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State Director

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End of Year Message from the State Director


It's hard to believe that 2025 is already drawing to a close. It feels like just yesterday we were ushering in the new year with fresh hopes and ambitions, and yet, in what seems like the blink of an eye, we've arrived at nearly the end of the year.

For the Wisconsin State Council SHRM, 2025 has been a dynamic year marked by transition, growth, and remarkable achievements. We've proudly hosted a series of impactful events, including our Workplace Policy Conference, Volunteer Leaders Conference, inaugural Student HR Summit, and another resounding success with our State Conference. Additionally, WI SHRM collaborated with fellow state councils to launch our first-ever HR Conference Cruise—an innovative venture that brought colleagues together in a truly unique setting. As we look ahead, you can anticipate these premier events and even more enriching opportunities in 2026.

In my first year as State Director, I've had the privilege of connecting with so many of you at chapter events throughout Wisconsin. These interactions have been invaluable, offering me a firsthand glimpse into the essential role our affiliate chapters play in advancing the missions of SHRM and WI SHRM within our diverse communities. Thank you for your warm welcome and for sharing your insights—I'm eager to build on these relationships during my travels in the coming year.

As we prepare to celebrate the holidays with loved ones, December also brings a sense of bittersweet transition for our council. We're bidding farewell to several dedicated members who've served with unwavering commitment, though we're fortunate they'll remain close to our community. First, a heartfelt thank you to Mary Vogl-Rauscher, our recent Southwest District Director, who will now lead as President of Dodge County SHRM—continuing her legacy of service at the local level. Next, immense appreciation to Amy Doepke, our Partnership and Sponsorship Director, whose expertise we hope will continue to shine on our State Conference Planning Committee. And finally, deep gratitude to Connie Bitter for her leadership as Treasurer, State Director-Elect, State Director, and Immediate Past State Director. We're thrilled she'll carry forward her leadership as one of our two 2027 State Conference Co-Chairs.

Beyond our Core State Council, many Chapter Presidents and board members are also moving on at year's end. To all of you transitioning off your boards: thank you for your tireless dedication to your chapters, SHRM, and WI SHRM. Your contributions have strengthened our profession immeasurably, and I sincerely hope you'll find new avenues to share your talents and continue making a difference in HR.

In closing, we wrap up 2025 with profound gratitude for those who've led us this year and optimism for the leaders stepping forward in 2026. Together, we'll ensure Wisconsin remains at the forefront of exceptional support, resources, and programming in the human resources field. Thank you for everything you do—your passion and commitment inspire me every day. Wishing you a joyful holiday season and a prosperous new year!














Jeff Palkowski, MHRM, SHRM-SCP, PHR, PMQ
State Director 2025/2026


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Contact Information

 

Jeff Palkowski,MHRM, SHRM-SCP, PHR, PMQ
State Director

Ph:  414.467.5247
Em:  statedirector@wishrm.org
Term Start:  1/1/2025

Biography

Jeff Palkowski, MHRM, SHRM-SCP, PMQ, PHR, recently retired from public service after several HR positions with the University of Wisconsin-Madison and the State of Wisconsin. He has worked in private and public sector human resources roles and has been an active member of SHRM at the national, state, and local chapter levels since 2003.

Jeff will serve as the State Director of the Wisconsin State Council SHRM in 2025-2026, is the Ambassador for Individual Giving for the SHRM Foundation, and is a SHRM Foundation Leadership Circle member. He previously served as the Director of Government Affairs, District Director South West and South East, Communications and Social Media Director, State Director-Elect for Wisconsin State Council SHRM, and a volunteer leader for the Greater Madison Area SHRM and Blackhawk HRA chapters.

Jeff is active on social media and is Hootsuite Social Marketing Certified. He has been invited to serve on the SHRM Annual Conference Influencer Teams since 2019 and brought this concept to Wisconsin to establish the WI SHRM State Conference SMILE Team in 2021. He has appeared on HR-related podcasts, including We’re Only Human Show, HR Mixtape, SHRM HR Storytellers, HR Social Hour, Life in the Leadership Lane, HR Like a Boss, Be Well with Mel, and HR Break Room. He has also been cited in numerous media publications and is a contributor to the book “Drive with Purpose: Move Your Career from Success to Significance” by Bruce Waller. Jeff posts on his blog, HRSushiBar.com, and you can follow him on X (@JeffPally) and LinkedIn.

Jeff serves on the board for DisruptHR Madison and was a featured speaker for their 2024 re-launch event. He is an advocate and supporter of the HR Conference Cruise. Jeff received the HRUnite! Ambassador Award in 2022 and 2024 for volunteer service to the HR profession.

Jeff is a certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR), SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP), SHRM People Manager Qualified (PMQ), and a State of Wisconsin Notary Public. He received his Bachelor of Arts in Mass Communications-Journalism (BA) from the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee and a Master of Human Resources Management (MHRM) with distinction from the Keller Graduate School of Management. Jeff has completed additional coursework at Cardinal Stritch University, Purdue University, and the University of Wisconsin-Madison.

 

Additional Information

The State Director is the chief elected officer of the State Council and effectively establishes policy, strategies, and objectives consistent with SHRM, Region and National Board policies. The State Director provides guidance to Council members.