Happy New Year friends! I’m so excited to unwrap this year. This will be my 5th year in review post on the blog and I love how the format has evolved over the years! 2023 in review celebrated at a high level the good things that happened during the year. I typically keep these wrap ups very career focused, but this year I want to add in some fun personal favorites from the year too. At the end I’ll share an announcement about the next fun challenge I’m taking on in 2025. Let’s go!
Speaking, Training, and Coaching Highlights
2024 was incredibly fun on the speaking front. I got to step into new roles and onto new stages with new organizations! The biggest accomplishment for me was hitting the stage at both SHRM Talent in Las Vegas and SHRM24 in Chicago. I had a Spotlight Stage and Concurrent session at each! At SHRM Talent my sessions were Recruiting Best Practices (Play the Long Game!) and Elevate and Uplift the Next Generation of HR Leaders for the spotlight and concurrent stages respectively. At SHRM24 I got to do Elevate and Uplift the Next Generation of HR Leaders as the spotlight stage (cutting it down was so hard lol) and Building your Personal Brand, Why Starting Now is Important to Your Future Career as the concurrent session. My concurrent session at SHRM24 had the session full sign out front! I was so so excited to meet so many new people who found my content inspiring and helpful. I met so many HR professionals eager to advance their careers. I love sharing my insight and experience on building a personal brand, building relationships and credibility at work, moving up, networking, and using social media to your advantage.
I also had a blast speaking at HRUnite! In Frankenmuth, Michigan and Iowa State SHRM in Coralville, IA! I am so so grateful that my network reached out to me with these opportunities. At HRUnite! My friend Amanda Brunson and I presented on what every young and emerging HR pro should know, which was a combination of both of our strengths! At Iowa State SHRM, I was the pre-conference workshop presenter. The day before the conference started, attendees could register for and attend my 4 hour pre-conference workshop. There were 100 people there! Over the course of 4 hours we dove into all things employer branding for talent attraction and retention. This one was incredibly special to me. I had never done this content in this format before. Heck I had never lead a 4 hour workshop before lol. I was so proud of myself for how it went. I learned a lot and received great feedback.
I can’t forget about the virtual events. This year I got to speak at the Villanova Level Up HR conference, where I presented Elevate and Uplift the Next Generation of HR Leaders. I also got to record a 20 minute segment with Ben Eubanks which aired on LinkedIn Live as part of HR Summer School. This was such a fun conversation! In both events, the chat was poppin! I can’t wait to see everyone again on these events. (Hoping to participate as a speaker at both of these events again in 2025!)
I also worked with career coaching clients 1:1 who were on their job search or career advancement journeys. I help individuals and organizations take their careers and businesses to the next level with a relationship building and personal branding strategy. Connect, post and engage intentionally online to attract opportunities to yourself, build your network, showcase your personality and voice, and reach your goals! If I could help you, please reach out to me or book a call with me through my services page. I can’t wait to chat with you!
Let’s round out this section with two super fun podcasts! As part of my work with Lighthouse Technology Services, I wrote, recorded and launched 17 episodes of my podcast Claire Shares, covering tons of topics around talent attraction and retention. These ~10 minute bite size episodes are all action packed with tips you can implement quickly at your organization! I’ve also been told they are great topic overviews for HR students and emerging professionals. Huge shout out to Joe Ray, Lighthouse’s Marketing Manager, and a dear friend of mine since middle school, for bringing this project to life. I loved the way I was able to showcase my knowledge and skills to help other HR pros and business leaders. (Also, we made a hilarious blooper reel lol)
I was also a guest on SHRM’s Career Compass podcast where I talked about crafting your personal brand and why it’s important for your career.
New Job Alert!
After 3.5 years with Lighthouse Technology Services, I started a new role as a Senior Talent Acquisition Business Partner with ATI Materials. Back to my roots in manufacturing recruiting in house, and I love it! My primary driver for making this move was the ability to work fully remotely. A huge plus is that I get to work for an amazing leader who I worked for back in 2015-2016. We were a great pair, got a lot done, and know each others’ styles, so it was a very easy transition into the new role. Staying connected with your network (and active on LinkedIn) at it’s finest folks! There were hundreds and hundreds of applicants for my role. Knowing the hiring manager gave me a leg up. I still had to interview well, but she already knew my brand, work ethic and work product. I love being the dedicated TA partner for one of our business units because I can work very independently with my business, but also be part of the broader TA team for collaboration and support.
I am so happy with the flexibility this role has offered me and I’m now able to travel and attend my favorite work out classes more than I was able to in the past. I feel much more calm, not rushed, and have time in my day for more things I enjoy and more walks with my dog!
After a year off, I rejoined the BNHRA board as the Certification Director. After serving as Secretary, Professional Development Director and College Relations/Emerging Professionals Director, I’m honored to be taking over the Certification Director role. Obtaining both my PHR and SHRM-CP have been wonderful learning and development experiences that have positively impacted my career growth, so I’m excited to help other HR pros on their certification and recertification journeys!
Personal
I wanted to shout out my favorite small businesses that I frequented in 2024. They all support my overall schedule, lifestyle, and happiness which really means a lot to me.
- Now that I live in Elmwood Village, I’m frequently walking to Overwinter Coffee. My dog Lucy loves to come in with us and say hi to the staff.
- Hype Fitness Studio has THE BEST strength and pilates class. I’m obsessed. I played sports all 3 seasons in high school and spent too much time in HIIT workouts. At this point in my life, I’m all about loving on myself and gaining strength without harsh movements and feeling like I’m beating myself up! Hype is a great workout and all movements are controlled and low impact. Stef the owner is incredible. Jamie and Steph are wonderful instructors. I’ve been going 4-5 days a week. I love the hour for me with no distractions. I feel stronger. Look good, feel good!
- Lucy has been going for baths at the Laundromutt. The staff is so so sweet. They are gentle and move slowly with my 9 year old girl. She always comes home looking and smelling delicious!
- Michelle at Chelley Nailed It is the best nail tech in Buffalo. She always crushes the crazy designs I ask for!
- Qylie and Katie at Divine Esthetics are the best. I always feel so relaxed and refreshed after my services and look forward to it every month.
- Sarah and team at the Lounge Shop. I always spoil myself here and get so many compliments on my t shirts and sweatshirts. I also did all my Christmas shopping for my mom, step-mom, and boyfriend’s mom at the Lounge Shop and everyone raved after their gifts!
This year I also created a top 10 musical albums of the year. My boyfriend John is a big album listener and hosts a group of friends every year who share their top 10 albums of the year and their favorite song from each. In 2023, I couldn’t make a top 10 albums list because I was mainly a singles girl. This year I’m proud to have expanded my musical horizons and have a top 10 albums list to share. If you check any of these out / like them too, let me know!
- Crack a Smile Come on Stay a While – Abby Holliday *such a vibe!
- Post Human Next Gen – Bring Me the Horizon
- I Want to Disappear – The Story So Far (Got to see in concert this year)
- Hell or High Water – nothing,nowhere.
- Survival in Motion – Taylor Acorn (Got to see in concert this year)
- I’m Doing it Again Baby – Girl in Red
- Gravity – The Dangerous Summer (Got to see in concert this year)
- Blue Hour – Real Friends (Got to see in concert this year)
- Deep in the Blue – Tiny Moving Parts
- With You in Spirit – Balance and Composure
The Year Ahead
2025 is going to be a great year. I feel calmer and more at peace than I have in past years. I know this is due to not having a commute to work and endless events on my schedule. This coming year is all about peace, self-care, skill development, travel and being selective about where I pour my soul and expend my energy. There isn’t as much of a need to “hustle” this year, as I know I’ve worked hard enough and proven myself enough over the course of my career that I believe good things are now always heading my way.
Speaking of good things heading my way, I received a LinkedIn message from a professor at Niagara University, who’s class I had taken when I did my MBA there in 2015. After a couple of short and high energy conversations, I accepted an adjunct teaching position at NU for the Spring 2025 semester! So cool that 10 years later I am returning to campus but to teach. I will be teaching MGT342, undergraduate HR Staffing and Development. I am so so excited to meet my students in a couple of weeks! I’m looking forward to helping these young professionals, honing my content creation and teaching skills, and learning new skills in higher education administration (Using Canvas, making a syllabus, creating assignments, grading – eek!)
Thanks for the memories 2024. Proud of everything I accomplished and thankful for the amazing people who were along for the ride. I can’t wait to see what other events and opportunities come up throughout the year. Connect with me on LinkedIn and Twitter/X (you can find me on Bluesky too) and let’s stay connected! I wish you a healthy, happy and successful 2025. Take care of yourself friends. Please reach out if there’s anything I can help you with. Let’s do this! Cheers!
Claire is Coaching 