Our History
The concept of a foundation affiliated with PIHRA was announced by 1989 incoming PIHRA President Roger Sommer in his installation address. The possibility of starting such an organization was studied that year, but abandoned because it was thought that the foundation would need a substantial capital base which was not available.
Approximately one year later, it was decided to try again, but this time as a not-for-profit, tax exempt 501c3 organization. Lee Patterson of Sonnenschein Nath & Rosenthal succeeded in this effort, and the first meeting of the Board of Directors was held on March 27th, 1991. Roger Sommer served as its first President.
The organization was incorporated as Human Resource Management Institute (HRMI), as initial plans were for it to offer human resources professional development programs. This plan was scrapped because of tax considerations, and the name was changed in 1994 to PIHRA Foundation. Its mission statement was established as: “To promote the Human Resource profession through research, education and community service, primarily in Southern California.”
Prior to the PIHRA Foundation, the You and Your First Job (Y&YFJ) program and the fund raising to support it was a function of PIHRA. This responsibility was transferred to the Foundation as an affiliated organization of PIHRA. The Y&YFJ program has had a long and highly successful history including receiving one of six Pinnacle Awards granted by SHRM in 1992.
In order to more effectively raise the funds necessary to support the Y&YFJ program, the Foundation initiated a silent auction event at the 1994 PIHRA Annual Conference, and this fund raiser has become a fixture at the Conference since that time.
Since its inception, the PIHRA Foundation has provided over $100,000 worth of assistance to educate Human Resource professionals and those individuals entering the workforce. Of that total:
Over $52,000 funded HR college scholarships awarded to PIHRA members.
Over $10,000 funded college scholarships to PIHRA members’ sons and daughters in any discipline.
Over $34,000 was used to develop and train high school students and those re-entering the workforce with the use of the foundation’s publications.
We also published the Job Seeker Materials “You and Your First Job” and “You and Your Next Job” booklet which have been donated to the vocational classes of scores of California secondary schools and junior colleges.
PIHRA FOUNDATION
Volunteer Officers
For additional information, please contact us at
pihrafoundation@pihra.org, phone: 661-803-1072, fax: 661-298-8630
President: Michelle Schuh, PHR, SHRM-CP
Vice President: William (Bill) Groenekamp
Treasurer: Ed Johnson, SPHR
Secretary: Barbara Allen, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Publications Committee: Mark Christensen
Publications Committee: Arte Nathan, SPHR
Publications Committee: Cheryl Wyrick, Ph.D., SPHR
Social Media Committee: Jessica Ricciuti
Social Media Committee: Katherine Zertuche
Social Media Committee: Erica Feest, CEBS
Scholarship Committee: Victoria Okolo
Scholarship Committee: Cynthia Varona, PHR
Scholarship Committee: Laura Clive Flores, SPHR
Emeritus Board Member: Roger D. Sommer, SPHR
Immediate Past President: John Silver, DCG
We invite you to connect with us online, or at our Silent Auction at the California HR Conference!
Job Seeker Materials
It’s called the information age, the 24/7 workplace, and the service economy. But no matter what you call it, the 21st century is bringing far-reaching changes ill the way we live and work and learn.
You can see changes going on all around you. There are new jobs, new ways to work, new technologies, and new challenges. As you look to the future you may feel overwhelmed and insecure, or excited and confident.
Do you have what it takes to find success in the 21st century work force? Sure you do! While you may not have the sophisticated skills or abilities for this “high-tech” century, if you have a great attitude and a willingness and enthusiasm to learn, you will find limitless opportunities.
Finding, choosing and building a career takes a lot of work, knowledge and support because careers just don’t work like they used to. This booklet is organized around a four-step career development process: Discover, Explore, Decide, and Act.
It is our hope that reading and completing the activities and suggestions in this Booklet, will help you find a career path filled with extraordinary success.
“Follow your bliss and be what you want to be. Don’t climb the ladder of success only to find its leaning against the wrong wall.” – Bernie Siegel
If you are interested in obtaining copies of our publications, please contact PIHRA at (310) 416-1210 or download the Order Form here.
Are you interested in a PDF file copy? Click here to submit a request form.
