Keynote Speaker for Iowa SHRM

Keynote Speaker for Central Iowa SHRM State Conference

We’re live in action over in Des Moines! It felt awesome to keynote for the Central Iowa Chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) State Conference this morning. They were an absolutely delightful audience, and it was an honor to be their opening keynote speaker! I truly cannot think of a better way to start the day than by addressing such passionate folks.

The event was such a supportive networking hub that I wanted to give my readers the rundown on this fantastic organization and why it was a pleasure to serve as the opening keynote speaker for such driven professionals. Here’s the inside scoop on the Central Iowa SHRM State Conference! 

The Wonderful People at the Central Iowa Chapter of SHRM 

The Society for Human Resource Management is better known as SHRM, which is fondly pronounced as “Sherm” by its members. SHRM is a national organization of more than 300,000

human resource professionals and business leaders who are transforming the workplace worldwide. There are more than 100,000 SHRM-certified professionals in the U.S. alone! 

Since there are so many SHRM members nationwide, the organization is divided into state chapters that share resources, best practices, and networking opportunities with its local participants. Each year, every state chapter bands together for an epic conference—which I happened to be so lucky to be invited to! It was a joy to attend and serve as the keynote speaker for the Central Iowa SHRM. 

Why Opening Keynote Speaker is (One of) My Favorite Roles

Now, I’m pretty pumped to have been invited to speak for Central Iowa SHRM. It’s always a pleasure to act as a keynote speaker at a major conference, however, it’s even more amazing to be asked to serve as the opening keynote speaker! In the corporate entertainment world, the opening keynote speaker is one of my favorite roles.

You see, I’m an entertainment-based keynote speaker. Much like a pre-meal palate cleanser or piping hot appetizer, I’m best served to set the right tone for a conference—which is preferably at the start or end of an event. At the Iowa SHRM State Conference, I was able to kick the event off to a memorable start. 

“We loved having you at the conference and I don’t think people have laughed so hard in a long time! We all needed that after a challenging 18 or so months. Thank you so much again! I don’t think people will forget that session! I certainly will not.”

— Liz McCredden SHRM-SCP SPHR, HR Director at Ovation Holdings, Inc. & IOWA SHRM Conference Director 

The event began bright and early at 8 a.m., and I took it as my responsibility to greet the dozens of HR professionals— and wake them up! I was able to command the audience, win them over, and leave them with something to chew on, all before 9 in the morning! On the flip side, my keynote would have also worked to tie a bow on the event and send everyone off energized and uplifted. 

How I Pivoted My “Power of the Pivot” Keynote

This year, the theme of Central Iowa SHRM was “all-in.” So, we went all-in in terms of me being the keynote speaker! I started by pivoting my keynote speech—Power of the Pivot—to better address the hardships HR professionals have experienced over the past year and a half. We kicked off the keynote speech by acknowledging just how hectic the past year has been.

Of course, in true Jeff Civillico fashion, it couldn’t be a sad moment! Instead, we affirmed there’s always something to be grateful for and together we celebrated that each individual in that room was good at what they do and necessary in their business! Then, we focused on the present community and how those in Iowa SHRM can learn and grow from one another.

Lastly, my keynote speech focused on how everyone in the room could take action. This sentiment dove-tailed with the overarching SHRM theme of being all-in and how when you give it all your all, magic can happen. To really send this point home, I brought an attendee up on stage to juggle with me. It was an absolute blast! Such a fun, interactive way to get everyone in on the message. 

The best part of my role as a keynote speaker? I was able to custom build my speech for the current theme at Central Iowa SHRM 2021. While my Power of the Pivot keynote has always had undertones of positivity and hard work, I was able to shift the vehicle that delivered this message to better match the all-in theme for the bonafide HR pros at SHRM. It was an honor! 

Why an Entertainment-Based Keynote Speaker is a Must

You might be thinking, “Hey Jeff, you’re not a human resources professional, why be the keynote speaker at an HR event?” Well, you’re right about one thing—I’m not an HR guru! But I am a keynote speaker who can bring something totally new to an event. My entertainment-based keynotes deliver a totally new mindset that can draw attendees deeper into the conference material. 

Think of it this way: Whether it be HR, tech, or healthcare, all conferences will be loaded with individuals who specialize in that field. However, the whole point of conferences is to develop a second line of thought. Though peers can help relate to the shared issues at hand, you ultimately connect with someone who can reiterate your same problems without a fresh perspective.

As an entertainment-based keynote speaker, I help audiences be able to see the forest through the trees. I’m not in the audiences’ shoes (that would be a lot of shoes!), so I can deliver a new method of problem-solving. More than anything, I don’t just provide laughs as a keynote speaker, but I also provide a new, inspired way of thinking. 

Need a Keynote Speaker? I Know a Guy!

Are you on the hunt for a keynote speaker who can rock your next event? You’re in the right place! Whether you’re a member of another chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management, a business owner, or a nonprofit fundraiser, I’m here to serve as the keynote speaker for your next event. Contact me today so we can discuss how to turn up the dial at your conference! 

It felt SO GOOD to keynote for the Iowa SHRM State Conference this morning in Des Moines 🙂 They were an absolutely delightful audience, and it was an honor to be their opening keynote speaker!

“We loved having you at the conference and I don’t think people have laughed so hard in a long time! We all needed that after a challenging 18 or so months. Thank you so much again! I don’t think people will forget that session! I certainly will not.”