Jan 15, 2026 
Upcoming Meeting
Jan 22 - Pain Points of Recruiting
presented by
Lauren Lewis Sherie Courteau
partner Talent Optimization Manager
StaffBuffalo & HRBuffalo StaffBuffalo
Hiring is expensive—and the wrong hire costs even more. Join us for an interactive session where we will share practical strategies to deliver stronger hiring results, improve efficiency, and Hiring is expensive—and the wrong hire costs even more. Join us for an interactive workshop where Talent Optimization Strategists will share practical strategies to reduce costs, improve efficiency, and reduce costs.
Key Pain Points we’ll address:
- Not enough applicants
- Too many unqualified applicants
- Candidate ghosting and drop-off
- High spend on job sponsorships with low ROI
Event Schedule:
4:00 p.m check in, networking and light refreshments
4:30 p.m. - 5:45 p.m. program
BNHRA is recognized by SHRM to offer professional development credits (PDCs) for SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP® recertification activities. This program is valid for 1.25 PDCs for the SHRM-CP® or SHRM-SCP®.
This program has been pre-approved for 1.25 general recertification credit hours toward aPHR®, aPHRi™, PHR®, PHRca®, SPHR®, GPHR®, PHRi™ and SPHRi™ recertification through HR Certification Institute® (HRCI®)
Jan 28 - Network & Chill
Join your HR colleagues for some casual networking at Big Ditch from 5:00 p.m. - 7:00 p.m. Appetizers provided, and the first round's on us!
REGISTER HERE
save the date! Feb 25 - 3rd annual Empower HR Panel
At the Frank E Merriweather Jr Library, 1324 Jefferson Ave, Buffalo, NY 14208 from 6:00 p.m. - 7:30 p.m.
Watch our website and social media for event details. Registration is opening soon!
Find out first hand why BNHRA is the premiere organization for Human Resource Professionals in the Buffalo Niagara Region and how we strive to serve the professional needs of our diverse regional chapter. Our BNHRA board of directors has openings for two leadership positions.
NETWORKING CHAIR
If you are the type of person who loves connecting people, planning events and bringing energy to a community, we want you on the team.
What You’ll Own:
- You will design and execute our quarterly networking events.
- You’ll implement creative ways to increase interaction among our members, collaborating with our Board team.
- You’ll work with the Board to shape the short-term and long-term goals of the chapter.
The Commitment:
- This is a non-voting Board position, but you are a fully active strategic partner.
- Requires attendance at monthly Board/Membership meetings and quarterly networking events
FOUNDATION DIRECTOR
Position Summary: Serve as an elected member to the chapter’s Board of Directors. Primary responsibility is to educate, promote, and represent the interests of the SHRM Foundation and its activities to the Chapter.
Responsibilities:
- Educate the Chapter membership regarding the existence, purpose, and ongoing activities of the SHRM Foundation.
- Encourage the Chapter membership to contribute financially to the SHRM Foundation as a show of support for the human resources profession.
- Encourage the Chapter membership to support an annual contribution to the SHRM Foundation by the Chapter.
- Advise and update the Chapter membership of the Foundation's activities and fund-raising needs.
- Participate in the development and implementation of short-term and long-term strategy planning for the chapter.
- Represent the chapter in the Human Resources community.
- Voting position.
Requirements:
- Must be a BNHRA member in good standing for the entire term of office. SHRM member highly preferred.
- Able to attend 80% of board meetings, which are held the last Tuesday of the month.
- Two-year term
Interested applicants should contact Laura Azzarella, BNHRA president at [email protected] or complete the online application here
time to renew? Check out the new BNHRA Enhanced Membership!
Your access to the most strategic HR programming in Western New York is here!
Enhanced Members get full access to our four premier events at no additional cost:
🟢 Empower HR Panel — February 25, 2026 at Merriweather Library
🟢 Spring Legal Update — March 19, 2026 at Phillips Lytle
🟢 Summer Legal Update — June 26, 2026 at Phillips Lytle
🟢 Fall Legal Update + HR Excellence Awards — September 17, 2026 at The Foundry
You continue to receive the full suite of standard membership benefits, including:
✔️ Discounted HR programs & workshops
✔️ SHRM & HRCI recertification credit support
✔️ Full access to the Member Directory
✔️ HR-focused job board
✔️ Volunteer & mentorship opportunities
Why go Enhanced?
This is your professional subscription to ease, access, and impact. With the purchase of this membership, you will be able to register for our signature events at no additional cost. These events give the Buffalo HR community strategic legal updates and contemporary best practices to drive progress across our workplaces.
The Standard Membership option will still be available; the Enhanced gives you the additional value built into your membership.
✨ If you are ready to join or renew your BNHRA membership, now is the time to take advantage of this offer. Have questions? Reach out to us at [email protected]
Diversity Spotlight
Collin Gehl, Chief Human Resources Officer at Say Yes Buffalo
BNHRA Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Belonging Committee highlights an HR or business leader from the Buffalo Niagara region whose organization is championing equity, belonging, and inclusion in the workplace.
Learn about Collin in this Q & A here: Buffalo Niagara Human Resources Association - Diversity and Inclusion
***If you know of a company that should be featured in an upcoming Diversity Spotlight, please reach out to our Diversity Director, LaTanya Walton, at [email protected]
HR Mentors Needed!
You probably have had a mentor (maybe even more than one!) in your career. If you have, you know what even one hour a month of advice and support from an expert can do. Think about how much that has shaped your success, and how much you could impact the success of someone else going into HR.
SHRM and SHRM Foundation are looking for dedicated HR professionals who have a passion for helping the next generation of HR leaders excel and succeed as they prepare to launch a career in HR. We are looking for mentors to work one-on-one with a SHRM student member for approximately 1 hour a month for three months. The maximum time commitment is four to eight hours (over the course of three months) and you could earn 3 PDCs!
Mentorship is a key way you can support the next generation of HR professionals and help them thrive.
To access, simply log in as a member. Not a member yet? Learn more about joining here or reach out to our Membership Director at [email protected]
DAEMEN OFFERS SCHOLARSHIPS FOR BNHRA MEMBERS!
Daemen University is offering BNHRA Members a Discount on select Graduate programs! Please click HERE to learn more!
Legal Update: Phillips Lytle LLP Alert for BNHRA Members: Labor & Employment
Read past Legal Update articles HERE
Corporate Membership Spotlight
StaffBuffalo is a certified women-owned (WBE), full-service professional staffing firm, providing executive, direct hire, and contract solutions for employers in Buffalo, NY and the surrounding areas. We specialize in providing our clients with the best candidates for each job, as well as, personalized career management solutions to each candidate looking for new opportunities. Read more
Did you Know?
- Get Involved and Give Back! Junior Achievement WNY Volunteer Opportunities
- Sponsorship packages available for our monthly events! Check out bnhra.org/sponsors
Sponsorship Opportunities
Are you looking for more ways to get involved in the BNHRA and reach out to the BNHRA Community? The BNHRA offers a variety of ways to become a sponsor:
Website Sponsorships:
- Website Logo Sponsorship
- BNHRA Home Page Sponsorship
- Career Center Page Sponsorship
- Sponsorship of an Individual Website Page
Program Sponsorships:
- Program Featured Sponsor
- General Meeting Sponsor
- Vendor Table
- Sponsorship of Dessert and Coffee at a Dinner Meeting
- Sponsorship of Social/Networking Event
Learn more about the Sponsorship Options here!
In Transition Memberships
Do you know of fellow HR professionals who are currently in between jobs? If so, please let them know BNHRA offers a NO cost In Transition membership package that includes our Goodwill Fund, sponsored by StaffBuffalo & HRBuffalo!
In-transition Committee
The In-transition Committee connects BNHRA members that are currently in-transition and also those seeking a new employment opportunity with one another, as well as services in the community such as training, career coaching, and networking. If you are interested in learning more, please contact Cathy Lanzalaco at [email protected]
Helpful Resources
Check out our updated In-Transition page HERE
If you are a current SHRM member who is in a job transition, you may request a 3 to 6 month membership extension by emailing [email protected] within 30 days prior to your membership expiration date.
Other Professional Events
Other Professional Events - be sure to check out this page for many exciting events in WNY!
Job Postings!
Do you have an HR Position that you would like to share with the BNHRA Community? BNHRA Members can post HR jobs for FREE! Learn more here!
