University "Simply Innovate" initative chamber breakfast topic

Bluffton University is the sponsor and host of the free Friday morning, Nov. 11, Bluffton Area Chamber of Commerce breakfast in the third floor of the Bluffton town hall.

Following breakfast is a free Bluffton Center for Entrepreneurs Friday Workshop for small business owners on human resources.

• Breakfast 7 to 7:30 a.m.
• Chamber meeting 7:30 to 8:30 a.m.
BCE Friday Workshop - following breakfast

Breakfast program:
James M. Harder, Bluffton University president, provides campus update  Dr. Hans Houshower, Vice President for Advancement, provides information on the university's new initiative "Simply Innovate."

The campaign, announced earlier this year, has a goal of $26 million with a high priority on opening a new science building in 2019. Campaign goals include:
• $14.5 million for the Austin E. Knowlton science building
• $5.5 million in annual support for the next five years
• $5 million to strengthen Bluffton’s endowment with long-term support for student scholarships, faculty research and student discovery
• $1 million innovation goal to support new academic program development, faculty-student research and interdisciplinary initiatives that enrich learning for students in the natural and applied sciences and for all students

Friday Workshop
The workshop title is “Top five human resource topics that could protect a small business owners’ bottom line.” Sally Siferd leads the workshop.

Since 1997, Siferd has been an HRCI certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR).  While at Pry CPA Services, Findlay, she was vice president of administration and human resources and counseled the CPA firm's clients on human resource issues.

In 2002 she formed, HR House Call, LLC, consulting with small business clients on hiring, compensation, policies, terminations and much more. She is now on the staff of Bluffton University.

In January 2016, Siferd earned the Society for Human Resource Management Certified Professional (SHRM-CP) certification.