The Resource Connect Learn Lead

APRIL 2026

Valley Society for Human Resource Management (VSHRM) serves the Great Lakes Bay Region and beyond, supporting HR professionals through education, networking, and leadership development. We’re your local resource for HR knowledge, community, and growth. Learn more and get involved at https://vshrm.shrm.org/

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Tuesday, April 14th | 11:15 am - 1:15 pm

Stop Solving & Start Leading:

How HR Can Use Coaching to

Amplify Their Influence

HR professionals often become the organization’s “help desk,” carrying both operational and emotional weight—leading to burnout and limiting strategic impact. This high‑energy, interactive session shows HR leaders how a coaching approach can transform everyday interactions, reduce dependency on HR, and expand strategic capacity.

Through real examples, practical frameworks, and live activities, participants will learn coaching mindsets and micro‑skills that elevate influence and build leader capability across the organization.

You’ll learn to:

Break the cycle of constant problem‑solving by adopting a coaching stance
Distinguish telling, mentoring, and coaching—and know when each is needed
Use the quick “Coaching on the Go” framework to shift conversations to development
Ask powerful questions that increase leader accountability
Identify where a coaching mindset creates more strategic space for HR

Designed for HR professionals ready to move from tactical firefighter to strategic amplifier of people, culture, and performance.

Brought to VSHRM by Dawn Poteau, Client Service and Program Director, at BRAVANTI a ZRG company

MEETING & REGISTRATION INFORMATION:

Lunch & Learn in Saginaw

Live Location: Horizons Conference Center, 6200 State Street, Saginaw, MI 48603

VSHRM members $30.00 | non-members $35.00
Student $10.00 or Virtual for FREE!
Virtual Available: VSHRM members $15.00 | non-members $20.00

Please register by Thursday, April 9th. Registrations received after this date are subject to an additional $10 late fee.

This meeting is part of the 2025-2026 Fast Pass! If you have VSHRM's Fast Pass and attending this meeting, please register today!

Program Information & Speaker Bio

Valley SHRM is recognized by SHRM to offer Professional Development Credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP or SHRM-SCP recertification activities.

President's Message

Leading Through Questions, Not Answers.....

In HR, we’re often the ones people turn to for answers. We solve problems, provide guidance, and keep things moving forward. But what if our greatest impact doesn’t come from having the answer—but from helping others find it? This month’s program challenges us to shift from problem-solver to leader by using coaching to strengthen our influence and develop those around us.

We’re excited to welcome Dawn Poteau as our April speaker, who will guide us through this powerful and practical approach. This month is the perfect opportunity to introduce a colleague to Valley SHRM—guests can attend for free, thanks to our incredible Resource Partners.

Looking ahead to May, our May Legal Seminar is just around the corner. We are also preparing for our Annual Silent Auction, benefiting the SHRM Foundation and local VSHRM scholarships. We’re off to a great start with items like four Detroit Tigers tickets, a whiskey basket, and a beach-themed fun bag—and we’d love to build on that momentum. If you or your organization would like to donate an item, experience, or contribute funds toward an auction item, your support directly invests in the future of our profession.

We’re continuing to enhance how we connect with you. Our updated website will be launching soon, creating a more streamlined and user-friendly experience for our members. Our text messages have also been refreshed and now include two-way communication—making it easier to stay in touch. If you haven’t signed up yet, we’d love to have you.

Be sure to save the date—June 9—as we wrap up the year with Andre Young from 11:15 AM – 1:15 PM at Horizons in Saginaw.

Thank you for being part of Valley SHRM. We look forward to seeing you—and maybe a guest—at our April meeting as we (hopefully) settle into spring and a season of new connections and continued growth.

We’re especially grateful for the continued support of our Resource Partners—Gold sponsor Brown & Brown; Silver sponsors ASE and Marsh McLennan Agency; and Bronze sponsors Jovie and Wildfire Credit Union—whose partnership helps make these opportunities possible for our members.

Wendy Yelsik, PHR, SHRM-CP

Human Resources Director | Fabiano Brothers, Inc.

President, Valley SHRM

📱 (989) 621-4819

🔗 LinkedIn

VSHRM Board of Directors

Join SHRM Today!

🎉 Join us in welcoming our newest VSHRM members! 🎉

We're thrilled to welcome these professionals into the VSHRM community:

Alicia Fonzi – City of Bay City
Christa Louks – Valtec Plastics
Rhonda Griggs – Duperon Corporation

Your expertise and passion for HR make our network stronger, and we can't wait to collaborate, learn and grow together. Here's to building meaningful connections and driving positive impact - welcome aboard!

The winner of the March Gift Card Drawing is…

(drum roll, please 🥁)

Melissa Spellerberg -

from Bay-Arenac Behavioral Health

Congratulations! 🏆

Thank you to everyone who participated—your involvement makes these drawings exciting. Stay tuned for February's chance to win!

👉 To be eligible for the drawing, meeting attendees must respond to the survey and provide their name.

Active Job Postings!

ASK THE LAWYER

Is a Performance Improvement Plan age discrimination? A recent court ruling says not so fast—and the reason matters for every employer.

A recent federal appeals court decision offers welcome clarity for employers navigating performance management and age discrimination risks. Even after the Supreme Court lowered the bar for what counts as an “adverse employment action,” courts are holding that a performance improvement plan (PIP) is not discriminatory when it simply identifies performance issues and offers a path to improvement—without changing pay, duties, or advancement opportunities.

Check out the article for more information, brought to you from David Bryce, McGraw Morris Masud.

COLLEGE RELATION NEWS

VSHRM Announces the Mid Michigan Human Resources Association Endowed Scholarship Recipient for 2026 - 2027

Thank you to VSHRM Board Members Ricardo Resio, Julie Bellamy, Annette Mast, and Amy McGinnis who worked along with Dr. Alix MacDougall and Dr. Jarvis Smallfield, HR Faculty at CMU, to select next year's recipient of the Mid Michigan Human Resources Endowed Scholarship for 2026 -2027.

Congratulations to Lexi Hutchinson, who is pursuing a Bachelor of Business Administration with a major in Human Resources Management from CMU. In addition, she is continuing her education at CMU through the Accelerated Master of Business Administration with a concentration in HR where Lexi hopes to graduate in May of 2027.

Lexi has had an internship at Caravan Facilities Management and currently serves as the CMU Student Chapter Secretary. In addition, this summer, Lexi will intern with Owens Corning to gain valuable HR experience.

The MMHRA Endowed Scholarship was established in 2017 by the former Mid-Michigan HR Association (now merged with VSHRM) as a way to give back to the profession of HR and continue to support students committed to the field of HR at Central Michigan University. Since 2018, eleven HR students have benefited from the $1,000 scholarship awarded every year.

VSHRM Offers Text Updates!

Stay in the loop with the latest VSHRM news, events, and reminders—right on your phone!

We’re excited to keep you connected—fast, easy, and direct!

After signing up, you’ll receive an automated message from VSHRM confirming your subscription!

VSHRM FINANCIALS

Submitted by Patty Alfano, VSHRM Treasurer