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NHRA ANNOUNCES ANNUAL AWARDS

At the National Board meeting held in Westlake Village, California in October 2005, the National Human Resources Association recognized some really exceptional individuals and organizations for their contributions this past fiscal year.

Phyllis Stiles-Martin Award

This award is named in honor of one of NHRA's founders and honors a member who has performed extraordinary service for the Association, has demonstrated outstanding dedication, service and contributions to NHRA on a national level and who services above and beyond normal responsibilities, which significantly contributes to the advancement of the NHRA’s status and visibility on a national level.

We were very pleased to announce that Heidi Steele, National Past-President, was honored with the Phyllis Stiles-Martin Award for her outstanding leadership and dedication as National President for 2 years running. She successfully led the organization through a very challenging period and did it with gusto! Heidi received a Waterford Crystal Bowl and trophy. Heidi is also a Past-President of the NHRA Orange County Affiliate.

Congratulations Heidi!

Heidi Steele (r) accepting award from Denise Harris

Member of the Year Award

Our National Member of the Year Award went to Page Daggett of the San Diego Affiliate. Page was President of her affiliate last year and did a fantastic job rebuilding the San Diego board and restoring NHRA-San Diego to its former glory as an outstanding NHRA affiliate. Page received a beautiful clock/plaque. Thank you for your contribution Page.

Kim Villaneuva, San Diego President and Anette Nelson, San Diego
President-Elect accept the award on behalf of Page (pictured at right)

Affiliate of the Year

The Affiliate of the Year Award honors affiliates who have demonstrated outstanding performance through their commitment to the growth and professional development of their membership, enhancement of the HR profession, support of the Association and it’s mission, and effective management of their Affiliate. The Board of Directors was honored to present this year's award to the St. Louis Affiliate. The affiliate leadership team has done a terrific job supporting NHRA goals and initiatives, have a dynamic web site full of helpful information and resources for their members and have done a great job marketing their affiliate in the St. Louis area. For a number of years, St. Louis has been one of the leading NHRA affiliates and has served as a great resource for other affiliates as well. Congratulations to the entire St. Louis leadership team.

Sara Paynter, President, NHRA-St. Louis (r) accepts the award

Corporate Recognition Award

This award recognizes an organization which has demonstrated significant support of NHRA, its affiliates and its members through contributions to professional development and career advancement, contribution of goods and services, sponsorship of events and/or financial support of the association's membership and activities. This year we were very pleased to honor Barney and Barney of San Diego for their outstanding support of the San Diego affiliate. Some of their many efforts including providing meeting space for board functions and providing their employee Catherine Botello, an NHRA-San Diego, with the support and resources needed to assist the affiliate with its regrowth efforts. The San Diego affiliate and the National Board of Directors want to thank Barney and Barney for their generous support of our organization. A beautiful plaque was presented to Barney and Barney at a local San Diego meeting.

Special Recognition

We also recognized a former affiliate President who has served as our National Board meeting facilitator for several of our 3-day National meetings. Marty Palecki has provided tremendous leadership, passion and motivation to our affiliate Presidents and National Board members for a long time. She was surprised with a beautiful crystal vase. We are very grateful for your outstanding facilitating skills, insight, and friendship Marty.

Marty Palecki (l) accepts her gift from NHRA

NHRA APPOINTS PRESIDENT-ELECT

The Executive Committee of the National Human Resources Association is very pleased to announce that Denise Harris (pictured above) has accepted the role of NHRA National President-Elect effective January 1, 2006. Denise has been in the human resources industry for 28 years. She holds a Bachelor's degree from Syracuse University and a Master's from San Jose State University. Denise's first job as a human resources professional was as Personnel Manger of northern California for a large retail chain, overseeing all aspects of the human resource function for 35 stores. From there, Denise joined the staffing industry and worked as a Regional Manager for some large firms before becoming an entrepreneur and operating her own multi-million dollar business, TRC Staffing Services in Thousand Oaks and Santa Barbara. In 2002, she decided to simplify her life and let others manage and own the business. Now working the Director of Business Development for Platinum Professionals in Thousand Oaks, Denise is able to concentrate on how best to serve the needs of her clients and her company.

Community involvement is a large part of serving those needs. Denise has been a member of and/or has served on the Board of Directors for such organizations as: SHRM, California Association of Temporary Services, Santa Barbara Human Resources Association, Westlake Village Chamber of Commerce, Employer Advisory Council, National Human Resources Association Ventura County Affiliate (9 years) and the Beverly Hills Chamber of Commerce Women's Business Network. Denise has been involved in the NHRA Ventura County since 1995. She got involved as a committee member right away helping on the Public Relations committee (for 2 years) which puts on the annual scholarship fundraiser and becomes the scholarship committee . She first served on the Board of Directors as Public Relations Chair in 1999 and 2000 under the leadership of Richard Folsom. Hospitality was the next area that Denise participated in during the 2002-2003 fiscal year. She also held the President-Elect and President positions in Ventura County in 2003-2005 and on July 1, 2005, stepped into the role as National's Executive Vice President of Membership Growth and Retention.

We are looking forward to continued growth and expansion under Denise's leadership. If you are interested in becoming involved at a local or national level and would like more information, please call our main office at 1-866-523-4417.

NHRA EXPANSION EFFORTS

NHRA is strategically focused on the start-up and development of new affiliates.  If there is not an NHRA affiliate located in your area, we'd love to hear from you. Click here for more information on starting an NHRA affiliate or contact us at 866-523-4417.