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2010 Board of Directors

Shawn Kent Hayashi, Co-Chair, Membership

Author of books and dozens of business articles, and a frequent speaker at conferences around the country as well as Fortune 500 company meetings, Shawn Kent Hayashi's passion is people development and learning.  She's built a business, The Professional Development Group, around it.

"I was a stock broker who realized that what I really loved was learning, and I wanted to share that passion with others.  In my 20s, a mentor/coach caused me to recognize that if I moved to Training and Development, I'd be happier in my work.  First I moved into Sales Training, then Management & Leadership Development.  I was then asked to manage the recruiting group, then a generalist role, every year I'd get another part of HR added to my plate."

Hayashi joined PHRPS two years ago, and co-chairs with Robin Rodin, the Communications and PR committee.  The committee is responsible for raising the internal and external visibility and credibility of PHRPS through such tools as the organization's revamped website, media relations, promoting monthly member meetings, the annual Leadership Forum, and community outreach efforts.

"I'm excited by the progress we've made so far, and am really looking forward to some new initiatives in 2009, such as developing a speaker's bureau drawn from our membership."  

"There's real value in being part of PHRPS with the ease of networking and relationship building that the organization offers.  This is especially important as the profession looks towards the future.  We see that the work world has changed.  Many people contribute a great deal to an organization with out being a fulltime permanent employee."

"For example, in the '80s I worked in a 70-plus person HR department with every type of specialist on the team.  Today that organization has five HR people and uses outside resources for all the specialist's work.  More and more organizations are moving in this direction and much of the deep expertise HR specialties will come from consultants and contractors, and may not fall under the HR umbrella internally.  As we plan for PHRPS' growth, we keep that in mind.  In valuing our members, we want to be engaged in ongoing conversations with them no matter what part of an organization they come from – inside or outside.  Especially if they focus on people development, processes and systems."

A resident of Upper Gwynedd, Pa., she lives with her husband Jim and their sons.

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