Media Contact:
Laura Byrnes, APR, CPRC, FCWP
Director of Communications
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion
O: 352-291-9559 | M: 352-816-1264
[email protected]
OCALA, Fla. (Jan. 21, 2025) – Early bird tickets are now available for the Heart of HR: Driving Engagement and Innovation conference headlined by Johnny C. Taylor, Jr., president and CEO of the Society for Human Resource Management, the world’s largest HR professional society.
The conference, presented by CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and the Ocala Human Resources Management Association (OHRMA), takes place April 1 from 8 a.m. to 4 p.m. at the Circle Square Cultural Center, 8395 SW 80th St., in Ocala. There will also be an HR After Dark reception on March 31 at 5:30 p.m. at the same location.
Taylor, recently named one of the 2024 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America by Savoy Magazine, is a Fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional. His career spans more than 20 years as a lawyer and an executive, serving the IAC, Paramount Pictures, Blockbuster Entertainment, and the Thurgood Marshall College Fund, among other organizations.
In addition to being a member of the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees, Taylor serves on a number of corporate boards including XPO Logistics. He has previously served on the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and chaired the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities.
Taylor writes a weekly column in USA Today tackling HR issues and is the author of “Reset: A Leader’s Guide to Work in an Age of Upheaval.”
Tisha Webber, HR director for Nash Plumbing and Mechanical who represents OHRMA as conference co-chair, said that “When it comes to all things HR, not to mention a professional lifetime in corporate and nonprofit spaces, Johnny C. Taylor is the undisputed leader … To say that it’s a ‘great get’ to welcome Mr. Taylor to the Heart of HR is truly an understatement.”
Taylor will open the conference by discussing civility in the workplace.
Dale French, executive vice president for CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion and conference co-chair, added that in addition to Taylor, the Heart of HR will once again be emceed by internationally acclaimed workplace motivational humorist, best-selling author, and world-class magician Jon Petz.
“This is Jon’s third appearance at the Heart of HR and all I can say is if you’ve attended in the past, you know why he’s back by popular demand,” French said. “If you know, you know. And if you don’t, then you owe it to yourself to find out.”
The Heart of HR features the following experts on topics that matter to businesses of every size and industry sector:
Kate Beeders, breakthrough-based results coach and founder of the Success Acceleration System, Navigating Difficult Conversations
Kenneth A. Knox, partner in the Fort Lauderdale office of Fisher Phillips, Top Workplace Law Trends
Chris Laney, vice president of social impact at Lightcast, The Rising Storm: Building a Future-Ready Workforce to Withstand the Looming Labor Shortage.
Jenni Stone, HR director at InfoMC., Inc., and founder of QRS Learning, ChatGPT and Ethics: Navigating AI in HR Practices
The Heart of HR is also eligible for continuing education credits from SHRM and the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI).
Early bird tickets are available through Feb. 28 for $150 for all-day access to the conference, including light refreshments and lunch, or $175 to attend the conference plus the Heart of HR After Dark reception. Tickets are available at bit.ly/HEARTofHR2025.
Platinum Sponsor for this year’s event is the law firm of Fisher Phillips.
For group discounts and/or to learn about sponsorship opportunities, contact Tisha Webber at [email protected]
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The Ocala Human Resources Management Association (OHRMA) is a nonprofit organization of human resource professionals from the Marion County community affiliated with the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), an international organization of more than 180,000 members. For information, visit memberplanet.com/ohrma.
CareerSource Citrus Levy Marion is a member of CareerSource Florida and a proud partner of the American Job Center network. CareerSource CLM is supported by the U.S. Departments of Labor, Health and Human Services, Education, and other agencies as part of awards totaling $15.4 million (revised annually). CareerSource CLM is an equal opportunity employer/program. Auxiliary aids and services are available upon request to individuals with disabilities and in Spanish. All voice telephone numbers listed above may be reached by persons using TTY/TDD equipment via the Florida Relay Service at 711. If you need accommodations, please call 800-434-5627, ext. 7878 or e-mail [email protected].