Western Arkansas Human Resources Association upcoming events

What's Your Problem, 401k? (June 09, 2026)

Tue, 09 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

What's Your Problem, 401k?

Presented by Chris Thixton, QPA, QKC, of Pension Consultants, Inc. Springfield, MO

The numbers don’t lie: too few employees are on track for retirement.* So, what’s wrong with the 401(k), the plan most workers count on to save for retirement?

Can it be fixed or should we scrap it for something else?

“What’s Your Problem, 401(k)” takes a hard look at the plan most Americans rely on to save for retirement. In this session, we examine the state of retirement readiness in America, its impact on financial security, and why we believe current 401(k) plan management is to blame.

This session challenges the status quo of 401(k) plan management, explores three key drivers of retirement readiness, and describes the specific changes that can help 401(k) plans accomplish the goal we depend upon them for – to get employees on track for retirement. Attendees will be provided with actionable strategies for transforming 401(k) plans into powerful tools for financial security.

Learning Objectives:

1. Review the impact of financial insecurity by analyzing how employees’ financial stress influences productivity, engagement, and the organization’s bottom line.

2. Evaluate today’s 401(k) KPIs and reporting methods to understand their limitations and identify more effective measures of retirement readiness.

3. Learn how to manage the 401(k) plan effectively by establishing clear goals, assigning responsibilities, and tracking the right metrics for success.

Free parking is available in a number of locations including the lots

adjacent to the National Cemetery (north edge) on Garland Avenue (FREE)
adjacent to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center on the east side of Wheeler (Free)
and for a nominal rate in metered spaces and the parking garage at 715 Rogers Avenue.

What's Your Problem, 401k? has been submitted to SHRM and HRCI.

Overcoming Incivility: Communicating to Build Employee Engagement and Collaboration (July 14, 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Overcoming Incivility: Communicating to Build Employee Engagement and Collaboration

Presented by Anna Francis, CEO, Diag Consulting LLC (Bethesda, MD)

Recent SHRM research indicates that U.S. employees collectively experience over 60 million acts of incivility per day in the workplace. Addressing others disrespectfully and interrupting or silencing others while they are speaking are cited among the most common types of incivility. Employees are looking to management to design a stronger culture of civility at work. About 66% of employees thought their supervisor or manager could have done more to prevent the incivility.

Civility in communication fosters a positive workplace where employees can work together productively and handle client interactions courteously. Through this presentation, attendees will develop the skills to communicate concretely, candidly, and thoughtfully through practical examples and engaging exercises. Equipped with these tools, attendees can respectfully convey goals and tasks, discuss work challenges, and provide constructive feedback to employees while modeling for them how to effectively and civilly speak with managers, co-workers, and clients. By utilizing these skills, attendees will be empowered to prevent incivility in their workplaces and create a better experience for their employees.

The presentation will provide attendees with the knowledge and skills to:

Objectively assess workplace situations by concentrating on information and avoiding personal interpretations or judgments.
Pinpoint the core issue contributing to a situation, drawing on their objective observations and emotional responses.
Clearly articulate a positive and specific action aimed at addressing the central issue, while also being receptive to alternative perspectives.

Free parking is available in a number of locations including the lots

adjacent to the National Cemetery (north edge) on Garland Avenue (FREE)
adjacent to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center on the east side of Wheeler (Free)
and for a nominal rate in metered spaces and the parking garage at 715 Rogers Avenue.

Overcoming Incivility has been submitted to SHRM and HRCI.

HR's Strategic Long-Game (September 15, 2026)

Tue, 15 Sep 2026 16:30:00 GMT

HR's Strategic Long-Game

Presented by Rachael Shackleford Dussuaur, Mission & Story (Washington, DC)

Internal Communications Turns Burnout into Buy-In and Creates a Roadmap for Reputation Management

HR professionals are expected to navigate constant unpredictability, keep the organization steady, support employees, and protect culture. If even one ball is dropped, it can all fall apart. This session explores HR’s new strategic long game: how internal communications can build organizational buy-in and support reputation management. We will focus on why a clear communications roadmap is essential to reducing unnecessary professional stress.

Participants will leave with practical strategies to:

strengthen morale,
reduce reactive fire drills, and
help employees feel invested in the organization’s success, both in times of calm and during the most challenging moments of change.

Free parking is available in a number of locations including the lots

adjacent to the National Cemetery (north edge) on Garland Avenue (FREE)
adjacent to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center on the east side of Wheeler (Free)
and for a nominal rate in the parking garage at 715 Rogers Avenue.

HR's Strategic Long-Game has been submitted to SHRM and HRCI.

Dealing with Difficult People: The HR Version (November 10, 2026)

Tue, 10 Nov 2026 17:30:00 GMT

Dealing with Difficult People: The HR Version

Presented by Jen Vaughn, Keeling Company (N Little Rock, AR)

Managing workplace conflict is a constant challenge for HR professionals, who are often expected to act as the primary buffer when personalities clash and morale begins to dip. It can be incredibly draining to navigate the space between conflicting styles or to coach employees through behaviors that feel genuinely disruptive to the team. This session offers HR managers the opportunity to step back and decode the "why" behind these difficult dynamics, moving them beyond the role of "office referee" toward building a more resilient and professional culture.

The course focuses on empowering HR leaders to stay grounded and effective even when tensions are high. Participants will gain a tactical toolkit designed to help them manage their own internal triggers and establish the firm, healthy boundaries necessary to protect both their time and the organization’s productivity. By mastering these strategies, HR managers can facilitate difficult conversations with greater confidence and prevent a few challenging personalities from dictating the energy of the entire workplace.

Program Objectives

Decode the Drama: Understand the actual motivations behind disruptive behaviors.
Find Your Triggers: Identify personal reactions before a situation escalates.
Talk Like a Pro: Master communication scripts to navigate high-stakes conversations with confidence.
Master Self-Control: Learn how to keep composure and manage emotions under pressure.
Draw the Line: Practice setting healthy professional boundaries that stick.
Protect Your Focus: Adopt strategies to stay productive and keep someone else's attitude from tanking performance.

Free parking is available in a number of locations including the lots

adjacent to the National Cemetery (north edge) on Garland Avenue (FREE)
adjacent to the ArcBest Corporation Performing Arts Center on the east side of Wheeler (Free)
and for a nominal rate in metered spaces and the parking garage at 715 Rogers Avenue.

Dealing with Difficult People: The HR Edition has been submitted to SHRM and HRCI.