Forum Addresses Ways to Meet Needs of Future Workforce

KENT, Ohio - Nov. 12, 2013 - PRLog -- The third forum in the HR Forum Series presented by Kent State University’s College of Business Administration stressed the importance of engaging employees.

Keynote speaker Jackie Rybka, director of human resources at American Greetings, said it is important to make sure the company’s and the employees’ goals align. She said her company makes sure that not only the goals align, but also the mission.

“Our mission is, we create happiness, laughter and love,” Rybka said. “We try to do this both inside the building and outside.”

Rybka also said it is important to have a continuous coaching culture where employees are continuously learning from one another. She said that management and HR should recognize in what areas employees excel.

“It’s not just about areas for development, it’s about strengths,” Rybka said.

Four additional panelists joined Rybka for the forum.

Jennifer Cohen, a consultant at Ratliff & Taylor, an HR consulting agency, said if employees are engaged, they will be happy.

“It’s all about how you treat people,” Cohen said. “Happy employees relate to happy customers.”

Panelist Gary Szelagowski, performance manager at PNC Bank, continued Cohen’s thought and said people are important.

“Everyone doesn’t want to be on the rocket sled [to a promotion], but everyone wants to be appreciated,” Szelagowski said.

Fellow panelist, Robert Hall, manager, training and development at Kent State University, said a job offer should be like a proposal.

“That’s what work is, we want to marry you,” Hall said. “We want you. We want to make a commitment. That’s how serious this proposal is.”

The final forum in the series will be in the Kent State University Kiva on Nov. 22 at 11:30 a.m. and will address the importance of diversity and inclusion in the workplace. All forums are free and open to the public.

The status is pending on whether HR professionals will receive HRCI recertification credits.

For more information about the HR Forum Series and the College of Business, visit www.kent.edu/business.