Letter from the President

What an incredible summer so far! I hope all of you are staying cool during this hot summer in Oklahoma. We are gearing up to finish this year strongly with some wonderful program meetings, supervisor training, legal updates and more. If you haven’t joined us for a program meeting in a while you won’t want to miss our August meeting with the wonderful Kirk Turner. This meeting is always a highlight of our year so if you haven’t registered do it today! Our program meetings aren’t just about hearing a great speaker they are a time to meet new people, network and catch up with your colleagues. Being an HR professional is a tough job, but it’s made so much easier with a great circle of like-minded people going through some of the same things you are dealing with today.

If you made it to our July program meeting, we had the opportunity to showcase some of our talented and dedicated award winners, years of service awards and a chance to highlight our past presidents that do so much for our organization. On a personal note, I have to say a huge thank you for choosing me as the Richard J. Messer Excellence in HR winner. I was blown away by the honor and couldn’t put into words what it meant to me. I know our other awards winners feel exactly the same way! Congratulations again to David Imerbthama for being chosen by Nancy Gunter for the 2025 President’s Award; Luke Westervelt for the Helping Hands Award and Amy Everett for our New Professional Award. They are all so deserving and it was so much fun to see them honored.  

Wishing you all a wonderful summer and can’t wait to see you at our program meeting!  

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Program Meeting

It’s that time of the year again when Kirk Turner will be our featured speaker at our August meeting. This year Kirk is going to provide us with a presentation on the "Biggest Mistakes Employers Make and How to Avoid Them!" Based on Kirk's more than 30 years of experience in representing employers in all areas of employment litigation, he has identified the key reasons why employers have been sued by applicants, employees, and former employees and what employers should instead be doing to provide a respectful, productive workplace, one that is legally compliant and free from any form of harassment, discrimination, or other illegal conduct.

This will be an entertaining and practical session that every Human Resources Professional and Employment Leader needs to hear.  

Immediately following the August Program meeting, Kirk will be providing live, interactive Supervisory Training for employers of all sizes to discuss important legal compliance obligations for leaders and the risks of failing to comply. More specifically, Kirk will provide training on managing employees with health conditions and successfully navigating the Americans with Disabilities Act ("ADA"), the Family and Medical Leave Act ("FMLA"), and the Pregnant Workers Fairness Act ("PWFA").  As part of the training, Kirk will provide real-life examples of situations where leaders failed to act properly and the legal consequences that occurred as a result. 

The fee for the Supervisory Training is $100 per person and registration is separate from the program meeting ($30 Members, $50 Guests). Register four (4) or more individuals from the same company and receive the discounted rate of $90 per person.

More information here!

Sponsored by:

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HR Department of One (ish)

As HR Professionals, we know how critical our roles are to the success of our organizations and employees. But not everyone knows that. And unfortunately, that means we have to prove ourselves and fight for that dad gum seat at that dad gum table that we are so sick of talking about. That is why our presentation and presentation skills are so important. Presentation can mean a host of different things.

In this session, we will talk about the importance of our personal presentation, it’s importance and how to present in excellence. We will also talk about how to actually present to our organization, either in a formal setting or informal setting. Attendees will walk out with ideas and tips regarding their personal brand and ideas and tips for presentation skills with the goal of our organizations recognizing how impactful we can be and why they should listen to us.

This event is free of charge and everyone is welcome!
Register Here

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Law Seminar

We are excited to announce that SHRM Tulsa's Employment Law and Practices Seminar will be held on Thursday, October 1, 2026, at the Tulsa Technology Center – Client Service Center, and registration is now open. Coming a little earlier than usual, this full-day seminar will equip employers with the knowledge and strategies needed to navigate today’s changing workplace. Don’t miss this opportunity to stay informed, stay compliant, and stay ahead.

This year’s sessions will cover some of the most timely and impactful issues facing HR professionals, including DEI in the current environment, workplace investigations, the NLRA and unions, ADA accommodations and mental health, the plaintiff’s perspective on employment claims, and the always-popular “Stump the Lawyer” session, where attendees can get answers to the employment law questions they've always wanted to ask.

Click here to register now!

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SHRM Tulsa Impact Awards

At SHRM Tulsa, our awards celebrate the members and organizations who make a lasting impact on our chapter, the HR profession, and our community. Being nominated is an honor that recognizes dedication, leadership, and service, while receiving an award reflects the meaningful difference these individuals have made.

This year, we are proud to recognize members celebrating milestone anniversaries, honor our active Past Presidents for their lasting leadership, and celebrate the achievements of recipients of the Outstanding New HR Professional Award, the President's Award, the Helping Hands Award, and the Richard J. Messer Excellence in Human Resources Management Award.

Richard J. Messer Excellence in Human Resources Management Award

Barbara Abercrombie is the recipient of the Richard J. Messer Excellence in Human Resources Management Award and has selected Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) to receive her charitable donation.

Dr. Barbara Abercrombie serves as Senior Vice President for Administration at the Housing Authority for the City of Tulsa and is the owner of Abercrombie Consulting, LLC, where she specializes in employee engagement, strategic planning, and organizational development.

She earned her bachelor's degree from Northeastern State University, a master's degree in Human Resources from the University of Oklahoma, and a doctorate in Workforce Education and Human Resource Development from Oklahoma State University.

A dedicated volunteer and advocate for the HR profession, Barbara serves on the OKHR State Council, is President of the SHRM Tulsa Board, a member of the 2025 OKHR Conference Committee, Vice President of the Northeastern State University Foundation, and is the Past President of the Board for Domestic Violence Intervention Services.

President's Award

David Imerbthama has been selected by Nancy Gunter as the recipient of the President's Award, which recognizes an individual who has gone above and beyond in service to SHRM Tulsa during the past year.

For more than 20 years, David has consulted in the enterprise software and insurance industries. As Lead Consultant at Gallagher, he helps organizations transform the employee experience through expertise in employee benefits, HR technology, compensation, talent attraction and retention, and project management.

David is an active volunteer, serving as Vice President of Sponsorship for OCHRS and OKHR, while also supporting the Return on Inclusion Committee, DisruptHR, and the Kids' Chance of Oklahoma planning committee. Outside of HR, he has coached with the Owasso Soccer Club for the past 12 years. A native of Owasso, David is half Cherokee and half Thai and is a proud father of three sons.

Outstanding New HR Professional Award

Amy Everett is the recipient of the Outstanding New HR Professional Award and has selected Domestic Violence Intervention Services (DVIS) to receive her charitable donation.

Amy serves as Director of Finance and Human Resources at World Travel Service, where she oversees accounting, finance, payroll, benefits, and human resources. Her diverse background in accounting, public education, business analysis, and corporate finance provides a unique perspective on the connection between people, operations, and organizational success.

She holds a bachelor's degree in Accounting from Northeastern State University, a master's degree in Leadership, an MBA, and a Graduate Certificate in Human Resource Management from Oklahoma State University. Amy is currently preparing to earn her SHRM certification.

An active SHRM Tulsa member, Amy serves on the Legislative Affairs and Special Projects Committees and participated in the 2025 TAHRA Mentorship Program. She is passionate about creating positive workplace cultures, supporting employee development, and helping organizations build strong, engaged teams.

Helping Hands Award

Luke Westervelt is the recipient of the Helping Hands Award and has selected Tulsa CARES to receive his charitable donation.

Luke Westervelt, SHRM-SCP, is an HR Partner specializing in HR technology, benefits, and organizational effectiveness. His experience includes benefits administration, employee relations, HRIS, and global workforce initiatives, where he partners with leaders to develop scalable HR solutions and enhance the employee experience.

In his current role at Zeeco, Luke supports global HR transformation efforts, including the implementation of UKG Pro for more than 2,000 employees across 10 countries and the development of technology-driven HR processes that support global business initiatives.

Luke is passionate about using data, technology, and continuous improvement to strengthen organizations while advancing the HR profession through collaboration and innovation. He has served on the SHRM Tulsa Membership Committee since January 2025 and is known for his commitment to helping others.

To learn more about our awards and past recipients, click here.
Want to get more involved in SHRM Tulsa? Let us know here. 

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