#WISHRM25 SMILE Team Spotlight: Jennesa Johnston

It is an honor to lead the 2025 WI SHRM State Conference SMILE Team. This year's team is made up of six amazing HR professionals who are excited to share some pre-conference sneak peeks and share their conference experiences with all.

Today, I spoke with one member of the SMILE Team, Jennesa Johnston, about her career, SHRM volunteering, and more!

Q & A with Jennesa:

1. What inspired you to pursue a career in Human Resources? Was there a moment or a mentor that sparked your interest? 

My career in HR truly started with my first boss giving me a chance as an HR assistant. My degree was in Human Development and Psychology. I have not turned back.

2. What’s your favorite part about being an HR professional today? Any recent trends or topics you’re especially passionate about?

What I love most about working in HR is that no two days are ever the same. The field is incredibly dynamic, with so many different facets to explore.

3. Why did you volunteer for the 2025 WI SHRM SMILE Team? What does this experience mean to you?

The reason I wanted to volunteer to be on the SMILE team is to continue to network within the WI SHRM organization. I love getting to meet new people.

4. How do you plan to connect with attendees through social media during the conference? Any creative ideas or strategies you're excited to try?

AI actively use LinkedIn in my day-to-day work and am excited to continue expanding my network by connecting with fellow attendees.

5. What’s one tip you’d give to HR professionals trying to build their presence on LinkedIn or other platforms? (Or, what's helped you the most?)

Stepping outside your comfort zone—like sitting at a table with unfamiliar faces, introducing yourself, and making meaningful connections.

6. Which part of the WI SHRM State Conference are you most looking forward to? (A speaker, session, activity, etc.)

I am excited for many of the speakers, but the one I am the most excited for is Keynote Speaker David Atkins. He was a first responder at Ground Zero during 9/11.

7. What’s your go-to social media platform, and why? How do you use it to stay connected professionally?

Instagram and LinkedIn are the platforms I engage with the most. Whenever I attend events, I make it a goal to connect with at least five new people on LinkedIn. It’s a great way to stay in touch, reconnect at future conferences, and build long lasting professional relationships. Having a network of fellow HR professionals to reach out to with questions or insights is valuable.

8. What’s your favorite way to unwind after a busy day in HR? Any hobbies or guilty pleasures?

I love reading, cooking, and spending quality time with my husband and our two fur babies. Cooking is a big stress reliever for me—it’s my favorite way to unwind after a long, busy day.

9. Share one fun fact people might not know about you.

A fun fact about me is that I have seen Dierks Bentley in concert 18 times. My favorite venue that I saw him was Red Rocks in Colorado.

10. If you had to describe the SMILE Team in one word, what would it be and why?

Collaborative. We are all excited to bring excitement to you, the attendees, about the awesome conference we have coming up in October.

Meet Jennesa:

Jennesa serves as the Corporate Director of Human Resources at OCI Hospitality. She also holds the role of Membership Director for GBSHRM and is thrilled to deepen her involvement through the SMILE team. Jennesa is passionate about fostering connections, energizing the conference experience, and enhancing the organization’s online presence. She lives in beautiful Door County with her husband and their two dogs, Gunner and Maverick.

Follow the 2025 WI SHRM SMILE Team: https://linktr.ee/wishrmsmileteam