GMVHRA upcoming events

Volunteer Roundtable (27 Apr 2026)

Mon, 27 Apr 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Monday, April 27, 2026

Remote Meeting

5:30 PM - 6:30 PM Volunteer Roundtable Discussion

Curious about getting more involved with GMVHRA? Join this volunteer roundtable discussion to explore what it’s like to contribute, learn, and lead alongside fellow HR professionals. This informal, conversation-driven session is a chance to ask questions, hear firsthand experiences from current volunteers, and discover how volunteering can expand your network, sharpen your skills, and shape the future of our association. No commitment required—just curiosity and an interest in what is available with GMVHRA.

For more information:

Contact: Caitlin Clary

Email: cclary@borislow.com

Drop here!

Volunteer Roundtable (28 Apr 2026)

Tue, 28 Apr 2026 13:00:00 GMT

Tuesday, April 28, 2026

Remote Meeting

9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Volunteer Roundtable Discussion

For more information:

Contact: Caitlin Clary

Email: cclary@borislow.com

Drop here!

From Misstep to Lawsuit: Where Employers Go Wrong (07 May 2026)

Thu, 07 May 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Thursday, May 7, 2026

Remote Meeting

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Networking Opportunity

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Welcome from Jennifer Vining

8:30 AM - 8:55 Legal Update and Q&A with our Legislative Director Debra Dyleski-Najjar, Esquire

9:00 - 10:30 Program

1.5 SHRM & HRCI credits pending

TOPIC: "From Misstep to Lawsuit: Where Employers Go Wrong"

This program emphasizes the critical importance of compliance with state and federal employment laws and highlights the necessity of maintaining well-documented policies to ensure adherence to these regulations and mitigate risks. It also addresses the consequences of non-compliance, including financial penalties, reputational harm, and potential litigation. Hosted by two plaintiff-side attorneys, this program also provides specific insights on the pitfalls that plague many separations and provides guidance on implementing fair and lawful disciplinary and termination practices to minimize the risk of legal disputes. Finally, this program underscores the value of equitable severance agreements as a tool to protect both the organization and employees, fostering smoother transitions and reducing the likelihood of post-termination claims.

Our Speakers: Patricia A. Washienko, Esq. and Allison L. Williard, Esq.

ALW Bio:

Ms. Williard is an employment attorney who represents individuals and employers in a wide range of employment and workplace-related matters. She counsels clients regarding day-to-day employment issues, including employee personnel policies and contracts, wage and hour issues, and discipline and termination. She also drafts and negotiates employment and separation agreements, as well as non-competition and non-solicitation agreements. She represents clients in administrative proceedings and in state and federal court.

Ms. Williard was selected by her peers to serve as Vice President of the Massachusetts Employment Lawyers Association, an organization of attorneys committed to advancing employee rights. She is also active in MELA's Legislative Committee advancing legislation to protect Massachusetts workers.

Prior to joining Washienko Law Group, LLC, Ms. Williard worked as in-house counsel at a staffing agency where she advised management on variety of employment-related issues. Prior to serving as in-house counsel, Ms. Williard was an associate at Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy LLP, where she focused exclusively on employment-based immigration.

Ms. Williard earned her J.D. cum laude, from Suffolk University Law School, and her B.A. magna cum laude from Northeastern University. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the Supreme Court of the United States.

PAW bio:

Ms. Washienko is an experienced employment attorney who represents individuals and small business in a wide range of employment and compensation matters. These include the negotiation and enforcement of sophisticated employment, compensation and separation agreements, and the litigation of workplace-related claims, including the prosecution and defense of discrimination, non-competition and non-solicitation agreements.

A skilled negotiator, Ms. Washienko often counsels and represents executives and professionals in complex contract and severance negotiations. She also represents individuals and companies litigating claims of wrongful termination, employment discrimination, and breach of contract, among others. Ms. Washienko also regularly represents high school, college, and graduate students in a wide range of disputes with their academic institutions, including academic, disciplinary, discrimination/Title IX, and sports scholarship issues. In those areas, she has steered cases to successful (and, at times, precedent-setting) resolution in state and federal courts, governmental agencies, arbitration and mediation.

Ms. Washienko is an active member of the Boston Bar Association and currently serves as a member of its Women’s Leadership and Advancement Forum Advisory Committee. She has previously served as a member of its governing Council and as Co-Chair of the Steering Committee for the Labor & Employment Section. Ms. Washienko has also served as Employment Section Co-Chair of the Massachusetts Lesbian & Gay Bar Association and is a member of the Women’s Bar Association. She has co-authored numerous amicus curiae briefs in cases raising significant issues in the fields of employment discrimination and civil rights law. She is also active in continuing legal education and has served on the MCLE Employment & Labor Law Curriculum Advisory Committee and as co-chair and frequent panelist of MCLE seminars and conferences. A co-author of “Closing the Gender Pay Gap In Medicine: A Roadmap for Healthcare Organizations and the Women Physicians Who Work for Them,” she has also published several articles on employment law issues relevant to both companies and executives and she serves as a quarterly commentator for the Massachusetts Discrimination Law Reporter.

Ms. Washienko earned an A.B. with honors from Harvard University in 1988 and her J.D. with honors from Boston University School of Law in 1998. She is admitted to practice law in Massachusetts, the United States District Court for the District of Massachusetts, and the First Circuit Court of Appeals.

Our Sponsor: Interesting in Sponsoring? Contact Julie Moore at jmoore@employmentpg.com

Location: Webinar

For more information:

Contact: Caitlin Clary

Email: cclary@borislow.com

Drop here!

Evening of Networking (21 May 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 21:30:00 GMT

Join us for an evening of networking at The Irish Cottage in Methuen for good food, great drinks, and a fun, relaxed evening with fellow HR professionals!!

Come enjoy delicious food and refreshing beverages.

When: Thursday, May 21, 2026 - 5:30 - 8:30 pm

Where: The Irish Cottage

17 Branch St.

Methuen, MA 01844

We’re excited to bring everyone back together for another GMVHRA networking event — and this one is shaping up to be a great night. It’s time to step away from the desk and reconnect!

If you were at our last event, you probably remember how much fun we had playing HR Musical Bingo — and while we’re switching things up this time, we’re keeping the fun energy going. Let’s just say… you’ll want to be there for the surprise.

Come for the conversation, stay for the laughs, and leave with new connections and a few great stories.

Members: Complimentary (Includes two drink tickets)

Non Members: $10 (Includes two drink tickets), plus incentive of credit towards membership dues should you sign up for annual membership the night of the networking event.

All attendees must register as space is limited!

We look forward to seeing you there!

Master the Moment: Bridging the Gap Between Instinctive Reaction & Intentional Leadership (04 Jun 2026)

Thu, 04 Jun 2026 12:00:00 GMT

Thursday, June 4, 2026

Remote Meeting

8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Networking Opportunity

8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Welcome from Jennifer Vining

8:30 AM - 8:55 Legal Update and Q&A with our Legislative Director Debra Dyleski-Najjar, Esquire

9:00 - 10:30 Program

1.5 SHRM & HRCI credits pending

TOPIC: " Master the Moment: Bridging the Gap Between Instinctive Reaction & Intentional Leadership

In today’s climate of relentless change, uncertainty and instability, even the most experienced professionals can struggle to show up as their best selves. Under stress, we default to reactive patterns, including overthinking, over-functioning or overcompensating. These instinctive reactions erode trust, undermine collaboration and weaken performance.

To address this issue, much of the discussion has focused on managing change. It’s impossible, however, to manage the onslaught of external forces driving pressure, which will only continue to accelerate and evolve over time. The most effective approach for leaders is to learn to manage themselves and others through these changes.

In this session, leadership coach and consultant Kim Meninger introduces the LEADS framework, an actionable system to help professionals quickly shift from reaction to intentionality under pressure.

Audiences will walk away with:

A deeper understanding of what drives reactive behavior in high-stakes moments.
A practical framework to quickly shift from reactivity to intentional, values-based leadership.
Strategies to consistently show up as the leader others trust and want to follow.

Our Speaker: Kim Meninger

As a leadership coach, consultant and keynote speaker, Kim Meninger leverages psychological insight, business acumen and leadership experience to help leaders recognize and disrupt the internal triggers that limit their impact. Her work empowers leaders to operate with greater confidence, courage and consistency. She has lived this work, first as a leader inside high-demand tech environments like EMC and Monster, and now as a trusted speaker and coach to leaders at Salesforce, Amazon, Biogen, Pfizer, Bain Capital and many others.

Kim’s approach to helping leaders navigate high-growth, rapidly changing business landscapes goes beyond theory. It’s practical, actionable and designed to create lasting business value. When leaders learn to better lead themselves under intense and unrelenting pressure, they make better decisions, communicate more effectively and drive stronger results across the board.

Kim holds a BA in psychology and an MBA from Boston College. She is also an ICF Professional Certified Coach with certifications in confidence, career, executive and leadership development coaching. Kim writes for ForbesWomen, hosts the Impostor Syndrome Files podcast and leads a weekly Leading Humans discussion forum, which is free and open to all.

Our Sponsor: Interesting in Sponsoring? Contact Julie Moore at jmoore@employmentpg.com

Location: Webinar

For more information:

Contact: Caitlin Clary

Email: cclary@borislow.com

Drop here!