We are gearing up for the HR Virginia 2025 Annual Conference on April 13-16 in a new location at the beautiful and historic Cavalier Resort in Virginia Beach, Virginia! In this transitional and already very busy year for HR professionals, we are Navigating HR Waters; Charting a Course for the Future. Don’t miss your opportunity to connect and network with HR professionals from the Commonwealth, D.C. and beyond!

While the human resources landscape seems to be changing in real time in 2025, we invite you to join us for a dynamic and transformative conference tailored for HR professionals. Just as sailors brave uncharted waters, steering through storms and calm seas alike, HR professionals must navigate the ever-changing tides of the workplace. Join us at the 2025 HR Virginia Conference, where we will chart a course for the future, equipping HR leaders with the tools and strategies to thrive in an evolving landscape. This year’s conference offers a unique opportunity to explore new horizons, guided by principles of adaptability, innovation, and collaboration to steer your organization toward success.

This conference brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and practitioners to share their expertise on how to effectively navigate the future of work, ensuring smooth sailing for your organization.

As in previous years, the 2025 conference promises dynamic keynote speakers and breakout sessions offering a wide array of timely and relevant topics. The conference provides an opportunity to earn plenty of recertification credits for your SHRM & HRCI certifications. There will be a multitude of networking opportunities with our Conference Partners and HR colleagues from across Virginia, DC, and beyond!

We have an amazing keynote line up this year:

Johnny C. Taylor, Jr. SHRM-SCP, President & CEO of SHRM kicks us off with a special appearance at HRVA2025 on Monday morning. Mr. Taylor will discuss Workplace Trends and an overall theme of Cultivating a Thriving Workplace Culture.

Johnny C. Taylor has served as President & CEO of SHRM since 2017. As a global leader on the future of employment, culture, and leadership, he is a sought-after voice on all matters affecting work, workers, and the workplace. Recognized as one of the “300 Most Influential Executives in Corporate America” for 2024 by Savoy Magazine and one of the “Most Influential People Shaping Public Policy” in our nation’s capital by Washingtonian Magazine, Mr. Taylor is frequently asked to testify before Congress on critical workforce issues and authors the weekly USA Today column, “Ask HR.” His career spans more than 20 years as a lawyer, human resources executive, and CEO in both the not-for-profit and for-profit spaces. Mr. Taylor is a member of the United Way Worldwide Board of Trustees and serves on the corporate boards of XPO Logistics (NYSE: XPO), Flores & Associates, and Guild Education. He previously served on the White House American Workforce Policy Advisory Board and as chairman of the President’s Advisory Board on Historically Black Colleges and Universities during the Trump Administration. The Women Business Collaborative (WBC) named Mr. Taylor as one of its 2023 Trailblazers in Gender Equity and Diversity for his work to achieve equal position, pay, and power for all women in business. In 2020, he received the Distinguished Executive of the Year Award from the Academy of Management, and he was named 2021 ALA Professional Society CEO of the Year by CEO Update.

This will be an exciting opportunity for conference attendees to hear directly from one of the most well-respected Human Resources leaders in the world. 

Tuesday, we will hear from Dr. Taryn Marie, recognized by USA Today as the #1 international expert on resilience, mental health, and wellbeing. She serves as a sought-after inspirational keynote speaker on topics related to psychological safety, compassionate accountability, personal leadership, and navigating change. Leveraging her two decades of expertise as the former Head of Executive Leadership Development and Talent Strategy at Nike and the former Head of Global Leadership Development at Cigna, she founded the Resilience Leadership Institute (RLI) where she works with her family office along with individuals, teams, and organizations within Fortune 500 Companies to amplify leadership capabilities, turn businesses around, and support businesses to scale. LA Progressive magazine calls her “the go-to person” and “a secret weapon” for teams who want to find their edge and rise above the competition.

In her session, Dr. Taryn Marie will talk with us about how resilience supports navigating change, disruption, and uncertainty. She will share advice and tips about how HR professionals can drive deeper connection and engagement for themselves, their people and their organizations, and finally she will share practical strategies for enhancing resilience and transforming through difficulty.

On Wednesday, we will close out the conference with the inspirational keynote session presented by Cyril Derreumaux! Cyril draws on his unique experience of adventure, positive mindset and natural love of life to craft unique talks that impact and challenge his audience. Cyril is not just in it to win it. He is in it to expand limits, to rise to the occasion, to redefine possible, and to share what he has learned. Cyril has been presenting his adventures and life’s philosophy for years, captivating audiences with exciting, inspiring, and insightful keynotes. He demonstrates the power of passion and energizes his audiences with messages delivered with authenticity and true emotions. He is relatable, down to earth, and spontaneous. Cyril’s infectious enthusiasm and positive energy for life leaves his audiences with a head full of dreams and ambitious thoughts for months.

Cyril will speak to us about following our dreams, ambitions, and visions, and when he joins us in April, he will have first-hand experience to share. In December 2024, Cyril began a solo-kayaking journey – crossing the Atlantic Ocean from the Canary Islands to Martinique! He will be fresh off his journey when he comes to our conference. In fact, you can track his journey here! CYRIL DERREUMAUX – Solo, Unsupported, Human-powered

In addition to these keynote sessions, we are finalizing an incredible selection of concurrent sessions, and attendees can look forward to the opportunity to secure up to 19 SHRM and HRCI recertification credits. Our always-popular Marketplace will be bustling with activity and vendors who can help you with your HR needs. The Marketplace always offers a fun and engaging networking opportunity, and this year is no exception. HR Virginia will host a happy hour in the Marketplace on Monday evening to allow attendees to connect with our wonderful partners, wind down from a day of learning, and enjoy the camaraderie you can only find at an HR conference. While you’re there, make sure to stop by the HR Virginia booth, where you will be able to connect with representatives of our local chapters and learn more about the opportunities to get involved with professionals in your area!

Individual full conference rates are as follows:

• $775 through 3/31/2024
• $900 4/1/2024

Groups of 4+ from the same company receive a $45 discount per person.  All group members must be registered at the same time.

HR Virginia has limited availability at the onsite properties – the Historic Cavalier Hotel, the Marriott Oceanfront, and the Embassy Suites, and we have also secured rooms at the nearby Hampton Inn Oceanfront. Reservation links are available after you confirm your conference registration.

Stay tuned for additional information coming soon!

HR Virginia 2025 Conference Committee