Who We Are
Southeastern Pennsylvania Society for Human Resource Management (SEPA SHRM) serves the needs of human resource professionals who live or work in the Greater Delaware Valley, including Northeast Philadelphia, Bucks and Montgomery Counties. SEPA SHRM has more than 450 members, representing more than 200 organizations.  SEPA is an active chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), a national organization with more than 200,000 members.

History of SHRM
The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), formerly called the American Society for Personnel Administration (ASPA), was founded in 1948 by a group of just 28 individuals who anticipated the need for a national personnel organization. The goal in founding ASPA was to provide continued professional development opportunities for what the founding members recognized as a profession in transition, promote national networking, and to generally advance the interests of the profession.

History of SEPA SHRM
Founded in 1993 as Chapter # 0498 of SHRM national, SEPA SHRM founding members, some of whom were once part of the Philadelphia Regional SHRM Chapter, sought to create a chapter for members living or working in the suburbs of Philadelphia. Spearheaded by Susan Warner, J.D., SPHR and others, the SHRM Northeast Philadelphia Bux-Mont Chapter, a 100% National SHRM Chapter was born. The chapter has a spirited legacy including co-sponsoring an initiative for a Pennsylvania bill providing protection for employers when reference checking, and leading a grassroots initiative supporting the right of non-lawyers to represent employers in Unemployment Compensation hearings.

In a historic move on December 19, 2000, the Board approved a name change to SEPA SHRM (Southeastern Pennsylvania Society for Human Resource Management) to better reflect the growing membership and geographical boundaries.  In 2005 SEPA SHRM - until then an unincorporated association - incorporated as a Non-Profit Corporation in the State of Pennsylvania.  SEPA SHRM maintains its 100% affiliation with SHRM national, and adheres to the same high standards of conduct.  

Why is There a SEPA SHRM?  In May 2007, members of the original Founding Board provided the 2007 SHRM Board with “A Guidance Communication for SEPA SHRM: Our Mission, Values, and Culture.”    Following is a summary of the guidance they provided to the Board:

Background:
In 1992 Susan Warner, J.D., SPHR was teaching the Villanova University Professional In Human Resource Management course at the Willow Grove Naval Air Warfare Station and other locations in Far N.E. Philadelphia, Lower Bucks County, and Eastern Montgomery County.  Many of the HR professionals attending those classes complained that they could not attend the SHRM meetings held in Center City Philadelphia. They pointed out that the Villanova H.R. classes were the only opportunity they ever had to meet and exchange ideas with other HR professionals in their communities.

Concurrently, other concerns were being raised.  As a result, numerous Human Resource professionals and leaders in the N.E. Philly/Bux-Mont area were encouraged to found a chapter that would constructively address these issues and provide an SHRM chapter that would further the mission and goals of SHRM National, the professional development of HR professionals, and the advancement of the credibility and professionalism of Human Resources as a profession.

Process and Players:
Twenty-six leading HR professionals joined as founding members in an effort to found the “N.E. Philadelphia Bux/Mont Chapter of SHRM”.  (Everyone wanted his or her particular community included in the chapter name!).   Founding members (with their job titles AT THAT TIME in 1993 included (See Footnote for current titles, if known to be different in 2007):

Doug Allen, Vice President, Human Resources, St. Christopher’s Hospital for Children
June Barry, Vice President, Human Resources, Betz Laboratories
Barbara Brunell, Associate Director, Human Resources, Simon and Schuster
Larry Butz, Manager, Employee Relations, International Computaprint
Ronald Cori, Director, Personnel, Nazareth Hospital
Brian Costello, SPHR, Vice President, Human Resources, American Healthcare Management, Inc.
Anthony DeSabato, Esq., Executive Vice President, Human Resources, Charming Shoppes, Inc.
Leah Duncan, Director, Human Resources, Therapy Care Systems (No longer in HR)
Jerry Fuqua, Director of Human Resources, County of Bucks
Jim Gloner, Vice President, Human Resources, North Philadelphia Health System
Dave Hammer, Vice President, Human Resources, Sesame Place, Inc.
Rob Harris, Manager, Human Resources, Air Shields, Inc.
Nancy Jackson, Manager Compensation & Employee Benefits, Alfa Laval Separation, Inc. (holding place with Frank for Carlos Perea)
Edward Kane, Jr., Vice President, Human Resources, Franciscan Health System
Donna Kimmel, Senior Human Resources Representative, Fannie Mae
Keith Klasic, Director, Human Resources, Friends Hospital
Frank Lyons, Manager, Industrial Relations, Employment & Safety (holding place with Nancy for Carlos Perea)
Kate McGhee, Director, Human Resources, Bucks Association for Retarded Citizens
Edward McLaughlin, Vice President, Human Resources, Holy Redeemer Health System, Inc.
Carlos Perea, Vice President, Human Resources, Alfa Laval Separation, Inc.
Tom Pilgermayer, Vice President, Human Resources, Jeanes Hospital (deceased)
Tom Shea, Vice President, Human Resource Development, GMAC Mortgage Corp.
Joe Slane, Director, Human Resources, North Philadelphia Health System (no longer in HR)
Susan Warner, J.D., SPHR, V.P., Human Resources/Education/Child Care, St. Mary Hospital, Langhorne
Barbara Williams, Director, Human Resources, Freedman Valley Girl Scout Council  

The team spent eight weeks etching out the mission, values, culture, and goals of the new organization, with almost all of these founding members attending and/or providing input on a regular basis.  On September 28, 1993 we became Chapter #498 of SHRM, kicking off with what national considered a huge membership of roughly 70 chapter members - 100% of them national members.

Mission, Values, and Goals:
In addressing the issues precipitating the founding of our chapter, we agreed that we wanted our chapter to:  

• Incorporate the mission and goals of SHRM national; 
• Meet in areas that better served the HR Professionals who lived and/or worked in the N.E. Philadelphia, Bucks County, or Montgomery County (which included, therefore, people who lived and/or worked in the tri-state area);
• Function as a transparent, inclusive, team-oriented Board and chapter, with high quality leadership; respecting differences and furthering the concepts of integrity, due process, and well-reasoned decision-making after open debate; 
• Be leaders in crafting the direction of the Human Resource Profession and its development as a critical, credible, and ethical influence on management and legislators;
• Be leaders in providing professional development opportunities for our Board and membership;
• Establish an organization that will enhance the development of professionals entering or relatively new to the HR profession by offering topical programs and access to leaders in the HR field;
• Serve as leaders and role models for our own members and for other Boards and chapters;
• Encourage H.R. leaders to contribute to their profession through involvement and support of SHRM chapters; and
• Meet member needs through increased openness by the Board, open and inclusive interaction among members, high quality programs that reflect legitimate preferences and needs of the membership, and increased involvement by higher-level practitioners.

"AS FOUNDERS OF THE CHAPTER, WE SINCERELY HOPE THAT THESE PRINCIPLES WILL PROVIDE A CONSTRUCTIVE GUIDING PATHWAY, AS NEW LEADERS BRING THE CHAPTER TO NEW LEVELS OF PROFESSIONALISM."   
2007 Job Titles If different & provided:  Thomas Shea, Manager, Training & Staff Development, Philadelphia Corporation for Aging; Robert C. Harris, SPHR, Human Resource Director, Canon Financial Services, Inc.; Donna Kimmel, SVP of HR, Sensata Technologies; David Hammer, VP, Human Resources, Busch Entertainment Corp., Susan Warner, J.D., SPHR, President/General Counsel, Human Resource Trouble Shooters;  Barbara Williams, Founder/President, The Williams Group-Human Resources Consulting and Training.