Note: The presentation submission process for the 2008 HR Tomorrow Conference is now closed. Thank you.

Call for Presentations: HR Tomorrow Conference 2008
Industrial Relations Center-Carlson School of Management

HR Tomorrow: The Business of HR: Creating Competitive Advantage Through People
Friday, April 25, 2008
7:30 am - 4:30 pm

Planning for the 2008 HR Tomorrow Conference has begun. The theme of the conference is “The Business of HR: Creating Competitive Advantage through People.” Given the realities of current market conditions and the increased need for innovation and growth, this year’s conference will explore how HR professionals can add value at a new level by leveraging employees for competitive success. Keynote speakers include: Dave Binkley, Senior Vice President of Global Human Resources, Whirlpool; and Bob Fox, Vice President of Human Resources, Carlson Hotels Worldwide.

The planning committee, made up of IRC faculty, staff and alumni, is currently accepting proposals for breakout session presentations related to this theme. Sessions are generally one hour in length, which allows approximately 45 minutes for the presentation and the remaining 15 minutes for the Q & A session. Based on this year’s theme, we are seeking proposals centered around practical approaches and case studies of how HR professionals can leverage programs and processes to improve their organization’s bottom line. Based on feedback from past conferences, please propose breakout sessions that provide a “deep-dive” on topics and allow the HR professionals to take useful and realistic actions back to their workplace.

Ideal presentations would demonstrate how a partnership between HR and the business improved a critical business issue; topics may include:

Within these themes, presentations on all aspects of HR are welcome, including the following:

Your proposal should include:
—Presentation title and applicable HR practice area
—Brief presentation description (up to 200 words)
—Well-defined, realistic learning objectives that can be achieved in the time allotted
—Explanation of how your presentation will provide participants with the “deep dive” and “hands-on” experience they will be looking for in the breakout sessions
—Three places/conferences where you have previously presented, to demonstrate speaking experience

Our conference facilities have the latest technology, allowing for PowerPoint presentations, overhead projection, and video presentations. The deadline for presentation proposal submissions is December 10, 2007. Review of the proposals will occur immediately following the deadline, with selection of final speakers expected by the middle of January 2008.

For additional information or further questions, please contact Anne Obst, IRC External Relations Coordinator, at or 612-626-9748. We look forward to hearing from you and seeing you at the conference!