FIC Human Resource Partners

🌈 Exciting News

I’m thrilled to share that FIC Human Resource Partners will be recognized as Certified Business of the Year by the Keystone Business Alliance (KBA), Central Pennsylvania’s LGBTQ+ Chamber of Commerce.

This recognition is especially meaningful because it reflects the heart of our work. At FIC, our mission is fostering inclusive cultures through policy, training, and discussion. We partner with organizations to build workplaces grounded in dignity, belonging, and accountability; where inclusion is embedded into culture, values, and systems, rather than being treated as an afterthought.

Being honored by KBA affirms that this work matters not just inside organizations, but within the broader business community. KBA’s mission to advance the economic interests of LGBTQ+ and allied businesses through advocacy, education, and partnership aligns deeply with our belief that inclusive cultures strengthen people, workplaces, and local economies.

We are truly humbled by this recognition and grateful to be part of a community of businesses committed to leading with integrity, authenticity, and impact.

The Annual Awards Gala brings together innovators, leaders, and changemakers, all united by a shared commitment to fostering a business environment rooted in authenticity, collaboration, kindness, and success. It’s a celebration of those who champion LGBTQ+ and allied businesses and work to build a more inclusive regional economy. But the gala is more than an evening of awards - it’s a recognition of the extraordinary efforts of those who lead with integrity, drive economic growth, and uplift others in the process.
Thank you to the Keystone Business Alliance for this honor, and to our clients, partners, and community who make this work possible.

If you are local and would like to attend, you can register for the 2026 Annual Awards Gala here: https://keystonebusinessalliance.org/events/2026-annual-awards-gala/

Date: January 30, 2026

Time: 6-9 pm

Location: Eden Resort | 222 Eden Road, Lancaster

2026 Annual Awards Gala - Keystone Business Alliance (KBA) At Keystone Business Alliance, our mission is to advance the economic interests of LGBTQ+ and allied businesses through advocacy, education, and meaningful partnerships across South Central Pennsylvania—and beyond. Our membership spans the state, reflecting the strength and diversity of our commun...

I've always been fascinated by the power of language. As an author and public speaker, how could I not be?

Over the past few weeks, I've had the privilege of working with a global team, exploring the nuances of DEIAB (Diversity, Equity, Inclusion, Accessibility, and Belonging) terminology. It's been a fascinating journey, uncovering the different meanings these terms have across various cultural and regional contexts.

What's struck me most is how our discussions about these words have fostered new insights and understanding among team members. As we delved into terminology and definitions, our conversations often led to interesting tangents that helped me learn more about the people I was working with. These unexpected detours provided valuable insights into how each of them views the world. It's a powerful reminder of how language can bridge gaps, create inclusive environments, and open doors to deeper understanding of one another.

This experience has me particularly excited about the upcoming Increase Diversity™ Summit (October 16-17, 2024), where I'll be participating in the "Language of Intersectionality" panel along with Catarina Rivera, MSEd, MPH, CPACC, a LinkedIn Top Voice in Disability Advocacy, S Gerin, Facilitator, & Trainer, and Founder of Late Bloomer Coaching, and Val Boston III CDE, CCP, Certified Diversity Executive & Coach, Boston & Associates. The summit's theme, "How Do I Say It?", couldn't be more relevant to my recent work.

While I don’t know what questions we'll be asked during the panel, I can assure you that each panelist will bring unique insights and expertise to the discussion. I'm looking forward to this opportunity to delve deeper into the complexities of inclusive language and its impact on our workplaces and interpersonal connections.

If you're interested in exploring how language can shape more inclusive and equitable environments, while also fostering deeper understanding among colleagues, I invite you to join us at the summit.

Increase Diversity™ Summit 2024 Details:

- When: October 16-17, 2024
- Time: 11:00 AM - 2:15 PM ET
- Format: Virtual

How Do I Say It? An Increase Diversity™ Summit Experience An immersive, virtual summit focused on effective language for recruitment and retention strategies. Oct. 16-17, 2024. 11:00 AM - 2:15 PM

I was thrilled to see a recent Inc. Magazine article highlighted the importance of understanding "permitted" cultures the other week - but at FIC Human Resource Partners we've been ahead of the curve for years! I’ve been talking with clients about the importance of aligning the permitted microcultures that exist within organizations with their intended culture since 2019.

A Few Key Insights:

🔑 Intended culture: The explicitly communicated behaviors and values leadership wants to see.

🔑 Permitted culture: The implicit, day-to-day reality of what's actually allowed.

🔑 Misalignment between these can significantly impact employee wellbeing, performance, and innovation.

Over the years we’ve developed proprietary models and tools to help organizations align their permitted cultures with their intended cultures:

👉 SIO Culture Model: Examines Social, Ideological, and Operational dimensions of culture.

👉 The 9 Principles of Employee Care: Focuses on meeting core human needs at work.

👉 Comprehensive Culture Assessments: Including our Organizational Culture Quality Assessment (OCQA) and Employee Care Survey.

Our Nuance Culture Consulting uses the AIDE framework (Assess, Interview, Develop, Engage) to partner closely with organizations, creating lasting cultural improvements tied to strategic goals.

Organizational culture isn't "set it and forget it." It requires active nurturing and a nuanced approach to uncover and align cultural realities.

Ready to unlock your company's full potential? Let's chat about how we can help you build a culture that empowers your people and drives success!

Aligning Intended and Permitted Organizational Cultures: The Key to Unlocking Your Company's Full Potential Our consulting services have always taken the of permitted and intended cultures at the macro and microculture levels into consideration.

Our CEO believes that business and community leaders should center justice, equity, and accessibility in their leadership and decision making. True leaders consider how their decisions impact all people, especially those who are underrepresented, historically excluded, marginalized, or disadvantaged. They foster environments where everyone feels a sense of belonging and has the opportunity to thrive. Our CEO challenges leaders not to simply maintain the status quo, but to break down barriers to create more inclusive communities.

Join her and Julia Cao for the J.E.D.I.: Equity Awakens workshop at the 21st annual Leadership Advantage on February 2nd.

Jessica Purdy, CEO and Founder of FIC Human Resource Partners, and Julia Cao, Training Facilitator, FIC Human Resource Partners and 2023 Core Class grad will be joining us for the 21st Annual Leadership Advantage for their session, J.E.D.I: Equity Awakens on Friday, February 2nd!

This interactive training workshop will provide foundational knowledge on justice, equity, diversity, and inclusion (J.E.D.I.) concepts and help foster open dialogues on building a more inclusive culture through knowledge sharing and interactive group discussions, individual and group exercises, a slide presentation and study guide/workbook for notetaking and activities (provided in digital and/or hardcopy format).

For more information and to register for the J.E.D.I: Equity Awakens session, follow this link! https://leadershiplancaster.org/leadership-advantage/