Like a dash of cream or sugar dropped into coffee, networking can add that extra bit of flavor to one's business needs.
Take the West Branch Human Resource Society.
Once a month its board members gather and bat around ideas that might help each other with their business or organization.
Article Photos
MARK NANCE/Sun-Gazette
Members of the West Branch Society of Human Resource Management meet at the Tower Square Cafe for a meeting Wednesday.
"I can learn about things I would not otherwise know about," said Tracy Haas, communications and community outreach chairwoman.
Haas is marketing coordinator with AlbrightLife, a day care center for senior citizens, and just one of many companies and other groups affiliated with West Branch.
There's also people such as Tom Ruhl, vice president of Keystone Staffing, and Kristen Avery, a human resource manager at Jersey Shore Steel.
In essence, there are people involved from so many corners of the local community.
"We offer professional development to the local human resource professional as well as networking opportunities," said Avery, the board's president.
Ruhl, membership chairman, called the group a resource for development and networking in the human resource field.
Sitting down with other members, he said, allows for the sharing of ideas.
Haas sees the the group as a valuable tool for representatives of smaller businesses that can't dedicate much to human resources.
"I can learn about things I would not otherwise know about," she said. "Everyone comes at it in a different way."
She said the entire group, which includes more than 90 people, goes beyond sharing ideas about personnel looking for jobs.
It extends to helping professionals have tools for the workforce, she said.
"It's a forum for topics," said Amanda Wright, a business development manager at Spherion Staffing who serves as programming chairwoman.
Meetings are held monthly, and it's not uncommon for someone to drop in at a board meeting and discuss a topic of interest.
Most recently, the group was visited by a social networking expert.
"We had about 40 people attend that," Haas said.
Upcoming topics are to include workman's compensation, the emerging workforce, labor relations, legislative issues, and Marcellus Shale-related issues.
The group is not strictly about human resource networking and information. It also emphasizes giving back to the community.
The group offers $500 scholarships to assist local college students pursuing careers in human resource management or business administration.
The Favors Forward program reaches out to the public, assisting people facing challenging circumstances.
"We hope to strengthen (the organization) and reach out more," said Marianne DePasqua, client development specialist, Pennsylvania College of Technology.
The group seems to have a lot of synergy, she noted.
"Everyone does a phenomenal job," Avery said.
Ruhl noted that the group is in the midst of a membership drive.
"If we get the word out we can all get stronger," Ruhl said.
Added Haas: "Joining our group solidifies those ideas of what human resources is."
The organization is an affiliate chapter of the national Society for Human Resource Management.
More information is at Westbranchhr.org.
