SHRM Coastal Bend upcoming events

April Professional Development Meeting (April 23, 2026)

Thu, 23 Apr 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Networking in a Hyperconnected World

Mindy East, SHRM-SCP

Lime Rock Consulting

Date: Thursday, April 23, 2026

Time: 11:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina

Session Description:

Mindy East, will be discussing how In today’s hyperconnected world, opportunity doesn’t always go to the most qualified person — it goes to the person who is remembered. This session reframes networking for HR leaders as a strategic leadership skill, not a personality trait. Attendees will learn how visibility, relationships, and intentional connection impact hiring, retention, leadership development, and employer brand — and how HR can model and embed modern networking into their organizations in a way that feels authentic, inclusive, and effective.

About the Speaker:

Mindy East, is a keynote speaker, HR consultant, and founder of Lime Rock Consulting with over 25 years of experience in human resources and leadership development. She has worked with world-class brands including Walt Disney World, McDonald’s, Gap Inc., and Old Navy, and now helps organizations build connection, visibility, and well-being so people and businesses thrive.

Luncheon Costs

$30 Member | $35 Non-Member (no refunds) | $20 Students
First Time Attendees (50% discount) , email info@cbshrm.org to get a code. (no refunds)

Professional Development Credits Pending:

May Professional Development Meeting (May 21, 2026)

Thu, 21 May 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Stop Asking for a Seat at the Table-

Pull up a Chair!

Virginia Whitham, Chief HR Officer

Rally Credit Union

Date: Thursday, May 21, 2026

Time: 11:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina

Session Description:

Virginia Whitham, will discuss Boomers to Zoomers. The session is an interactive dialog about the role HR & Development can and does play at our organizations. A fun and humorous look at our past and current roles. Insights and recommendations on identifying our greatest contributions today and into the future.

About the Speaker:

Virginia Whitham, has 30 years of progressive experience in Human Resources and has been a Senior Leader for nearly 20 years. She is the Chief HR Officer for Rally Credit Union in South Texas. Whitham is a go-to professional, offering valuable insights and guidance to seasoned professionals and aspiring HR practitioners. She is a Certified Senior Professional with both HRCI and SHRM, a graduate of SCMS, and has a BS degree in Business Administration from Columbia College, Missouri. Whitham has been recognized as the 2023 CUNA HR and Organizational Professional of the Year. She serves on the SCMS faculty team, developing emerging leaders in Human Resources.

Luncheon Costs

$30 Member | $35 Non-Member (no refunds) | $20 Students
First Time Attendees (50% discount) , email info@cbshrm.org to get a code. (no refunds)

Professional Development Credits Pending:

June Professional Development Meeting (June 18, 2026)

Thu, 18 Jun 2026 16:30:00 GMT

The Human Advantage: Why Safety, Trust

and Leadership Matter More in an

AI-Accelerated Workplace

Dr. Amber Gunner

People & Performance Consultant

Date: Thursday, June 18, 2026

Time: 11:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina

Session Description:

Work is moving faster than ever, and for many organizations, that speed is intentional. AI, automation, and digital tools are accelerating decision-making, output, and scale. But speed does not strain systems equally. Across industries, high performers are exhausting faster because workload, cognitive load, and emotional pressure are accumulating without relief. As pressure becomes constant rather than situational, people begin to adapt in predictable ways: they speak less, help less, and hold more internally. Performance often appears intact until it suddenly isn’t. Most leadership guidance still assumes pressure is temporary. In today’s environment, it is not. In this session, Dr. Amber Gunner introduces a modern leadership lens for managing human capacity under sustained speed. Rather than treating burnout, disengagement, or conflict as individual or interpersonal problems, participants learn how to recognize the early behavioral signals that indicate when pace and pressure are exceeding human limits long before performance breaks down. Participants will examine: Why high performers burn out quietly How silence and tension are early warning signals, not engagement issues Where leaders unintentionally increase pressure, and where they have the authority to reduce it This session reframes psychological safety, trust, and well-being as performance infrastructure: the conditions that allow people to think clearly, surface risk early, and sustain execution in fast-moving systems. Because in an AI-accelerated workplace, leadership is no longer just about driving results; it’s about regulating pace, protecting capacity, and intervening before human systems fail. Participants Will: Learn how to recognize early indicators of human capacity overload Understand why high performers are often the first to exhaust under sustained speed Identify where leaders have leverage to regulate pace and reduce human risk, Reframe conflict and communication breakdowns as pressure responses.

About the Speaker:

Dr. Amber Gunner is a People & Performance Consultant, keynote speaker, and TEDx presenter who helps organizations build cultures where people feel safe enough to speak up, ask for help, and contribute at their highest level. With over a decade of experience in education, employee engagement, and organizational development, Dr. Gunner has partnered with global corporations, manufacturing firms, healthcare organizations, and ERGs to strengthen trust, communication, and performance at every level. Participants consistently describe her sessions as grounding, validating, and immediately applicable, offering language and tools they can use right away in real conversations, under real pressure. Dr. Gunner holds a Doctorate in Educational Leadership and certifications in Psychological Safety, Trauma-Informed Care, and Parental Burnout, and is an ICF Executive Coach.

Luncheon Costs

$30 Member | $35 Non-Member (no refunds) | $20 Students
First Time Attendees (50% discount) , email info@cbshrm.org to get a code. (no refunds)

Professional Development Credits Pending:

July Professional Development Meeting (July 16, 2026)

Thu, 16 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Maximizing Employee Benefits ROI Through Smarter Administration and Strategy How to Optimize Costs, Simplify Processes, and Elevate the Employee Experience

Shaina Miller, Managing Director of Employee Benefits

Higginbotham

Date: Thursday, July 16, 2026

Time: 11:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina

Session Description:

This session bridges strategy and execution, showing how streamlined benefits administration, thoughtful plan design, and effective communication work together to maximize ROI while improving the employee experience. Attendees will learn how to measure the impact of their benefits programs, reduce inefficiencies and errors, leverage technology, and ensure employees fully understand and utilize their offerings.

Whether you’re focused on cost control, employee engagement, or operational efficiency, this session provides practical, real world strategies to help your benefits program work harder for both your organization and your workforce.

Participant Learning Objectives

Participants will be able to:

Identify key metrics to measure the ROI and effectiveness of employee benefits programs
Recognize common inefficiencies in benefits administration and how to eliminate them
Explore cost effective plan design strategies that balance value, utilization, and employee satisfaction
Leverage technology to streamline enrollment, compliance, reporting, and ongoing administration
Enhance employee communication and engagement to drive understanding, appreciation, and utilization of benefits
Align benefits strategy and administration with broader organizational and business goals
Apply real world examples and best practices from organizations that have successfully optimized their benefits programs

About the Speaker:

Shaina Miller, is the Managing Director of Employee Benefits and Regional Sales Director at Higginbotham, where she leads the Houston South Employee Benefits Division. With over 12 years of experience in the employee benefits industry, Shaina specializes in advising large, complex public and private sector organizations, including municipalities and private equity backed companies.

Shaina is known for her highly consultative and proactive approach to benefits strategy. She brings deep technical expertise across benefits administration, compliance, funding strategies, and multi entity program design. Her experience includes leading complex RFPs, supporting M&A activity, streamlining benefits administration, and aligning benefits programs with organizational and financial objectives. As a trusted advisor, she regularly partners with executive leadership, HR teams, and governing bodies to simplify complexity and drive measurable results.

Her career path is anything but traditional. Starting at Higginbotham as a temporary employee at 18, Shaina has worked in every role within the employee benefits practice, ultimately becoming the youngest Managing Director in the firm’s history in 2023. This hands on progression gives her a unique ability to ask the right questions, anticipate challenges, and deliver solutions that truly work in real world environments.

Beyond her consulting role, Shaina serves as President of the Texas Bay Area Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), where she is passionate about advancing HR leadership through education, advocacy, and community engagement. She is also actively involved in charitable initiatives through the Houston South Charity Committee and mentors young women through the Nerdy Girl Success nonprofit.

Shaina’s work is deeply influenced by her personal experiences. Growing up in South Texas with a military father and navigating the loss of close family members shaped her resilience and commitment to meaningful benefits. She is a strong advocate for healthcare access, mental health support, and financial security, and believes well designed benefits programs have the power to change lives.

Luncheon Costs

$30 Member | $35 Non-Member (no refunds) | $20 Students
First Time Attendees (50% discount) , email info@cbshrm.org to get a code. (no refunds)

Professional Development Credits Pending:

August Professional Development Meeting (August 20, 2026)

Thu, 20 Aug 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Redesigning Performance Management in Age of AI:

Lessons from an In-Flight Implementation

Kent B. Landrum, Partner, Opportune LLP

Date: Thursday, August 20, 2026

Time: 11:30a.m. - 1:00 p.m.

Location: Holiday Inn Corpus Christi Downtown Marina (Free Garage Parking)

Session Description:

This n presents a real-world case study of redesigning a performance appraisal process using generative AI within a professional services firm. Rather than focusing on theory or vendor capabilities, this session examines how AI can be practically integrated into an existing management process, including stakeholder alignment, design decisions, and implementation. The discussion will cover how structured feedback was gathered and interpretted, how AI was used to generate evaluation artifacts and supporting materials, and how governance, consistency, and risk considerations were addressed.

About the Speaker:

Kent Landrum, is a Partner at Opportune LLP, where he leads the Energy Supply & Trading practice. He has over 25 years of experience in energy and has served in senior leadership roles, including Chief Information Officer at CPS Energy. His work focuses on business transformation, technology strategy, and the practical application of AI in organizational processes. In addition to his industry work, he is a Doctor of Business Administration candidate with research interests in AI adoption and the translation of practitioner knowledge into management education.

Luncheon Costs

$30 Member | $35 Non-Member (no refunds) | $20 Students
First Time Attendees (50% discount) , email info@cbshrm.org to get a code. (no refunds)

Professional Development Credits Pending:

2026 Annual Conference (September 24, 2026)

Thu, 24 Sep 2026 12:30:00 GMT

September 24 & 25, 2026

Holiday Inn Downtown Marina

Corpus Christi, Texas

We're Going to HOLLYWOOD!!

Join HR professionals, business leaders, and emerging talent from across the Coastal Bend for a transformative two-day experience focused on advancing careers, capabilities, and organizations.

Your Conference Experience Includes:

Inspiring Keynote Presentations by forward-thinking industry leaders
Engaging Breakout Sessions on critical and emerging HR topics
Networking Opportunities to connect with peers, mentors, and subject matter experts
In-Depth Workshops on Day 2 to sharpen your skills and deepen your expertise (additional cost)
Opportunities for Professional Recertification Credits

For More information

Visit the Conference Website!

If you are interested in Speaking at our event, please Click Here.

2026 Conference Sponsors

Click here for SPONSORSHIP OPPORTUNITIES!

This event will be submitted for credit with HRCI & SHRM.