.


Warm Regards,

Ashley Kowalchuk, SHRM-SCP, PHR
President, GMA SHRM
ashley.kowalchuk@iconicacreates.com



 

Legal Update: Performance Improvement Plans Must Be Well-Drafted

Submitted by Submitted by Emmerson Mirus, Brian P. Goodman, and Storm Larson, Attorneys at Boardman & Clark LLP, a Platinum Partner

Emerson Mirus

Brian Goodman

Storm Larson

Murphy v. Caterpillar Inc., a recent case in the Seventh Circuit Court of Appeals, highlights the importance of well-drafted performance improvement plans and good recordkeeping. Murphy, a former employee of Caterpillar Inc., claimed that Caterpillar discriminated against him based on his age. Since starting his employment with Caterpillar in 1979, Murphy had a long history of positive performance reviews and promotions. However, shortly after he successfully led a significant project in 2018, Murphy was placed on a performance action plan. The plan imposed a deadline that had already passed, and Murphy’s supervisors marked it as failed before the plan even took effect.

Murphy argued that the performance action plan was designed for him to fail and therefore suggested the existence of unlawful age discrimination. The Seventh Circuit agreed, reversing the lower court’s judgment in favor of Caterpillar. The Court explained that placing an employee on a performance action plan alone is not sufficient evidence of discrimination. However, Caterpillar’s particular plan for Murphy was “like a bank demanding that a borrower sign a promissory note indicating that the borrower is already in default.” This meant the plan could be used as evidence that the plan was pretext for age discrimination against Murphy.

In light of the Murphy case, employers should ensure that their performance management processes are legitimate, well-documented, and administered fairly to avoid creating evidence that could support age (or other) discrimination claims.

September Professional Development Summit 

September 16,  2025
Alliant Energy Center

 

This event features two engaging sessions:
 
Session 1: 20 Years Later: HR Is Still Looking for Its Seat at the Table
- presented by Michelle Venturini, HR Consulting & Coaching

This session will be a love-fest for all of the important and hard work that HR does. It will also be a tough-love look in the mirror to revisit the original article and assess if much has changed.
Attendees of this program will learn:

• Why “what does the policy say” kills HR’s credibility
• How to turn heads when you claim your seat
• What personal paradigms need to shift

Session 2: Compensation Matters! 
- presented by Rena Somersan, Newport

Attendees can anticipate an engaging discussion on compensation trends and hot topics in Total Rewards. This session will address these issues and emphasize their importance, as managing the complexities of compensation in the current economic landscape can be challenging. We will examine creative compensation philosophies, the quest for relevant compensation data and pay under pressure (the need to have short- and long-term incentive plans that enhance organizational performance).
Attendees of this program will:

• Be able to articulate the key trends that are impacting winning Total Rewards Philosophies
• Understand how to utilize data and utilize pay bands to help with pay equity and minimize compression
• Articulate key design elements of effective incentive programs tailored to company size and scope.

More Information and Registration

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Board Spotlight: Programming

Submitted by Mindi Wilkinson, Administrative Supervisor for UW Madison’s College of Agricultural and Life Sciences and GMA SHRM PDS Committee Volunteer
 

The Professional Development Summits (PDS) Committee supports the ongoing growth of HR professionals by selecting topics and presenters for five annual summits, each offering two HR-focused sessions. These sessions qualify for SHRM and HRCI recertification credits and are included with membership dues. The committee works collaboratively to deliver high-quality, cost-effective programming that benefits members across all levels and disciplines. The committee is led by Lisa Rusch, who joined as Director last year.

If you would like to learn more about the Programming Committee, get involved, or recommend a great speaker, reach out to VP Programming,  JoAnna Vanderpoel PHR, SHRM-CP.

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2025 Virtual Roundtables Open for Registration!

 

Join us for these virtual discussions facilitated by members!

During Roundtables, members discuss their emerging HR challenges and when possible, others offer possible solutions, support, and resources. Come with those questions top of mind for your organization, offer your own experience and best practices, or simply join to network with others.

More Information and Registration

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Volunteer Opportunity: Resume Reviewers Needed for South Central Wisconsin Job Fair

Submitted Ambar Aguirre Sanchez, HR Generalist at Veridian Homes and Director of Workforce Readiness

GMA SHRM’s Workforce Readiness Committee is seeking volunteers to serve as resume reviewers at the upcoming South Central Wisconsin Job Fair on Tuesday, September 9, from 12:30 p.m. to 5:00 p.m.

This is a great way to use your HR experience to support community members in their job search. Volunteers will provide quick, 10-minute resume reviews for job fair participants. All levels of HR experience are welcome and encouraged to participate!

Event Details
 

Volunteer shifts: We’re seeking 6-8 volunteers per shift.

• 12:30 p.m. – 3:00 p.m.
• 3:00 p.m. – 5:00 p.m.

•  Alliant Energy Center, 1919 Alliant Energy Way, Madison

•  Free Parking!

If you have questions or would like to sign up, please contact: Ambar Aguirre Sanchez, Director of Workforce Readiness, asanchez@veridianhomes.com.

We hope you’ll join us in making a positive impact in our community!

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Volunteer Opportunity: Speaker Panel at Student Night Out

Submitted by Kyle Borgardt, HCM Account Executive at Paylocity and Director of College Relations

GMA SHRM is excited to partner with the University of Wisconsin and other local colleges for Student Night Out, happening Tuesday, October 14th from 5:30 – 7:00 PM at Grainger Hall.

We’re looking for passionate HR professionals to join a panel and share their real-world experiences, career paths, and insights with students exploring the HR field. This is a fantastic opportunity to inspire the next generation and represent the strength of our Madison HR community.

Interested in being a panelist? Email kborgardt@paylocity.com to learn more or sign up!
 

Diversity Observances in September and October

Submitted by Lana Martin, HR Coordinator at UW Madison – University Health Services and Director of DEI

Resource of the Month: Celebrating Hispanic Heritage Month

From September 15 – October 15, we celebrate the indelible contributions made by Hispanic and Latino communities on the history and culture of the United States.

The terms Hispanic and Latino (or the more recent term Latinx) refer to a person’s culture or origin—regardless of race. On the 2020 Census form, people were counted as Hispanic or Latino or Spanish if they could identify as having Mexican, Mexican American, Chicano, Puerto Rican, Cuban, or “another Hispanic, Latino, or Spanish origin.”
Hispanic Heritage Month began as a commemorative week when it was first introduced in June of 1968 by California Congressman George E. Brown.

It was later extended to a month-long celebration chosen to coincide with the independence anniversaries of several Latin American nations, including Costa Rica, El Salvador, Guatemala, Honduras, and Nicaragua.
Visit the National Hispanic Heritage Month site to see special spotlights on Latinx artists, the National Museum of the American Latino, Hispanic American veterans, as well as links to additional learning resources.

Sources:
https://www.hispanicheritagemonth.gov/
https://history.house.gov/HistoricalHighlight/Detail/15032398402
https://learninglab.si.edu/news/top-8-reasons-why-and-how-we-celebrate-hispanic-heritage-month

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September and October Observances

Use these observances for team engagement! Have fun, celebrate diversity, and take this opportunity to share stories and learn more about your teammates.  

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