We are gearing up for the SHRM Virginia and DC Annual Conference April 12-15 at the beautiful and historic Cavalier Resort in Virginia Beach, Virginia! In this dynamic and busy year for HR professionals, we are reminded that You Can’t Spell HERO Without HR! Don’t miss your opportunity to connect and network with HR professionals from the Commonwealth, D.C. and beyond.

In a world of constant change, workplace challenges, and evolving employee expectations, HR doesn’t just show up — we rise. We are the quiet forces behind thriving teams, the protectors of culture, the champions of equity, and the architects of resilience. Whether it’s navigating crises, building inclusive strategies, or fostering employee well-being, HR professionals are everyday superheroes — capes optional, impact undeniable.

Join us at the 2026 SHRM Virginia and DC Conference, which brings together thought leaders, industry experts, and practitioners to share their expertise so you can explore, harness, and strengthen your superhero powers!

This year’s conference is your chance to soar into new horizons, powered by the heroic forces of adaptability, innovation, and collaboration – equipping you to lead your organization to victory.

As in previous years, the 2026 conference promises dynamic keynote speakers and breakout sessions offering a wide array of timely and relevant topics. The conference provides an opportunity to earn up to 20 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:

• Steve Browne, SHRM-SCP, Chief People Officer for LaRosa’s Pizzeria, Inc., kicks us off with a special appearance at SHRMVADC2026 on Monday morning. Steve will share his keynote presentation, HR Without Boundaries – Deconstructing How We Practice to Move Organizations Forward. Steve works with executives to fully integrate HR as a true business partner in his organization. LaRosa’s is a regional restaurant chain in Southwest Ohio with 11 locations and over 1,100 team members. Aside from his day job as CPO at LaRosa’s, Steve is a confessed HR Radical and has held just about every volunteer role possible in SHRM. He is an accomplished speaker and he loves speaking with his peers in the HR profession. We can’t wait to have his energy on the main stage to welcome you to our annual conference.

• Tuesday, we will hear from Orlena Cowan-Bailey, SHRM-SCP, MHFA, a multi-faceted, innovative, inclusive and strategic human resource leader and consultant with 15+ years of progressive leadership experience managing a full spectrum of HR processes, initiatives, and projects. She is a workplace superhero in her own right! Her experiences stem from a variety of industries including retail, financial services, government, transportation and banking. She’s passionate about architecting and influencing workplace cultures that promote engagement, retention, development, diversity, equity and inclusion. She is an Employee Relations Consultant for The Hartford and previously worked for MassMutual, a Fortune 100 company, as an HR Business Partner supporting their Corporate Functions. In 2020, Orlena founded HR Zoom LLC where she serves as the Chief Elevation Officer (CEO) fueled by her passion for elevating workplace cultures and increased opportunities to help multiple organizations with her expertise and thought leadership. Her creative spirit led to the launch of the HR Swag Shop in 2021, an online store with the trendy and diverse merchandise for HR and workplace culture. We can’t wait for Orlena to share her presentation, Unmasking Greatness: Workplace Superhero Strategies for Leaders.

• On Wednesday, we will close out the conference with the inspirational keynote session, The Hidden Hero: HR for HR, presented by Jamie Jackson! Jamie is the face behind social media’s top meme accounts, @humorous_resources and @millennial_misery. She has also spent the last 20 years entrenched in the world of Human Resources, gaining invaluable experience and insights along the way. Through navigating the complexities of hiring, managing employees, and addressing workplace issues, Jamie has developed a deep understanding of the inner workings of organizations and the intricacies of human dynamics within them. This extensive tenure in HR has equipped Jamie with a unique perspective, allowing them to empathize with the challenges faced by both employees and employers alike. Jamie’s meme accounts provide countless laughs and relatable perspectives to HR practitioners, and we’re so excited to have her join us in Virginia Beach. Jamie Jackson’s appearance arranged through Gotham Artists.

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 17 preapproved SHRM and HRCI recertification credits. The schedule has been added to the conference website so you can start thinking about what sessions you’d like to attend.

Our always-popular Marketplace will be bustling with activity and vendors who can help you with your HR needs. The Marketplace offers a fun and engaging networking opportunity, and this year is no exception. SHRM Virginia and DC will host a happy hour in the Marketplace on Sunday evening to allow attendees to connect with our wonderful partners, settle in after our travels, and enjoy the camaraderie you can only find at an HR conference.

Individual full conference rates are as follows:

• $775 through 3/31/2026
• $900 4/1/2026

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

We have 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 Holiday Inn & Suites North Beach. Reservation links are available after you confirm your conference registration.

We can’t wait to see you in Virginia Beach! Stay tuned for additional information coming soon!

SHRM Virginia and DC Conference Committee