wELCOME to the NAAAHR
2026 National Conference & Business Expo
October 8 - 11, 2026
Sheraton Norfolk Waterside Hotel
777 Waterside Dr, Norfolk, VA 23510
The National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR) is excited return to Norfolk, VA and share best practices to continue to providing quality HR content for your personal and professional development. All NAAAHR National Events include HRCI Recertification Credits and discounted rates on your certification exams. We have partnered with HRCI to prepare you for your Human Resources professional certification (aPHR, PHR, SPHR, GPHR and all other HRCI Certifications). By registering for the 2026 National Conference, you will earn recertification credits per session and workshop attendance.
NAAHR OFFICERS AND CHAPTER LEADERS AGENDA | 11:00 AM -10:00 PM
11:00 AM - 12:00 PM | General Registration and Check-In
12:00 PM - 4:00 PM | NAAAHR Chapter Leadership Business Forum
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Conference Kickoff and Welcome Reception
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Chapter Roll Call and After Party
Featured Speakers:
GS1 General Session | Dr. Michelle Cromwell
GS2 General Session | Dr. Jennifer Jones Bryant
S1 Breakout Session | Sheree Knowles
S2 Breakout Session | Dr. Ginny Baro
S3 Breakout Session | Mallory Dear
Luncheon | Dr. Timothy Goodly
Fireside Chat | Dr. Shelton Goode and Roderick Nelson
S4 Breakout Session | Karen Marsh
S5 Breakout Session | Tracey Thompson
S6 Breakout Session | Nicole DaCosta
S7 Breakout Session | Juliette M. Adams & Dina Abercrombie
S8 Breakout Session | Allison Manswell
S9 Breakout Session | Brenda Williams
S10 Breakout Session | Charisa Munroe
S11 Breakout Session Panel | Monique Jefferson, Dr. Lawrence Henderson and Tiffany Summerville
CONFERENCE REGISTRANTS AGENDA | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | General Registration and Check-In
Welcome Vendors and Business Expo Parters
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Morning General Sessions
GS1 | Bio-hacking for Black Excellence: Strategic Tools for High-Impact Leadership
GS2 | Designing Tomorrow's Workforce While Leading Through Today's Complexity
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Morning Breakout Sessions
S1 | Bridge Builders: The Heart of HR Transformation
S2 | Creating Future-Ready Leaders: Embracing Change, Empowering Teams, and Leading with Purpose
S3 | Rebuilding Trust in HR
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
12:00 PM - 1:15 PM Luncheon| How To Reactivate The 'R' In HR
1:15 PM - 1:30 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM Afternoon General Session | Fireside Chat: Black Males in HR
2:30 PM - 3:30 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions
S4 | 4th Quarter Career Success leveraging the PIE Theory
S5 | Compassion as a Strategic Workplace Tool: Driving Accountability, Engagement and Results
S6 | In the Flow: AI-Powered Coaching for HR Leaders
S7 | From HR Practitioner to Enterprise Strategist: Leading Workforce Transformation in the Age of AI
3:30 PM - 4:00 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
4:00 PM - 5:00 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions
S8 | AI and Change Management: The New Leadership paradigm in a AI enabled Workplace
S9 | The Human Advantage: Leadership, Culture & Connection in the Age of AI Success Without
S10 | Selling Your Soul: The Human Advantage in a High Tech World
S11 | The Career Pathway for a CHRO - So you want to be a CHRO
6:00 PM - 7:30 PM | Corporate Partnership and Sponsors Reception
Dinner On Your Own - Tour Downtown Norfolk
Featured Speakers:
GS1 General Session | Evan Frazier and Calvin Stovall
GS2 General Session | Natasha Bowman
S1 Breakout Session | Nadine Ferguson
S2 Breakout Session | Brenda Williams
S3 Breakout Session | Dr. Freda Powell-Bell
S4 Breakout Session | Rhea Norwood
Luncheon | Alethia Jackson
S5 Breakout Session | Terrence Dickenson
S6 Breakout Session | Dr. Jennifer Jones
S7 Breakout Session | Bryant Allison Manswell
S8 Breakout Session | Nasir Bayan
S9 Breakout Session | Sheree Knowles
S10 Breakout Session | Deidre Boulware
S11 Breakout Session | Erika Broadwater Deaver
S12 Breakout Session | Dr. Carl Jefferson
CONFERENCE REGISTRANTS AGENDA | 8:00 AM - 5:00 PM
8:00 AM - 5:00 PM | General Registration and Check-In
Welcome Vendors and Business Expo Parters
8:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Morning General Sessions
GS1 -|Beyond Representation: Building the Next Generation of Black Executive Leaders
GS2 | You Can't Do That at Work: The new rules of Trust, Culture, and Leadership
10:30 AM - 11:30 AM | Morning Breakout Sessions
S1 | Learning as Strategy: Building Leaders, Strengthening Culture, and Developing Leadership Pipelines for Tomorrow
S2 | Designing Cultures People Don't Want to Leave: Protecting Humanity in the Future Workplace
S3 | Future Ready HR Careers: Navigating New Jobs, New Skills, New Careers
S4 | Decision Quality Under Pressure: Protecting Leadership Judgement When The Stakes Are High
11:30 AM - 12:00 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
12:00 PM - 1:00 PM Luncheon | Built for What’s Next: How HR Leaders Create Organizations That Thrive Through Change
1:00 PM - 1:30 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
1:30 PM - 2:30 PM | Afternoon Breakout Sessions
S5 | Unprepared, But Always Equipped
S6 | Elevate: A Leadership Design Workshop. "A Practical Framework for Leading Through Complexity"
S7 | Demonstrating AI Proficiency in the Workplace
S8 | Nervous System Leadership™: How HR Leaders Regulate Pressure, Protect Performance, and Lead Through Change
2:30 PM - 3:00 PM | Visit the Business Expo Vendors
3:00 PM - 4:00 PM | Afternoon General Session
S9 | HR Resilience in Times of Transition and Turbulence
S10 | Leadership by Design: Power, Positioning, and What We are Building for Tomorrow
S11 | Strategic Alliances: Navigating AI, Talent Pipelines, and Economic Sovereignty
S12 | PIVOT™: Leading Through Transition — How C-Suite Leaders Turn Crisis into Their Next Competitive Advantage
4:00 PM - 4:30 PM | Final Opportunity to Visit the Business Expo Vendors
6:00 PM - 7:00 PM | Pre-Gala Networking
7:00 PM - 10:00 PM | Formal Gala and Trailblazer Awards Ceremony
"Black Excellence Designed for Tomorrow"
10:00 PM - MIDNIGHT | After Party
CONFERENCE REGISTRANTS AGENDA | 8:00 AM - 10:00 AM
8:00 AM - 9:00 AM | Member Appreciation and Acknowledgement
9:00 AM - 10:00 AM | Chat with the Chairman and Foundes
10:00 AM | Closing Remarks and Farewell Until The Next NAAAHR National Conference
Who Should Attend The 2026 National Conference
NAAAHR Professional and Student Members
NAAAHR Lifetime VIP’s and N.E.S.S. Members
Current and Past Partners and Sponsors
CEO’s, CHRO’s, CPO’s, CDO’s, and HR Officers
HRBPs, Talent Acquisition, Talent Management, L&D
Industry and Business Leaders
College and Early Career Talent
And Most Important …You!
EXPERIENCE MORE THAN AN HR CONFERENCE
NATIONAL ASSOCIATION OF AFRICAN AMERICANS IN HUMAN RESOURCES
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