SHRM-Atlanta: Creating Sponsorship Value
The Sponsorship Sales Team for SHRM-Atlanta is responsible for ensuring we have support from companies and organizations, both financially and operationally, to deliver the best workshops, conferences, training sessions and networking opportunities for HR professionals. And we have been busy so far this year! We are grateful to the many friends of SHRM-Atlanta who have committed their support for 2011 and we are looking to them and to YOU to help us strengthen our offerings and building longer term, more partnership focused relationships.
What is a Partner? I’m very focused on partnership, it’s meaning and use in business vocabulary. I’ve been known to say, maybe to a fault, that we don’t get to declare ourselves partners, but that it is our customer that tells us that they consider us partners. Whether it is as HR practitioners or sales people. From a SHRM-Atlanta sponsorship standpoint, our goal should be to earn that title from our sponsors. The value we bring to companies desiring to do business in the Human Resources field are looking to grow their business. They are looking for ways to market their products and services to companies that will use their services. Our goal is to understand how SHRM-Atlanta can help them do just that, really thinking about what is helpful, what is realistic and create sponsorship opportunities that will help them achieve their business goals.
What does SHRM-Atlanta have to offer?
- The number #1 value we bring to sponsors is an opportunity to participate and make an impact in the Atlanta business community by developing professional and personal relationships with HR executives who buy their products or services.
- We deliver well organized and effective Bi-monthly Chapter meetings and provide opportunities to share experiences with hundreds of HR professionals, and demonstrate their companies value and capability.
- Annual Conferences/Expos offer excellent opportunity to create awareness for companies, especially those that may not be as well known.
- Power Breakfasts and other special events create further opportunity to develop relationships with a senior level HR professional.
.
Developing the relationship between SHRM-Atlanta and our Resource Partners is so critical to our success. Year to year, meeting to meeting, relationship to relationship, Resource Partners bring tremendous value to SHRM-Atlanta and help us deliver on our goal of developing Human Resource Professionals. Through learning sessions, product presentations, industry updates and well, yes…. Sponsorship! Without their financial support, we are not able to provide the BEST IN CLASS meetings, conferences and networking opportunities SHRM-Atlanta is known for.
When businesses get involved in SHRM-Atlanta they do so for a variety of reasons…. community, giving back to the profession, supporting the development of future HR leaders, friendship….. and yes, to build their business!
So in 2011, we are making it our priority to reach out to companies and ask them:
- “How can we serve you better?”
- “What does a valuable relationship mean to you?”
- “What type of events or opportunities to market would be most beneficial to drive your business?”
.
You Can Help: If you are a practicing HR professional and have companies that provide products and services to you (and who doesn’t), you can very easily ask them if they sponsor SHRM-Atlanta:
- If they do, THANK THEM! And ask them how we can make that relationship more valuable.
- If they don’t ask they why not? Ask them to get involved, participate and support SHRM-Atlanta so you can continue to build your world class HR organization.
.
Such a simple thing to do. HR professionals owe it to themselves, their company and yes even to SHRM-Atlanta to help us make this an organization that is committed to Building a Better Atlanta for Business! And a final word on partnership. Believe me when I tell you, I don’t take the word lightly….. but I look forward to the day when the companies that support SHRM-Atlanta stop me at a meeting or conference or call me on the phone and say:
“Wow, SHRM-Atlanta is so crucial to my business, I am very grateful for our PARTNERSHIP!”
So to all SHRM-Atlanta Sponsors (and soon to be sponsors), Thank You. I am grateful for your support of SHRM-Atlanta and I personally value your commitment, enthusiasm and friendship.
John Kalusa, PHR serves in the volunteer role as the EVP of Sales for SHRM-Atlanta. John is the Director of Human Resources and Talent Acquisition at Scientific Games International and has over 20 years of management experience in a number of industries. Since 2002, John has held a number of key talent acquisition and sales leadership roles in the IT Staffing, Leadership Development and Outplacement industries. You can connect with John on LinkedIn and follow him on twitter.
