These professionals wanted to continue to learn about their craft, keep up with the explosion of new employment legislation, and network with their peers. Among the first to recognize the potential for starting a new SHRM chapter was Dawn Petrocelli. Working with SHRM National, Dawn got tips on how to start a local SHRM chapter and established the beginning of a network of like-minded HR professionals including such folks as Sonny Wide, Susan Conrad and Donna Wilkerson. Starting a SHRM chapter is hard enough. Keeping it alive in the early years is a tremendous challenge.
Most new chapters fail in their first five years.
Dawn Petrocelli was the Montgomery County Chapter's first president in 1990. The first meeting of the chapter, held in the Gaithersburg Marriott, was attended by about 20 people. Every sitting board member of the chapter moved out of state to accept new professional challenges. Susan Conrad accepted the office of chapter president. While the chapter staggered during this time of upheaval, the vision of those who stepped forward to accept new leadership positions, the fundamental strength of our common bond as professionals and the growth of potential members helped the chapter to continue to flourish.