TAHRA Annual Awards

Are you aware of an individual who has made significant contributions to the field of HR in 2024? Have you admired another HR professional as a role model for their peers? Join us in honoring and celebrating these outstanding individuals by voting for your peers in our prestigious annual awards!

For 2024, the awards procedure has changed a bit. As you will see, we have added a new award to celebrate our new members. We strive to celebrate all our of TAHRA members, but we wanted to take a moment to appreciate those whom have joined our organization and have volunteered their time and knowledge to help us grow and strengthen our local HR community. Below is a description and criteria for each award.

Feel free to submit nominations for yourself or your colleagues (self-nominations are not only encouraged but expected) by completing the nomination form (linked below).

NOMINATION FORM

Further, this year, your TAHRA board members have nominated TAHRA members for each award, and it is up to you to vote for your favorites. The voting process is quick and should require just a few minutes of your time. We will include introductions for each nominee in our newsletters to aid in your decisions. Winners will be honored with a charitable donation of their choice, a one-year TAHRA membership with prepaid program meetings, a commemorative plaque, and special recognition during our program, in our newsletter, and on our website. Award presentations will take place at our January program meeting.

Awards:

Richard J. Messer Excellence in Human Resources Management Award

This is the highest award that can be received in the Tulsa Area Human Resources Association. This special award is designed to recognize outstanding leadership and achievements in the field of human resources. The recipient is an individual who serves as a role model for others, sets the standard by which others are measured and unselfishly gives of themselves to the betterment of TAHRA, the human resources profession and the community. Any current member of TAHRA with at least 3 years of membership, with the exception of the Awards Committee participants, is eligible to be nominated. The award is named in Honor of Rick Messer who was one of the founding members of TAHRA who became a National Chairman of SHRM as well as the founding Chairman of HRCI.

Example reasons to nominate:

• Contributions to the HR field through written articles, teaching, publications, etc or providing expertise/services to non-profit organizations or specific HR projects.
• Significant contribution to nominees company related to strategic efforts, innovative approaches, or contributions going above and beyond typical duties.

New Professional Award

This special award is designed to recognize an outstanding new professional in our organization. Any TAHRA member with five years or less in the human resources field, with the exception of the Awards Committee participants, is eligible to be nominated. 

Example reasons to nominate:

• Demonstrating significant growth in the HR field of work such as researching new processes, increasing in knowledge, etc.
• Significant contributions to nominees company related to new ideas, new approaches to getting work done, or going above and beyond typical duties.

DEI Award 

The Diversity, Equity, Inclusion Award recognizes a chapter member or a company who actively promotes or advances DEI work in their organization or the community. Nominees will be evaluated based on the impact of their DEI work. Any TAHRA member, with the exception of the Awards Committee participants, is eligible to be nominated.

Example reasons to nominate:

• Significant contribution to an organization’s DEI effort or significant contribution to the communities or volunteer organizations DEI efforts.

Department of ONE Award

The Department of ONE Award recognizes a chapter member who has demonstrated an outstanding effort in operating and managing as the sole HR Professional for their company. Nominees will be evaluated based on their resilience, persistence, determination, or the impact of their work. Any TAHRA member, with the exception of the Awards Committee participants, is eligible to be nominated.

Example reasons to nominate:

• Professional contributions to the successful operation of the HR Department where the nominee is the sole HR practitioner.

New this year!
Helping Hands Award

This award is designed to recognize TAHRA’s newest members and volunteers. The recipient is an individual who dives headfirst into our organization by volunteering their time and excited to participate in our fantastic organization. This award is nominated and selected by the current board of directors.