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Board of Directors
Links/Resources
President:
Cathy Gruver, SPHR
Secretary:
Angela Stein, PHR
Treasurer:
Alice Williams, PHR
Past President:
Sharon Hein
Members
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Jeanne Bussey - Jeanne has worked for Magellan Behavioral Health for 17 years. Starting out as a clinician at the Employee Assistance Program, she learned the value of offering counseling support to employees and dependents of Magellan's customer companies. Later she worked as the Quality Manager and presently works as an Account Executive serving many Valley customers. Prior to Magellan, Jeanne worked as a counselor for many years in Alaska's criminal justice system.
Jill Dean, SPHR - a Senior Partner with KMD Services and Consultants, specializes in employment law. Her focus is on integrating her legal knowledge, training and experience with HR practices and procedures to help businesses proactively avoid employment problems while facilitating their growth and prosperity. Ms. Dean received her Juris Doctor Degree from the University of Wisconsin Law School and has practiced law in Alaska for 25 years, most recently as a hearing attorney for the Alaska State Commission for Human Rights. She now offers employment law consulting services to Alaska businesses.
Ms. Dean provides a variety of services to help employers avoid liability and conform their business practices to the best business practices. She provides customized legal compliance audits, policy and procedure review and development, training and investigations to large and small, private and public businesses in Alaska. Ms. Dean’s knowledge of the current federal, state and local employment laws combined with her practical knowledge of day to day business practices makes her assistance practical and invaluable.
Ms. Dean is a member in good standing of the Alaska Bar Association including the Employment Law, Corporate Counsel and Alternative Dispute Resolution Sections, the Society of Human Resource Management, The Chugiak Eagle River Women in Business Association and the Chugiak and Palmer Chambers of Commerce.
John Duffy, PHR
Tom Englehart - Tom has been a Valley SHRM chapter member since 1998 and served as newsletter editor from 2003 - 2005. Currently Tom is the Communications Director for the Alaska State Council of SHRM. He is the General Manager for Magellan Health Services, the Employee Assistance Program (EAP) vendor to a number of Valley employers. Tom reports that his membership in SHRM has been very helpful in increasing his knowledge of the broad range of issues that HR professionals face on a daily basis.
Heidi Frost - She is a co-chair of the Training/Development Committee and a four year member of the Mat-Su Chapter. Heidi also volunteers as the Communications Director for the State Council of SHRM. Heidi has been the Business Liaison for Alaska Works Initiative, a position which allowed Heidi to provide information (free) and technical assistance to businesses who are willing to work with people with disabilities.
Sharon Hein
Cathy Gruver, SPHR - Chapter President. Cathy has been the Human Resource Director at CCS Early Learning since 1995. Previously she was the HR Director for a large state-wide law firm for ten years and spent 7 years in federal civil service. She has been a SHRM member since 1990, received her SPHR in 1993, an AA from UAA in 2001 and a BA in Organizational Management from Alaska Pacific University in 2004. She has served on the board of directors for the Anchorage chapter and currently is the Chapter President for the Mat-Su Valley Chapter. Cathy has lived in Alaska since 1964.
Paula Harrison, SPHR - Paula has worked in human resources for 23 years. She has her BA degree from the University of Colorado and her MA Degree in Management from Webster University in St. Louis , MO. She has been a member of SHRM since 1983. She currently serves as the Compliance Manager for the Municipality of Anchorage responsible for the Drug and Alcohol Program, ADA, and FMLA compliance.
Lynette Hedrick, CRPC - Lyn is a Financial Advisor with Waddell & Reed, a national financial services organization. She helps organizations establish and maintain benefits programs, such as retirement plans and group insurance. She also conducts financial education workshops for employers and their employees. She is a Chartered Retirement Planning Counselor (CRPC) and also has a Bachelor of Business Administration in Finance, with emphasis in Accounting from UAA. She has more than 14 years experience in the financial and insurance industry, including 11 years with Waddell & Reed. Prior to her current position, she worked in the banking industry and as a Senior Accountant/Cash Manager in Anchorage. Lyn is also a member of Wasilla Chamber of Commerce.
Jay Johnson - Jay entered the U.S Army in 1983, and has held various positions of increasing responsibility for more than 20 years in the HR field. He has served at the following locations: Fort Clayton, Republic of Panama; Denver, Colorado; Camp Zama, Japan; Columbia, SC; Fairbanks and Anchorage, Alaska. Jay received his commission as a Second Lieutenant from Officer Candidate School in January 1992. He received his MBA in Human Resources Management from Touro University International; and received his BS in Business Administration, University of South Carolina, Columbia, SC. His other honors and recognition include: Selected as a Member of the 1998 International WHO’S WHO of Professional Management; Member, Chi Delta Chi National Honor Society; Member, Golden Key National Honor Society. After serving his country for more than 20 years, Jay retired from the US Army in Palmer with his wife Erica. Since 2004, he has held the position of Senior HR Representative for FedEx Express in Anchorage, concentrating on Employee Relations
Cathy Kellegher - Cathy is from Montana and attended Carroll College in Helena. Prior to moving to Alaska, she served as the Human Resources Director at Marias Medical Center in Shelby, MT. In her position at Valley Hospital, Cathy deals with aspects of labor relations that include negotiations, grievance settlement, and contract administration. She is also studying for her bachelor's degree in Business Administration with a focus on Human Resources through Capella University.
Heidi Kelley, SPHR - While living in Gainesville, Florida, Heidi worked for a consulting engineering firm, CH2M HILL, putting together bid specification packages and performing some secretarial work. Later she transferred to the “Personnel” Department, returning to college while working full-time. She earned her business degree (with a concentration in Finance) in 1989, and CH2M HILL relocated her the next year to a trainee position as a Regional Administrative Manager in Anchorage. For the next 8 years, she mastered various roles, all of which involved human resources. Her original plan to promote to another position ‘outside’ after two years in Anchorage, however, her plan was altered when she fell in love with Alaska. Since September 1998, she has worked as an HR Representative at Matanuska Electric Association. Her work involves recruiting, training, employee relations, supervision, and labor law.
Elizabeth Larson, PHR - A charter member of the Mat-Su Valley Chapter of SHRM, she is also a past President, 1998-1999, and past Treasurer of the Chapter, 2000-2001, and 2003 Chapter President. Elizabeth is dedicated to the chapter and is the current Newsletter Chair and Foundation Chair. She is currently at Valley hospital in Human Resources working exclusively with employee benefits, seniority, and position control.
Reita Leonard- Reita Leonard has been the HR Assist at Alaska Job Corp since Sept of 2006, shortly after she moved to Alaska from Colorado. Before moving to the Mat-Su Valley she was the HR Director for a Fire District with approximately 130 employees in the Denver, CO area for over 20 years. She has handled labor relation issues, policy and procedure development and implementation, recruiting, testing of applicants, interviews, and orientation of new employees. Researched and purchased the benefit programs. She also researched and developed the request for bids to obtain the District physician and developed the Human Resource Department annual budget. Reita was responsible for determining the market wage for each position within the fire service, and she also developed a wage and benefit survey for the Colorado State Fire Chief’s Association, which is still used across the State of Colorado. She was a member of the Board for the Denver Regional Council of Governments for the Fire Service and assisted in selection of a written test for the consortium to provide to applicants. Reita has a bachelor’s degree in Business and has over 20 years of experience in the human resource field
Linda Myers-Steele, PHR - Linda has worked part-time for the City of Wasilla for the past six years mostly in the HR Department, and is also the owner of Evergreen Custom Picture Framing, Wasilla. Her interest in HR led her to the certification as a PHR. She holds an AA degree from UAA, and is a Certified Professional Secretary (CPS). Linda was employed by the Mat-Su Borough and Anchorage School Districts for 25 years as an Administrative Secretary. She is very active in community and non-profit organizations serving on Boards and Committees. Linda has lived in Alaska since 1963.
Don Shafer - Don has been an independent human resource consultant in the Valley for the past thirteen years. Since 1990, his consulting firm, Alaska Training & Development, has advised small companies on human resource issues, specializing in aiding companies in expanding from small informal organizations to organizations with a structure, policies, and procedures. Don is also an adjunct faculty member at Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University, University of Alaska Anchorage, Alaska Pacific University, and the University of Phoenix where he teaches graduate education courses online. His underlying educational philosophy was succinctly stated by Dugan Laird "There is more learning potential in every learner than there is wisdom to impart in any instructor." Don received his MS Ed in Instructional Technology and Curriculum Development for Adults from National University in 1988, his MBA from University of Alaska Anchorage in 1993, and his EdD in Administration, Training and Policy Studies with a subconcentration in Human Resource Education from Boston University in 1995. He was simultaneously enrolled in the MBA and EdD programs at different universities.
Dusty Silva - Dusty is the owner of Silva Insurance. She works with employers of all sizes to create benefit plans that work for them. As a broker, Dusty represents the employer, not the insurance carriers. In addition to insurance services, she also provides risk management services relating to employment law using compliance checks, implementation schedules, and supervisor training. Her areas of focus are FLSA, ADA, FMLA, COBRA, HIPPA, Sexual Harassment, Employee Handbook, and EEOC.
Angela Stein, PHR
Patricia Von Ah, SPHR - Patricia has worked in Human Resources management for more than 25 years, and is experienced in for-profit, non-profit, manufacturing, and government facilities, with the majority of her experience in the health care industry. Having managed the start up of three HR departments, she has had the opportunity to develop expertise in all areas of the field. She and her husband have enjoyed living and working in various parts of Alaska since 1992; however, she considers the Valley "home". Patricia earned her SPHR designation in 2002. She served as the Mat Su Chapter Legislative Chairperson in 2004.
Heather Wagner, PHR - Heather is the Staffing Manager for General Communication, Inc. (GCI.) She has over fifteen years of experience in the human resource field. She has worked in staffing and recruitment, employee and labor relations, compensation and benefits, and human resources information systems for both public and private employers. Heather has been a member of SHRM in Alaska since 1992. She is the Secretary/ Treasurer for the Northwest Human Resource Management Association, a Past Director of the SHRM Alaska State Council and is a Workforce Readiness Committee member. She is a Charter Member of the Mat-Su Valley Chapter of SHRM and was the Chapter President from 1996-1997. She also currently serves on the Alaska School Business Partnership Board. She has a BS in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources from Towson State University in Towson, Maryland. She received her PHR certification in 1993 from the Human Resources Certification Institute.
Donna Welch
Alice Williams, PHR - Alice is the Hospitality Chair and the Human Resources Manager for Alaska Job Corps Center. She has been employed at Alaska Job Corps Center since May 1998, when she was hired as an Accounting Clerk. Alice transferred to Human Resources Department in February 1999. Prior to moving to Alaska in 1996 Alice has held various positions, including Legal Secretary and Restaurant Manager.
