Though a business’ culture is certainly important, a common failing of a human resource worker in the areas of hiring, firing, and maintaining a company’s workforce is becoming insular and outdated.

West Branch Human Resource Society works to correct this by connecting HR professionals in our area to others, thereby bringing about the best practices possible through networking and seminars, said Diana Durrwachter, the society’s secretary on the board.

The society works to connect HR representatives and businesses to tools and resources to help companies stay relevant, she said.

“If you don’t stay connected to those things, you won’t know what’s available, and what’s being done,” she said. “We help keep your business on the cutting edge, because you always want to be one step ahead of your competitors.”

WBHR not only making use of ideas circulating in the area, but brings new knowledge to the area through monthly lectures on a variety of topics.

For example, with medical marijuana becoming legal in the state some employers are unsure how to proceed with potential employees who chose to use the substance. West Branch Human Resource Society will prove useful in dispensing that information as it becomes available in case law, said Durrwachter.

“We have motivational speakers, leadership conferences, and sometimes we have attorneys that’ll come in to teach seminars on everything from engagement to retention of talent management,” she said.

By looking at leaders like Amazon or Google, Durrwachter said the society observes how they’re breaking ground in their hiring practices and cultural initiatives.

“Their tips and tricks of the trade and new strategies that can be used to find your best and brightest candidates, and learning how to seek them out,” she said.

There is even a place for small businesses or non-profit organizations that don’t have any one person who handles human resource work.

“It’s for any business that is involved with hiring, firing, retention, or any sort of employee culture,” she said.

Employers have also faced the common struggle of holding on to the younger generations who have just entered the workforce, as they often leave in about three years.

“You can find great people all day, but if you can’t them on keep on, it doesn’t work,” said Durrwachter. “You want to be able to tap into that talent and, really usurp all of their great knowledge before they move on to their next greatest move.”

The end goal is to make business good places to work.

“If you have happy employees, everything naturally flows from that,” she said.

Brandy Moon, president of WBHRS, Human Resource Generalist for North Central Sight Services, Inc., a non-profit organization, said she has enjoyed her time with the society.

“My involvement with WBHRS and SHRM has enabled me to further develop both personally and professionally in a leadership role while increasing my education to better serve my workplace and community,” she said.

Soon the local human resource society will move into a new direction as Kaitlin Gordner moves into the presidency. She currently works as a human resource manager for the Shop Vac Corporation.

WBHRS is a direct affiliate to the national Society for Human Resource Management and share their membership base and information, as well as the state SHRM and other local chapters. Meeting fees include programming and refreshments. Programming cost per program is $17 for members and $30 for non-members.

Those interested may contact Gordner or Moon at info@westbranchhr.org.