2026-05-19 | Upside Down HR: A Completely New Vantage Point Where HR Leads the Future of Work

2026-05-19 | Upside Down HR: A Completely New Vantage Point Where HR Leads the Future of Work

North Canton, OH

May 2026 Chapter Meeting - IN PERSON

Join us on Tuesday, May 19, 2026 from 11:15 am to 1:00 pm for: Upside Down HR: A Completely New Vantage Point Where Human Resources Leads the Future of Work. Presented by John Bernatovicz.
Courtyard by Marriott / 4375 Metro Circle NW / North Canton, OH 44720

11:15am - Registration Opens
11:30am - Lunch starts serving*
11:45am - Program begins

Cost

SCHRA Members $25.00

Non-members of SCHRA $40.00

Student Members - Full Time Students Should contact Jami Swain (jswain@walsh.edu) for a special offer.

Retirees (Honorary) and In-Transition members $15.00

SPECIAL MEAL REQUESTS: Please e-mail Freda Martin at fmartin@omjwork.com no later than May 15, 2026.
NOTE: Registration closes the Friday before the meeting at 5 pm.

Session Description: HR professionals are the backbone of organizational culture, yet they are often the first to sacrifice their own well being in service of everyone else. Upside Down HR exposes the hidden cost of this pattern: burnout, strained relationships, diminished work quality, and a gradual loss of personal identity. This session challenges the long standing belief that HR must serve others first and reframes self care as a strategic imperative, not a luxury.

By modeling foundational habits like sleep, nutrition, exercise, and mindfulness, attendees will learn how to build the physical and emotional capacity required to lead and support effectively. Once HR is grounded and able to lead by example, we will explore ways to address the organizational forces that compound HR stress: untrained managers, overwhelmed executives, underutilized HR technology, and the emotional labor required to support an entire workforce. We’ll also examine the power of emotional intelligence, reconnecting to purpose, and strengthening resilience as tools to reduce unnecessary pressure and reclaim personal agency.

This session blends practical strategies with mindset shifts to help HR professionals flip the script, protect their energy, and elevate their impact. When HR is able to bring their full selves to work, they become stronger leaders, better partners to the business, and healthier humans both at work and at home.

Learning Objectives • Recognize the personal and organizational consequences of chronic self neglect in HR and learn how to rebuild well being through sustainable daily habits. • Identify the core business stressors that drain HR capacity and explore practical approaches to address manager readiness, technology gaps, and emotional labor. • Apply mindset and behavioral tools including emotional intelligence, purpose alignment, and resilience in order to strengthen boundaries, reduce empathic distress, and redirect energy toward meaningful, high impact HR work.


Speaker Bio: John Bernatovicz is a family first, business leader, balancing roles as a father, brother, coach, and competitive amateur golfer. In addition to being an entrepreneur, podcast host, keynote speaker, author, and HR and payroll expert, John is on a mission to empower leaders to transform how people feel at work while making a positive impact.

With a rich entrepreneurial history spanning 25 years, John has been at the helm of six business ventures. Currently serving as the president of Willory, a boutique professional services firm empowering the HR tech, payroll, and HR communities, John's passion lies in elevating purpose-driven organizations to their full potential. At Willory, he is dedicated to attracting, developing, and empowering top talent. John's leadership has propelled Willory to remarkable achievements, including recognition in prestigious lists such as NorthCoast 99, Weatherhead 100, Crain’s 52, and Inc. 5000.

In addition, John’s book, HR Like a Boss, is the first SHRM-published book to reach #1 New Release on Amazon along with his new book Payroll Like a Boss which launches in late April 2026.

This meeting is pending for recertification credits from HRCI and SHRM.

Thank you to our sponsor, Willory!