Iowa SHRM State Council

Human Resources HR

Jul 21

Iowa SHRM State Council is the statewide affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management, connecting 3,000+ HR professionals across Iowa.

AUDIENCE: 650 HR leaders and practitioners

LOCATION: Coralville, Iowa

CHALLENGE: Foster engagement among HR professionals across the state, address key issues like talent shortages and employee retention, burnout, and rapid policy shifts within Iowa's workplaces

CARA BROOKINS’ SOLUTION:

Opening keynote + live Q&A: “Rise & Resilience”
Early-morning AV check to ensure flawless hybrid delivery
Coordinated through Speaker Now / Midwest Speakers Bureau

At Iowa’s largest HR gathering, 650 professionals converged in Coralville for three days of compliance updates, networking, and leadership development. Organizers wanted to break the mold of purely technical sessions by opening with a story that would reignite purpose and perseverance.

Cara Brookins delivered “Rise & Resilience,” sharing how she rebuilt her life, and literally built a house, with four children and zero construction experience. For HR leaders driving culture in volatile times, her blueprint for acting decisively, leveraging small wins, and inspiring teams struck an immediate chord.

From the 7:30 a.m. AV check through the closing Q&A, Cara aligned seamlessly with conference goals, reminding attendees that HR’s greatest asset is human resilience. Her keynote set an energetic tone that carried into breakout sessions on engagement, well-being, and strategic talent planning.

Human Resources