by lsgoldsmith on July 13, 2010
Lori Goldsmith, SPHR, GPHR
I had a great time participating in the HCC Summer Youth Program, July 1st. I was teamed up with Kim Scott from Casper’s. We gave the students an overview of what employers are looking for and conducted mock interviews. The students were so receptive.
It is funny how things work. Chuck Sykes, reached out to Holly because Brian Hollands, Business Development Officer, The Corporate Training Center @ HCC did not have the resources or staff to make the 2-week program successful. One of the reasons I love working with Holly Tomlin is her commitment to our community and her support and encouragement of our volunteer leadership roles.
The HCC Summer Youth Program was a chance to serve in a capacity near and dear to my heart. I was on the Philadelphia Urban League Advisory Board for Job Readiness Training for six years. When I relocated to Tampa in 1987, I joined the Tampa Hillsborough Urban League Advisory Board and served as Chairperson for the Job Readiness Training Screening Committee for eight years. Proudly, I attended every one of their graduations from the program and watched many go on to college to become doctors, lawyers, architects and engineers. One of my proudest moments was being recognized at the national meeting and awarded the Exemplary Volunteer of the Year award in 1994. I was so disappointed when the government cut our program funding. Many fond memories came flooding back and it was great to be back in the saddle again.
by lsgoldsmith on September 9, 2009
I have been volunteering ever since I was in the first grade. My elementary school had a class for physically and mentally challenged children and my parents told me to ask the teacher how I could help. I learned respect and sensitivity at a young age and can’t imagine not being involved in my profession or my community.
This is my third year on the HR Florida State Council and my first year on the HR Florida conference team. What a wonderful experience. I joined the program committee because I wanted to learn more. Unexpectedly, the Program Chair resigned and I stepped up to the plate. Then I had my true HR moment of panic … Oh no, what the *** have I done!!! I learned so much this past year, met a lot of amazing, talented and dedicated people and the chance to work once again with Carol McDaniel, Conference Chair and past HR Tampa president.
At our state council meeting, when Kitty Fields, the HR Florida State Council President, starting talking about the person she was about to introduce as the HR Volunteer of the Year, she talked about dedication, rising to the challenge, participation in conference calls at all hours – Kitty could have been talking about anyone of my team members. When she started talking about what this person has done for certification, I found myself looking around the room somewhat frantically because I could not figure out who was in charge of certification … when I gasped … I realized it was me. The thought of being recognized as the HR Volunteer of the Year still overwhelms me.
Volunteering is straight from the heart. It is the best gift you can give to another and to yourself. Prior to my appointment to the HR Florida State Council as Certification Director, I had the privilege of serving as the HR Tampa Certification Chair for 6 years … and I was afraid that they would not like me … it is a daunting and exciting responsibility.
If you have the employer and family support to get deeply involved or can only give one hour a month … I encourage you to get involved to the best of your capacity. You will be a better person and a better HR Professional for it.
Certification is my passion. I have been volunteering in an HR certification role since 2000 and want to thank HR Florida and HR Tampa for the honor of allowing me to serve you all these years. Until all Florida HR professionals are certified by the HR Certification Institute, I have work to do!
by Larry Goldsmith on August 21, 2009
By Larry Goldsmith, CWDP, P.E.T.
Congratulations to my very talented and accomplished wife, Lori. This week Lori was honored by being selected as the HR Florida Volunteer of the year. Lori volunteers as the State Certification Director to the HR Florida State Council. A few months ago Lori volunteered to become ’Chair’ of the program committee too for the HR Florida state conference when the Program Chair stepped down suddenly.* Over 1,200 HR representatives attended the conference. Prior to Lori’s appointment to the State Council, Lori served on the board of HRTampa (the local branch of SHRM) as Director, Education/ Certification 2001-2006.
* Lori abides by the insightful words of Susan Corey, my Workforce Development Colleague from Michigan who says, “Leadership occurs wherever you are.”
Lori is certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources by the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI). She is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM). SHRM is the world’s largest association committed to advancing the human resource profession to ensure that HR is an essential and effective partner in developing and executing organizational strategy. Beyond her HR volunteering, Lori serves the community as a volunteer/ambassador with H. Lee Moffitt Cancer Center. And lastly, Lori volunteers as a Beginning Instructor for the Taoist Tai Chi Society. Taoist Tai Chi™ internal art of taijiquan incorporates stretching and turning into a sequence of movements that improve the health of body, mind and spirit. It is a slow-paced, low-impact flowing form of exercise that builds strength, increases flexibility and enhances balance.
