Professional Peer Forum (PPF)

SCNetwork's Professional Peer Forums are designed for independent consultants or coaches in human capital who own their own consultancy, or independent consultants who are members of small consultancy firms.
Peer Forums are small groups of independent senior-level HR professionals who meet regularly to discuss matters they are facing in their businesses and their lives.
In the Peer Forums, members share new learnings, insights, business development ideas, industry trends, successes to celebrate, difficulties members may be struggling with, and find ways to partner with each other in support of their clients.

Professional Peer Forum members exhibits the following:
- Working independently in the field of human capital – not employed within the HR function of an organization, nor working in a firm of more than 12 others.
- Willing to share your business successes with a group of peers.
- Worked in human capital for at least five years.
Members must have an SCNetwork Learning Membership which can be arranged at the time you join the Forum.

Self-directed: Through their Steering Committee, with guidance from the Facilitator and administrative support from SCNetwork, Forum members themselves determine the content, frequency, timing and format of their meetings.
Contains no fewer than six, and no more than 20 members.
Each Forum has a volunteer professional Facilitator who provides general oversight for the effective operation of the Forum.
Each Forum has a volunteer Steering Committee of two people from its own members who coordinate the activity of the forum with the guidance of the Facilitator.
The Meeting Chair is rotated at each meeting so all members have an opportunity to act in this role. A Meeting Chair ensures the effective management of the assigned meeting by introducing the topic or speaker and solicits discussion among Forum members.
- A Meeting Chair volunteers for the next few meetings, introduces new members, and ends the meeting by asking for future topics.

Formally, PPF members typically meet four times a year, at least twice in person, otherwise virtually.
More informal interactions between members occurs throughout the year.
Meetings are often held at members’ offices, or at any other venue chosen by the members: offsite locations can include hotels, restaurants, board rooms, co-working spaces, etc.

Members are expected to bring an “abundance mentality” to each meeting.
A key attribute of a member is that they are willing to share their experience to help others.
They will actively participate in learning and sharing during meetings.
Members are also expected to offer ideas for future meeting topics and suggest ways in which the Forum may be improved.
All members will occasionally be called upon to meet with, and provide recommendations on, prospective members.
Members should be willing to take their turn on the Steering Committee.
Forum Members shall also be positive ambassadors for SCNetwork, recommend new general members for the association, as well as prospective Forum members for this Forum and other SCNetwork Peer Forums.
Confidentiality regarding what is discussed or presented in the Peer Forum is strictly observed – “What is said in the room, stays in the room.”

Members who cease their independent consulting (via retirement, joining a large consulting firm, or commencing employment) may remain in the Forum for the duration of their current year, and up to one additional year.

Membership in the Peer Forum is free with an SCNetwork Learning Membership which can be arranged at the time you join the Forum.

We have two Peer Forum Forums running currently and are planning to open additional Forums to meet the growing level of interest of our members.
If you’d like to participate in a Forum, please complete a Request to Join.
After receiving your request to join, one of our current and active members will contact you to schedule a meeting and discuss your fit for the group.
For more information, please contact Cathy Sprague, Peer Forums Chair at spraguefick@gmail.com