Hi friends! I’ve made some new connections lately through networking groups, professional communities, and my new role, so I thought it would be a great time to reintroduce myself! Whether we’ve known each other for years or just recently connected, welcome! I’m Claire Stroh, an HR and Talent Acquisition professional, recently turned Director of Events and Sponsor Partnerships. I’m also a career coach, speaker, adjunct professor, and lifelong learner. (my top strength on CliftonStrengths is learner!) I’m originally from Buffalo, NY, and now live in Miami, FL. If you know me, you know I love meeting new people, building relationships, attending conferences, sharing resources, and finding ways to connect people with opportunities. I’ve been blogging here at Claire is Coaching for several years, sharing my experiences, lessons learned, professional development resources, and plenty of personal reflections along the way. I love having this little corner of the internet to document my journey, and I’m excited to have some new friends following along!
A little about my professional background. My first job which I started in high school was working as an Adoptions Counselor at my local SPCA. For 6 years I met with members of the community and matched them with their new furry family member. Little did I know that would set me up for a great career in recruiting. Matching people with pets is similar to matching people with jobs! I then spent the first 14 years of my career, starting in college, working as an HR and Talent Acquisition practitioner. Along the way, I’ve held roles in HR management, agency recruiting, and in-house recruiting leadership which gives me a well-rounded view of what great talent strategy really looks like. I’ve earned my MBA, PHR, and SHRM-CP certifications, and have always been passionate about investing in my own professional development while helping others do the same. In 2018, I started Claire is Coaching LLC, where I’ve worked with individuals on their career development, job searches, networking strategies, and personal branding. I’ve also had the opportunity to teach undergraduate HR courses as an Adjunct Professor at Niagara University and speak at HR and Recruiting conferences across the country. One of my favorite things about this profession has always been the community. I’ve met so many incredible people through local HR associations, conferences, LinkedIn, and professional development events, and those relationships have played such a meaningful role in my career and personal life!
Fast forward to 2026, and I made a pretty significant career pivot! After years working directly in HR and Recruiting, I joined ERE Media as the Director of Events and Partnerships. If you’re unfamiliar with ERE, we’ve been supporting the Talent Acquisition community for decades through industry content, conferences, and opportunities for recruiting professionals to learn from one another. My role allows me to combine so many of the things I love: building relationships, creating memorable experiences, bringing people together, and helping professionals grow. I now spend my days developing sponsor partnerships, planning conferences, working with industry leaders, and helping create spaces where TA professionals can connect, learn, and leave feeling inspired. One of the things I love most about this new chapter is that I’ve experienced conferences from so many different perspectives. I’ve attended as an HR and TA practitioner looking to learn and connect with my peers. I’ve had the opportunity to take the stage as a speaker, contribute behind the scenes as a volunteer, and now help bring these experiences to life as an organizer. Each of those experiences has shaped how I approach my work today. I understand what it’s like to be an attendee hoping to walk away with actionable ideas, a speaker wanting to make a meaningful impact, and a volunteer helping everything come together. Now, I get to bring all of those perspectives into how we design and deliver conferences for the TA community. And while I’m no longer recruiting candidates every day, I’m still very much part of the TA community. In fact, I get to support the people doing the work I’ve spent my career doing, which is incredibly rewarding. I know firsthand how challenging, impactful, and ever-changing this profession can be, and I love that I can bring that practitioner perspective into my new role.
Something I’ve come to appreciate more and more throughout my career is just how much opportunity comes from putting yourself out there. I’ve always been a big believer in the power of networking, continuous learning, and being intentional about the relationships you build. In fact, my opportunity at ERE came from doing exactly that! I attended one of their conferences earlier this year as a volunteer, simply because I wanted to experience a new event, meet new people, and contribute to the community. A few weeks later, an opportunity to join the team came my way. It’s a reminder that you never know where a conversation, connection, conference, or new experience might lead. That’s also why I continue to prioritize speaking engagements, coaching, and sharing resources. I love helping people build confidence, and attract opportunities to themselves. And I genuinely enjoy learning from others just as much as I enjoy sharing what I’ve learned.
So, what’s next? More conferences, more connections, more learning, and hopefully lots of opportunities to collaborate with the amazing people in this community! I’m especially excited to continue growing in the events and partnerships space while staying connected to my HR and TA roots. Outside of work, you’ll find me exploring Miami, traveling, attending concerts, working out (pilates sculpt and strength is my favorite!), and writing here on my blog. If you’re new here, I’d love to learn more about you, too! Whether you’re an HR or TA practitioner, industry vendor partner, fellow event professional, or someone who simply enjoys connecting with others who are passionate about their work, I’d love to connect. I’m always happy to exchange ideas and share resources! Thanks for being here and following along with my journey. Here’s to new chapters while continuing to build meaningful relationships. 💜
