A Nominating Committee consisting of Diontha Fancher, Ramona Rohrer, Eileen Ulmer, Lori Rohre, Kate McLagan and Wendy Chance recently completed the essential work to develop a slate of officers for 2011 and the Board has approved the nominations. This process began in June, with the objectives of the Nominating Committee to conduct an inclusive search to identify emerging leaders, continue to expand the diversity (background, experience, expertise etc.) of the Board members to reflect our membership, while also maintaining the continuity on the Board through the staggered two-year terms for elected members of the Executive Committee.
In order to achieve staggered terms, the election of Vice President of Annual Conference, Vice President of Programs, Vice President of Career Development, Vice President of Communications will occur in opposite years than election of Vice President of Membership, Vice President of Diversity, Vice President of Marketing and Public Relations, Vice President of Finance and Vice President of Workforce Readiness. The offices of President, Past President and President-Elect will have a term of one year beginning in January and ending in December.
AHRMA’s own succession planning program, Stepping Stones to Enhanced Leadership was again instrumental in assisting with our planning process.
The 2011 slate of candidates for the 2011 AHRMA board are respectfully submitted and voting will occur at the September 24, 2010 luncheon meeting.
Yours in service,
Wendy Chance, CTS
President Elect, Vice President of Programs
President-Elect - Lori Rohre
Lori currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for Austin Presbyterian Theological Seminary, where she has worked for over 15 years. In this position, she provides leadership, direction, accountability, planning, and coordinating to meet the human resource needs of all employees and the Seminary, serves on the Administrative Advisory Committee, the Diversity Initiative Committee, and serves as Chair of the Grievance Committee.
Lori holds a Bachelor’s degree in Business/HR Management from Park University, where she graduated valedictorian of her class in 2007, and is a certified Professional in Human Resources.
Lori has been a member of AHRMA for over eight years, and has been a member of the Diversity and Membership committees for nearly four years, serving as Diversity Committee VP for 2010.
Lori and her husband, Charles have an 18 year-old daughter, Crystal, who will soon be leaving for college. In their spare time, they enjoy SCUBA diving together in the Caribbean and playing with their German Shepherds, Daisy and Chester.
VP Career Development – Angela Loeb New!
Angela Loëb is a published author, public speaker, owner of InSync Resources and co-owner of Great Occupations. Her background encompasses 19 years of coaching individuals on career management and career transition strategy, including more than 14 years spent as a professional recruiter. She provides career development workshops, talent acquisition consulting and personal coaching. She is also a part-time certified career consultant with DBM, a global outplacement firm.
Angela graduated from Louisiana State University with a degree in English/Creative Writing and a minor in history. She has additional training in business development, leadership, success coaching, the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator and numerous other career and professional development tools.
She served as logistics chair of AHRMA’s Programs Committee for two years and volunteered for the Conference and Workforce Readiness Committees as well. She’s been recognized as a volunteer of the month and was part of the 1st class to complete the prestigious Stepping Stones To Enhanced Leadership. Her other community volunteer activities include serving on the board of the nonprofit Launch Pad Job Club, co-hosting The Job Search Boot Camp Show, and teaching women’s self-defense.
Angela’s passion for writing has led to publishing several career-related articles and her book about job search. Currently, she co-authors a daily career blog, writes her own motivational blog, and is working on her next book about purpose and professional path. She and her husband, Bill, live in Austin with Briana, their terrific teenager, and Paddington, the sweetest family dog ever.
VP Communications – Toni Brown New!
Toni F. Brown, PHR, began her Human Resources career in 1998 as an HR Clerk with the Austin Travis County MHMR Center (ATCMHMR). Within six months of employment there, it was discovered that she had a strong background in IT and an HRIS position was created. She created ATCMHMR’s first online web application and put them on the map. She was instrumental in moving the organization from a DOS HRIS environment to a windows-based platform. She worked for ATCMHMR for over eight years and her position continued to grow until moving to the Texas Parks and Wildlife Department in 2006. Toni currently holds a position there as an HR Business Analyst. In 2010, she was a nominee for Outstanding Women in Texas Government.
Toni joined AHRMA in 1998 and earned her PHR certification in 2000. She has served on the Diversity Committee as well as the Programs Committee. In 2007, she noticed a call for help in the AHRMA newsletter about needing volunteers to redesign the AHRMA website and she jumped at the chance to participate in that endeavor. She has chaired the Web Presence Committee since 2009 and, after completing AHRMA’s Stepping Stones For Enhanced Leadership program, was asked to step in as VP of Communications in 2011.
Toni holds an Associate of Applied Science in Computer Information Systems, a Bachelors of Science in Management, and a Master’s of Science in Human Relations and Business. Having grown up as a child of a parent in the military she has lived in Washington, Japan, Oklahoma, California, Arizona, and now Texas. She has lived in Austin for over thirty years and considers it her home.
In her leisure time, Toni enjoys playing video games, gardening, and birdwatching. Her newest adventure is hunting for treasures while geocaching.
VP Conference – Kimberly Davis New!
Kimberly Davis is the Human Resources Manager at Community Impact Newspaper where she has worked for 2 years. She graduated with a Bachelor of Science from the University of Texas at Austin in 2005. Following graduation Kimberly moved abroad and lived in London for two and half years where she received a MBA in International Business in March 2008.
Kimberly enjoys the field of Human Resources because of the employees she gets to help manage, the constant challenge the field presents and the relevancy it brings to organizations.
VP Diversity – Jessica Olson New!
Jessica is the Human Resources Generalist/Senior HRIS Specialist for The Austin Diagnostic Clinic, where she has worked since moving to Austin in February 2008. Jessica’s roles and responsibilities with ADC have steadily increased to consist of a wide variety of HR functions and projects. For the Clinic, Jessica is a member of the Customer Service Task Force, the Organizational Excellence Team, and the Staff Activities Committee, and serves as Chair for the Safety Committee.
Jessica received her Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology from The University of North Texas in 2006. She then obtained PHR certification in May 2009 and went on to become a member of SHRM and AHRMA. She joined the Diversity Committee soon thereafter, and has been involved with the Programs Committee as a result of the successful initiative to connect Diversity with other committees of AHRMA.
VP Finance – Kimberly Stroup
Kimberly Stroup has over 10 years of progressive human resource management experience in both high-tech and manufacturing industries and has been a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) since 2006. In addition to her HR background, Kimberly has years of hands-on experience in accounting, payroll and business operations, bringing a well-honed business acumen into all aspects of her work.
Kimberly is a member of Society for Human Resource Management, Austin Human Resource Management Association, HR High Tech Roundtable, Greenlights for Nonprofit Success, and Texas Association of Nonprofit Organizations. She has served on the finance executive committee of AHRMA for the past year.
Kimberly lives in Austin, Texas with her partner, Buddy, and their two dogs. She has a passion for traveling, most recently returned from a month in Tanzania, East Africa and headed out to Japan this November for her honeymoon!
VP Marketing and Public Relations – Juanita Baldwin
Juanita Baldwin is a recruiter for the Texas Commission on Environmental Quality, where she received the Chief Auditor’s Office “Peer Award” for excellence in relationship-building. Juanita’s background includes over twenty years experience as a Human Resource Generalist managing strategic functions including recruitment, staffing, benefits, compensation, employee relations, training and organizational development. Prior to joining TCEQ, she gained private sector experience in call centers, insurance, financial services, hi-tech start-ups, and information services.
Juanita is a proud Longhorn with a Bachelor of Arts in Secondary Education from the University of Texas at Austin. She successfully completed the Governor’s Center Senior Management Development Program, and led the winning project team for the 2009 Hispanic Austin Leadership Program sponsored by the Greater Austin Hispanic Chamber of Commerce (GAHCC).
A certified human resources professional and SHRM member, Juanita has enjoyed a long-standing relationship with AHRMA, having previously served as Membership Chair, Annual Conference Co-Chair, Certification Chair, and University Relations Chair.
Juanita and her husband, Jim, reside in Austin where they share their home and garden (alas) with a pair of boisterous canines, Murphee and Leonardo Giovanni. The Baldwins delight in taking trips that involve sea, sand, and/or mountains; watching competitive home design shows; and enjoying many of Austin’s live music venues.
VP Membership – Eileen Ulmer
Eileen is a Relocation Specialist with Budd Van Lines, the largest household goods mover in the US. She helps companies relocate their employees, offices and electronics worldwide. She started in the moving business in 2000, and found a passion for helping people during one of the most difficult transitions. Eileen loves a logistics challenge; her goal is to keep everything smooth and easy.
Currently serving a two year term as VP Membership AHRMA, Austin Human Resource Management Association, Eileen has been an active volunteer since she joined in 2006.
Prior to moving to Texas, Eileen owned a gourmet cookie business in Seattle. She served as the President of the Washington Specialty Food Association and remains a ‘foodie’ at heart. Her leisure time revolves around her two young sons and husband of 16 years. They enjoy swimming, basketball, traveling and gourmet foods.
VP Programs – Brent Kobayashi New!
With over 20 years experience in the hospitality industry, Brent has a proven track record for delivering business results through strategic planning and operational initiatives. Combing ten years of hotel operations management and ten years of training and human resources management, Brent has been able to successfully direct programs and initiatives that have assisted hotel companies (IE. Four Seasons Hotels and Resorts, Pan Pacific Hotels and Resorts) in achieving some of the most distinguished awards in the hospitality industry, including the AAA Five Diamond Award and the Mobil Five Star Award.
A graduate of the British Columbia Institute of Technology Hospitality Administration Program, Brent has been able to work closely with corporate and executive teams in creating learning initiatives that drive the business culture and maintain high levels of service performance.
In his current role as a consultant, he has been able to apply his knowledge and assist various organizations on assessing and improving current levels of service delivery in both the hospitality and healthcare industry.
Brent has served as Logistics Chair for the Programs Committee, Annual Conference Volunteer and Presenter for AHRMA.
VP Workforce Readiness – Ramona Rohrer
Ramona Rohrer is the Director of Outreach for St. Edward’s University. In this role, she helps build enrollment in New College (undergraduate program), the 11 graduate programs, and numerous certifications programs through SEU’s PEC/Professional Education Center by developing greater visibility for St. Edward’s University at community colleges, employer worksites, and events. Thus, creating career development opportunities for adult students by promoting lifelong learning to ensure workforce readiness.
Most recently, Ramona was the principal of Ramona Rohrer Consulting and served as an independent consultant in the areas of career consulting, executive coaching, and human resource infrastructure design. Previously, she was the Human Resource Director of MMC Group for over five years and led all areas of the human resource function for an employee-owned and managed company with service offerings in outsourcing, staffing, and consulting and over 1,000 employees nationwide. Prior positions included HR management roles in both Texas and Northern California. Her successful track record as a Human Resource Professional spanned over 20 years in the staffing, consulting, hi-tech, and insurance industries.
Ramona holds a Master of Business Administration in Human Resource Management and a Bachelor of Business Administration in Business and Management – both earned from St. Edward’s University. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and also holds certification for the Birkman assessment.
Her volunteer activities with AHRMA began in 2005 when she accepted the opportunity to serve as Marketing Co-Chair for the Austin Area Pay and Benefits Committee. In 2006, she was approached to serve on the Executive Committee as Vice President Communications and led that committee during 2007. She served as President-Elect in 2008 and it was an honor and a privilege for her to serve her professional association as 2009 AHRMA President. In 2010 she served as Past President and VP Workforce Readiness.
In her “spare” time, Ramona practices Yoga and recently completed a rigorous 8-month 200 hour program with Yoga Yoga Studios and earned the designation of Certified Yoga Instructor.
President - Wendy Chance
Wendy is the Vice President of Staffing Services for Evins Personnel Consultants, an HR service company that specializes in recruiting, staffing, HR consulting and PEO services. During her 22 years with Evins, she has held many positions that have given her a wide variety of experience related to HR. In her current role, she is responsible for developing and implementing customized recruiting strategies and staffing plans, training and development of internal and external employees, human resource planning, on-boarding, recruitment, safety, and operations management. She assists with all Company marketing, advertising, and Company branding events.
Wendy is certified by the American Staffing Association as a Temporary Staffing Specialist, (CTS), attended the University of Kansas, and graduated from the Brown Mackie Business School.
Her professional volunteer activities started in 1986 prior to moving to Texas. She served as President of the Soroptimists Civic Group for two years. Since arriving in Texas, her volunteer activities include Advisory Boards for Austin Community College and Southern Careers Institute, TWC School to Work programs, MDA, and Salvation Army Corporate Bell-Ringer.
Wendy’s volunteer assignments with AHRMA include Vice President of Programs for two years, President-Elect for half of 2010, six years with the Conference Committee, chairing the Speakers Committee for three years, the Membership Committee and new member Ambassador, and serving as the first SHRM Foundation Chapter Champion. Wendy was part of the 1st Class to graduate from AHRMA’S own leadership academy, Stepping Stones To Enhanced Leadership.
Her leisure time always includes her husband of 28 years, Douglass. She enjoys gourmet cooking, home improvement projects, deer hunting and reading.
Past President – Diontha Fancher
Diontha is a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and received a M.S. in Healthcare Human Resources from Texas State University. She spent eight years working in financial services and finance and accounting. During this time Diontha worked as a registered representative with AIM Management Group (now Invesco) and Fidelity Investments. Several years ago she decided to pursue her interest in Human Resources and opted for a career change. For the past four years she has enjoyed working as a Human Resources Representative for St. Jude Medical. In 2009, she was nominated for 3 excellence awards by her St. Jude Medical peers.
She joined AHRMA six years ago and shortly after took part in the Mentoring Program and began volunteering on the Diversity Committee. She served as VP Diversity in 2007 and 2008. During her tenure as VP Diversity, she conducted a diversity survey and coordinated the Building a Pipeline of Diverse Talent Fair. Over the years she has been very fortunate to meet and work with many talented and remarkable people while serving AHRMA.
In addition, Diontha also has been honored to serve her community as a member of the Texas Diversity Council’s Central Texas Advisory Board and the American Red Cross of Central Texas Human Resources Committee. She is a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Greater Austin Forum for Diversity and Inclusion (GAFDI).
She and her partner, Bennie, live in Round Rock, Texas with their children, Asha and Amon. In their spare time, they enjoy travelling, trying new recipes and playing Rock Band.
