Skip to Page Content

WNHRMA Year-End Meeting Recap and 2026 Leadership Announcement

    No Comments November 17, 2025

    WNHRMA held its year-end business meeting on November 13, 2025, where members gathered to reflect on the year, celebrate our volunteers, and prepare for the work ahead in 2026. We were honored to welcome guest speaker Lily Amare of Cline Williams, who shared her expertise in employment law.

    Volunteer Leader Recognition

    A major highlight of the meeting was recognizing the outstanding dedication of our volunteer leaders. Sharisa Spehar, who kept us organized as Chapter secretary, was celebrated for her reliability and leadership and will now serve as our 2026 President-Elect. We also recognized Carla Mayhew for her exceptional service as Past-President, Membership Director, and Social Media Director, as well as for representing WNHRMA at the HRNE State Conference. Crystal Smith and Audrey Murphy were thanked for delivering another successful Western Nebraska HR Conference, with Crystal stepping up again to lead a two-hour recertification workshop in 2026. Our gratitude also extends to Treasurer Hilary Strom for her consistent financial reporting; to Kim Ferguson for her ongoing leadership in College Relations and scholarship efforts; to Erin Sorenson for her thoughtful service as Foundation Director and her move into the Secretary role next year; and to Autumn Ramirez for her active involvement in government affairs and legislative updates.

    2026 Strategic Priorities

    During our strategic planning session on October 27, the board reaffirmed its 2026 goals to enhance member engagement and strengthen the chapter through increased volunteer involvement. Several changes will support these goals, including reducing the number of business meetings, shifting to a two-hour workshop instead of a full conference in April, and exploring a new meeting day based on member feedback, with early survey trends indicating that Tuesdays may be the most favorable. Planning for the 2026 programming year has already begun, with speakers Heather Merric and Carla Mayhew scheduled for January and February. We thank everyone who has completed the membership survey so far and will continue building next year’s offerings based on your input.

    2026 Officer and Director Slate

    The Chapter also approved the 2026 slate of Officers and Directors. Julie Thompson will serve as President for a second year, with Sharisa Spehar as President-Elect, Erin Sorenson as Secretary, Hilary Strom as Treasurer, and Carla Mayhew as Past-President. Core Leadership Area Directors for 2026 include Crystal Smith for Certification, Kim Ferguson for College Relations, Ashley Clark for SHRM Foundation, Autumn Ramirez for Government Affairs, and Anna Rivera for Workforce Readiness. The Inclusion and Diversity position remains open for volunteers, and Membership/Social Media will be led by Carla Mayhew.

    Looking Ahead

    WNHRMA is grateful for the dedication of these leaders and their commitment to advancing the HR profession across Western Nebraska. Our next meeting will be held in January (date TBD), featuring both a business meeting and a professional development program.