January 2026 
President's Report
Dear Delaware SHRM Community,
Happy New Year! As we begin 2026, I would like to extend my warmest wishes to you and your organizations for a successful, healthy, and fulfilling year ahead. We are excited about what’s to come and look forward to continuing to support our HR community across Delaware.
This year marks a significant milestone for employers and employees throughout the state with the launch of Delaware’s new Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program in January 2026. To help HR professionals prepare, we invite you to join us for an essential briefing on Thursday, January 15. We are pleased to welcome Christopher Counihan, Director of the Division of Paid Leave at the Delaware Department of Labor, who will provide an in-depth overview of the program and answer any questions you may have about the program. Register Here.
We are also proud to share the continued momentum of our new offering, the Career Management Resource Group, which launched this past year with an outstanding response. Our most recent session was very well attended, and we are thrilled to build on that success. The next virtual session will take place on February 11 and will be led by Career Coach Brittany Wilson. If you are looking to invest in your professional growth or support others on their career journeys, we encourage you to join us—don’t miss out. Register Here.
In addition, we have already posted several events for the year ahead. I encourage you to visit our events calendar to explore upcoming programs and register for those that align with your interests and professional goals.
We have several new members of the Delaware SHRM Board that we will introduce you to in the coming weeks. We are also actively seeking volunteers who may be interested in joining one of the Board’s subcommittees. Serving in this capacity is a rewarding way to contribute your expertise, expand your network, and help shape the future of our chapter. If you are interested in volunteering, we would love to hear from you. Email us at [email protected].
If you have not renewed your membership for 2026 yet, please do so now! Your membership expired on the last day of 2025 and you'll need to renew to continue to take advantage of membership savings, and all that Delaware SHRM has to offer you. Renew Now.
Thank you for being an engaged and valued part of the Delaware SHRM community. We look forward to connecting with you throughout the year and supporting you in the important work you do.
Best,
Michelle
Michelle Ray
Delaware SHRM
Chapter President
Email
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Calendar of Events
IS YOUR ORGANIZATION READY? DELAWARE PAID LEAVE DEEP DIVE
January 15, 2026
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Wilmington University
New Castle, DE 19720
Join us for an essential briefing on Delaware's new Paid Family and Medical Leave Insurance program.
CAREER MANAGEMENT RESOURCE GROUP
February 11, 2026
4:30 PM to 5:30 PM
Online Via Zoom
Join us for group career coaching, peer networking, and topic-focused discussions in a supportive environment. This session's topic is Networking for Job Searching.
UNLOCKING HR: FROM THEORY TO PRACTICE (HR STUDENT CONFERENCE
February 20, 2026
8:30 AM to 12:00 PM
University of Delaware Audion Conference Center
Newark, DE 19713
Step out of the classroom and into the action with “Unlocking HR: From Theory to Practice” — a mini-conference made just for students.
SYNC OR SWIM: NAVIGATING TEAM WATERS
February 26, 2026
8:00 AM to 10:00 AM
Whitney Athletic Center, University of Delaware, 2nd Floor Sparks Suite
Newark, DE 19716
Join us to explore the surprising science of High-Performing Teams.
Volunteer Opportunities
Several board members are seeking individuals to join their subcommittees. Volunteering on the board is an excellent way to get more involved, meet more HR professionals in the local community and take advantage of all Delaware SHRM has to offer.
If you are interested in volunteering, email the team at [email protected].
Welcome New Members
Jacqueline Cantu
Sarah Wright
Kristin Knowlton
Teddie Gwynn
Jacquelyn Moore
Pamela Patone
Diane Kearns
Nicole Neff
LaTanya Warren
Elzbieta Dziekonski
Annie Kingcade
Cindy Campanella
Erin Curry
Cindy Crompton -Barone
Jennifer Mignone
Sarah ElShawarby
Shannon Pencek
Ilene Koller
Jennifer Judy
Susan Morris
Karen Brewington
Evelyn Walsh
Ann Murphy
Laura Kuhn
Krysten Williams
Joanna Chaffinch
Jill Charles
Natalie Bogia
Joshua Schillereff
Kristen Boone
Dawn Smart
Christine Dunning
Barbara Dinnerson-Hall
Sheena Hall
Kimberly Brewington
Doreen Rushton
Michael DiSabatino
Woody Christie
Evern Ford
Charlotte Crowell
Charity Vernon
Laura Hanna
Debra Renz
