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| NOVEMBER 2026 NEWSLETTER |
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| Welcome to the November issue! This month marks one year since we relaunched SHRM Loudoun. We rebuilt our board in August 2025 and held our relaunch in November 2025 with a simple goal: give HR professionals who live and work in Loudoun County a place to learn, connect, and grow together. |
| A year later, we have grown to 85 members, brought back monthly programming, and earned two IMPACT Awards from SHRM Virginia and DC. That recognition belongs to every member, volunteer, and sponsor who showed up for this chapter. |
| In this issue, you will find our award news, new SHRM member benefits, a save-the-date for the 2027 state conference, and a new roundup of events from SHRM chapters across the region, because we are better together. I hope to see you at our Holiday Networking Party on December 8. |
Keith Townsend
President, SHRM Loudoun |
| Join Us Tuesday, November 10: Monthly Chapter Meeting |
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| Why the Simple Things Matter Most for Workplace Well-Being (Hint: It’s Not the Healthy Snacks) |
Tuesday, November 10, 2026 | 5:30 – 7:30 PM
Jack Kent Cooke Foundation, 44325 Woodridge Parkway, Lansdowne, VA |
| Our keynote speaker, Jillian Bernstein, shares no-budget ways to build recognition, connection, and engagement on your team. Guests are always welcome. |
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| SHRM Loudoun Earns Three 2026 State Honors, Including Two IMPACT Awards |
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| SHRM Virginia and DC awarded six 2026 Best Practices IMPACT Awards across its 18 chapters, and SHRM Loudoun took home two of them. We were the only chapter to win more than one, and chapter President Keith Townsend was named the 2026 Emerging Leader. The awards were announced at the SHRM VA DC Volunteer Leadership Conference in Bridgewater, VA, on October 22. |
 Chapter & Community Excellence |
 Most Improved Membership |
 Emerging Leader |
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- Chapter & Community Excellence: We rebuilt the chapter with a seven-member Board of Directors, grew from zero to 74 members in just under a year (the figure at the time of our award submission), returned to good standing with SHRM, and brought back consistent monthly programming.
- Most Improved Membership (DMR Chapters): Our membership grew 13.24% over 2025.
- Emerging Leader Award: SHRM Virginia and DC named chapter President Keith Townsend its 2026 Emerging Leader for leading the chapter’s turnaround.
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| Thank you to every member, volunteer and sponsor who made this possible. |
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| New for SHRM Members: AskSHRM and the SHRM Mobile App |
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| On October 29, SHRM launched two new member benefits at no extra cost: AskSHRM, an HR guidance tool, and the new SHRM Mobile App for iOS and Android. Ask questions in plain language and get answers grounded in SHRM research and resources, with citations so you can see where the guidance comes from. When you need a deeper conversation, you can connect with a live SHRM HR Knowledge Advisor. Members can submit up to 75 queries per month at launch. |
| Built for moments like: |
- Before a big decision or a difficult conversation with an employee or leader
- Staying ahead of evolving HR issues, policies and workforce priorities
- When work moves beyond the desk and you need an answer on the go
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| Get started: Download the SHRM Mobile App from the Apple App Store or Google Play and sign in with your SHRM member account. |
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| Not a SHRM member yet? See “Not a Member Yet? Join SHRM Loudoun” below to learn how to get access. |
| Save the Date: SHRM Virginia and DC 2027 Conference |
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| The SHRM Virginia and DC 2027 Conference, Cleared for Takeoff: Launching the Next Era of HR, comes to Virginia Beach April 11–14, 2027. Sessions take place at the Marriott Oceanfront Hotel and Embassy Suites at the Cavalier Resort, with discounted rooms at all three Cavalier hotels. |
| Early Bird rates end November 13, 2026, and attendance is capped at 650, so register soon to lock in the lower rate and your seat. |
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| Loudoun Workforce Resource Center Update |
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| Apply & Connect: Featured Employers |
| The Loudoun Workforce Resource Center has launched Apply & Connect: Featured Employers, a new initiative that connects job seekers with local employers and gives employers a way to showcase their openings to the community. |
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| Multi-Employer Hiring Event: January 21, 2027 |
| The center is planning a multi-employer hiring event on January 21, 2027, from 11:00 AM to 2:00 PM. Invitations to reserve an employer table go out next month. Employers who want to participate can reach the Loudoun Workforce Resource Center through its Employer Services page. |
| Not a Member Yet? Join SHRM Loudoun |
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| SHRM Loudoun brings together HR professionals and students who live or work in Loudoun County for monthly programs, networking, and professional development. Guests are always welcome at our meetings, so come see what we’re about. |
| SHRM Loudoun is a 100% Dual Membership chapter, which means chapter membership comes with an active SHRM National membership, including new benefits like AskSHRM. You can add SHRM Loudoun to your existing SHRM membership or join both at once. |
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| Upcoming SHRM Events Across the Region |
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| New this issue! We believe HR professionals are better together, and there’s a ton going on across the greater area. SHRM Loudoun is one of several SHRM chapters across Northern Virginia, DC, and the Shenandoah Valley, and this new section rounds up upcoming programs and networking events from our neighboring chapters so you can learn, connect, and grow beyond our own calendar. Many events are open to guests. Click an event for details and registration, and note that some are for that chapter’s members only. |
| November |
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NOVA SHRM November Program: Time Leadership 11:00 AM. Speaker Julie Morgenstern on reducing overload, protecting focus, and improving how teams use time. Eligible for SHRM/HRCI credit. Registration open through Nov 18. |
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SHRM Washington DC Strategic Planning in Today’s HR Landscape 12:00 – 1:00 PM, virtual panel. How senior HR leaders advise their organizations amid administration changes, evolving DEI considerations, and uncertainty. Members $15 / non-members $35. |
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NOVA SHRM Chat with Kat 1:00 PM. Registration open through Nov 24. |
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| December |
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Prince William SHRM 2026 Holiday Social 6:00 – 9:00 PM, The Black Sheep Restaurant, 9935 Discovery Blvd, Manassas, VA. Prince William SHRM members only; register by Nov 23. |
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SHRM Washington DC 2026 Holiday Party 5:00 – 8:00 PM, Bobby Van’s Steakhouse, 809 15th St NW, Washington, DC. Holiday networking happy hour and volunteer recognition. Members $15 / non-members $40; register by Nov 23. |
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SHRM Loudoun (our chapter) Holiday Networking Party 5:30 – 8:00 PM, Matchbox (One Loudoun), 44720 Thorndike Street, Ashburn, VA. Includes appetizers and two drink tickets. Members $30 / non-members $40. Register. |
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Winchester Area SHRM 2026 Winter Social 5:00 – 7:30 PM, IJ Canns American Grille, 3111 Valley Ave, Winchester, VA. Dinner, DJ, year-end awards, and an Ugly Sweater Contest benefiting Froggy’s Closet. Members free / guests $35; register by Dec 4. Register. |
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| Find more events. Each chapter posts its full calendar online: |
| SHRM Washington DC • SHRM Loudoun • Fredericksburg Regional SHRM • Prince William SHRM • SHRM Dulles • Winchester Area SHRM • NOVA SHRM |
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