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• September Meeting - Alexis Knapp

  • When
    09/09/2026
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    The Amarillo Club, 600 S Tyler - 31st Floor (AC)

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  Never before have human resources professionals spent so much time addressing employees’ needs for leave from work and other workplace accommodations.  This presentation will offer a dynamic walk through the realities of the FMLA, ADA, and PWFA in 2026 and beyond, from the surge of mental health-related issues, to potential fitness for duty concerns, to the increased requests from employees—often with the assistance of AI—about their need for time off work or other workplace adjustments.  Attendees will leave armed to identify potential policy and practice gaps in their organizations based on increased litigation and federal agency (EEOC/DOL) enforcement in these areas, implement best practices for the management of leaves and accommodations (whether or not they use a third-party administrator), and minimize risk for the employers they represent.
  

  

  
  

  Alexis C. Knapp worked in various capacities of human resources and higher education before transitioning to Littler, where she has spent more than 17 years practicing labor and employment law. Over the course of her career, Alexis’s practice has evolved into a deep focus on leave and accommodation issues (The Family Medical Leave Act, The Americans with Disabilities Act, the Pregnant Workers’ Fairness Act, workers’ compensation, return to work situations, fitness for duty, and more), from assisting employers with basic compliance questions, to navigating complex challenges in this arena. As part of that work, she regularly counsels and assists employers with policy and process issues, and drafting policies, forms, letters, and other documents in support of employers’ leave and accommodation efforts. She also develops and delivers customized in-person and virtual training for HR and legal teams, and supervisory/management employees, on FMLA, ADA, PWFA, and related topics.

  Alexis also enjoys providing robust employment counseling and advice to clients on all other types of labor and employment issues as well, such as employee performance management, discipline, terminations, discrimination and harassment concerns, and more. She is also a regular speaker on a variety of labor and employment law topics for employer and industry groups.

  Alexis is board certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization and is a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR®). She has appeared in court and before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, Texas Workforce Commission and the Department of Labor, and has handled administrative and litigation matters against individual plaintiffs and federal government agencies.

  Before beginning her legal career, Alexis served as an associate dean of the College of Business and Economics and assistant professor of management at Houston Christian University where she taught courses in human resources and employment law at both the graduate and undergraduate levels. Prior to that, Alexis was a human resources professional in the public sector, where her focus was employee benefits, organizational policies and procedures and training.

  
  

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• October Meeting - Monique Akanbi

  • When
    10/14/2026
  •  
    11:30 AM - 1:00 PM
  • Location
    The Amarillo Club, 600 S Tyler - 31st Floor (AC)

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  The world of work continues to evolve at an unprecedented pace, and HR professionals are being called upon to do more than respond to change—they must anticipate it, influence it, and help their organizations navigate what comes next.

  This engaging session explores the emerging trends shaping the HR profession and workplace, including artificial intelligence and technology, evolving workforce expectations, skills-based talent strategies, employee experience, workplace culture, compliance, and the expanding strategic role of HR. Participants will examine what these trends mean for HR professionals and identify practical ways to remain informed, agile, and prepared to lead through continued change.

  The session will also highlight how SHRM membership can serve as a professional advantage by connecting HR professionals to timely research, practical tools and resources, expert guidance, professional development, networking, and a broader community of HR professionals. Participants will leave with actionable insights for navigating the future of work and a greater understanding of how SHRM can support them throughout their HR career.

  Learning Objectives

  By the end of this session, participants will be able to:

  Identify key HR and workplace trends influencing organizations, employees, and the HR profession.

  Evaluate the impact of emerging trends such as AI, changing workforce expectations, skills-based talent practices, and evolving workplace regulations on HR strategy and operations.

  Recognize the changing role of HR and opportunities for HR professionals to increase their influence as strategic business partners and workplace leaders.

  Identify strategies and resources for staying current on emerging workplace issues and strengthening professional capabilities.

  Explore the value of SHRM membership and how SHRM research, tools, expert resources, professional development, networking, and community can support HR professionals in addressing today's challenges and preparing for what's next.

  Develop at least one actionable next step for strengthening their professional readiness and applying new insights within their organization or HR career.

  
  Monique Akanbi, SHRM-CP is a SHRM Membership Initiatives Director and former co-host of SHRM’s Honest HR Podcast, where she helps bring SHRM’s mission to life by designing strategies that attract, engage, and retain more than 330,000 members worldwide.

  A strategic change agent with over 20 years of broad-based experience across both public and private sectors, in various HR leadership roles, including Vice-President of People & Culture; Monique is known for transforming organizational cultures, boosting engagement, and driving measurable results in employee satisfaction and retention. Her collaborative, people-centered approach has consistently helped organizations align purpose with performance.

  Beyond SHRM, Monique serves as a Master Examiner and Mentor with the Sterling Council Board of Examiners, where she evaluates and mentor organizations across the Southeast using the Malcolm Baldrige Performance Excellence framework to advance leadership systems and operational excellence and serves on various local non-profit Boards. 

  Passionate about service and development, Monique intentionally connects people, ideas, and opportunities in ways that create excellence and momentum.

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