SHRM 2015 Annual Conference
Submitted by eo'brien on Mon, 09/08/2014 - 12:50pmConferences On Demand Retired; eLearning Library Offers More
Conferences On Demand Retired; eLearning Library Offers More
This highly interactive event is designed to prepare you for success in the coming year. Learn more about SHRM’s goals & initiatives and how those will guide your chapter/state council planning.
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Mike Abrashoff
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At the age of 36, the Navy selected Abrashoff to become Commander of USS Benfold - at the time, the most junior commanding officer in the Pacific Fleet. The immediate challenges that faced him were staggering: Exceptionally low morale with unacceptably high turnover. Few thought that this ship could improve. The solution was to establish a system of management techniques that he calls “The Leadership Roadmap” – a practice that empowers every individual to share the responsibility of achieving excellence. "It's your ship," he was known to say. His former sailors to this day still remind him of it. Regarded as the finest ship in the Pacific Fleet, Benfold won the prestigious Spokane Trophy for having the highest degree of combat readiness.
Prior to commanding USS Benfold, Abrashoff served as the Military Assistant to the Secretary of Defense, the Honorable Dr. William J. Perry. He also helped draft the air defense plan for naval forces in the Persian Gulf in 1990, coinciding with Iraq's invasion of Kuwait; and served as the Executive Officer of the Cruiser Shiloh, where he deployed to the Persian Gulf in support of United Nations sanctions against Iraq.
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Katy Jo Meyer
Senior Global Diversity & Inclusion Manager
Microsoft
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As a part of the Global Diversity & Inclusion team, Katy Jo partners with Business and HR Leaders in two of Microsoft’s engineering groups that include 25,000 employees worldwide to attract, retain, and develop diverse talent, as well as create an inclusive work environment where all employees can reach their potential. Katy Jo also acts as a D&I liaison with Microsoft’s Staffing Consultants globally for hiring and onboarding people with disabilities. Katy Jo continues her passion for working with People with Disabilities by representing Microsoft on the Corporate Advisory Board for the United States Business Leadership Network (USBLN).
Katy Jo has been at Microsoft for 15 years. Prior to working in Global Diversity & Inclusion, Katy Jo spent 7 years in another Organizational Development role where she built and launched Microsoft’s integrated worldwide talent platform for managing and developing employees across the entire company, known as the career model. She also drove alignment of the talent and leadership development strategy with the overall business strategy to ensure high business impact.
Prior to working with career models, Katy Jo spent her first 5 years at Microsoft within the Staffing organization, where she co-created the Explore Microsoft Program. Designed to increase the Computer Science graduation rates among females and diverse students, this program provides freshman and sophomore college students a meaningful introduction to a career in the technology industry and remains a pipeline of diverse technical talent for Microsoft.
Katy Jo received her undergraduate degree in Psychology and Sociology from Carroll College in Helena, Montana and her graduate degree in Organization Systems Renewal from Seattle University.