HR Council

Join top-level talent strategy leaders architecting West Michigan’s talent ecosystem.

Being an employer of choice isn’t enough—West Michigan must become a region of choice that attracts and retains top talent to live, work, and thrive. The workforce is undergoing a seismic transformation, driven by shifts in demographics, hybrid work, automation, employee expectations, and rapidly evolving skill demands. To stay ahead, employers must adopt bold, innovative strategies to secure the talent they need now and into the future.

Why a Group for Talent Strategy Leaders?

The TalentFirst Human Resources Council (HR Council) is where West Michigan’s top talent strategy leaders (e.g., CHRO, CPO, HR Director, and VP of People & Culture) come together to shape the future of work. This dynamic community of practice provides an unparalleled platform to:

  • Connect: Build partnerships with peers, educators, workforce organizations, and community leaders to amplify impact.
  • Collaborate: Share research, leading practices, and actionable strategies to tackle today’s workforce challenges.
  • Create Solutions: Evaluate labor market trends, identify gaps, and co-develop innovative approaches to enhance talent attraction, development, and retention of our region’s diverse workforce.

Together, we leverage our collective expertise to position West Michigan as a national leader in talent strategies and solutions.

The HR Council empowers you to drive transformative change in your organization and across the region by:

  1. Partnering for Impact: Collaborate with regional talent leaders to design and refine solutions to shared challenges.
  2. Amplifying Your Voice: Use TalentFirst data and storytelling to influence policymakers and advocate for impactful change.
  3. Staying Ahead: Gain insights from peers and industry trends to anticipate and respond to evolving workforce demands.

This is more than a council—it’s a movement to elevate West Michigan as the premier talent hub. Be part of the TalentFirst HR Council to lead, collaborate, and create meaningful, lasting impact for your organization and our region.

We are building a stronger talent ecosystem and a brighter future—together.

Membership Benefits

Exclusive Networking
Participate in member-exclusive HR Council meetings focusing on solutions to pressing talent challenges.

Influence Policy
Partner with fellow leaders to shape public policy that addresses workforce issues.

Data-Driven Insights
Access tailored reports on talent trends, forecasts, and insights to inform your strategies.

Showcase Innovation
Highlight your organization’s best practices through TalentFirst’s platforms.

Strategic Tools
Priority access to talent demand forecasts, labor market reports, employer events, and more.

Enhance Partnerships
Develop and strengthen relationships with leaders in education and workforce development.

Get Involved

HR Council membership is exclusive to top-level talent strategy leaders from TalentFirst’s corporate members.

Interested in learning more about Corporate Membership and the HR Council? Email Carly Smyly, c.smyly@talentfirst.net, or complete the form below.

I'm interested in TalentFirst's HR Council!

TalentFirst’s HR Council is an exclusive membership body that works alongside the CEO Council to provide leadership, insight, and strategic thinking to improve the effectiveness of talent attraction, retention, and development efforts in your organization and throughout the region.

Members include top-level talent strategy leaders from TalentFirst’s corporate members. 

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Are you the top-level talent strategy leader (e.g., CHRO, VP of HR, CPO, HR Director, etc.) in your organization?(Required)
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