Why I Hate HR - and How Strategic Risk-taking Can Change My Opinion

All business decisions are based on risk. There is no way to eliminate the risk, only to minimize it and manage it. To do that you need information, facts, and expert counsel. Most HR programs or departments focus on the policies, lists of “can do” and “cannot do”, benefits available, insurance rates, etc. These are critical to the underlying processes that support a business, but they do not support strategic decision making.

A good - and even great - HR department (or even an individual person) should play an active part in risk evaluation and strategic decision making. The true value of an HR department is in its strategic participation. HR must understand risk, support leadership with that risk, and - most importantly - once a decision is made, actively support and execute those strategic decisions.

Richard S. Szecsy, PhD., PE, FACI, will share with us his experiences of working with HR professionals while leading strategic business development initiatives. His program will walk us through the changes we as HR professionals must make to ensure that we are strategic players rather than roadblocks to the process.

About the speaker:

Richard Szecsy, PhD., PE, FACI

Richard S. Szecsy, PhD., PE, FACI has worked internationally as a technical expert and business development director for a $4B ready mix and aggregate company, a Department Head at a university, a Vice-President and Board member for one of the largest privately held ready-mix concrete and aggregate companies in the US, President & CEO of the largest state aggregate and concrete trade association in the US, and is the current Chief Operating Officer for Charley’s Concrete. He served on several state and national committees as well as Boards of Direction for ASTM, ACI, ASCE, and the NRMCA.

He is widely recognized as a national expert in the areas of concrete technologies, recycled materials, concrete construction, and concrete sustainability and resiliency, and in 2014 was named one of the most Influential People in the concrete industry by Concrete Producer magazine.

He has an enormous depth and breadth of experience on operational issues such as mergers & acquisitions, corporate integrations, cost controls, safety, environmental, quality control, engineering, plant design and layout, pricing strategies, marketing strategies, financial assessment and analysis.

He has a B.S. and M.S. in Civil Engineering from Texas A&M University, a Ph.D. in Civil Engineering from the University of Illinois, and an MBA from Our Lady of the Lake University, and is a registered professional engineer in Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Arkansas, Arizona, Colorado, and North Carolina.

This program is valid for 1 PDC for the SHRM-CP^® or SHRM-SCP^®. For more information about certification or recertification, please visit www.shrmcertification.org.”

Mid Cities HR Association is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP^® or SHRM-SCP^®.

This program is pending 1 business recertification credit through HRCI.

All online reservations are due by close of business on the Monday before the meeting.  Online registration will be closed at that time. 

Cancellations & Payments:
We regret that we must charge members and guests the cost of the event when cancellations are not received at least 48 hours prior to the event day. Also, all payments must be made before or by the time of attendance.  By submitting your registration, you agree to these conditions. We appreciate your understanding and support. 

Use of Materials

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