The Workers Are Out There. Are You Ready to Hire Them?

Speakers: Barbara Aker, Cameron Sontag, and Nicki Stewart

Moderator: Alisher Burikhanov

Description: 

You need workers. They need an opportunity.

As employers continue to struggle with recruiting and retaining talent, Fair Chance Employment and Veteran employment is no longer just a best practice. It is a practical workforce strategy.

Join local employers and workforce experts for a candid conversation about expanding your talent pipeline by considering qualified candidates who are often overlooked, including people in recovery, justice-involved individuals, veterans, people with disabilities, and others facing barriers to employment.

Learn what works, what challenges employers encounter, and what your organization needs in place to hire differently, onboard effectively, and retain successfully. You'll leave with practical insights, real-world lessons, and strategies you can apply immediately.

Learning Objectives:

By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

• Identify new talent groups to address workforce shortages.
• Explain the business value of Fair Chance Employment and Veteran employment.
• Implement hiring, onboarding, and retention practices that support employee success.
• Prepare supervisors and workplace culture for successful workforce integration.
• Recognize and translate veteran skills and military experience into workplace competencies.
• Apply strategies to recruit, support, and retain veteran and Fair Chance talent.
• Develop actionable steps to strengthen their organization's workforce pipeline and retention efforts.

*Approved for one (1.0) PDCs with SHRM and HRCI.

11:15 am - 11:45 am: Registration, Networking & Lunch
11:45 am - 12:00 pm: Business Meeting Update
12:00 pm - 1:00 pm: Presentation

Registration Deadline: Due to venue catering requirements, registration for in-person attendance closes 7 days prior to the event date. Virtual participation registration closes the day before the event.

Location: Mane on Main, 201 E Main St #1500, Lexington, KY 40507 (Validated parking is reserved in the Chase Tower Parking Garage) Mane on Main Parking Map. Details for virtual attendance will be sent to all attendees prior to the meeting, up to 24 hours in advance. 

This month's meeting is sponsored by:

PREMIER SPONSOR

If you wish to sponsor this meeting or future events, please contact Christina at publicrelations@bgshrm.org for a 2026 Sponsorship Packet.or

Transfer and Refund Policy

BGSHRM strives to provide quality events that are educational in content and rich in networking opportunities. We place emphasis on the humans in Human Resources and value the shared experience of our peers and comrades who are working to create safe and productive environments for their employees. We have designed chapter meeting fees to be as low as possible. 

Because of rising costs in our community, your regular member registration fee covers the program related expenses and is not a fundraiser for the chapter.  As such, all payments for registration to BGSHRM events are non-refundable. View full Transfer and Refund Policy.