Maryland SHRM at VLBM 2024: A Showcase of Leadership and Collaboration

The 2024 SHRM Volunteer Leaders’ Business Meeting (VLBM), held November 21-23 in Washington, D.C., brought together HR leaders from across the country to focus on building better workplaces and creating a better world. Representing Maryland with pride, 21 attendees from the Maryland SHRM State Council and all 10 chapters actively participated in this vital event. As SHRM aptly describes, volunteer leaders are "the backbone of our mission," and Maryland's strong presence at VLBM underscored their commitment to fostering impactful workplace transformation.

The conference began with an inspiring opening session featuring renowned speakers, including Anuradha Hebbar, CEO of SHRM’s Action for Inclusion and Diversity, Tamala Oates-Forney, CEO of Linkage, and Wendi Safstrom, President of the SHRM Foundation. Friday’s session welcomed Jenn Graham, CEO of Inclusivv, who spoke passionately about cultivating civility in the workplace. Attendees also participated in workshops and discussions that provided valuable insights into chapter operations, strategic planning, and SHRM's future initiatives, equipping leaders with tools to drive meaningful change in their regions.

In a highlight of the event, SHRM volunteers from Maryland joined their counterparts from New Jersey and Pennsylvania for a networking dinner at Carmine's in D.C. This collaborative evening fostered connections and emphasized the shared mission of advancing HR excellence. Maryland’s delegation left the meeting energized, equipped with new ideas, and ready to lead their chapters and state council into 2025 with renewed purpose and enthusiasm.