March 2, 2026 
Upcoming Meeting
Mar 19 - labor & employment legal update
presented by
James R. O’Connor, Partner
Phillips Lytle LLP
Topics to be addressed include the changes and updates surrounding the federal agencies that enforce federal employment laws, such as the EEOC and NLRB. Jim will also discuss the latest changes to New York State employment laws, including practical tips for compliance. Finally, Jim will give an overview of potential additional changes HR professionals should be ready for in the coming months and beyond.
Event Schedule:
8:30 AM Check in and refreshments
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM Presentation and Q&A
Tell Us What Events You Want to See!
To ensure BNHRA continues to deliver content that sharpens your skills and strengthens your connections, we need to hear directly from you. Your insights into event preferences allow us to tailor our programming to the specific needs of the Buffalo Niagara HR community.
Please share your feedback by completing our member survey.
As a thank you for your time, every participant will be automatically entered into a drawing for one of two free BNHRA memberships.
Help us build the absolute best content for our chapter—and potentially score a free year of membership in the process!
Apr 23 - HR Leaders Unplugged: Career Stories, CHallenges & Breakthroughs
Join fellow HR professionals for a high impact evening with local Chief Human Resources Officers sharing practical strategies on talent, culture, technology, and the evolving role of HR.
Designed for everyone in HR! From early career professionals to seasoned leaders, you will receive honest insights and create meaningful connections.
Meet our esteemed panelists:
- Dr. Ian Barrett, Executive Vice President & Chief People Officer, Kaleida Health
- Andrew Cianflone, VP, Human Resources, New Era
- Laura Cianflone, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Catholic Health
- Errol Douglas, PhD., SVP and Chief HR Officer, Roswell Park Comprehensive Cancer Center
- Julie Kline, Chief Human Resources Officer, Erie County Medical Center
- Ana G. Rodriguez, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, Delaware North
- Paul Wilkinson, Vice President & Chief HR Officer, Moog
- Kristine Wydro, Vice President Human Resources, Tops Markets
- Lori Florack, Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer, The Lifetime Healthcare Companies
Event schedule:
5:30 PM Check in and networking
6:00 PM Panel discussion
7:30 PM Roundtables
8:15 PM Closing remarks
Cost: $10 members of BNHRA and WNY NHRA | $20 non-members | $5 students
View and share our Sponsorship Options Sheet
Sept 28-30 SHRM New York State Annual Conference 2026
For the first time in 13 years, the SHRM New York State Conference will be held in Buffalo!
Register by 03/31/26 and SAVE!
Looking to be a sponsor? Check out this year's sponsor guide and send us a message to learn more about 2026 options!
call for volunteer leader!
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 an opening for a leadership position.
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
Diversity Spotlight
Dora Jones
Director of Talent Acquisition Operations
Horizon Health Services
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 Dora 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]
Diversity, Equity, Inclusion & Accessibility Newsletter
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
EEOC Rescinds Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace
Written By: James R. O’Connor,
Employers Must Continue to Follow Title VII and Protections Set Forth by
On January 22, 2026, the U.S. Equal Employment Opportunity Commission (EEOC) voted to rescind its Enforcement Guidance on Harassment in the Workplace. This is one of the first acts the EEOC has taken since it achieved a quorum in October 2025.
The rescission took effect immediately. EEOC guidance is certainly an instructive resource for employers and practitioners, but it is not binding law. Thus, the rescission does not significantly change federal law, and employers must remain vigilant
What Employers Need to Know About New York
Written By: James R. O’Connor, Linda T. Prestegaard, Colleen R. McMullen,
Workers Cannot Be Required to Repay Certain Advances, Stipends, or
Does your business require employees who leave before a set period of time to repay the business certain advances, stipends, or reimbursements the employee received—such as for training costs? If your business is located in New York State, a major development in New York Labor Law may apply.
On December 19th, 2025, Governor Kathy Hochul signed the “Trapped at Work Act” (the “Act”) into law. The Act, which takes effect immediately, mandates that “no employer may require, as a condition of employment, any worker or prospective worker to execute an employment promissory note.” If any employment promissory notes are executed, the “note shall be null and void.”
Read past Legal Update articles HERE
Corporate Membership Spotlight
Alcott HR provides customized solutions in human resources, payroll, benefits and risk management, empowering employers to prioritize their people and business performance.
From our office in Williamsville, NY we serve a diverse group of successful profit and not for profit businesses across the Western New York region and beyond. 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!