Executive Compensation at the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)

The Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) is an Alexandria, Virginia-based tax-exempt, non-profit membership association that promotes the role of Human Resources as a profession.  With 12 voting members of the governing body, 11 of whom are independent, 7 of whom are female, 5 of whom are male, SHRM is a 501 (c) 6 – a trade association – with more than 500 employees.  All directors received $15,350-$43,080 each in 2019.

In 2019, SHRM reported total revenue of $154 million (compared to $146 million in 2018) which came primarily from six sources:  membership dues ($54 million), the annual conference ($35 million), certification programs and seminars ($23 million), inventory sales ($15 million), advertising ($9 million), and other program revenue ($7 million).

Expenses totaled $149 million, with the largest expenses reported to be compensation ($57 million), office-related expenses ($23 million), travel and conferences ($23 million), fees for services ($15 million), and advertising and promotion ($11 million).

504 employees received $57 million in compensation, which equates to an average compensation of $113,000.  However, only 149 employees received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 27 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $1,338,997:  Johnny C Taylor, Jr, SHRM-SCP President and CEO, SHRMF and HRPS Director
• $  925,257:  Mary Mohney, Treasurer and CFO
• $  657,519:  Jeaneen Andrews-Feldman, Chief Marketing and Experience Officer
• $  641,458:  Jessica Perry, CDO (until 7/2019)
• $  606,287:  Nicholas Schacht, SHRM-SCP Chief Global Development Officer
• $  516,440:  Alexander Alonso, SHRM-SCP Chief Knowledge Officer
• $  486,681:  Emily Dickens, Secretary, Chief of Staff
• $  429,330:  Scott Oppler, VP, Cert Research/Analysis (until 7/2019)
• $  429,055:  James Banks, General Counsel
• $  427,999:  Anthony Lee, VP, Editorial
• $  418,484:  Lynn Shotwell, SVP, Head Global Outreach and Ops
• $  405,383:  Michael Aitken, SVP, Memberships
• $  346,370:  Tim Canny, VP, Advertising Sales
• $  335,347:  Marc Goldberg, Chief Technology Officer
• $  335,335:  Sean Sullivan, SHRM-SCP, Chief Human Resources Officer
• $  312,875:  Trent Burner, VP, Research
• $  297,837:  Megan Smith, Controller
• $  289,655:  Vivek Patel, Director, Technology Solutions
• $  287,007:  Stacey V Holvenstot, VP, Marketing
• $  286,266:  Diego Salmon, VP, Global Enterprise Sales
• $  274,133:  Nancy Woolever, SSHRM-SCP, VP, Certification Operarations
• $  271,853:  Peter Lehmayer, Account Executive
• $  268,478:  Kimberly Lambert, Account Executive
• $  245,776:  Jeanne L Morris, VP, Education
• $  234,503:  Kristina M Beaty, VP, Communication
• $  229,040:  Martin Smith, Director, Technology Analysis
• $  219,770:  Michael Gebert, Managing Director SHRM Workplace Innovation Lab

The 27 most highly compensated employees received $11 million in compensation, which equates to an average of $407,000.  16 of the 27 (59%) most highly compensated employees are male while 11 of the 27 (41%) are female (note:  gender is not reported on the 990; conclusions were made based on name and google searches).

SHRM paid for first class or charter travel, travel for companions, personal services (e.g. maid, chauffeur, chef), and made gross up payments or provided tax indemnification.  Specifically, all board of directors and the CEO are permitted to fly business or first class.  In addition, any employee or director flying 5 hours or longer or on International flights may fly business class.  Companion travel for board of directors serving as a chair or immediate past chair.  SHRM paid for personal health related fees for the CEO along with associated gross up payments.

Severance payments of $130,369 were paid to Jessica Perry; and $96,154 to Scott Oppler.

118 independent contractors received more than $100,000 in compensation with the 5 most highly compensated reported to be:

• $6.4 million:  Holmes Corporation, of Eagon, MN for promotion services
• $5.0 million:  Bully Pulpit Interactive, of Washington, DC for marketing services
• $2.2 million:  INVNT, of New York, NY for conference services
• $2.1 million:  Salesforcecom, of San Francisco, CA for IT services
• $2.1 million:  Centerplate, of Las Vegas, NV for catering services

As illustrated above, the 5 most highly compensated employees are dominated by promotion and marketing service firms.

To read the IRS Form 990 (2019), click here.