EHRA 2026 Annual Conference 

Thursday, October 22, 2026

7:30 AM - 4:45 PM

CityView at Sterling Sq

AGENDA:

PROGRAM: 

When Right Isn’t Easy: Ethical Decision Making for HR Professionals
Dr Nikie Walker, Ed.D.

Navigating ethical dilemmas is a critical skill for HR professionals, whose decisions shape organizational culture, employee trust, and legal compliance.  In this session, participants will explore the complexities of ethical decision making in the workplace, including how to recognize ethical issues, mitigate unconscious bias, address misconduct, and uphold confidentiality and fairness.  Through practical frameworks, real-world case studies, and actionable strategies, this session empowers HR leaders to confidently manage ethical challenges and foster integrity-driven workplaces.  Attendees will leave equipped with decision-making tools, conflict management techniques, and best practices for cultivating an ethical organizational culture.

Mind the Gap: Developing Learning Journeys
JoDee Curtis

In Europe, the train systems have a continuous message as you approach the stations to “mind the gap”; that is, to be aware of the gap/space between the train and the platform.  It’s also an important message for us as individuals, leaders, and learners to mind our own gap and understand the best way to get ourselves and our teams to the desired “next step” in our growth or leadership journeys.  This session will help us to consider different approaches and methodologies to inspire, engage, and attract our people/teams to furthering their learning journeys.

Documenting and Dealing with Toxic Behavior
Alise Isbell

Do you deal with toxic people at work? We all do. What if you could see the trouble before hiring or engaging in relationships with these people? This session shares practical concepts allowing you to avoid potential toxic situations or document bad behaviors if they already exist in your organization.  Gain actionable advice from an expert, then interact with colleagues to gain even more behavioral strategies. This three-hour session starts with Identifying Toxic Behavior Patterns. Next, we learn about Dealing with Toxic Behavior Patterns. We then transition into sharing toxic tales and gaining tips, tricks, tactics and techniques from fellow professionals at your table.

SPEAKERs: 

Dr. Nikie Walker, Ed.D., is a trusted expert in workplace culture, employee retention, leadership training, and strategic business planning.  Specializing in small-to-midsize companies—particularly in the medical field—she has a deep understanding of the challenges entrepreneurs face and provides actionable solutions that drive organizational success.

Dr. Walker is passionate about leadership development and believes in empowering professionals with the knowledge they need to thrive.  Through public speaking engagements, workshops, and strategic consulting, Dr. Walker helps organizations and leaders unlock their full potential.  Whether coaching executives on corporate culture or designing innovative HR strategies, she is dedicated to transforming workplaces for long-term success.

JoDee is on a mission to inspire JoyPowered® work!

With her unique 30+ year combination of prior experience as a CPA, CFO, and Vice President of HR, JoDee can help those of different organizations and industries discover their talents and do more of what they do best. Described as an engaging and informative speaker, her sessions on anything related to conflict, influence, leadership, or CliftonStrengths® will inspire you and – more importantly – help you walk away with simple, actionable steps that can be implemented today and repeated tomorrow. The root of it all? Joy!

JoDee has established herself as a thought leader through her popular JoyPowered® Workspace podcast and JoyPowered® book series. She has spoken and trained for several national conference events and companies and serves on the faculty of SHRM Education. Always striving for personal growth, JoDee has obtained numerous certifications; a few include SHRM - Senior Certified Professional, a Gallup-certified Strengths Coach, a CPA, and a Certified Speaking Professional.

Alise Isbell, is an award-winning communication expert, experienced trainer, facilitator and instructional designer.  She empowers clients to transform ideas into clear messages.  She holds a B.A. in English and an M.A. in Business Communication. 

She published articles on effective communication in Nationwide Business Journals while also winning several IABC Bronze, Silver, and Best in Division and Best in Show Quill Awards in Writing and Marketing Communication Strategy.  Alise is a member of the International Association for Business Communicators, Association for Talent Development, and SHRM/HR Houston, and Women’s Energy Network.  She frequently speaks at these organizations.

Meeting SPonsors

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General Meeting Information

Cancellation Policy

If you cancel your registration more than 3 days before the event, your registration fee will be credited towards a future event.  If your registration fee is not cancelled more than 3 days before the event, any payments made will be forfeit or if unpaid will show as an 'amount due' on your account. We do not offer cash or credit refunds. 

Group Participation & Photo Release

By taking part in this event you grant the event organizers full rights to use the images resulting from the photography/video filming, and any reproductions or adaptations of the images for fundraising, publicity or other purposes to help achieve the group’s aims. This might include (but is not limited to), the right to use them in their printed and online publicity, social media, press releases and funding applications. If you do not wish to be photographed, please inform an event organizer.