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• July Coffee Chat (FREE Virtual Event)

  • When
    July 23, 2026
  •  
    8:30 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    Zoom Virtual Event
  • Spaces left
    92

  Register

  Expanding Your Talent Pipeline Through Inclusive Employment
  

  

  Join us for a relaxed and engaging coffee chat hosted by HRA of Central Missouri! Grab your favorite beverage and connect with fellow HR professionals while learning about two innovative Woodhaven programs that help neurodivergent individuals and people with disabilities develop career-ready skills and connect with employers throughout Mid-Missouri.

  EnCircle Technologies, a vocational training program where neurodivergent students build technical, social, and workplace readiness skills through small, hands-on classes and real client projects completed through Woodhaven's Tech Hub.

  Community Employment Services (CES), a CARF-accredited program rated Exemplary, which provides individualized support through every stage of employment, including career exploration, resume development, interview preparation, job placement, onboarding, and ongoing job coaching.

  During this informal conversation, you'll learn how these programs work, what partnering with Woodhaven could look like, and how your organization can get involved through hiring, mentoring, or simply learning more about inclusive employment practices.

  Why Attend?

  • Discover an often-overlooked talent pipeline of skilled, job-ready candidates.
  • Learn how ongoing job coaching and employer support can help improve onboarding and retention.
  • Gain practical insights into disability inclusion and workplace accommodations.
  • Connect with a trusted community partner with more than 55 years of experience serving individuals with disabilities.
  • Exchange ideas and ask questions in a casual, discussion-oriented setting with HR peers.

  Whether you're actively hiring, exploring inclusive employment strategies, or simply curious to learn more, this coffee chat offers a great opportunity to connect, ask questions, and discover how EnCircle Technologies and Community Employment Services can support your organization's workforce goals.

  
  

  Kalynn Ramsey is the Director of EnCircle Technologies and Community Employment Services (CES) at Woodhaven, where she leads workforce development programs that help individuals with disabilities build meaningful careers through person-centered support.

  With more than 15 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, education, and workforce development, Kalynn has dedicated her career to creating inclusive opportunities and driving positive change. Her background includes disability advocacy, expanding professional development opportunities through the Missouri Community College Association, and launching a successful apprenticeship program at EquipmentShare.

  Guided by a servant leadership philosophy and a belief in human potential, Kalynn is passionate about building partnerships that connect individuals, employers, and communities for lasting impact.

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• HRACMO Networking Reception

  • When
    August 06, 2026
  •  
    6:00 PM
  • Location
    Dog Days; 1232 Jeffries Rd, Osage Beach, MO

  Register

  

  HRACMO Networking Reception

  • Members & Prospective Members 
  • Thursday, August 6 @ 6pm
  • Location: Dog Days
  • Free drinks and appetizers
  • Hang out with us!

  
  

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• A Field Guide to Managing the Most Difficult Accommodation Processes

  • When
    September 08, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual) 101 N. Keene St. Columbia, MO 65201
  • Spaces left
    75

  Register

  REMINDER - Presentation will be at our new location,
  MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual)
  
  Breakfast and networking from 7:45am to 8:10am

  Presentation starting at 8:15am

  While the employment accommodation process may seem straightforward—receive a request, gather documentation, evaluate options, and implement accommodations—the reality is often far more complex. Human factors such as miscommunication, differing expectations, and performance-related concerns can create conflict at any stage of the interactive process.

  This session focuses on practical, actionable strategies to help HR professionals and leaders mediate conflict and negotiate solutions when the accommodation process becomes challenging or breaks down. Participants will learn how to proactively build dispute resolution techniques into their accommodation practices, gain a deeper understanding of human behavior, and set clear, firm expectations to prevent and manage conflict effectively.

  Drawing on the Amber's experience working with the EEOC and the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP), as well as managing accommodation processes for over 1,200 employees across a wide range of roles within a university setting, this session provides real-world insights and tools. Attendees will leave with enhanced skills in dispute resolution, effective communication through misunderstandings, and confidence in navigating even the most contentious accommodation situations.

  Amber Cheek
  

  Amber Cheek is the Director of Accessibility and ADA Coordinator for the University of Missouri–Columbia and the University of Missouri System. In this role, she oversees all aspects of ADA compliance, including facilities accessibility, digital accessibility, program access, and the reasonable accommodation process for faculty and staff.

  Amber joined Mizzou in 2014 after serving as a Presidential Management Fellow with the Office of Disability Employment Policy (ODEP) at the U.S. Department of Labor in Washington, DC. Her background also includes work with the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC), giving her a deep understanding of the legal, practical, and human challenges involved in managing workplace accommodations.

  With experience overseeing accommodation processes for more than 1,200 employees across a wide range of roles, Amber brings a practical, real-world perspective to navigating complex and sometimes contentious situations. Her work focuses on building effective, proactive strategies that balance compliance, communication, and dispute resolution—helping organizations manage accommodations successfully while minimizing conflict.

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• Your Health Plan Is a Liability (If You're Not Paying Attention)

  • When
    October 13, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual) 101 N. Keene St. Columbia, MO 65201
  • Spaces left
    74

  Register

  REMINDER - Presentation will be at our new location,
  MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual)
  
  Breakfast and networking from 7:45am to 8:10am

  Presentation starting at 8:15am

  This session will explore the critical importance of fiduciary responsibility in employer‑sponsored group health plans. Employers are legally obligated to act in the best interests of plan participants, and with plaintiff attorneys increasingly shifting their focus from 401(k) litigation to healthcare plans, passive or undocumented plan management can expose organizations—and individuals responsible for oversight—to significant financial and legal risk. Attendees will gain a clearer understanding of fiduciary oversight, including why structured governance and documented decision‑making are essential in today’s regulatory and litigation environment.

  The discussion will also focus on how to critically evaluate medical and pharmacy benefit arrangements, including vendor partners, network and formulary design, contract terms, compensation structures, data transparency, and alternative funding strategies that may offer meaningful cost‑saving opportunities. Speakers will highlight the importance of access to claims data to support routine audits and informed decision‑making. In addition, the session will address current dynamics in the stop‑loss market, where specialty drugs, gene therapies, and shock claims are driving higher‑cost claimants and significant renewal increases, and what employers should consider when negotiating coverage in this evolving landscape.

  

  Robert Aschentrop
  

  Robert Aschentrop brings nearly two decades of experience in employee benefits consulting, following an early career in the banking industry. He has spent the past ten years with Lockton, where he advises employers on complex benefit strategies with a focus on insurance underwriting, alternative risk financing, pharmacy strategy, and financial and claims analytics. Robert is known for his deep understanding of how benefit programs function at both a strategic and operational level. He closely tracks innovation and emerging trends in the employee benefits space, identifying, evaluating, and implementing forward‑thinking solutions and vendor partnerships that drive positive disruption and deliver meaningful, sustainable cost savings for his clients.

  Max Danner

  Max Danner has spent the past seven years at Lockton serving in a variety of roles, partnering with employers across both the public and private sectors. Throughout his tenure, he has supported organizations with key initiatives including open enrollment, regulatory compliance, financial budgeting, and long‑term strategic planning. Max is dedicated to helping clients navigate their evolving benefits needs by delivering thoughtful, strategic solutions and seamless service, enabling organizations to move forward with confidence and clarity.

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• Compensation Without Chaos: Paying Fairly in a Competitive Market

  • When
    November 10, 2026
  •  
    8:00 AM - 9:30 AM
  • Location
    MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual) 101 N. Keene St. Columbia, MO 65201
  • Spaces left
    75

  Register

  REMINDER - Presentation will be at our new location,
  MEM (formerly Missouri Employers Mutual)
  
  Breakfast and networking from 7:45am to 8:10am

  Presentation starting at 8:15am

  Compensation Without Chaos: Paying Fairly in a Competitive Market

  Compensation decisions have become increasingly complex as organizations navigate competitive labor markets, internal equity concerns, budget constraints, and growing expectations around pay transparency. HR professionals are often balancing the need to attract and retain top talent while ensuring compensation decisions remain fair, consistent, and aligned with organizational goals.

  This session provides a practical, high-level discussion on how organizations can bring greater clarity, consistency, and confidence to their compensation approach. We'll explore the key factors that influence pay decisions, common compensation challenges facing employers today, and opportunities to simplify compensation practices without sacrificing fairness or competitiveness.

  Whether you're developing compensation strategies, supporting managers through pay decisions, or responding to employee questions about compensation, this session will provide valuable insights to help you navigate today's evolving compensation landscape with less complexity and greater confidence.

  Participants will learn how to:

  • Think more strategically about fair and competitive pay practices
  • Use market data as a decision-making tool without creating unnecessary complexity
  • Recognize common internal equity challenges and understand their organizational impact
  • Approach compensation conversations with greater confidence and consistency
  • Identify opportunities to simplify, strengthen, and modernize compensation practices

  Join us for an engaging and practical discussion designed to help HR professionals move beyond reactive pay decisions and build a compensation approach that supports business objectives, employee trust, and long-term organizational success.

  Sommer Mason 
  
  Sommer Mason is a dynamic Total Rewards leader with more than 26 years of experience helping organizations develop competitive, high-impact HR strategies. Since joining Gallagher in 2016, she has partnered with clients across a wide range of industries, including manufacturing, energy, healthcare, and education, guiding them through complex challenges related to compensation, benefits, and talent management.

  A Certified Compensation Professional (CCP) and Lean Six Sigma Green Belt, Sommer is recognized for her ability to combine data-driven insights with practical, business-focused solutions that help organizations attract, retain, and reward top talent. Her expertise in compensation strategy and total rewards has made her a trusted advisor to employers seeking to balance market competitiveness with organizational goals.

  Sommer holds a degree in Management Information Systems from Louisiana Tech University and is based near Baton Rouge, Louisiana.

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