Wichita Falls Human Resource Management Association upcoming events

WFHRMA July: Board Meet & Greet at Backporch Drafthouse (14 Jul 2026)

Tue, 14 Jul 2026 16:30:00 GMT

Wichita Falls HR Management Association (WFHRMA)

Tuesday, July 14th, 2026

11:30 AM to 1:00 PM

Board Meet & Greet

Backporch Drafthouse

Join us for a lunch full networking, fun, and great food at the

Backporch Drafthouse in Wichita Falls, TX!

Come connect with fellow HR professionals, enjoy a relaxed atmosphere, and celebrate summer with WFHRMA!

RSVP Today to secure your spot. We can’t wait to see you there!

WFHRMA August: The Introverted Manager (11 Aug 2026)

Tue, 11 Aug 2026 17:00:00 GMT

Wichita Falls HR Management Association (WFHRMA)

Tuesday, August 11th, 2026

Meeting check-in & lunch service begins at 11:45am

Kelly Potter, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

"The Introverted Manager"

Program Description:

The Introverted Manager challenges the outdated belief that effective leadership requires being the loudest voice in the room. Drawing on over 20 years of Human Resources experience—and her identity as a lifelong introvert—Kelly Potter reframes introversion as a leadership strength, not a limitation.

In this engaging and relatable session, Kelly explores how introverted managers lead with intention, insight, and impact. Attendees will learn how traits such as thoughtfulness, deep listening, observation, and strategic thinking can create high-performing teams and strong workplace cultures. With humor, authenticity, and real-world examples from HR and leadership, Kelly dispels common myths about introverts and leaders, proving that leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be effective.

Whether you identify as an introvert yourself or lead alongside one, this presentation offers practical tools and mindset shifts to help leaders embrace diverse styles, manage authentically, and lead with confidence—without pretending to be someone they’re not.

Learning Objectives

After attending this session, participants will be able to:

1. Recognize and challenge common myths about introversion and leadership, gaining a more inclusive view of what effective leadership looks like.

2. Identify core strengths of introverted managers, including strategic thinking, active listening, emotional intelligence, and thoughtful decision-making.

3. Apply practical strategies for leading, communicating, and influencing as an introvert—without relying on extroverted stereotypes.

4. Build more inclusive teams and cultures by valuing different leadership styles and creating space for all voices to be heard.

5. Lead with confidence and authenticity, leveraging personal strengths rather than trying to lead like someone else.

Speaker Bio:

Kelly Potter is a lifelong introvert who somehow found her calling in people, leadership, and Human Resources. From an early age, she was often told she “talked too much” or was “bossy”—feedback we now recognize as clear evidence of strong leadership skills ahead of their time.

With over 20 years in Human Resources, Kelly brings both experience and heart to everything she does. She earned her Bachelor’s degree and MBA from the University of Oklahoma (Boomer!) and has never lost her enthusiasm for the HR profession.

That passion shows up in her impressive volunteer leadership. Kelly has served as President of Western Oklahoma Human Resources (WOKHR), recently wrapped up a two-year term as President of the Oklahoma City Human Resource Society (OCHRS), and has held multiple roles on the SHRM Oklahoma State Council. She currently serves as District Director–West—proving that “bossy” was actually just destiny.

Kelly Potter is on a personal crusade to rewrite two wildly inaccurate stereotypes: that introverts can’t be great leaders—and that HR is the boring department of “NO,” run by people who scowl in the corner and suck the fun out of the room. (Hard pass.)

As a lifelong introvert, Kelly is living proof that leadership doesn’t have to be loud to be effective. Leaders come in all styles, and introverts are just one powerful flavor—thoughtful, strategic, observant, and usually three steps ahead of the room.

With over 20 years in Human Resources, Kelly has made it her mission to show that HR isn’t about killing ideas or quoting policy for sport. It’s about building culture, developing people, and helping organizations actually work better. Yes, there can be laughter. Yes, HR can be cool.

Kelly brings curiosity, authenticity, and a healthy dose of humor to leadership—proving that introverts don’t hide in the corner, HR isn’t the fun police, and great leaders don’t all look (or sound) the same.

Recertification Credit

SHRM Certification has approved this event for 1 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the meeting. The program also meets recertification credit standards set by the HR Certification Institute and other HR certifying bodies, but candidates must manually enter their activity into their records.

WFHRMA: Employment Law Symposium (11 Sep 2026)

Fri, 11 Sep 2026 13:00:00 GMT

WFHRMA: Employment Law Symposium

Friday September 11th 2026, 8:00 AM – 12:00 PM

The Forum: 2120 Speedway Ave, Wichita Falls, TX 76308

Our Speakers

Dustin A. Paschal

Founding Member

Simon | Paschal PLLC

Texas SHRM State Director

Dustin has always had a passion for employment law. He attended Baylor University where he graduated in 2002 with a B.B.A. in Human Resource Management. While at Baylor, Dustin interned with the Vice President of Human Resources at a national manufacturing company where he experienced first-hand the employment issues facing companies and individuals today. After graduating from Baylor, Dustin attended Baylor School of Law and graduated with a J.D. in 2005. Since graduating, Dustin has practiced exclusively in the area of Employment Law and Business Law.

Dustin represents corporations, small businesses, and individual employees and executives. He handles a variety of employment matters, including discrimination and harassment cases, lawsuits involving non-compete agreements, and multi-state collective actions involving wage and hour issues. In addition to his litigation practice, Dustin also reviews individual employment contracts, drafts employee handbooks, and assists companies on a variety of general contractual issues. Dustin takes great pride in helping his clients avoid litigation through proper planning but when his clients need it, Dustin provides aggressive and principled litigation counsel.

Dustin is a member of the State Bar of Texas and the Dallas Bar Association. As a former active member of the Dallas Association of Young Lawyers, Dustin served five terms on the Board of Directors and served as a Co-Chair for numerous committees. Dustin also is a Sustaining Life Fellow of the DAYL Foundation, a Fellow of the Dallas Bar Foundation and a former Associate Member of the Patrick E. Higginbotham Inn of Court.

Dustin also formerly served as the President of DallasHR, the Dallas chapter of the Society for Human Resource Management. He currently serves as the Chair of the Board of Trustees. DallasHR is the premier organization in Dallas serving Human Resources professionals. Prior to his term as Chair, Dustin served multiple terms on the Board of Directors. Dustin also serves as the Texas SHRM District 1 Director.

Dustin regularly speaks on a variety of Human Resources and employment law topics to many different organizations, including local SHRM Chapters, Chambers of Commerce, the Dallas Society of CPAs, and many more.

D Magazine honored Dustin as a 2018 Best Lawyer Under 40 and twice as a D Magazine Best Lawyer. He also is rated AV Preeminent by Martindale-Hubbell, the highest possible rating. Dustin was selected annually from 2012 to 2019 as a Rising Star by Thomson Reuters Super Lawyers. Dustin’s peers nominated him for this achievement and he is part of only 2.5% of Texas lawyers classified as Rising Stars. It is this high honor that Dustin strives to match on a daily basis. He has also been selected multiple times as a Texas Super Lawyer by Thomson Reuters.

Michael Deponte

Principal & Office Litigation Manager
Jackson Lewis

Michael J. DePonte is a Principal in, and the Litigation Manager for, the Dallas, Texas, office of Jackson Lewis P.C. He is Board Certified in both Labor and Employment Law, as well as Civil Trial Law, by the Texas Board of Legal Specialization. Of the approximately 90,000 attorneys that are licensed in the State of Texas, only 29 are Board Certified in both of these areas. Mr. DePonte has an extensive litigation and trial background having tried numerous cases in state and federal courts in Texas. Mr. DePonte’s practice focuses on advice and counseling and the litigation of employment claims – including wage and hour issues, class and collective actions, and civil rights claims under state and federal law. Mr. DePonte has defended national and regional employers on a broad range of employment-related issues. He has represented employers before numerous federal and state agencies, and has handled trials and appeals in federal and state courts. Mr. DePonte also provides his clients with general advice and counseling on a broad range of employment and labor issues, prepares and presents training seminars to clients, and has prepared materials for and presented lectures at multiple employment law seminars and human resources workshops. He has presented to organizations across Texas and New Mexico and in 2020 he was inducted to the HR Southwest Conference Speaker Hall of Fame.

John Hagan

Board Certified Labor & Employment Attorney

John P. Hagan is an HR attorney who practices nationwide employment law from his office in Allen, Texas and is Board Certified in Texas Labor and Employment Law. He is ranked by his peers to be in the top 5% of all lawyers in Texas and is an award-winning author for the College of the State Bar. Mr. Hagan has written on many employment law issues, including damages, discrimination, and wrongful termination. Mr. Hagan has co-authored the Employment Law Handbook - Texas (Texas Association of Business and Chambers of Commerce) and Texas Employment Law for James Publishing.

Mr. Hagan and his firm represent a wide range of companies of all sizes and in all industries. His specialty is counselling companies using best practices and preventative HR resulting in less litigation.

He has served as President for both DallasHR and Mid-Cities HRA. He served on committees for Collin County HR Association.

Recertification Credit

SHRM Certification has approved this event for 3 PDCs toward SHRM-CP and SHRM-SCP recertification. A program code will be provided at the end of the meeting. The program also meets recertification credit standards set by the HR Certification Institute and other HR certifying bodies, but candidates must manually enter their activity into their records.

WFHRMA December: Winter Social (08 Dec 2026)

Tue, 08 Dec 2026 17:30:00 GMT