CMU’s Student Human Resources Management Club competed in the Human Resources Case Competition in Denver over the weekend. This competition judges the abilities of teams to write and present a human resources case within a four-hour window in front of nine professional judges. The winner receives bragging rights and the competition gave students the opportunity to network with professional businessmen and women.

CMU senior and SHRM President Lincoln Early said he hopes that his participation in the club will help solidify his future in business.

“It’s tough out there right now, but I think being a member of the SHRM club and all the experience that I’ve gained from it is going to help set myself apart from other options out there,” Early said. “As president, it has given me an opportunity to practice some of my leadership and make decisions, which is essential in business.”

Early said that being SHRM president has given him the opportunity to land an internship with Hilltop.

“Hilltop’s a great company,” Early said. “I’ve really enjoyed my experience over there and learned a lot. It’s kind of a way to learn how HR works outside the classroom. I know the next time a position opens up at Hilltop, I will be applying.”

In addition to helping students gain business opportunities, the SHRM club assists businesses in the community. They are currently working on two major projects, the first includes helping area hotels conduct a wage survey, which the club plans to analyze, focusing on each position and gauging the appropriate wage.

SHRM is also conducting a performance evaluation of each employee at Juice Junction in the CMU Recreation Center.

“It’s a way for the management over there to systematically check the performance of their employees,” Early said. “If one employee is doing really well, they can recognize them for that. Or if they need to improve, they can address that too. It’s just a way to keep it consistent, so it’s the same for all the employees.”

SHRM is one of many business clubs on campus. It contains between 12-15 members each semester.

“One of the biggest benefits from being in SHRM is getting to network with HR professionals,” Senior Lauren Van Roekel said. “You really get hands-on experience in the HR profession.”

For more information on the SHRM club, contact the club’s advisor Pat Schutz at 248-1748 or pschutz@coloradomesa.edu.