More Than an Award: Reflections on Leadership, Service, and Community
Alex Salas, NYC SHRM President, Stuart Friedman, Award Recipient, Arlene Newman, Past President and award committee chair.
Last evening, I had the honor of receiving the Lazarus H. Breiger Award for HR Excellence from New York City SHRM .
While I'm deeply honored for the recognition, the award itself prompted me to reflect on something bigger—the mentors, friendships, volunteer experiences, and leadership opportunities that helped shape my career over the years.
Here are a few reflections on what New York City SHRM has meant to me.
What makes this award particularly meaningful to me is not simply receiving it again. I was fortunate to receive the Breiger Award in 2015 alongside my co-chair, Joan Ceinski MLER, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, for our work leading NYC SHRM's mentoring program, and again in 2018 while serving as Vice President of Communications.
This year's recognition is especially humbling because it makes me the first person to receive the award three times.
Although after serving as President and spending 18 months helping lead a website redesign, I suspect this may be less a reflection of achievement and more a cautionary tale about the dangers of repeatedly raising your hand to volunteer.
But as I reflected on what I wanted to say about this honor, I realized something. The award itself isn't what means the most to me. What means the most is what NYC SHRM has given me throughout the years.
When I first became involved with the chapter, I never imagined where the journey would lead. Like many volunteers, I simply raised my hand and got involved. What followed were opportunities to “connect, learn, and grow”, as well as contribute and lead alongside some incredibly talented professionals.
Along the way, I found mentors who challenged me, encouraged me, and helped shape my career. I developed friendships that have lasted years and continue today. I had the privilege of serving in leadership roles, including as President of NYC SHRM, and working with volunteers whose commitment to our profession constantly inspired me.
Some of my earliest mentors at NYC SHRM—including Mary Anne Walsh, Ed.D., Margaret McLean Walsh, Mindy Mitropoulos MBA, HRCI-SPHR and SHRM-SCP Certified, Joan Ceinski MLER, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, and Jennifer Loftus - welcomed a much less experienced HR professional onto the mentoring committee and treated me as a valued contributor from day one.
That is one of the things I love most about NYC SHRM. If you show initiative, volunteer, and raise your hand, people will invest in your growth. Looking back, volunteering with NYC SHRM had a significant impact on the person and leader I became. It taught me that leadership is not about titles. It is about service. It taught me that great organizations are built by people willing to contribute their time and talents for something bigger than themselves.
And it reinforced something I still believe today: some of the most important opportunities in our careers come not from what we take, but from what we give.
After serving as President, I thought I had earned the right to sit quietly in the back of the room. Instead, in true Godfather fashion - just when I thought I was out... I found myself leading what turned into an 18-month website redesign project.
What seemed straightforward at the outset quickly became much more complex. As with many large projects, there were unexpected challenges, difficult decisions, changing requirements, and countless hours of behind-the-scenes work.
But what I will remember most is not the complexity. I will remember the dedication of the committee members who stayed committed to the project from beginning to end. Their professionalism, patience, creativity, and persistence helped bring the vision to life. Together, we built a website that will better serve NYC SHRM members and support the chapter's future growth.
While I am the one who received this award, the accomplishment belongs to an exceptional team, including Kara Yates, Arnum Wapples Jr., MBA, William Ninehan, Alex Salas, SHRM-SCP, and Jenny Gorelick. I'd also like to recognize Mary Patterson, CAE, our Executive Director, and the many others who contributed behind the scenes.
In many ways, that is another lesson leadership has taught me over the years: individual recognition often results from collective effort.
As I think about this milestone, I also find myself reflecting on where I am in my career today. Much of my work through HR Talent Alliance focuses on helping professionals navigate career transitions, land stronger roles, and lead more effectively — and helping organizations find and place the talent they need to grow, including through our fractional talent solutions.
The lessons I learned through NYC SHRM continue to influence that work every day.
The value of mentorship.
The importance of community.
The impact of leadership.
And the power of giving back.
As I've gotten further along in my career, I've discovered that helping others succeed is often more rewarding than any personal accomplishment. That's one of the greatest gifts NYC SHRM has given me.
To everyone who has been part of my NYC SHRM journey—mentors, colleagues, volunteers, chapter leaders, friends, and fellow members—thank you.
Special thanks to Arlene Newman, Janet Hoffmann, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Janet L. Riesel, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, Linda Caffin, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, JD Rich Atkins, Ed.D., John McCaffrey Jr. CEBS, GBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Linda Carlozzi, and many other mentors and colleagues.
This recognition may bear my name, but it reflects the influence and support of so many people over the years.
For that, I am incredibly grateful.
And for anyone considering volunteering, joining a committee, mentoring others, or becoming involved in a professional association, my advice is simple:
Raise your hand.
You never know how much it may change your life.
Thanks