Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP234
In episode 234, Coffey talks with Lana Eyzips about building data-informed, strategic HR functions.
They discuss why HR is often excluded from strategic planning; shifting HR from reactive firefighter to proactive advisor; building credibility through relationships rather than titles; translating people data into business and revenue impact; onboarding priorities for new HR leaders; compliance as a driver of culture and ethics; balancing HR’s role with leaders and employees; using data to influence executive decisions; the Light Bulb Method for strategic HR problem-solving; DEI framed through business outcomes; psychological safety and trust in organizations; and the future of HR with AI governance and automation.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Lana Eyzips, M.A., PHR is a senior HR leader and business psychology consultant with over 17 years of HR experience helping organizations turn people challenges into strategic growth. She’s the creator of The Lightbulb Method™, a practical framework that connects people, data, and culture to drive results leaders can actually see.
With a master’s in Industrial and Organizational Psychology and deep experience across industries, from healthcare and credit unions to manufacturing and nonprofits, Lana brings a rare blend of compliance expertise, behavioral insight, and cross-cultural perspective. Her work focuses on helping leaders build credibility, navigate change, and create cultures rooted in trust, accountability, and clarity.
Lana Eyzips can be reached at
https://lanaeyzips.carrd.co/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/eyzipslana/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make better decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Mike was recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been named the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas SHRM, the state HR association, where he serves Texas’ 30 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County, where he is chair of the Workforce Readiness Committee; the Texas Association of Business, Texas’ state chamber; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200).
Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth, where he teaches yoga several times each week.
Learning Objectives:
Explain why credibility is the foundation for HR’s strategic influence
Apply practical methods for building trust with executives and frontline leaders
Use data, culture awareness, and psychology to frame people issues as business risks and opportunities
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP#233
In episode 233, Coffey talks with Amy Jacobs about evaluating and investigating unique complaints.
They discuss evaluating the credibility of anonymous complaints; deciding when to investigate versus monitor; retaining records of all complaints for institutional memory; handling requests for confidentiality and anonymity; responding to complaints from former employees; assessing credibility when performance issues exist; navigating complaints raised through attorneys or union representatives; managing interviews with legal counsel or representatives present; deciding between in-person and virtual investigations; selecting interview locations to preserve confidentiality; recording versus not recording interviews; controlling interview pace and scope; identifying unrelated but critical issues uncovered during investigations; communicating investigation outcomes to complainants and employees; preventing retaliation claims; and managing gossip and trust in the workplace after investigations.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Amy Jacobs, an employment lawyer, joined Employment Practices Solutions in 1997 and is a currently a senior consultant and shareholder. For 30 years, Amy and the other consultants at EPS have partnered with all sorts of organizations to build respectful and inclusive work environments. In addition to impartial complaint investigations, EPS provides a range of services including highly customized training programs - live, virtual-live, and on-demand; expert testimony in human resources and employment law; and a wide array of HR consulting services. Their client base includes Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, government entities, higher education institutions, and nonprofit organizations. Mostly importantly, EPS is dedicated to providing high-quality solutions that meet the unique needs of each organization.
Amy Jacobs can be reached at
https://www epspros.com
https://www.linkedin.com/company/epspros
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 30 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 29 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
Evaluate anonymous and informal employee complaints for credibility and risk.
Apply best practices for conducting fair, defensible workplace investigations.
Manage post-investigation communication to reduce retaliation and rebuild trust.
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP232
In episode 232, Coffey talks with Margarita Ramos about the importance and future of the employee relations function following the $11.5 million SHRM discrimination verdict.
They discuss the SHRM jury verdict and its implications for HR credibility; the role of employee relations at the intersection of compliance and employee experience; proactive versus reactive approaches to workplace conflict; multiple complaint channels and manager escalation obligations; why dismissing concerns as "not illegal" undermines trust; investigation failures highlighted in the SHRM case; investigator neutrality, training, and experience requirements; when and why to use outside investigators or counsel; leadership accountability and the role of the CHRO in employee relations; the three-legged stool of employee relations, HR business partners, and employment counsel; building ER infrastructure with case management systems and data analytics; handling high-performing but high-risk leaders; transparency in employee relations processes; reducing gossip through consistent and fair investigations; and the future of employee relations including responsible use of AI in investigations.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Margarita Ramos is a highly respected Global Employee Relations executive and employment attorney with more than two decades of experience across technology, SaaS, and financial services. She is trusted by CHROs, HR Business Partners, and C-suite leaders to build scalable ER infrastructures, stabilize organizations through change, and elevate the employee experience through disciplined governance and operational excellence.
With a foundation rooted in JD-trained employment law—including roles as In-House Employment Counsel at Merrill Lynch and Principal Corporate Counsel at Microsoft—Margarita developed deep legal expertise in compliance, risk mitigation, and workplace investigations.
She later translated this expertise into senior ER and HR Compliance leadership roles at VMware, Splunk, RBC, and Bank of America, where she supported complex global workforces navigating rapid growth, cultural transformation, and organizational change.
Throughout her career, Margarita has been brought in to create structure where ambiguity exists. She has built and led global ER Centers of Excellence, developed investigations and performance-management frameworks, and implemented modern case-management systems such as Workday, HR Acuity, and AI-enabled governance tools. Her approach blends empathy with operational rigor, ensuring ER functions are both employee-centric and aligned with business strategy.
A skilled investigator and ER strategist, Margarita advises senior leaders on workplace investigations, conflict resolution, performance management, DEI&B, and global employment compliance. She is known for her ability to translate data, case trends, and cultural signals into actionable insights—leveraging ER metrics, KPIs, and reporting to influence leadership decisions, drive fairness, and strengthen organizational culture. Her data-driven approach enables leaders to make well-informed, consistent decisions that reinforce trust and accountability across the enterprise.
Margarita has also led M&A HR integration efforts at VMware and Splunk, overseeing cultural alignment, workforce assessments, and change-management strategies during periods of significant transformation. Her leadership in these environments reflects her commitment to creating workplaces where clarity, belonging, and operational excellence coexist. Beyond her corporate work, Margarita is deeply committed to developing future talent. She has mentored first-generation college students and contributed to organizations such as Girls Who Code, Year Up, and Hobart & William Smith Colleges. At Microsoft, she provided pro bono support for Kids in Need of Defense (KIND). Outside of work, she enjoys ballroom dancing and cooking. Margarita is passionate about shaping modern, strategic, tech-forward ER functions that support organizational values, reduce risk, build leadership capability, and create an environment where employees can do their best work with trust, fairness, and accountability.
Margarita Ramos can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/margarita-ramos/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teach...
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here http://goodmorninghr.com/wp-content/uploads/2025/12/Good-Morning-HR-Episode-231-Discussion-Starter.pdf
In episode 231, Coffey talks with Diondra Filicetti about the real economics of employee engagement and how leaders can drive performance by shaping environment, alignment, and activation on their teams.
They discuss why engagement is an economic lever rather than a feel-good metric; how misaligned leadership expectations undermine performance; the impact of poorly prepared managers on engagement; practical ways to evaluate team capacity before adding headcount; the critical role of culture, trust, and behavior norms in workplace performance; strategies for designing the right environment, role alignment, and activation for teams; the Pygmalion Effect and how leaders’ beliefs shape outcomes; diagnosing attitude issues versus structural problems; and using engagement needs as a framework for one-to-ones and organizational improvement.
You can find Diondra’s book “Engagement Economics: Increasing Performance & Profitability by Engaging Your People” here https://a.co/d/9mTuXIs
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Diondra Filicetti is a Learning and Development professional, best-selling author, and two-time TEDx speaker. As the founder of Driven By Co., she helps organizations enhance performance through engaging workshops, leadership programs, and communication training. Her book Engagement Economics explores how employee engagement drives profitability and success. With expertise in adult learning and instructional design, Diondra has empowered professionals to lead with purpose, connect effectively, and inspire growth.
Diondra Filicetti can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/diondrafilicetti
https://www.facebook.com/DrivenByCo
http://instagram.com/drivenbyco
https://www.youtube.com/@drivenbyco
Her book “Engagement Economics: Increasing Performance & Profitability by Engaging Your People” https://a.co/d/9mTuXIs
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP230
In episode 230, Coffey talks with Linda Swindling about how HR professionals can build negotiation skills, increase approachability, and advocate more effectively inside their organizations.
They discuss why people fear negotiation and how media influences our mindset; the role of everyday micro-negotiations in building confidence; how to uncover true needs through strategic questioning; using the A-S-K framework to navigate difficult conversations; ways HR can speak up when discussions go off-track; understanding personality and negotiation styles; overcoming internal narratives that limit assertiveness; developing boundaries and protecting emotional energy; and helping leaders adopt negotiation as a core communication skill.
You can find Linda’s assessments and tools including the “What’s My DEAL Style?”, “How Well Do You Ask?” assessments and “Negotiate Like a CEO” E-Book here https://www.lindaswindling.com/assessments
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Linda Swindling, CSP, CPAE, is a globally recognized expert in negotiation, high-stakes communication, and leadership influence. Ranked among the Top 15 Negotiators in the World by Global Gurus for six consecutive years, she equips leaders and professionals to negotiate what matters—from closing major deals to dealing with workplace drama with confidence and clarity.
A Certified Speaking Professional and inductee into the National Speakers Association’s Speaker Hall of Fame (CPAE), Linda is also a Professor of Practice in Negotiation and Dispute Resolution at the University of Texas at Dallas.
Her negotiation expertise was refined in the courtroom and the boardroom as a practicing corporate attorney and later, a strategic advisor to CEOs. During her 10 years practicing law, Linda became a partner and a mediator, successfully negotiated several million-dollar deals, and resolved cases that “couldn’t be settled.”
For more than 25 years, she has delivered innovative, research-based programs which result in better conversations, proactive dispute resolution, and high-performance leaders and teams. You won’t hear anecdotal or intangible theories based on books she read. Instead, you get strategies that produce breakthrough outcomes and lasting results.
Linda’s clients include Fortune 100 companies, government agencies, and associations seeking to boost performance, build resilient cultures, and champion change. The creator of the popular Passport to Success book series, she is the author/co-author of more than 20 books including Ask Outrageously, Stop Complainers and Energy Drainers, and The Manager’s High-Performance Handbook.
Whether she’s speaking from the stage or coaching executives behind the scenes, Linda empowers professionals to use their voices effectively, resolve conflict respectfully, and negotiate durable outcomes that benefit all parties.
Linda Swindling can be reached at:
https://www.facebook.com/JourneyOnLindaSwindling
https://www.linkedin.com/in/lindaswindling/
https://www.youtube.com/@LindaSwindling
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP229
In episode 229, Coffey talks with Frank Davis and John Surma about navigating OSHA inspections and preventing costly workplace safety violations.
They discuss how employers misunderstand OSHA obligations; when OSHA reporting and injury-logging rules apply; the most-cited OSHA violations; triggers that prompt an OSHA inspection; why it is illegal to for OSHA to schedule an inspection with an employer; the importance of carefully limiting the scope of the inspection; OSHA’s interviews managers and employees—and the impact of each on the inspection’s outcome; documentation requests and timelines; citation outcomes and settlement options; and proactive strategies to prepare for inspections and avoid penalties.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for one hour of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Frank Davis is Board Certified in labor and employment law by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. His clients know he is ready to use his knowledge to manage a crisis on a moment’s notice. In fact, in the last year, he managed labor relations matters and workplace safety inspections and fatalities in over 35 different states.
Frank’s experience managing crisis events makes him especially suited to counsel clients on strategies to avoid catastrophic litigation and other cost-savings efforts:
- Evaluation of exposure to workplace health and safety hazards.
- Preparation of workplace safety compliance strategies and policies.
- Managing employee relations to avoid litigation and resist organizing drives by unions; and
- Management of relations with unions to avoid frivolous grievances and exposure to contract liability.
Because of Frank’s specialized skillset, his clients frequently retain him to handle a variety of sensitive matters:
- Fatalities and other reportable injuries in the workplace;
- Collective bargaining of labor contracts;
- Labor arbitrations;
- Union campaigns;
- Contract litigation; and
- Litigation before the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) and the Occupational Safety and Health (OSHA) Review Commission.
He also represents clients in whistleblower matters under a broad range of statutes, including the OSH Act, the Surface Transportation Assistance Act, and the Clean Air Act. Frank handles all phases of these complaints, from initial investigation to final litigation before administrative law judges and appeals to federal court.
John Surma is a lawyer with 30 plus years of experience dealing with OSHA, workplace health and safety issues, and counseling employers on those issues. He deals with a variety of state and federal agencies, has responded to over 400 fatalities and 2,000 OSHA inspections.
Frank Davis and John Surma can be reached at
https://ogletree.com/people/frank-d-davis/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/john-surma-75980214
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative’s Top Ten Red Flag Candidates, November 2025
Every month, Imperative reports hundreds of records to our clients.
While Imperative always encourages clients to review candidates’ criminal history as but one factor in evaluating their fit for a role, these candidates’ histories caught our attention this month.
1. Household Staff/Nanny Client Candidate:
2. Nonprofit Client Candidate:
3. Hospitality Client Candidate:
See the rest of the list here: https://www.imperativeinfo.com/blog/2025/12/03/top-ten-red-flag-candidates-november-2025/
Learning Objectives:
Identify when OSHA reporting and recording rules apply and what events trigger each requirement.
Something New! For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP228
In episode 228, Coffey talks with Kelly Bubolz about the evolving drivers of workplace burnout and practical ways employers can build healthy, high-capacity teams.
They discuss how rapid technological change is straining employee capacity; the shift from pandemic-era mental-health burnout to operational overload; the role of role clarity and workflow optimization in preventing exhaustion; the behavioral warning signs of advancing burnout; the hidden cost of dysfunctional meetings; the impact of remote work structure on cognitive load and productivity; proactive workforce metrics HR should track; cultural myths that drain energy and reinforce burnout; improving cross-functional collaboration and workflow design; and how organizations can align operations around true value creation.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Burnout survivor turned business strategist, Kelly Bubolz knows what it takes to go from running on fumes to being intentional with energy that people want to follow. With 20+ years in HR leadership, she’s transformed her own high stress physical collapse into a powerhouse mission. Guiding the recharge through redesigning the ways of work, cutting through chaos and into sustainable energy.
Kelly Bubolz can be reached at:
https://www.kbtrainingconnections.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/kelly-bubolz-73b65011
https://www.facebook.com/profile.php?id=61579197120672
https://www.instagram.com/kellybubolz
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Identify the behavioral and operational indicators of burnout before they reach crisis levels.
2. Evaluate how role clarity, workflow design, and meeting structure affect employee capacity.
3. Apply proactive metrics and cultural practices that reduce energy drain and strengthen productivity.
Something New! For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here
In episode 227, Coffey talks with Christy Close about how organizations can expand their talent pool by hiring and supporting neurodiverse employees.
They discuss the growing number of neurodivergent individuals entering the job market; the importance of revising job descriptions and interviews to reduce bias and increase accessibility; how leaders can make reasonable accommodations to help neurodiverse employees thrive; why flexibility, clear communication, and awareness benefit all employees, not just those with atypical information processing; and the mindset shift required to recognize neurodiversity as a competitive advantage rather than a challenge.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Christy Close owns and operates HR Solid Foundation, as a Business & Human Resource consultant. Christy is also a facilitator of Human Resources classes for UT- Austin, UT- Arlington, Univ of Houston, and tech facilities to include working with those exiting the military and entering the workforce.
She is sought out as to facilitate the HR Certification Prep test class- as of May this year, her pass rate is at a 97% pass rate for first timers.
Her claim to fame is her involvement with the EEOC having completed over 1244 cases with only 5 going to court, and 1 loss.
She received her Masters in International HR Mgmt with an emphasis in Global Org, a Paralegal degree, as well as HR certifications.
She is the author of Employee Relations 101, a book for new managers.
After 8 years in the military, and 30+ years in the HR & Employee Relations arena, she has found her passion working with employers and employees finding a great balance and a very conducive work environment.
Her clients range from military, aviation, hospitality, manufacturing, and retail ranging from Houston, TX to Tulsa, OK to Seattle, Atlanta, and Miami.
Her motto hasn't changed since day 1: How may I serve you?
She is currently co-authoring a book for hiring nuerodivergents, which is expected to be released in spring 2026.
As the CEO of HR Solid Foundation, she believes many of today's employment discrepancies could be avoided with proper training or structural strategic alignment within the organization's goals.
Christy Close can be reached at
https://www.hrsolidfoundation.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/christygcloseer101/
https://www.facebook.com/HRSolidFoundation
https://www.instagram.com/hrsf.info/?next=%2F
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the value neurodiverse employees bring to innovation, creativity, and organizational performance.
2. Identify hiring and interviewing practices that unintentionally exclude neurodiverse candidates.
3. Implement inclusive workplace strategies that promote equity, engagement, and retention for all employees.
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we've created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP226
In episode 226, Coffey talks with Pam Boyd and Bernie Beck about creating drama-free workplaces and eliminating wasted emotional energy from organizations.
They discuss how workplace drama differs from ordinary conflict; the cost of toxic employees and fear-based leadership; strategies for accountability and courageous conversations; the “C-R-E-A-T-E-D” framework to create cultures that thrive; using emotional intelligence and personal development plans to improve team culture; how to replace confrontation anxiety with consistent coaching; and how leaders can operationalize emotional intelligence to build healthier, more productive organizations.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Pam has presented in seven countries and all fifty states and has written six books and three screenplays. She studied theater and pre-med at the University of Oklahoma and has a BBA from Northwood University.
Bernie Beck has thirty years of experience in business leadership and more than four thousand consulting, executive coaching and training hours. He earned his BBA at Gonzaga University, Coaching credentials from UTD School of Management, and is a PCC from the ICF.
Pam and Bernie can be reached at
https://www.linkedin.com/in/pamela-boyd-8b193b1/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/berniebeck/
Pam and Bernie’s book, The Drama-Free Business: From Inception to Succession: https://a.co/d/hrF6nDZ
Pam’s firm, Dramatic Conclusions: www.dramaticconclusions.com
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
Something New!
For HR teams who discuss this podcast in their team meetings, we’ve created a discussion starter PDF to help guide your conversation. Download it here https://goodmorninghr.com/EP225
In episode 225, Coffey talks with Monica Lloyd about navigating organizational change with transparency, stability, and human-centered strategies.
They discuss how AI, workforce demographics, and economic uncertainty are reshaping leadership expectations; how transparency and vulnerability build trust during change; how leaders can create stability and clear communication systems in uncertain times; how organizational values and culture can anchor teams through disruption; the impact of AI on jobs and workforce planning; rethinking career paths and talent retention in the age of automation; training middle managers to communicate consistent messages; building engagement through recognition and behavioral insight; and how HR must evolve into the science of human behavior and change management.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for one hour of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Monica Lloyd is the founder of People Forward®, a consulting firm on a mission to create workplaces people love. A recognized thought leader and top-rated speaker, she’s known for blending sharp business strategy with contagious energy that inspires leaders and teams to raise their game.
As an expert contributor to the Forbes HR Council, Monica brings both credibility and a fresh perspective to the national stage, challenging audiences to rethink how work should feel and how organizations can truly thrive. Her style is equal parts strategist, motivator, and innovator who never shies away from tough conversations, but always keeps people at the center.
Whether she’s guiding executives through organizational transformation, sparking inspiration from the stage, or hosting her People Mavens podcast, Monica’s work is rooted in one simple belief: the best business strategy is people strategy.
Monica Lloyd can be reached at
https://www.peopleforward.us
https://www.linkedin.com/in/themonicalloyd/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
In episode 224, Coffey talks with Dr. Leslie Thomas about how artificial intelligence and the speed of change are reshaping hiring and workforce development.
They discuss the evolving role of AI in HR and how it is redefining job design and required skill sets; the transition from traditional degree-based hiring to skills-based approaches that emphasize measurable competencies; how psychometrics supports objective and equitable testing and certification; the rise of microcredentials and modular certification programs that align with changing organizational needs; the implications of reduced reliance on four-year degrees and the expansion of alternative pathways to employment; the balance between automation and human adaptability as job roles evolve; methods for assessing durable “power skills” such as communication, collaboration, and leadership; and the importance of ensuring transparency, privacy, and bias mitigation in AI-assisted assessment and hiring systems.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three quarters of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
For more than 20 years, Dr. Leslie Thomas has been helping clients create assessment programs to effectively measure and evaluate professional competence.
In her role at Kryterion, Dr. Thomas and her team work closely with clients to help translate their business goals into credentialing programs that provide real value to their stakeholders such as enhanced productivity, risk mitigation, or lower hiring costs.
As a member of the Association of Test Publisher's Technology-based Assessment's AI subcommittee, she has contributed to multiple publications on the use of AI in the assessment including the responsible use of AI and human oversight.
Before Kryterion, Leslie served as the Chief Psychometric Officer at Brainbench, ran a boutique consulting firm, and worked as a research scientist at ACT.
Leslie Thomas can be reached at www.kryterion.com/ www.linkedin.com/in/leslieathomas
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand how AI is transforming employee selection, assessment, and job design.
2. Identify strategies for implementing skills-based and credential-based hiring.
3. Evaluate ways to maintain fairness, transparency, and adaptability in AI-driven HR processes.
In episode 223, Coffey talks with Mike Lyons about why hiring for character and behavior often predicts success better than relying on experience or technical skills.
They discuss how HR leaders can define and hire for the right character traits by first understanding business strategy (for example, Walmart vs. Nordstrom models); aligning hiring with authentic, observable core values; identifying the specific attitudes and behaviors that make top performers successful in each role; using structured behavioral interviews to identify values; conducting reference checks as investigative conversations rather than formalities; designing realistic job previews to reduce turnover; and maintaining objectivity by keeping character assessments job-related and bias-free.
You can access Mike’s free library of free downloads to elevate your healthcare clinic from merely OK to excellent here: https://www.seasoned-advice.com/signup-for-free-downloads
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three quarters of recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Mike Lyons is the Chief Consultant for Seasoned Advice HR Services, which helps highly motivated healthcare clinics with HR support. He is a frequent presenter at healthcare conferences on the topics of leadership, culture, and employee engagement. He is a graduate of LSU and the University of Illinois and resides in Austin, TX with his wife and kids.
Mike Lyons can be reached at https://www.seasoned-advice.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/mikelyonshr https://www.instagram.com/seasonedadvice
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize how strategic alignment clarifies which behavioral traits drive business results.
2. Define authentic organizational and role-specific values based on top-performer analysis.
3. Apply structured interviews, probing, and reference checks to assess character without bias.
In episode 222, Coffey talks with consultant and author LeAnne Lagasse about effective leadership development initiatives and what she calls “congruent leadership.”
They discuss why most leadership training programs fail to deliver ROI; the importance of reverse engineering programs from specific organizational outcomes; the significant impact of frontline managers on employee engagement; the gap between knowledge transfer and skill execution; building programs with practice, peer learning, and self-reflection components; “soft skills” deficits across the workforce; “congruent leadership” as alignment of self-perception and team experience; and the 70-20-10 learning model’s impact on development.
You can find LeAnne’s new book “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You” here https://a.co/d/ehUoYLx
Hardcover: https://www.barnesandnoble.com/w/the-congruent-leader-leanne-lagasse/1148446437?ean=9798999501912
Book website: https://www.thecongruentleaderbook.com
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
LeAnne Lagasse is the author of “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You.”
LeAnne is also an HR consultant and keynote speaker who helps leaders and organizations improve employee engagement and retention, as well as develop their people managers.
LeAnne is a SHRM-SCP, a Gallup-Certified CliftonStrengths© Coach, and also serves as adjunct faculty at Missouri State University, where she teaches professional communication courses to MBA students.
Before launching her consulting business, LeAnne was a faculty member and the Director of Public Speaking in the College of Media and Communication at Texas Tech University, where she served for 14 years. Alongside her husband, Ben, she is a proud mom to three children and two pet prairie dogs.
LeAnne’s book, “The Congruent Leader: Build Trust, Lead with Self-Awareness, and Close the Gap Between How You See Yourself and How Others Experience You” is available at https://a.co/d/e2vm4d1.
LeAnne Lagasse can be reached at:
https://www.leannelagasse.com/
https://www.linkedin.com/in/leannelagasse/
https://www.facebook.com/leannelagasseconsulting
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher.
In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies.
Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association.
Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year.
Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee.
Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
In episode 221, Coffey talks with Jason Finkelman about the September 2025 presidential proclamation requiring a $100,000 fee for H-1B visa petitions and its potential impact on employers and foreign workers.
They discuss the vague proclamation language creating confusion about fee applicability; the H-1B lottery process; how prevailing wage requirements are designed to prevent exploitation; consulting companies farming out H-!B workers; the possible impact on small and medium employers; alternatives to H-1Bs; and what to expect in the spring H-1B lottery.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Jason Finkelman is an Immigration Attorney working with domestic and foreign businesses, as well as international individuals in a variety of employment-based and family-based immigration matters. He represents U.S. and international companies, entrepreneurs, investors, business-owners, executives, professionals, skilled workers, students, and families in obtaining employment visas, lawful permanent residence ("green cards") and U.S. citizenship. Jason has worked with clients across a number of industries including high-tech, semiconductor, healthcare, higher education, energy, oil and gas, import/export, research, video game, as well as professional athletics, music, and entertainment to help them meet their immigration goals. Jason continues to be at the forefront of immigration law. Please visit www.finkelmanlaw.com for more information on his services.
Jason Finkelman can be reached at
https://www.finkelmanlaw.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/jasonfinkelman/
https://www.facebook.com/finkelmanlaw
https://x.com/FinkelmanLaw
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Understand the H-1B visa framework including the annual lottery system, prevailing wage requirements enforced by the Department of Labor, and the current government fee structure.
2. Understand the impact of the $1000,000
3. Evaluate alternatives to H-1B visas for utilizing foreign talent.
In episode 220, Coffey talks with Ranya Nehmeh about the challenges and limitations of hybrid and remote work arrangements based on research from their new book "In Praise of the Office."
They discuss how initial COVID remote work success masked long-term problems; loss of informal interactions and mentoring for newcomers; reduced collaboration and innovation; proximity bias affecting promotions and performance reviews; employee engagement challenges in hybrid settings; designing hybrid schedules with anchor days and structured meeting protocols; redesigning office spaces for collaboration; why hot-desking raises concerns; and adapting performance management to include helping behaviors and mentoring as measurable KPIs.
Resources referenced in this episode include:
Ranya Nehmeh and former Good Morning, HR guest Peter Cappelli’s new book, In Praise of the Office: The Limits to Hybrid and Remote Work
And you can get a preview of their research in the (July–August 2025) Harvard Business Review article, Hybrid still isn’t working
Working From Home, Worker Sorting and Development; David Atkin, Antoinette Schoar, & Sumit Shinde; National Bureau of Economic Research
Employee Innovation During Office Work, Work from Home and Hybrid Work; Michael Gibbs, Friederike Mengel, and Christoph Siemroth; University of Chicago—Becker Friedman Institute for Economics
The Power of Proximity to Coworkers: Training For Tomorrow or Productivity Today?; Natalia Emanuel, Emma Harrington, & Amanda Pallais; National Bureau of Economic Research
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Ranya Nehmeh is a senior HR strategist with expertise in people strategy, HR policy, leadership development, and talent management. She has held key HR roles at the OPEC Fund for International
Development in Vienna and the European Central Bank in Frankfurt. She is a lecturer at the University of Applied Sciences for Management & Communication in Vienna and also the author of The Chameleon Leader: Connecting with Millennials (2019).
Ranya holds a master’s in industrial relations and human resource management from the London School of Economics & Political Science (LSE) and a Doctor of Business Administration from the Swiss Management Center in Zug. Her recent articles, co-authored with Wharton professor Peter Cappelli, include “Hybrid Still Isn’t Working” (Harvard Business Review July/August 2025), “Sustainable Agility: How HR Can Survive the Rapid Pace of Change” (People + Strategy Journal, SHRM, July 2024), “It’s Time to Do Away with ‘Dry Promotions,’” (Harvard Business Review, July 2024) and “HR’s New Role” (Harvard Business Review, May/June 2024 magazine).
Ranya Nehmeh can be reached at:
https://www.linkedin.com/in/ranyanehmeh
https://www.facebook.com/ranya.nehmeh/
https://www.instagram.com/ranyanehmeh/
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Recognize the impact of fully remote environments on collaboration, innovation, and newcomer integration.
2. Implement structured hybrid policies designed to promote collaboration and productivity.
3. Redesign performance management systems to include measurable KPIs for mentoring, timely response to help requests, and cross-functional collaboration to counteract the individual contributor mindset that remote work can foster.
In episode 219, Coffey talks with Rose Ann Garza about strategies to personalize employee engagement.
They discuss defining engagement as safety and appreciation rather than superficial perks; using the Great Game of Business approach to financial transparency and employee involvement; reducing turnover through cultural changes; prioritizing practical benefits over traditional perks; creating special interest groups beyond typical affinity programs; sourcing engagement ideas through HR office hours and direct employee feedback; addressing soft skills gaps in the emerging workforce; and the importance of trust-building through hands-on leadership presence.
Check out Episode 112 of Good Morning, HR featuring Monica Guzmán, author of I Never Thought of It That Way. Her insights on the value of curiosity and conversation when engaging with opposing viewpoints are especially relevant today.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Rose Ann Garza, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Chief Human Resources Officer for Kerbey Lane. During her time at Kerbey Lane the organization has more than doubled in size and has won several prestigious awards related to their impact within the community and on their team members.
Prior to joining Kerbey Lane, Rose Ann built her career in the restaurant and hospitality industry working with Destination Hotel and Resorts and Brinker International.
A member of Kerbey Lane’s Executive Team, she leads the execution of Kerbey Lane’s people strategy as well as builds organizational capability and team member culture to further enable Kerbey Lane’s growth and impact.
She also serves as the strategic business advisor to senior leadership and the Managing Partners of each location regarding key organizational and management issues.
In addition to her role at Kerbey Lane, Rose Ann serves on the SHRM Membership Advisory Council (2025-2026) representing the Southwest Central Region and over 50,000 SHRM Members across ten states. She also serves on the Texas SHRM Board of Directors Executive Council as the Immediate Past State Director.
Rose Ann previously served Texas SHRM in the roles of State Director, State Director Elect, Assistant State Director- District Directors and Core Leadership Area Directors, District Director and as the Workforce Readiness Director. Rose Ann has also served her local SHRM chapter, Austin SHRM, as President, President Elect, and Vice President of Programs.
In 2024 Rose Ann was named the HR Executive of the Year by Austin SHRM and recently, in June 2025, Rose Ann was honored as the inaugural recipient of the Austin Business Journal’s HR Impact Award.
Rose Ann received a Bachelor of Arts from Texas State University and a Master of Fine Arts from The University of Texas at Austin.
Rose Ann Garza can be reached at
https://kerbeylanecafe.com
https://www.linkedin.com/in/roseanngarza
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Implement transparent financial sharing and employee involvement in business decisions to create ownership mentality, teaching financial literacy that benefits both company performance and personal employee development.
2. Design engagement benefits that address actual employee needs rather than assumed preferences, focusing on practical support like meal allowances for families instead of traditional corporate perks.
3. Establish regular face-to-face contact with frontline employees through scheduled office hours and hands-on work experience to build trust and gather authentic feedback for engagement initiatives.
In episode 218, Coffey talks with Ryan Englin about recruiting and retaining skilled workers in the blue-collar trades, addressing labor shortages, and changing perceptions of trade careers.
They discuss the retirement wave with 40% of tradespeople leaving in 7-10 years; barriers to entry including complex licensing requirements and limited apprenticeship slots; shifting cultural attitudes away from trades toward college; recruiting as a marketing activity requiring better messaging; retention problems masquerading as labor shortages; the need for career progression paths and leadership development; creating friction in hiring processes to assess cultural fit; and specialized leadership training approaches for hands-on learners.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Ryan Englin is passionate about supporting growing businesses, particularly in blue-collar industries, to build amazingly productive companies by hiring the right people.
Growing up, he saw his own father working 12-hour shifts and weekends as an owner/operator, witnessing firsthand the struggles that these companies have in hiring quality frontline employees. Ryan was determined to help them find a better way.
His company, Core Matters, provides coaching and training on attracting, hiring, and retaining rock star employees. Using his proven process, the Core Fit Hiring System, small and midsize businesses learn how to start hiring better people, faster. With almost a decade in the business, Ryan has worked with over a hundred clients, helping business owners achieve their goals by hiring the right people.
Ryan Englin can be reached at
https://corematters.com
https://linkedin.com/in/ryanenglin
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Reframe recruiting efforts as marketing activities that sell the lifestyle, earning potential, and career advancement opportunities in trades rather than focusing solely on job descriptions and technical requirements.
2. Develop comprehensive career progression pathways with clear visual representations showing advancement from entry-level to leadership roles, addressing the retention crisis caused by unclear growth opportunities.
3. Design hiring processes that assess cultural fit and behavioral alignment first, using practical tests like punctuality expectations and environment-specific interviews rather than relying solely on technical skills assessment.
In episode 217, Coffey talks with HRSouthwest Conference keynote speaker Steve Cadigan about the evolving nature of work.
They discuss ongoing remote work debates; the evolution from hiring for skills to hiring for learning ability; the need for experimentation in remote team management; AI's role in skills analysis and internal talent mapping; building learning ecosystems between companies and educational institutions; the importance of knowing employee capabilities outside of their role-specific tasks; and HR's evolving role as facilitators of organizational awareness and AI governance.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Steve Cadigan is a highly sought-after talent advisor to leaders and organizations across the globe. As Founder of his own Silicon Valley-based firm, Cadigan Talent Ventures, Steve advises a wide range of innovative organizations that include Google, Cisco, Intel, and The Royal Bank of Scotland, Manchester United Football Club, The Country Music Association and the BBC. He is also regularly retained by some leading VC (Venture Capital) and Consulting firms such as Andreesen Horowitz, McKinsey & Company, Deloitte, and Greylock Partners for his counsel on a wide range of talent topics.
Since 2021 Steve has been recognized every year as a top 100 thought leader in the world of Talent and People.
Steve speaks at conferences and teaches in major universities around the world. His work in helping shape the culture at LinkedIn led Stanford University to build a graduate-level class around this ground-breaking work. Steve is frequently asked to appear on global TV and is a frequent guest on Bloomberg West, CBS, and CNBC.
Throughout his career, the teams, cultures, and organizations he has led and helped build have been recognized as exceptional, “world-class” performers by the Wall Street Journal and Fortune Magazine.
Before launching his firm, Steve worked as an HR executive for over 25 years at a wide range of companies and industries including ESPRIT, Fireman’s Fund Insurance, Cisco Systems, PMC-Sierra, Electronic Arts and capped by serving as the first CHRO for LinkedIn from 2009 through 2012, taking the company from a private firm of 400 employees, through an IPO and helping set it up to be the powerhouse that it has become today. In 2021 Steve received the high honor of being invited by both The University of San Francisco and Stanford University to deliver their commencement speeches.
Today Steve serves on the Board of Directors to three companies and also sits on the Advisory Board of several other progressive organizations. His passion is helping leaders and companies build compelling talent strategies.
In August of 2021 Steve published a ground-breaking book on the Future of Work titled Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working.
Even before its official release it realized #1 on the Amazon list of Hot New Releases. In the summer of 2025 Steve launched a new podcast series called Workquake Weekly.
Over his career, Steve has lived in Singapore, Canada, and the United States. He has interviewed, hired, coached and mentored thousands of employees and leaders within a wide range of industries and geographies. This is what sets Steve apart from others who speak about the future of work. Steve has lived deep inside the world of work as an employee AND as an employer. His experiences and achievements give him a unique and authoritative point of view, essential to all discussions about the future of work.
Today Steve lives in California with his family. He is the father of four boys and the stepdad to two girls. When he is not speaking, teaching, or writing, you can find Steve coaching basketball, playing tennis, body surfing, driving his kids everywhere, or cheering them on at their activities.
Steve graduated from Wesleyan University with a BA in History and received a Master’s Degree in HR & Organization Development from the University of San Francisco.
Workquake: Embracing the Aftershocks of COVID-19 to Create a Better Model of Working : https://a.co/d/3uORSF4
Workquake Weekly Podcast: https://podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/workquake-weekly/id1815731966
Steve Cadigan can be reached at https://stevecadigan.com.
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Shift hiring strategies from evaluating what candidates already know to assessing their capacity to learn new skills quickly, as the shelf life of current competencies continues to shrink.
2. Develop comprehensive internal talent mapping systems that identify employees' transferable skills and potential for different roles within the organization, similar to how companies track customer data.
3. Create experimental approaches to remote work management rather than rigid policies, to determine what productivity and culture practices work best for specific team dynamics.
In episode 216, Coffey talks with Carolyn Troyan about overcoming challenges in delivering effective feedback.
They discuss why managers struggle with feedback and difficult conversations; building trust before challenging feedback becomes necessary; cultural differences in feedback acceptance across organizations and countries; avoiding the ineffective "feedback sandwich" approach; when to be specific and when to ask open-ended questions; managing employee emotional responses through the SARA model; addressing resistance and performance improvement barriers; and knowing where to draw the line between performance counseling and trying to solve employees’ personal issues.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for half a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Carolyn Troyan currently is the President & CEO of Leadership 360. Leadership 360 is aHuman Resources consulting and leadership coaching firm. Carolyn provides coaching to leaders at all levels to accelerate their learning and take a holistic view on their development.
Trained in the Hudson Institute’s leadership coaching model, Carolyn works with leaders to design a 3 to 6 month coaching program that results in a comprehensive plan to accelerate their development. Carolyn has over 20 years of HR leadership and coaching experience spanning industries as diverse as technology, healthcare, renewable energy, manufacturing, and interactive entertainment.
Carolyn held global HR executive roles at Electronic Arts, TIBCO Software, Siebel Systems, and was a strategic rewards consultant at Mercer Consulting. Carolyn can quickly understand your leaders’ strengths and challenges, help them move to insights and partner with them to develop successful strategies in order to thrive and deliver results. Carolyn holds a B.A. in Psychology and Political Science from Miami University and an MBA in Corporate Strategy from the University of Michigan.
In addition to running Leadership 360, Carolyn is an advocate for diversity in leadership, regularly contributing to thought leadership in the field and volunteering her time to mentor and support emerging leaders from underrepresented backgrounds.
Carolyn can be reached at https://www.leadership-360.org https://www.linkedin.com/in/carolyn-troyan-5861331
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Establish trust-based relationships with employees through consistent positive feedback over time before delivering developmental feedback.
2. Deliver feedback effectively and in congruence with organizational and cultural norms.
3. Respond to employee resistance or external challenges that make performance change difficult.
In episode 215, Coffey talks with Gabriela Norton about employee engagement challenges, performance management approaches, and hiring process improvements based on current workplace trends and research.
They discuss Gallup's mid-year survey showing low engagement and high turnover intent; psychological safety and mental health support strategies; individualized management approaches vs one-size-fits-all policies; problems with forced ranking performance systems; ongoing feedback versus annual reviews; the costs of poor management training; rebuilding disengaged teams through bias awareness and peer input; and streamlining hiring processes that currently involve excessive interview rounds.
Links to stuff they talked about are on our website at https://goodmorninghr.com/EP215 and include the following topics:
Gallup: Anemic Employee Engagement Points to Leadership Challenges.
Good Morning, HR is brought to you by Imperative—Bulletproof Background Checks. For more information about our commitment to quality and excellent customer service, visit us at https://imperativeinfo.com.
If you are an HRCI or SHRM-certified professional, this episode of Good Morning, HR has been pre-approved for three-quarters of a recertification credit. To obtain the recertification information for this episode, visit https://goodmorninghr.com.
About our Guest:
Gabriela established People Performance Resources (PPR), a full-service Human Capital consulting firm, in 2010. Since then, Gabriela and her team have continued to expand their reach in providing strategic and best practice expertise with a proven track record of enhancing operational excellence.
Gabriela is a highly regarded and sought-after trusted advisor to many local, national, and international organizations and their decisionmakers. Here are a few of Gabriela’s areas of focus: bilingual/bicultural expertise, organizational analysis and development, C-level business continuity planning, executive coaching, executive compensation, change management, strategic planning, employment compliance, board governance guidance, and more.
Gabriela serves as board of directors for Out Teach, Catch Up & Read, and The Dallas Summit. In addition, she supports several local and national causes that empower education, social justice, women’s causes, children at risk, and conservation efforts. When not enjoying her professional adventures, Gabriela is a foodie who loves traveling, running, hiking, snorkeling, and spending time with her friends, family, and rescue dog, Harley.
Gabriela Norton can be reached at: https://www.pprhr.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/gabrielanorton https://www.facebook.com/pprhr https://www.instagram.com/ppr_hr
About Mike Coffey:
Mike Coffey is an entrepreneur, licensed private investigator, business strategist, HR consultant, and registered yoga teacher. In 1999, he founded Imperative, a background investigations and due diligence firm helping risk-averse clients make well-informed decisions about the people they involve in their business.
Imperative delivers in-depth employment background investigations, know-your-customer and anti-money laundering compliance, and due diligence investigations to more than 300 risk-averse corporate clients across the US, and, through its PFC Caregiver & Household Screening brand, many more private estates, family offices, and personal service agencies. Imperative has been named a Best Places to Work, the Texas Association of Business’ small business of the year, and is accredited by the Professional Background Screening Association. Mike shares his insight from 25+ years of HR-entrepreneurship on the Good Morning, HR podcast, where each week he talks to business leaders about bringing people together to create value for customers, shareholders, and community.
Mike has been recognized as an Entrepreneur of Excellence by FW, Inc. and has twice been recognized as the North Texas HR Professional of the Year. Mike serves as a board member of a number of organizations, including the Texas State Council, where he serves Texas’ 31 SHRM chapters as State Director-Elect; Workforce Solutions for Tarrant County; the Texas Association of Business; and the Fort Worth Chamber of Commerce, where he is chair of the Talent Committee. Mike is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) through the HR Certification Institute and a SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). He is also a Yoga Alliance registered yoga teacher (RYT-200) and teaches multiple times each week.
Mike and his very patient wife of 28 years are empty nesters in Fort Worth.
Learning Objectives:
1. Create psychological safety environments where employees can openly discuss workload concerns and receive supportive responses rather than punitive reactions to mental health needs.
2. Implement ongoing performance feedback systems with specific behavioral expectations and regular check-ins instead of relying on annual reviews with subjective rating scales.
3. Design efficient hiring processes with clear competency rubrics and bias acknowledgment techniques while limiting interviews to three meaningful rounds focused on skills and cultural fit.