You are invited to the October education program of the Houston International HR Roundtable. Our speakers will be Henry Noey and Max Maggio of Aon Corporation. Henry and Max will present Current Challenges & Opportunities in Global Benefits Management.

Multinational companies face constant challenges as they globalize and expand their diverse and international workforce. One of these challenges is managing benefits around the globe. Multinational companies are faced with a plethora of financial, legal and human capital risks. How does an international human professional assist their company in finding solutions to diverse issues such as corporate governance, compliance, and regional/country issues?

Henry and Max will present current trends, challenges and fundamentals for companies working to manage benefits around the globe. The presentation will include a discussion of governance, compliance, and regional/country issues and importantly solutions to these challenges.

Presenters:

Henry Noey, as Aon Hewitt’s Local Market Leader, is responsible for leading the Company’s services and managing client relationships the Houston, Austin, San Antonio and the states of Louisiana and Mississippi. Henry has more than 30 years of business and human resources experience, including executive, operational and financial leadership. He has served clients as a Senior Consultant and Account Manager in strategic benefit redesign, global governance, organizational transformation and change management projects. He earned a Bachelor of Business Administration degree from Sam Houston State University and completed the M.D. Anderson Executive Development Program in Health Care at the Jones Graduate School of Business of Rice University. Henry also received his certification as a Global Professional of Human Resources from the Society of Human Resource Management.

Max Maggio is an Assistant Vice President at Aon Consulting and works with clients in managing their benefit, compensation and talent development plans all over the world. His responsibilities also include leading the development of business initiatives in the Latin America and the Caribbean. Prior to his transfer to Miami, Max was Employee Benefits Director in the Mexico City office and, prior to that, was the head of the Personal Lines and Employee Benefits divisions in Aon Argentina. Max has published articles in insurance and benefits magazines in Latin America and spoken at HR events at a number of chambers of commerce, the Greater Miami SHRM and at the National Foreign Trade Council. Max received a BA in Marketing at UADE and an MBA at the Miami campus of the Adolfo Ibanez University. He is a Certified Insurance Agent in Mexico and Argentina and achieved a Certificate in Global Benefits Management in US. Max is fluent in English and Spanish; operational in Portuguese. He is active participant of the Colombian, Argentinean and Brazilian Chambers of Commerce in Miami.

Don’t miss this important and timely presentation!

Travel of an internationally mobile workforce is becoming more common place throughout the world. This also includes travel throughout continental Africa and West Africa in particular. Employees are asked to travel from locations like Pointe Noire, Congo to Takaradi, Ghana and from Luanda, Angola to Douala, Cameroon and to do so in a quick and timely manner to accommodate business schedules and needs. However, travel throughout this region can be complicated and time consuming and pose security risks to the employees as well as the company. Human resource professionals are often asked to take an active role in minimizing security risks to the company’s most valuable asset – its employees!

In addition to the presentation, we had a lively discussion on innovative practices and strategies that companies use to facilitate the mobility of internationally mobile employees working in the West Africa region. Join the discussion in LinkedIn or on Facebook.

Thank you to our September presenters:

Joe Crumly, Director – International Employee Relations. Joe is in charge of the expatriate program and global relocation for the American Bureau of Shipping.

Josh Bibb, Surveyor – Corporate Human Resources – American Bureau of Shipping. Josh has worked as a Surveyor for ABS throughout the African continent since 2008 and has first hand experience working, traveling and living in the region.

We look forward to seeing you in October!

You are invited to the June education program of the Houston International HR Roundtable. Our speaker will be Micheal Cadden, MBA, GMS will present Technologies for Global Mobility.  Michael is the Managing Director – International Operations with Living Abroad LLC.

Technology continues to advance rapidly and is impacting our Global Mobility space in many unexpected ways and helps HR deal with doing more with less, to a point. This discussion looks at what is out there today that works and what is coming next. Michael will also explore the use of Self-help Tools, Compliance Systems, Social Media and Mobile & Integrated Applications as they pertain to our business. Don’t miss this cutting-edge presentation!

Background on Michael Cadden: Soon after joining Craighead Publications in 1995, Michael became the force behind converting the printed publications of country information to the Web. With that success he later became the Managing Director of Living Abroad LLC in 2002 and is behind its highly successful transformation, culminating with the acquisition of the legacy Craighead business in 2008. He has created several breakthrough presentations and delivered them dozens of times in the USA, Latin America and Europe. Winning topics have included “10 Year Trends in Global Mobility” (2005), “The Dark Side of Short-term Assignments” (2006), “Relocating Generation Y” (2007), “Technology and Global Mobility” (2008), “Technology vs. Global Employee Privacy” (2009/10), and Technology & Mobility 2020 (2011).

Michael is known for his lively presentations. He has been at the forefront of the innovative use of technology in the global mobility area. If we are lucky, we may even have a visit from the Moose. We look forward to a great program. Please bring yourself, a friend, and your questions on technology in global mobility.

Please go to http://hinthr2011.eventbrite.com for membership information!

Host Sponsor - Deloitte Tax LLP

Our 2011 programming begins on January 26 with a Culturally Thriving or Merely Culturally Surviving?: The Hidden ROI of Intercultural Training by Dean Foster of Dean Foster Associates. As president of DFA, New York, Dean Foster conducts cross-cultural training worldwide and consults on interculturalbusiness issues with most Fortune 500 companies in the United States and around the globe.

You can also find us on Facebook, Linkedin, and Twitter.  We invite you to join us!

You are invited to the September education program of the Houston International HR Roundtable:

Introduction to International Organizations Impacting Labor Relations

Following this session, you will have a basic knowledge of the international labor aspects of the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, the International Labor Organization, Free Trade Agreements, non-governmental organizations, industry codes of conduct, and many other international bodies and global standards.

This program has been submitted to HR Certification Institute for review.

ANNOUNCEMENTS

• Please see our recent blog post on the value of networking and membership in the Houston International HR Roundtable.
• We have announce new membership fees for the remainder of 2010. Our memberships and sponsorships are for the calendar year.
• We have several graduate students seeking mentors from the group. Please contact the Chair or our Mentor Committee, Steve Youngblood, if you are a member and would like to sponsor a student. Please include a short bio.
• Please join us on Facebook and Twitter.
  

Directions and Parking Information: Heritage Plaza is across from the downtown Doubletree Hotel.
Parking is available at the Doubletree hotel or Heritage Clay Street
Parking Garage, 200 Clay, Houston 77002.You can park at the Doubletree hotel and walk across the street to the building – proceed to the 45th floor. Alternatively, park in the Heritage Clay Street Parking Garage – address of the garage is 200 Clay Street, Houston, TX 77002. If you park in the Clay Street Garage, park in any space that is not marked “Reserved.” Take the elevator in the Clay Street Garage to the Basement (‘B’). Upon reaching Basement level, turn left and follow the hallway until you reach the wall with the large ‘H’ on it. Turn left and immediately on the right you will see two elevators. Take the elevator to the Sky Lobby (‘SL’). Once you reach the Sky Lobby, turn right and proceed to the middle bank of elevators. Proceed to the 45th floor to the Deloitte reception area – this is the floor where the meeting will take place.

2010 Host Sponsor - Deloitte Tax LLP

Please contact us regarding other sponsorship opportunities.

I’ve always heard that the value of networking is unmatched when it comes to finding great careers opportunities.   This is definitely true.

I’ve had the privilege of engaging and interacting with the Houston International HR Roundtable over the past year.   What it has afforded me is the realization of a very important career goal—true international exposure via a two year assignment in Paris, France!

I was approached about this opportunity through a contact at the roundtable.  Because of the roundtable connection, I was interviewed and ultimately offered the role of Vice President of Human Resources at Technip-North America…a journey that will start in Paris.

I can’t stress the importance of networking with colleagues at the appropriate level.  I feel the International HR Roundtable is the best organization in Houston that addresses international issues and mobilization for senior HR leaders.

We are all presented with prospects, and we have to take advantage of them as they arise.  This is true in our personal lives and our professional lives.   Participating in and supporting the right organizations are essential.

I would like to thank Larry and the roundtable for “getting me connected” with the right international career opportunity.  Merci!

I wish the Larry and the roundtable continued success.

À la prochaine!

[Editors Note:  We are happy to welcome back Greg Shrewsbury as a Guest Author.  Greg is now Vice President, Human Resources-North America for Technip.  We wish Greg the best of luck on his new adventure in Paris.]

You are invited to the July education program of the Houston
International HR Roundtable.

China: Strategic HR, Business, and Cultural Issues

• Cultural implications for China’s future
• Demographic issues
• Retention
  
• Employment issues
  
• Doing Business in China (HR perspective and implications)
  
• Mergers and Acquisitions

Eddie will be providing numerous real-life examples of doing business in China from an HR perspective. His
presentation will provide an understanding of how cultural issues affect strategic HR issues and how it is different than in the US. If your company is doing business in China, or considering it in the future, this is a program not to be missed!

Edward Franco is a Vice President with Aon Consulting and is based in Houston, Texas. He advises clients on global and international issues, including:

• Mergers, Acquisitions, Divestitures, and New Country Entry. Lead project management office, global due diligence and post-merger integration activities. Identify HR synergies and ensure activities support expected merger synergies.

• Business Training. Train M&A teams regarding global acquisitions and divestitures: developing M&A objectives, synergy development, project management, staffing and selection, engagement, communication, leadership and culture, HR policies and employment law, compensation and benefits, organization design, HRIS and HR delivery, due diligence simulation, integration simulation.

• Program Design. Analysis and design of organization effectiveness, compensation, and benefit programs around the world, including global programs and programs for international assignees.

Eddie has worked with many leading companies, governments and various
multilateral development organizationsa round the world. His experience includes designing and implementing national savings systems, advising on the separation and labor issues of employees in state owned enterprises, and global data privacy issues in business expansion and mergers and acquisitions. He has lived in Belgium, Canada, France, Hong Kong, Indonesia, the Philippines, PRC, Singapore, Uganda, United Kingdom, USA and visited over 30 countries on business assignments. Eddie holds a Bachelor degree in mathematics for management from Brunel University.

Directions and Parking Information: Heritage Plaza is across from the downtown Doubletree Hotel.

Parking is available at the Doubletree hotel or Heritage Clay Street
Parking Garage, 200 Clay, Houston 77002.You can park at the Doubletree hotel and walk across the street to the building – proceed to the 45th floor. Alternatively, park in the Heritage Clay Street Parking Garage – address of the garage is 200 Clay Street, Houston, TX 77002. If you park in the Clay Street Garage, park in any space that is not marked “Reserved.” Take the elevator in the Clay Street Garage to the Basement (‘B’). Upon reaching Basement level, turn left and follow the hallway until you reach the wall with the large ‘H’ on it. Turn left and immediately on the right you will see two elevators. Take the elevator to the Sky Lobby (‘SL’). Once you reach the Sky Lobby, turn right and proceed to the middle bank of elevators. Proceed to the 45th floor to the Deloitte reception area – this is the floor where the meeting will take place.

2010 Host Sponsor - Deloitte Tax LLP

Please contact us regarding other sponsorship opportunities.

Here’s a new one for you:
Houston is the Global Center of Excellence for International Human Resources.

For the past three years, I have been involved in the Houston International HR Roundtable. This is a fantastic group of individuals comprised of the HR community and the service professionals who work in partnership with them. During the time that I have been involved in this group, I have come to know its leader, Larry Scott, who has done an exceptional job at bringing great speakers and educational opportunities to the group. He has also incorporated networking Happy Hours, which has helped bring the members of this group together.

At the end of 2009, Larry Scott formalized the group, adding structure and varying levels of membership and sponsorship opportunities, while enhancing membership benefits. He now serves as president for the group and is the visionary for its future.

So, what is Houston International HR Roundtable?

Houston International HR Roundtable is committed to developing Houston as the Global Center of Excellence for International Human Resources. It is the leading education and networking professional organization in Houston for international HR professionals, including international and domestic service providers.

The vision of the group is to develop Houston as the Global Center of Excellence for international human resources.

I was absolutely thrilled when Larry approached me and asked me to Chair the Global Center of Excellence Committee. He felt that I would be a perfect fit, given my work within the Relocation Industry and the contacts that I have locally within the Houston Relocation and HR community.

The Global Center of Excellence Committee is focused on bringing increased recognition to Houston as the Global Center of Excellence for International Human Resources in accordance with the vision statement of Houston International HR Roundtable.   This committee works in conjunction with our other committees to promote Houston and its value as a global leader in international HR.  I am very excited to be the Chair of this important committee, and look very forward to assisting in bringing recognition to the Houston as the Global Center of Excellence.

If you are interested in membership or more information about Houston International HR Roundtable, please visit:
Houston International HR Roundtable.  To view upcoming events, please click here:  Events Calendar.

The above is reprinted by permission from the Houston Relocation Blog published by Michelle Sandlin, CRP.  Michelle is the Director, Global Relocation Services at John Daugherty.

Reflecting Houston’s standing in the international HR community, we host a constant stream of international HR conferences.  In addition to our monthly events, Houston regularly hosts conferences by Families in Global Transition (FIGT), National Foreign Trade Council (NFTC), Texas State Council of SHRM, and Global HR News.

Please send us a tweet or say hello in person when you are in Houston.  For further information on Houston as the Global Leader in international business, please visit the Greater Houston Partnership.

Welcome to Houston!