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Susan R Meisinger

Susan R Meisinger, SPHR, is President and Chief Executive Officer of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM), the American association devoted to human resource management.

Susan, who has served as President and CEO since March of 2002, previously held the position of Executive Vice President and Chief Operating Officer of SHRM from 1999 to 2002. She also served as Senior Vice President from 1997-1999 and as Vice President of Government and Public Affairs from 1987-1997.

Prior to joining the Society, Susan served as Deputy Under Secretary for the Employment Standards Administration (ESA) in the US Department of Labor. As head of the largest agency within the Department, she was responsible for more than 4,000 employees, a budget of more than $3 billion and the administration of more than 90 Federal laws and regulations. Susan also served as special legal counsel for the Associated Builders and Contractors in Washington, DC.

Susan is a current board member for the WFPMA and is the past secretary general. She is a member of the SHRM Board of Directors and the Human Resource Certification Institute (HRCI), an affiliate of SHRM. She is a former Jobs for America’s Graduates (JAG) board member, a non-profit youth development program helping at-risk youth graduate from high school and transition to post secondary education or meaningful employment. Susan sits on the corporate board for BE&K, a billion dollar international design-build firm and is a member of the editorial board of the Human Resource Management Journal. She also is a member of the International Women’s Forum. In addition, she is a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources (NAHR), an organisation that recognises individuals and institutions in HR for outstanding professional achievement and contributions to their field. Sue was one of thirteen members the US Secretary of Labor appointed to serve on the Committee on the Future of the Workplace under the President’s Council on the 21st Century Workforce. She provides testimony and commentary to public policy makers, and is a respected advocate on behalf of the HR profession.

Susan frequently serves as an expert on workplace and business issues in the national media and other leading publications. She is a co-author of the book The Future of Human Resource Management.

Susan received a bachelor's degree from Mary Washington College and a law degree from the National Law Center of George Washington University. She is a member of the District of Columbia Bar Association and has earned certification as a Senior Professional in Human Resources from HRCI.