Monthly Newsletter

Spring is finally here and with it comes a welcome boost of energy (and hopefully some sunshine). This time of year always feels like a reset...new ideas, fresh momentum, and a chance to shake off the winter routine and refocus on what’s ahead.

At CRHRA, we’re leaning into that energy with opportunities to connect, learn, and spend time with HR peers. In this month’s edition, you’ll find upcoming programs, ways to stay involved, and a few resources to support you as things start to pick up this season.

As always, we want to hear from you! If there's a topic, resource, or idea you'd love to see covered in 2026, drop us a note in our Suggestion Box. 

What we’re covering this issue:

Upcoming Events 

Wednesday, April 8th from 5:00pm - 7:00pm ~ Unlock the Power of the Workforce System

Last year, we kicked off an engaging conversation on workforce development resources—and now we’re back for more. Whether or not you attended the first session, this discussion stands on its own and offers fresh insights into the services available to support employers and the workforce development system.

HR professionals will walk away with actionable strategies to attract, train, and retain top talent—many at little to no cost

Late Registration Still Available - Sign Up Here!

Want to avoid the late fee? Sign up by 5:00 pm on March 31st!

2026 Annual Conference

Early Bird Registration Happening Now through 3/31! 

Thursday, May 21st - CRHRA & Capital Region ATD May HR Conference at the Crowne Plaza Desmond Hotel in Latham, NY

This year’s theme, Director’s Cut – Crafting a Blockbuster Workforce, is all about elevating the people side of business. We’re looking for speakers who can bring fresh thinking, real-world experience, and inspiring ideas to help today’s leaders build workplaces where people and organizations thrive.

Visit the Official Conference page today! 

Event Recap

March 3rd: From Preparation to Separation: A 10 Step Model for Effective Terminations 

Earlier this month, John Bagyi led an insightful session on reducing legal risk in employee terminations, outlining 10 practical steps to ensure decisions are compliant, consistent, and aligned with business goals. The presentation also emphasized effective communication strategies that help HR professionals navigate sensitive conversations while preserving dignity and supporting a respectful employee experience.

March 18th: Better Together: A Joint Networking Happy Hour

We were excited to host a joint Happy Hour with the Albany Chapter of PSHRA, bringing together HR professionals from across our local community for an evening of connection and collaboration at BJ's Restaurant & Brewhouse. It was a great opportunity to break down silos, strengthen relationships, and welcome new faces into our networks.

From engaging conversations to shared insights (and plenty of appetizers!), the event was a reminder of the value of coming together as a profession. We’re grateful to everyone who joined us and helped make the evening such a success. We look forward to more opportunities to connect in the future!

Local Hr job postings

Did you know that CRHRA administers a job posting service to benefit both our members and businesses searching for an affordable way to reach a large pool of qualified HR professionals? Job openings are posted on our website and on LinkedIn!

Check out our Career Center on the CRHRA website!

Current Openings:

HR Intern at AngioDynamics

Director of Recruitment and Talent Development at Siena University

Director of Human Resources at Albany Law School

Rebecca's reflections

In this month’s edition, CRHRA's President Rebecca Harris reflects on the long-awaited arrival of spring, highlights recent CRHRA events and initiatives, and shares opportunities for members to stay connected and engaged in the months ahead.

Rebecca's Reflections - March 2026

Article of the month

Important Messages About Brain Health is shared by the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Alzheimer's Association. As part of our continued focus on employee wellbeing, we aim to highlight resources that may support employees and their families, especially those navigating caregiving responsibilities. CRHRA is proud to highlight the work of nonprofits across the Greater Capital Region. To learn more about local resources and support, visit the Alzheimer’s Association Northeastern New York Chapter website.

Volunteer spotlight

Meet Arianna Greene, SHRM-CP, MSM

Currently, I am an Officer, Senior Human Resources Business Partner at Arrow Financial Corporation where I have cultivated long-lasting relationships by serving as a trusted advisor. A SHRM-certified professional with a Master’s Degree in Management and concentration in Human Resources Management from Excelsior University, my daily focus is on fostering talent and strategic growth. I excel in talent acquisition , employee relations, project management, and coaching business leaders, ensuring they are equipped to navigate performance management and complex workplace challenges.

My commitment to the Capital Region Human Resources Association (CRHRA) spans several years. I currently serve as a Board Volunteer on the Student Engagement Committee, and I previously supported the Program and Conference Committees. Beyond CRHRA, I also volunteer as a Board Member for the Capital Region Recruiters’ Network and volunteer for the American Heart Association. Being a part of CRHRA is an incredibly rewarding way to give back to the local HR community and support the next generation of professionals entering the field. I truly value the sense of community and the wealth of shared knowledge among our members.

If I had to pick a highlight, it would definitely be the Annual Conference. Events like this remind me exactly why I love the HR profession: community, a commitment to doing the right thing, and a shared drive to make a real impact. Attending the Annual Conference I am left inspired by all the professionals energized and excited about the future of our profession, human capability, and performance excellence. 

Board member Spotlight

Meet Jeff Hall, SHRM-SCP, Government Affairs Chair

Jeff is the Director of HR at Kitware, a software solutions company.  Prior to this, he served in various HR roles in finance, manufacturing, and retail organizations.  He has experience in all aspects of HR management, including talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, and employee relations.  Jeff has been a SHRM and CRHRA member for over 15 years, and previously served as the Workforce Development Chair and Certification Chair.  He holds a Bachelor's in Psychology from the University of Rochester, an MBA from Empire State University, and an Executive Masters in HR degree from Cornell University, and is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) through SHRM.

What inspired you to pursue a career in HR?  HR is a unique intersection of disciplines, perspectives, and expertise, and can involve anything from finance to legal issues to business development, and anything else that involves people.  It's an opportunity to see and understand a wide breadth and deep depth of how an organization runs, overcomes challenges, and succeeds.  Plus, job security; the one thing in common across any company is that it's made up of employees!  

What advice would you give someone just starting in HR? Connect what you're doing day-to-day to something larger, whether that be your department's goals overall, the company's mission, and/or the customers your organization serves. Understanding the "line of sight" of HR's actions and expertise to the bigger picture helps not only prioritize and align what you do, it also reinforces the importance of what HR brings to the table.  Also try to be patient with yourself; it takes time to learn both a new profession and the business environment that you're practicing in; seek out other HR professionals to get their perspectives and advice.

Best career advice received?  Be a continuous learner; it's easy and tempting as one moves along their career to think they learned most or all of what they need to know.  Knowledge, theories, trends, etc. are always changing, both within the HR world and adjacent to it, so have a system for keeping up to date, and be open to changing how you do things.

CRHRA Storefront

Don’t forget about our CRHRA storefront! Get some CRHRA swag today.

HR education calendar 

Check out the community HR Education Calendar on the CRHRA website! Here you'll find events not hosted by CRHRA but that might be of interest to our community of HR professionals. 

2025 SHRM learning system champion

CRHRA has been awarded the 2025 SHRM Learning System Champion status due to our ongoing support of SHRM’s Certification Preparation Programs. Interested in getting certified? Reach out to the Board Member today!

VolunteerS always welcome

Interested in helping on a project or committee? Wonder what being a Volunteer Leader is all about? Reach out to us today.  Email us at [email protected]

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