Blog Post: 2008 SHRM Diversity Conference and Expo

This year’s list of keynote speakers includes the Monday opening speaker, Lisa Ling, host of the National Geographic Channel and special correspondent for the Oprah Winfrey Show.   Three Chief Diversity Officers will be present at Tuesday morning's general session for what is described by Dr. Shirley A. Davis (SHRM Director of Diversity and Inclusion) as “candid conversations on global diversity and inclusion issues in the 21st century.”   The scheduled guest CDOs are:  Steve Bucherati from Coca-Cola; Deborah Dagit from Merck & Co.; and,   Dr. Rohini Anand from Sodexho USA.     Also slated to appear are:  Frans Johansson, author of The Medici Effect  and Bill Strickland, president and CEO of Manchester Bidwell Corporation.

    
In addition, conference attendees will be able to choose from a range of pre-conference workshops and concurrent sessions regarding  some of the business challenges that we face in the workplace, our communities, and in the marketplace.   These sessions have been pre-approved by the HR Certification Institute (HRCI) for 8.25 credits toward PHR, SPHR or GPHR recertification.

Dr. Davis also notes that there will be many opportunities for networking and sharing ideas, including a:   Meet to Eat which provides participants with an opportunity to dine at local restaurants with colleagues from similar industries and business sectors and a Diversity Dialogue Networking breakfast that will allow you to select and discuss certain diversity-related table topics with your colleagues.

By: Cindy Lau-Evans, summarizing information in e-mail communication to SHRM chapter Diversity Directors from Dr. Shirley Davis, SHRM Director of Diversity and Inclusion