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Shavonne L. Smith | MEET SHAVONNE L. SMITH: Government Affairs Director Shavonne L. Smith is Of Counsel in the San Antonio office of Ogletree Deakins, where she focuses on employment litigation matters, including workplace discrimination, harassment, retaliation, failure to accommodate, wrongful termination, and related issues. A proactive problem solver and San Antonio native, Shavonne has extensive experience defending clients in both state and federal courts as well as administrative proceedings. Prior to joining Ogletree Deakins, she was a Member at a local defense firm handling general professional liability and employment matters.Shavonne serves as Government Affairs Director for SHRM San Antonio, guiding the chapter on public policy initiatives and helping HR leaders understand the impact of legal and regulatory changes on the workplace. She holds a J.D. from The University of Texas School of Law (2006), where she contributed to the Texas Journal on Civil Liberties & Civil Rights, and a B.A., summa cum laude, in Anthropology/Sociology and Spanish from Centre College (2000). She is admitted to practice in Texas and in the U.S. District Courts for the Eastern, Northern, Southern, and Western Districts of Texas. An active member of the Bexar County Women’s Bar Association and a graduate of the LEAD Academy, Shavonne is dedicated to advancing the retention and success of women attorneys in the legal profession. Her combination of legal expertise, leadership, and strategic insight makes her a trusted resource for HR professionals navigating complex workplace challenges. |
Q: What is one employment law trend HR leaders should be paying close attention to right now? Shavonne: At the risk of sounding like a broken record, AI. If even some of the predictions about the significant role AI will play in modern life and the speed at which it will infiltrate all aspects of our work are true, there will be litigation over AI’s use, including in the human resources context. It is worth steadily familiarizing yourself over time with AI so that decisions you make about its use and application at work are informed, thoughtful, and cautious. Q: What is a common mistake you see organizations make when it comes to minimizing liability? Shavonne: The devil (liability) is often in the details, especially when it comes to documentation. Mistakes happen. Handbook or policy acknowledgments aren’t signed during onboarding. Awkward emails or texts are sent by managers and must be produced later in litigation. Time worked isn’t recorded properly. These kinds of “mistakes” may be determinative later if a claim is brought or may paint a picture of an organization that does not approach its employees thoughtfully. Thankfully, training and auditing can generally help in all things. Q: What advice would you give HR professionals navigating complex employee relations issues? Shavonne: Don’t forget the “human” part in human resources. We get busy and stressed. Laws and policies are ever-changing. We have obligations to leadership and to our customers and clients. Given that so much is competing for our energy and attention, don’t forget to treat others, especially employees, with compassion and fairness. If you do so, then you can generally say to yourself when you go home at night that you did “right” by someone, no matter how complex the situation. This makes for an honorable professional life and sounder sleep. |
| MEET RHONDA MICHEL: Volunteer Director As Volunteer Director, Rhonda Michel blends executive strategy and people expertise. With experience leading organizational change and talent initiatives, she understands how strong leadership and volunteer engagement drive thriving communities. Her perspective helps HR professionals grow their influence while making a meaningful impact.
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| BRANDI DOYLE, SPHR, SHRM-SCP: Development DirectorBrandi Doyle, SHRM San Antonio’s Development Director and Senior HR Manager at Howard Partners, is deeply passionate about developing the next generation of HR professionals—and recently brought that passion to life with SHRM student members at UTSA. Brandi spent time with students helping them plan their Spring semester activities and think strategically about their future in HR. During the session, she guided students in using their Working Genius Assessment results alongside Copilot to explore which HR roles may best align with their natural strengths and talents after graduation. This hands-on, practical approach helped students connect self-awareness with real-world career pathways—an essential skill as they prepare to enter today’s evolving workforce. Brandi shared that the energy and engagement from the students made it clear this is shaping up to be a fabulous semester. Her leadership and service reflect SHRM San Antonio’s continued commitment to workforce readiness, student engagement, and building strong connections between education and the HR profession. Thank you, Brandi, for investing in future HR leaders and representing SHRM San Antonio with such impact! |
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