MT|SHRM September Chapter Meeting

Own Your Growth: Practical Strategies for Career Management

Presented by Lauren Kiproff-Downer, Rachel Gulley and Kim James

Whether you're an HR professional, people leader, business owner, HR team of one, or exploring a career in HR, developing your professional effectiveness is an ongoing responsibility—not something reserved for times of transition.

Join a panel of experienced professionals as they discuss the habits that strengthen careers over the long term, including building a professional presence, cultivating meaningful relationships, documenting and communicating accomplishments, embracing continuous learning, and leveraging emerging tools such as AI.

Participants will leave with practical strategies they can apply immediately to support their own professional growth while helping develop talent within their organizations.

Topics we will explore include: 

Learning Objectives:

Participants will be able to:

Schedule:

8:30 a.m. – Registration, Breakfast and Networking
8:50 a.m. – Welcome, Sponsor Introduction
9:00 a.m. – Program Presentation
10:30 a.m. – Meeting Concludes

Registration: Closes *date and time*
Certification:1 SHRM and HRCI CEU

Presented by: 

Lauren Kiproff-Downer is an Organizational Development consultant and founder of Perpara OD, where she partners with organizations at inflection points to strengthen leadership, navigate change, and improve organizational effectiveness. Her work draws on expertise in Organizational Development, Industrial-Organizational Psychology, leadership development, talent strategy, and change management.

Lauren also serves as Chair of the Middle Tennessee SHRM Career Transition Group, providing education, networking, and community for HR and business professionals navigating career transitions. Through the Career Transition Group, she helps connect job seekers with resources, professional development opportunities, and meaningful relationships that support long-term career success.

Lauren is passionate about helping people and organizations realize their potential. Whether partnering with organizations or supporting professionals in career transition, she is committed to helping others grow, adapt, and thrive.

Rachel Gulley is the founder of Reel (hirereel.io), a conversation-first hiring company built on a simple belief: before anyone can be hired, matched, or promoted, they must be understood. She spent 13 years in recruiting and hiring operations before leaving to build Reel. Over the past year, she has conducted more than 100 one-on-one career conversations helping people, from executives to career changers, name what they are truly great at. Rachel took a non-traditional path herself: she started in recruiting while working three jobs, climbed to Senior Director without a degree, and then left the corporate track to build something of her own, with AI, in public, from Nashville.

Kim James is the Executive Director of the Rotary Club of Nashville, where she leads the organization's mission to connect and empower leaders committed to service and community impact across the Nashville area. With more than 18 years of experience in nonprofit leadership, community relations, program management, donor engagement, and communications, Kim has held roles with organizations including Young Leaders Council, Oak Ridge National Laboratory, Bethlehem Centers of Nashville, Tennessee SCORE, Tennessee State University, and the Community Foundation of Central Illinois. Across her career, she has built a reputation for cultivating strong relationships and helping individuals and organizations achieve their goals. 

A dedicated advocate for the nonprofit sector, Kim serves on the Board of Directors for the Tennessee Nonprofit Network and is the immediate past Board Chair of Mending Hearts. She also serves on the Truist Bank Community Advisory Board and remains actively engaged in volunteer efforts across Middle Tennessee. Kim's leadership and impact have been widely recognized. In 2024, she was named one of Nashville Business Journal's Most Admired CEOs, featured among the Nashville Post's The Mentors, and honored by the Junior League of Nashville with the Paragon Award for Outstanding Community Service. She has also been a keynote speaker for the Williamson, Inc. Women in Leadership Conference and was previously recognized as Woman Leader of the Year by Women in Leadership of Central Illinois. 

Originally from Birmingham, Alabama, Kim earned a Bachelor of Science in Financial Economics from Fisk University and a Master of Business Administration from Tennessee State University. She is also a graduate of Young Leaders Council Class 49. Kim is a proud mother of three who enjoys spending time with her family, walking her Yorkie, listening to audiobooks, and visiting Disney whenever possible.

Thank you to our sponsor