The 18th National H.I.R.E. Training Conference in New Orleans, LA was a huge success thanks to the numerous volunteer coordinators who tirelessly dedicated their time to ensure all of the important details were successfully administered behind the scenes! Over 108 participants were in attendance. Participants traveled some distance to New Orleans, Louisiana from Texas, Washington, DC, Puerto Rico, California, Georgia and other geographic locations. We even had one participant who was a Social Worker from Little Rock, Arkansas who did not even work for IRS participate in our conference.
The training conference featured a diverse pool of keynote guest speakers and subject matter training facilitators who challenged participants to question their own limitations and motivated the audience to reach new horizons with current and future employment opportunities. This year’s conference theme, “Paving the Way to a Better Tomorrow…Think HIRE”, engaged guest speaker’s to spark up and re-energize the audience to achieve peak job performance at every level of the organization. The audience experienced excellent networking opportunities with other HIRE members, guest speakers, managers, current executive level officials such as Laurel Cummings, Director, ACA Compliance Strategy & Policy and Marcus Howard, Deputy ACFO For Financial Management and even retired executives like Rick Byrd, former Commissioner Wage & Investment and Robert Adams, former LB&I Senior Industry Advisor to the Director of Heavy Manufacturing & Transportation. Beth Tucker, Deputy Commissioner Operations Support, welcomed the participants to the HIRE National Training Conference via Office Communicator. Rick Byrd, former Commissioner Wage & Investment delivered an inspiring keynote speech to motivate the conference participants.
Participation at the HIRE Training Conference was high despite the current job market, hiring freeze, Continuous Resolution, Furloughs and Sequestration. Participants embarked in developmental workshops, interactive role plays and engaged in discussions on how to enhance individual branding and marketing skills. Participants discussed opportunities to get and give coaching, mentoring and to actively engage in individual career planning. Participants gained new skills and techniques (e.g Time Management Techniques, Managing Multiple Priorities, Knowing Your Worth, Steps for Creating a Winning Mindset, etc.) they can use in their current jobs and future job prospects. The workshop sessions closed with a Stress Management class facilitated by Stefanie Tovar, daughter of Silvia Tovar, HIRE National President. Stefanie energized everyone with Zumba and later helped the participants relieve stress with a session of yoga. The National HIRE Training Conference Opening Reception featured a two hour Dinner\Jazz Cruise on the Creole Queen Paddlewheel Steamboat. The National HIRE Training Conference closed with a formal Mardi Gras Theme Gala — an evening night out that lit up a festive meal and dancing to diverse Latin music.
Silvia Tovar, Contributor
