This has been an exciting year for DHRMA, Inc. and HR Southwest. The 2005 HR Southwest Human Resources Conference and Exposition, HR: A Hallmark of Excellence was record breaking in attendance, bookstore sales, Silent Auction proceeds, conference sponsorships and exhibit hall booths sold.

The focus for the 2005 Conference was to enhance the overall conference experience for attendees, sponsors, exhibitors, volunteers and staff. Based on the positive feedback we have received already it appears that we were able to accomplish this objective.

The Welcome Center was one of the new amenities offered this year and it was greatly utilized and feedback has been overwhelmingly positive.

More than 500 first time attendees joined us this year and over 1/3 of those hold the PHR/SPHR certification. We believe this was a direct result of some of the new features offered this year with the addition of the Strategic HR educational track and the HRCI Hideaway for the exclusive use of certificated HR professionals. In addition, over 40% of our educational session speakers were new to HRSW and our very supportive returning speakers provided new and timely topics.

We were fortunate to have our opening keynote, Mr. Michael Israel generously donate two of his masterpieces. One was designated for the Silent Auction with proceeds going to the four student scholarship winners, and the second painting designated for the American Red Cross. We raised more than $1,700 for the American Red Cross Hurricane Relief Fund and $3,500 for student scholarships.

Remember to keep your Conference Brochure/Exhibitor Directory handy for easy access to the more than 270 exhibitors who shared their products and services with us during the conference.

Conference attendees and exhibitors were emailed a conference evaluation and hopefully you took the opportunity to complete it. Your feedback is invaluable in helping the planning team for next year’s conference. Each year we want to ensure that the conference meets and exceeds your expectations. We depend on your feedback to do that.

I’d like to express a special thank you to our staff and the more than seventy volunteers who planned and orchestrated this year’s conference. Without the dedication of these individuals it would not be possible to produce the 2nd largest regional HR conference year after year. I want to thank our Conference Board of Directors, committee members, staff, Board of Trustees and Executive Committee for your personal support in my role as Conference Director. This was truly a rewarding and memorable experience.

Again, thank you to those of you who attended the conference, and we trust that you found it to be a professionally rewarding experience.

Please mark your calendar for the 2006 HRSW Conference, Next Generation HR: Imagine the Future which will be held at the Fort Worth Convention Center on October 17 – 20, 2006.

Best wishes for a joyous holiday season!

Sincerely,

Cathy White, SPHR
2005 HRSW Conference Director
Director of Human Resources – The Mansion on Turtle Creek

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