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2022 EIHRA Board
President
Vacant
President-Elect
Sarah Brown
Past-President
Heather Golden is currently the Human Resource Director at Lynch Dallas, P.C., a law firm in Cedar Rapids. Heather is a human resource professional with over 15 years of experience in payroll, human resources analysis/consulting and benefits compliance. She also has 6 years of successful corporate legal assistant experience working in Chicago, Illinois. Ms. Golden holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Sociology/Criminology from Northern Illinois University and a graduate level Lawyer’s Assistant certificate from Roosevelt University. In 2016, Ms. Golden received her Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional designation and is entering her 4th year on the Eastern Iowa Human Resources Association board.
Treasurer
Barb Schulte is the Manager, Human Resources with Kinze Manufacturing, Inc. and previously worked in the healthcare industry for 20+ years, starting in the finance department then moving into the HR Manager role where she built the HR department. Her passion in HR is with strategic planning, developing systems and programs, analytics, compliance, and training. She has been a member of EIHRA since 2013, is SPHR and SHRM-SCP certified. She has lived in the Cedar Rapids area for most of her life and enjoys traveling and spending time with her family.
Secretary
Valerie Burns is currently the Human Resource Manager at Iowa Fluid Power in Cedar Rapids. Valerie worked with software training and implementation while finishing her Human Resource Management degree at Upper Iowa University. Since graduation, she has spent the last fourteen years at IFP, and has served on the EIHRA board for the past three, as the Certification Chair. Val is also active in fitness and bicycling, as well as keeping busy with her high school daughter’s volleyball and church activities. Val is looking forward to the new year with EIHRA and also will be serving on the State SHRM Board as the Foundation Director.
2022 EIHRA Committee Chairs
Certification Chair
Katie Symmonds attained her master’s degree from Louisiana Tech University in Industrial Organizational Psychology. After graduation, she started her Human Resources career with Goodwill Industries of North Louisiana as a Compliance Specialist. After moving back to the Midwest, she started working for MidWestOne Bank. At MidWestOne Bank, Katie enjoys building relationships with business partners to better serve their needs and support the strategic direction and culture of the organization. More recently, Katie acquired her Senior Certified Professional Certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. Outside of work, Katie volunteers her time at the Friends of the Animal Center Foundation and for Girls on the Run as an assistant coach.
Membership Co-Chairs
Jodi Ames is currently at Lesaffre Yeast as an HR generalist. She’s responsible for the recruiting, onboarding, training and many other tasks for all 4 business units on the Lesaffre Cedar Rapids campus for a total of about 225 employees.
She’s especially proud of the work she’s done in streamlining onboarding processes to ensure that each employee has the knowledge and training necessary to start their work with the company. She recently obtained both her PHR and SHRM-CP certification and is committed to continued learning and growth within her own HR competencies. She enjoys meeting new applicants and learning something new every day from them.
In her free time she enjoys volunteering with Waypoint’s domestic violence department, running, yoga, spending time with her great Dane puppy, Magic, and husband, Sam.
Krista Even joined EIHRA in 2019 and is looking forward to co-chairing the Membership Chair. She has spent 13 years with AEGON Asset Management and Transamerica in various HR roles. She is joining the HR team at Nordstrom in early 2021.Outside of work, Krista enjoys traveling, going to kids activities, margaritas, and re-decorating and organizing her home. Please reach out if you have any questions about becoming an EIHRA member or rejoining EIHRA.
PR/Networking Chair
Sue Wilber is currently an HR Specialist at the United States Probation Office. Upon graduation from Wartburg College, she began her career as a federal bank examiner with FDIC. She quickly learned that people rather than numbers was her passion and has been in human resources ever since, both in private and public sector. She received her MBA from the University of Dubuque, and is always on the lookout for opportunities to learn and grow. She has been an EIHRA board member for 10 years, serving in a variety of roles. Sue lives in Center Point and stays busy with 3 active kids.
Student Liaison Chair
Amber White is currently the Director of Human Resources at Stamats Communications, Inc. At Stamats, she is an HR department of one and wears many hats in her day-to-day role. She received her bachelor’s degree from Purdue University and realized her passion was in the HR side of management. She started her career at GoDaddy.com and progressed through many roles there before leaving in 2019 and finding Stamats. “It has been the best thing finding Stamats, I am able to dive into the company strategy and still be on the first line of helping employees with questions.” She has been a member of EIHRA for 2 years and looking forward to the Student Liaison Chair.
Outside of the Stamats walls, Amber lives in Cedar Rapids with her two very active children. She enjoys cheering her children on with their activities, trying new recipes, gardening and is looking forward to adding urban chickens to her backyard this Spring.
Workforce Readiness Chair
Melissa Silver is the Business Development Specialist for Iowa Vocational Rehabilitation Services, an agency within the State of Iowa. She has worked in human services for over 20 years and served marginalized communities in the area of workforce readiness for most of that time. Her favorite part of her job is being a bridge between businesses and the right job candidate.
Communications/Newsletter Chair
Programs
Jill Lange is an Account Executive in the Employee Benefits Consulting Practice at Cottingham & Butler and has been with the organization for 3 years. Currently, Jill leads her experienced team on providing solutions for employers in the areas of cost-containment strategies, communication approaches, wellness solutions, creating HR efficiencies, compliance needs, alternate funding methods, and much more. Jill’s top priorities include new business development and overseeing the relationships with existing clients in helping to build strategic employee benefits programs. Jill enjoys the fast paced environment of Human Resources and the sturdy foundation it provides for the entirety of the business. Jill is a graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business and currently pursuing her Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS) designation. This is Jill’s third year serving the board, and looking forward to her role in the Programs Chair in 2022.
Diversity Chair
Anthony Arrington was born in Cedar Rapids, Iowa. He is a University of Iowa graduate with a BA in Communications Studies, and a Certified Diversity Executive. He has held leadership, training, or consulting roles in multiple organizations throughout his career. He has a decade of combined recruiting experience leading call centers recruiting on college campuses, managing boutique staffing firms, and recruiting for large organizations and now owns Top Tank Staffing Solutions. As an advocate for diversity, equity, inclusion, and engagement, Anthony has worked with organizations to motivate a change in culture through crucial conversations and learning. He helps leaders transform their thinking, understand the value of EDI&E, and embrace their role as intentional drivers of this mindset throughout the fabric of their organization. He is a sought-after presenter, and co-host of “Diversity Straight Up”, a podcast that premiered in 2019. He is very involved in his community, serving on multiple non-profit boards and committees. He enjoys collaborating on initiatives that advance EDI&E for under-served populations.