A Look Inside SHRM '08 July 2008 In this issue: OI Partners Unveils All-in-One Business Coaching Product that Helps Better Align Talent Management Strategy with Corporate Strategy Inside SHRM '08 For HR in Technology Companies Today, It's More Than Just about Food! OI Partners at SHRM OI Partners Survey Finds HR Professionals Value Coaching, Concerned about Leadership Development
Congratulations to Diana Blea Sakata Seed America Inc. in Morgan Hill, CA who won the iPod drawing at our SHRM booth! E. K. Ward and Associates of the Southern Tier is celebrating five years in business.  In 2003 the company began serving the region with comprehensive human resource support. These services include career transition and outplacement, professional search services, outsourced human source services, compliance resources, employee relations and organizational performance expertise. E. K. Ward and Associates of the Southern Tier, an affiliated office of E. K. Ward and Associates, with headquarters in Williamsville, New York, is part of the largest full service human resource consultancy in Western New York.  Additionally, the organization is globally connected through its association with OI Partners, Inc., which has over 200 offices in 24 countries.  When asked about its first five years of operation, Laura K. Corey, Principal of E. K. Ward and Associates of the Southern Tier said, "Working with organizations in Western New York and Northwestern Pennsylvania has been wonderful. We support larger organizations with project work and specialty needs, as well as smaller companies, which may not have their own human resources staff and look to us to provide the expertise they need." The organization is located in the historic Glen A. Alden House at 509 North Main Street in Jamestown.  For additional information, please call 716-484-0590. Pictured below is Laura K. Corey, Principal of E. K. Ward and Associates of the Southern Tier.	With a new booth, the announcement of our new coaching management platform, OI Solutions^SM eDevelopment Center , a successful wine tasting event and lots of conference goers interested in talking to us, OI Partners had quite a busy time at SHRM '08! This issue covers some of the most-talked about topics at the show, as well as what OI Partners heard from booth visitors. It was a great show, and we are looking forward to helping attendees implement key takeaways from the conference. Sincerely, Anne Mahoney Glose VP, Principal E. K. Ward & Associates                       an OI Partner OI Partners Unveils All-in-One Business Coaching Product that Helps Better Align Talent Management Strategy with Corporate Strategy OI Partners announced the availability of OI Solutions^SM eDevelopment Center , an all-in-one management and tracking application for business coaching assignments. The Web-based portal gives HR, management and coaches a way to track, manage and determine return on investment for thousands of such assignments. It also includes all necessary coaching tools in one online location, giving employees better ease of use and more control over their coaching engagement. Inside SHRM '08 The 60th Annual Society for Human Resource Management Conference inspired attendees with such speakers as Sidney Poitier and Patrick Lencioni; challenged them on topics like coaching, leadership development, retention and the war for talent and awed them with the sheer size and creativity of the booths in the exhibit hall. For HR in Technology Companies, It's More Than Just about Food! The buzz today seems to be all about the extras that technology companies are offering to attract and keep these key players in their organizations. But some conference goers were more interested in the practical side of human resources--things like recruiting and hiring practices that align with organizational culture. OI Partners at SHRM OI Partners met with HR professionals from all over the country who stopped by to talk to us about their leadership development, coaching and outplacement and career transition challenges. We were also busy announcing our new coaching management platform, OI Solutions^SM eDevelopment Center , hosting a wine tasting event at the Sears Tower and being reminded once more of the immense value HR brings to organizations. OI Partners Survey Finds HR Professionals Value Coaching, Concerned about Leadership Development Some attendees to SHRM '08 in Chicago took time to tell OI Partners how coaching has impacted their organization and what some of their biggest HR concerns are for the coming year. The complete results are here.

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