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Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resource Association


Upcoming events

    • 10 Sep 2026
    • 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
    • Webinar
    Register

    Thursday, September 10, 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: "Core Skills for Productive Conflict Engagement"

    Designed for professionals who routinely navigate workplace tensions, this session introduces the foundational skills needed to engage conflict constructively and reduce escalation. Through brief, practical interactive exercises, participants will examine the root causes of conflict, compare different conflict-management styles, and learn techniques for uncovering the underlying interests that lead to sustainable, mutually beneficial outcomes.

    HR managers, consultants, and employment lawyers will gain fresh insights they can apply immediately in their work, from handling individual disputes to guiding organizational culture. The session also highlights other tools and resources available to strengthen internal conflict-resolution capacity and support healthy, resilient workplaces.


      Our Speaker: Anya McDavitt and Laura Weiss

      Anya McDavitt:

      Anya is the Executive Director of The Resolution Center where she draws on a rich background in community engagement, nonprofit management, and experiential education. Her career began in youth development, leading programs in service learning, civic engagement, intercultural relations, and violence prevention. Across these roles, Anya has empowered individuals to make healthy, values-driven choices for themselves, their communities, and the environment. Anya is a trained mediator and violence prevention specialist, holding a B.A. in Applied Sociology and an M.A. in Intercultural Relations with a concentration in conflict management. Her broad experience gives her a deep, firsthand understanding of conflict transformation and the power of inclusive dialogue.

      Laura Weiss:

      For over 25 years Laura has partnered with global brands and their leaders to navigate change, spark innovation, and realize their goals. Originally trained and licensed as an architect, Laura’s own change story began when she left architectural practice to focus on the broader world of innovation. In addition, Laura has held teaching appointments at the University of Virginia, the California College of the Arts, and the Yale University School of Architecture, and has been a director on several nonprofit boards including the American Institute of Architects’ Strategic Council, Public Architecture, and the Yale Alumni Association’s Board of Governors. After serving as a Principal in Korn Ferry’s Leadership and Professional Development practice, Laura launched her private practice as an executive coach and leadership development consultant. Laura earned a B.Arch. with honors from Cornell University, an M.Arch. from Yale University, and an MBA from the MIT Sloan School of Management. A lifelong learner, she holds a Professional Certificate in Mediation and Applied Conflict Studies from Champlain College in Burlington, VT, her CPCC (Certified Professional Co-Active Coach) credential through CTI and is a PCC (Professional Certified Coach) with The International Coaching Federation.



      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!
      • 01 Oct 2026
      • 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
      • Webinar
      Register

      Thursday, October 1, 2026


      Remote Meeting

      8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Networking Opportunity

      8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Welcome from Amy Sabato

                   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: "Communicating Up with Presence and Impact"

      The room isn't always a room. It might be a report, an email, or a five-minute update. Communicating up comes down to presence, clarity, and the ability to say the true thing simply, even when time is short.

      What the session covers:

      • Understanding the audience: reading what a leader actually needs to hear, whatever the channel

      • Leading with the conclusion: the point first, the reasoning second

      • Building trust fast: what earns credibility quickly, and what quietly erodes it

      • Holding your ground with composure: pushing back or naming a hard truth without costing the relationship

      • Two live scenarios: real practice, real-time feedback

      What participants leave with:

      A sharper structure for high-stakes communication, steadier presence under potential scrutiny, and language ready the next time they need to influence a decision upward.


        Our Speaker: Deb Kaplan

        Deb Kaplan is an organizational performance guide and a full-suite Dale Carnegie Trainer with over 35 years of experience helping people, teams, and organizations thrive through change. While her work reaches global audiences, her primary focus is on organizations based in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. She is a credentialed leader of Human by Design: Future Proofing Yourself in an AI-Driven World, a Dale Carnegie program designed in partnership with Matt Britton, author of Generation AI. Deb is known for her insight, empathy, and practical wisdom, energy, and grit—with a passion for seeing her clients soar. She has served on HR teams for three global businesses headquartered in New England. In 2022, she returned to where she got her start—working with leaders and organizations to realize strategic and people-centric transformations. Her mission is to elevate human capabilities in ways that align with the positive changes people and organizations want and need to make in the world.



        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!
        • 01 Oct 2026
        • 5:30 PM - 8:30 PM
        • The Irish Cottage
        Register

        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!!

        We’re planning something a little different this time — an interactive and fun evening designed to get everyone involved, meet some new people, reconnect with colleagues, and have a few laughs along the way. We’re going to keep the details under wraps for now, but we think you’ll enjoy what we have planned!

        When: Thursday, October 1, 2026 - 5:30 - 8:30 pm


        Where:  The Irish Cottage

        17 Branch St.

        Methuen, MA 01844


        Members: Complimentary (Includes two drink tickets)

        Non Members: $10 (Includes two drink tickets)

        All attendees must register as space is limited!

        We look forward to seeing you there!



        • 05 Nov 2026
        • 8:00 AM - 10:30 AM
        • Webinar
        Register

        Thursday, November 5, 2026


        Remote Meeting

        8:00 AM - 8:15 AM Networking Opportunity

        8:15 AM - 8:30 AM Welcome from Amy Sabato

                     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: "Communicating with Peers and Direct Reports"

        Some of the most important conversations we have are not with clients or leadership. They are with the peer whose priorities may look like they are competing with ours, or the direct report who needs honest feedback delivered well.

        At first glance, those differences can feel like friction. But with effective communication, we strengthen connection, work toward alignment, and turn what looked like competing priorities into real collaboration.

        What the session covers:

        • Understanding what makes communication land differently with peers versus direct reports

        • Practicing language that builds trust and alignment, even when priorities seem to compete

        • Strengthening the ability to collaborate across roles and reporting lines

        • Building confidence for the conversations people tend to put off

        • Apply to

        What participants leave with:

        Sharper language, stronger tools, and the confidence to lead from where they stand, starting with the very next conversation on their calendar.


          Our Speaker: Deb Kaplan

          Deb Kaplan is an organizational performance guide and a full-suite Dale Carnegie Trainer with over 35 years of experience helping people, teams, and organizations thrive through change. While her work reaches global audiences, her primary focus is on organizations based in Massachusetts, Rhode Island, and New Hampshire. She is a credentialed leader of Human by Design: Future Proofing Yourself in an AI-Driven World, a Dale Carnegie program designed in partnership with Matt Britton, author of Generation AI. Deb is known for her insight, empathy, and practical wisdom, energy, and grit—with a passion for seeing her clients soar. She has served on HR teams for three global businesses headquartered in New England. In 2022, she returned to where she got her start—working with leaders and organizations to realize strategic and people-centric transformations. Her mission is to elevate human capabilities in ways that align with the positive changes people and organizations want and need to make in the world.



          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!

        Past events

        04 Jun 2026 Master the Moment: Bridging the Gap Between Instinctive Reaction & Intentional Leadership
        21 May 2026 Evening of Networking
        07 May 2026 From Misstep to Lawsuit: Where Employers Go Wrong
        28 Apr 2026 Volunteer Roundtable
        27 Apr 2026 Volunteer Roundtable
        09 Apr 2026 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        05 Mar 2026 The Great Recalculation! Social Security, Medicare, and New Retirement Realities
        05 Feb 2026 Human by Design - Leverage the Human Advantage in the AI Era
        28 Jan 2026 Evening of Networking
        08 Jan 2026 Handling Sleep and Fatigue in the Workplace
        04 Dec 2025 Why Self-Differentiated Leadership Matters in the HR World
        06 Nov 2025 Creating Better Cultures Through The Eight Play Personalities
        09 Oct 2025 Domestic Violence IS a workplace issue! Is your company prepared?
        08 Oct 2025 Evening of Networking
        04 Sep 2025 (copy) On the Cutting Edge: Top Workplace Investigations Trends, Including AI Issues
        26 Jun 2025 Evening of Networking
        05 Jun 2025 Cultural Wellness Check: What are the Vital Signs of a Healthy Workplace Culture?
        01 May 2025 AI in HR: Friend or Foe? An Employment Lawyer’s Perspective
        03 Apr 2025 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        12 Mar 2025 Evening of Networking
        06 Mar 2025 Where Do We Go From Here: What the Trump Administration’s DEI Executive Orders Mean for Employers
        06 Feb 2025 Employee Handbook Hygiene
        02 Jan 2025 HR Audits: Red, Yellow, Green: What Does it Mean?
        05 Dec 2024 Legal Developments in Harassment Prevention
        07 Nov 2024 I’m OK! You’re OK! We’re Just Different. Harnessing Personality Diversity: Building Stronger, More Effective Organizations Through Understanding and Integration
        09 Oct 2024 Evening of Networking
        03 Oct 2024 “FIGHT FOR THEIR FUTURE” How to Prevent Employee Frustration, Burnout, and Turnover
        05 Sep 2024 Executive Coaching: Coaching Managers to increase their executive presence through powerful presentations
        12 Jun 2024 Evening of Networking
        06 Jun 2024 Legal and Ethical Considerations in HR Management
        02 May 2024 National Labor Relations Board Significant Case Update
        04 Apr 2024 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        07 Mar 2024 Plan Sponsor Obligations under ERISA: What Your Service Providers Never Told You
        01 Feb 2024 Developing Psychological Safety at Work
        04 Jan 2024 Optimism: The Overlooked Superpower
        07 Dec 2023 Making Your Company’s Financial Benefits More Beneficial
        02 Nov 2023 Using Hybrid Work to Improve Retention and Productivity While Cutting Costs
        05 Oct 2023 PowerUP Mental Health in the Workplace with Gamification
        07 Sep 2023 Driving Inclusion with Empathy
        30 Aug 2023 Evening of Networking
        01 Jun 2023 When DV Spills Into The Workplace
        04 May 2023 I Think, Therefore I Am... Biased
        06 Apr 2023 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        30 Mar 2023 GMVHRA Evening of Networking
        02 Mar 2023 Facilitating the Multi-Generational Workplace
        02 Feb 2023 The 401k 411 - Everything You Need to Know About Your Retirement Plan....That No One Tells You!
        05 Jan 2023 Mastering Powerful Presenting for HR Professionals
        03 Nov 2022 The Great Resignation, Re-shuffling, Re-thinking – 2022, How to Attract and Retain Employees
        27 Oct 2022 TPSU Fiduciary Training Program
        06 Oct 2022 Workplace Investigations in 2022: What HR Professionals Need to Know
        01 Sep 2022 The Changing Work Force...Moving to WFH Or Hybrid. How Covid Has Changed How We Work, How We Manage Employees, How We Engage the Team
        22 Jul 2022 THE BUSINESS OF PEOPLE: A Leadership Summit in the Age of Challenge
        02 Jun 2022 Belonging: A Critical Variable in Creating More Diverse, Equitable and Just Workplaces
        10 May 2022 TPSU Half-3 Hour Virtual Fiduciary Training Program
        05 May 2022 Recruitment in the Age of Googlization
        07 Apr 2022 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        03 Mar 2022 Ethical Issues and HR
        03 Feb 2022 Seven Steps to Creating Bulletproof Documentation
        06 Jan 2022 Building Performance with Optimism, Resilience, and Grit
        02 Dec 2021 Navigating the Challenges of Implementing Vaccine Mandates
        04 Nov 2021 Gender Pay Equity - Not Just the Law, It's the Right Thing to Do
        27 Oct 2021 TPSU Half-3 Hour Virtual Fiduciary Training Program
        21 Oct 2021 2021 MassSHRM Employment Law & Legislative Conference
        07 Oct 2021 Organizational Elasticity
        22 Sep 2021 5 Major Mistakes Making You Inflamed, Flabby & Fatigued! (And How to Avoid Them)
        14 Sep 2021 TWIN STATE HR CONFERENCE
        02 Sep 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Part 2 of 2
        03 Jun 2021 Legal Update - 1/2 Day Program
        06 May 2021 2021 Employee Handbook Revisions: Are You Up to Date?
        01 Apr 2021 Diversity, Equity and Inclusion - Part 1 of 2
        23 Mar 2021 TPSU Half-3 Hour Virtual Fiduciary Training Program
        04 Mar 2021 Conscious Conversations in the Workplace
        04 Feb 2021 The Ongoing Impact of COVID-19: an Evolution from Temporary Fix to New Normal
        07 Jan 2021 Succession Planning Blown Up
        03 Dec 2020 Legal Update
        05 Nov 2020 MA Paid Family & Medical Leave (PFMLL)
        01 Oct 2020 Unconscious Bias in the Workplace
        15 Sep 2020 SAVE THE DATE - Twin State Virtual HR Summit
        03 Sep 2020 Investigations Primer in a Remote Workplace
        04 Jun 2020 Behavioral and Mental Issues: How to Make It OKAY to Ask for Help
        07 May 2020 Thriving in an HR Department of One....or More
        28 Apr 2020 POSTPONED 2020 Granite State HR Conference
        02 Apr 2020 Annual Legal Update
        05 Mar 2020 Leadership Sustainability – How to Build Resilience and Prevent Burnout in a 24/7 World
        06 Feb 2020 Building HR Analytical Capabilities
        09 Jan 2020 Massachusetts Health for SMALL Business - BONUS PROGRAM
        09 Jan 2020 The Top 10 List. What HR Professionals Need to Know About Social Security, Medicare, and the Aging Workforce
        12 Dec 2019 Narcissism in the Workplace
        07 Nov 2019 Surviving the Life or Death Gap – (Blue-U Defense Presentation)
        03 Oct 2019 The Performance Review Journey
        18 Sep 2019 GMVHRA Evening of Networking
        05 Sep 2019 Criminal Records and Second Chances: Hiring Employees in 2019
        06 Jun 2019 Positive ROI: Effective Mentor Program Design for Workforce Development
        02 May 2019 Lessons from the Trenches: Tips and Strategies to Avoid Employee Lawsuits
        30 Apr 2019 Granite State HR Conference
        04 Apr 2019 Annual Legal Update
        07 Mar 2019 The Key to Productivity-Why Happiness Matters at Work
        07 Feb 2019 Holding Employees to Accountability in the Workplace and Ensuring Commitments of Engagement!
        03 Jan 2019 Leading Strategic Change Management Through Employee Engagement
        13 Dec 2018 Effectively Navigating the Conflict Spectrum
        13 Nov 2018 TPSU Half-Day Fiduciary Training Program
        01 Nov 2018 It's Not the Money: The Reasons Employees Quit
        04 Oct 2018 Do these Wage and Hour laws still make Cents to You?
        13 Sep 2018 GMVHRA Evening of Networking
        06 Sep 2018 Medical Marijuana
        18 Jul 2018 TPSU Half-Day Fiduciary Training Program
        07 Jun 2018 Five Habits of Destructive HR Leaders (Workshop)
        03 May 2018 Why We Argue and How We Reconcile
        05 Apr 2018 Working to 65 and Beyond… Understanding Medicare, and its Impact on Group Health Coverage
        26 Mar 2018 "2018 Granite State HR Conference"
        01 Mar 2018 Annual Legal Update
        01 Feb 2018 “Responding to Sexual Harassment Complaints in the Post-Harvey Weinstein World”
        11 Jan 2018 Energize Passion and Performance
        07 Dec 2017 Subject - The Massachusetts Act to Establish Pay Equity: Six Months Out. Are you ready?
        02 Nov 2017 Navigating Employee Leave: How to Comply with the Law and Keep Your Business Afloat
        05 Oct 2017 “Leadership in Safety: The Alpha and Omega of a Successful Company”
        04 Oct 2017 2017 “Women in Technology - Lift & Climb” Event
        03 Oct 2017 GMVHRA Evening of Networking
        28 Sep 2017 2017 NH Statewide Leadership Conference
        07 Sep 2017 Leading with Emotional Agility for HR Leaders
        01 Jun 2017 How to Handle Difficult Conversations
        04 May 2017 Motivating & Engaging Employees with Non-Monetary Rewards
        06 Apr 2017 Annual Legal Update
        02 Mar 2017 Wellness Event
        02 Feb 2017 ERISA Update: Enforcement Initiatives, Common Mistakes Discovered on Audit, Correction Programs, Plan Sponsor’s Fiduciary Obligations, and the New Fiduciary Rule.
        05 Jan 2017 Active Shooter: "Surviving an Incident of Violence"
        01 Dec 2016 Lean HR: It’s for ALL HR Professionals!
        03 Nov 2016 "The Future of HR: Promoting Business Success in a Changing Global Workplace"
        06 Oct 2016 Medical Marijuana in the Workplace: Navigating Potential Potholes
        01 Sep 2016 “The Fair Labor Standards Act: Preparing for Implementation of the New White Collar Overtime Exemption Rule”
        08 Jun 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-06-08 - “Top Ten Issues When Drafting and Negotiating Separation and Severance Agreements”
        11 May 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-05-11 - "The Secret Behind the Curtain of the Wizard of Oz: Building Your Skills to Be an Awesome Coach"
        13 Apr 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-04-13 - "2016 Legal Update"
        09 Mar 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-03-09 - "2016 Wellness Event- What’s your Wellness Strategy?"
        10 Feb 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-02-10 - "Human Connection: A Lost Art in a Noisy World"
        13 Jan 2016 GMVHRA - 2016-01-13 - "Employee Handbooks: Legal Compliance and Best Practices"
        09 Dec 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-12-09 - "Understanding Workplace Violence"
        04 Nov 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-11-04 - "HR And The Aging Workforce: Strategies and Best Practices"
        14 Oct 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-10-14 - "Workplace Investigations: 10 Common Mistakes"
        10 Sep 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-09-10 - "Developments in the Law of Noncompetes and Other Post-Employment Restrictions"
        10 Jun 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-06-10 "Managing Employee Leaves of Absence: Navigating New Laws and Old Challenges"
        13 May 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-05-13 "EEO And AAP - How Does It Impact Me And My Company?"
        08 Apr 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-04-08 "Wellness Event- Real Ideas for your Organization"
        11 Feb 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-02-11 "The New Ambush Election Rules by the NLRB: What Employers Need to Know about Union Organizing Drives"
        14 Jan 2015 GMVHRA - 2015-01-14 "Workforce Analytics: Create a Game-Changing Performance Culture"
        01 Jun 1990 1990 Annual Meeting


        GMVHRA

        C/O Amy Sabato

        11 Emerald Drive

        Salem, NH 03079

        Email: GMVHRAinfo@gmail.com

             


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