A week after the end of HRevolution, I have been chewing on the thoughts I took away from Chicago and cemented a few select ideas. I have spent the last seven days connecting with some of the people I met for the first time, and some I didn’t have the opportunity to talk with – furthering the conversations we started at the #monstersocial, Catalyst Ranch, #pinstripesocial – and all of the conversations in between.

Unconferences really are about the social. Having a disparate group of people gather together with a common theme, each bringing their own experiences, ideas, strategies, and acumen to advance a common goal. The business minds, the consultants with their bird’s eye view, the vendors with their new ideas, and the practioners, who struggle and triumph in the day to day business of the profession.

I don’t think I can say I left HRevolution with any thoughts of grandeur, but I did leave with a commitment to reach out to the HR community in my city, to share what I know, and to learn from those that are continuing to fight the good fight.

There are a few things I can say I’d like to see done a little differently. But I have shared those thoughts with the wonderful planning committee, and it will be interesting to see where the evolution goes from here.

The Human Resources profession is undergoing a transformation. The nature of business is changing, our society is changing and new ideas are being introduced into the workplace faster than many business owners can adapt. It is our responsibility to help our colleagues adjust to the changing landscape, and if each of us can influence two peers who have not yet embraced the ideas surrounding diversity, generational challenges, the recruiters versus HR battle, and employer branding that we discussed with passion and depth for 36 hours, then we can move the profession forward just a little bit more.

This is my personal challenge. To do great things with the energy that I brought back to North Carolina from HRevolution. I may not be able to change the world, but I can help shape some thoughts, expand my influence in the business community here, and identify the thought leaders in my community who have the ability to influence even more people. I can be the rock, dropped into the pond, that starts the ripple.

Many thanks to Monster.com @ewmonster, @MonsterWorks, Pinstripe Talent, @suemarks, Unbridled Talent, @cincyrecruiter and all of the other sponsors who made this conference an affordable event. And thanks to an amazing planning committee, who know how to push people to make great things happen.

My final thanks is those people that I connected with at the conference – too many to list, and those that I have connected with since. You are what makes events like this work for me. You are the people that make me think. And for that, I am eternally grateful.

Now lets take our thoughts and ideas, and make them reality!