CHRLS Alumni Association Board of Directors

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1 Each year the Alumni Association of the CHRLS directs a variety of activities, including a series of Professional Development Workshops, the Mentoring Program, and the HR Tomorrow Conference. The Board is pictured above, from left: Karen Phang, Eric Shaughnessy, Michele Ramirez, Sarah McDowell, Colleen Doherty, Steve Lewis, Sheila Kramer, Larry Bourgerie, Pat Stone, and Carla Smith. Not pictured are Adam Kahle, Ellen Kleiner, Leander LeSure, Maureen Mullikin, Robert Smith and Carla Zachman. Larry Bourgerie, SPHR, 89 There were several key reasons I chose to attend the HRIR program at the University of Minnesota, said Larry Bourgerie. Those reasons include the quality of the program and faculty, the focus of the program, and the reputation of the University, the Carlson School and the CHRLS. Bourgerie graduated in 1989 from the full-time program, and owns his own firm, Bourgerie Consulting, as well as working as an adjunct instructor at the University of Minnesota and University of St. Thomas. Bourgerie found that the program gave him a solid foundation in all HR functions, and a systems perspective of HR, which has been invaluable, he said. The program gave me access to the CHRLS and its vast resources, which I have continued to leverage throughout my career. Bourgerie joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors so I could give back. As in most volunteer opportunities I find that we get more than we give. I ve had the opportunity to work with some topnotch HR professionals, as well as the CHRLS staff and faculty, he said. His advice to current students? Get involved in outside activities, he recommends. The CHRLS has a number of programs that offer this opportunity. In addition, students should get involved in student organizations such as IPX and the local SHRM chapter, he said.

2 Colleen Doherty, 06 My decision to change professions and pursue a career in HR coincided with my move back home to Minnesota, said Colleen Doherty. I was thrilled to be able to attend such a well-respected program and yet still remain in my own backyard. Doherty graduated in 2006 from the part-time program, and currently works as a Human Resources Generalist for Holiday Companies. She previously worked as a mental health professional, so I think the MA-HRIR program not only prepared me for a position in HR, but did a great job of providing a business-minded education that encompassed much more than just HR, she said. The time and effort I put into the coursework and program was invaluable to my career, she reflected. Doherty s decision to join the Alumni Association Board of Directors was spurred by a desire to stay connected with the school and the program. She offers this advice to current students: We all know the market is tough right now, but don t let the challenge keep you from pursuing opportunities that are the right fit for you. Getting caught up in the competition for positions through on-campus recruiting is not the right fit for everyone and it s important to know what you want out of your next position. Ellen Kleiner, 07 Ellen Kleiner graduated from the full-time program in 2007, and chose to attend the MA-HRIR program because I had been involved in Industrial and Organizational Psychology research and wanted to apply that knowledge in a practical setting, she said. I applied to two different HR programs, and the one here at the University of Minnesota had the best reputation. Kleiner found the program prepared her well for a career in HR. The program gave me the foundation of business and theory to be successful in human resources in a large organization, she said. Kleiner has worked for Eaton Corporation, Anheuser- Busch, the Hennepin County Government Center, and the University of Minnesota. She encourages current students to stay connected. Make sure you go to all the info sessions you can, she said, even after you get an internship or job. It is very useful for networking and you never know when those connections will be helpful to you. Sheila Kramer, 03 As a part-time student, Sheila Kramer already had an emerging career in HR. There is no doubt, however, she said, that the instruction I received and immediate learning I could apply toward my career enhanced my ability to aim and achieve higher career goals than otherwise would have been the case. Kramer is Vice President of HR Operations for Lifetouch Inc., and has also worked at ITT C o n s u m e r F i n a n c i a l Corporation, Carlson Companies and The Pillsbury Company. I chose the University of Minnesota because of its reputation for being among the top HRIR programs in the country, she said. I knew that the quality of education, instruction and program content would be exceptional which certainly was the case. Joining the Alumni Association Board of Directors was straightforward for Kramer. Quite simply, I wanted to give something back to the program, and the instructors and peers who were instrumental in helping me along the way, she stated. I d like to try and do the same for others. She has some blunt advice for current students. Do not do what I did (finish all of the coursework and not the final papers/presentations) resulting in re-applying, more coursework, more papers, and a significant delay in the satisfaction of the completion of all requirements, she recalls. Never, never, never quit!

3 Sarah McDowell, 03 Sarah McDowell did her homework before enrolling in the HRIR program at the University of Minnesota. The program was highly ranked in the nation and they were linked with the (Carlson School) MBA program, she said. I visited the Carlson School before I chose to attend the HRIR program, and was impressed by the students, professors and the facility. She graduated in 2003 from the full-time program and currently works as a Human Resources Manager with General Electric. She found that the program prepared her well for a career in HR. I was confident walking into a corporate business environment in an HR role because I felt I obtained a solid foundation of knowledge, she said. There was still that unknown of, am I ready to deal with what comes my way,? and it turned out I was. Joining the Alumni Association Board of Directors was a natural step for McDowell. I had been active with recruiting on campus for the past three years and wanted to take another step to give back to the program that gave so much to me, she said. It s also a great way to network with other HR professionals and former graduates of the program. Current students should never sell themselves short based on the experiences they ve had, she said. Much of what you go through personally and professionally can help you in the next step of your career, she advises. Eric Shaughnessy, 02 Living and working in Minnesota didn t stop Eric Shaughnessy from looking into master s programs across the country. When I started researching graduate HR programs I was already in Minnesota and I felt very fortunate when I learned that such a highly-regarded program was right here, he recalled. Specifically, I really valued the fact that the program was in the Business College and was in a major metropolitan area, when man y oth er to p -r an ked programs are not. Shaughnessy graduated in 2002 from the full-time program and is currently working for Datacard as an HR Business Partner. He previously worked for General Electric. He found the HRIR program helped prepare him for a career in HR. The MA-HRIR program provided the necessary foundation for a career in HR, and I felt a very natural transition into practicing what I learned in a professional setting, he said. Shaughnessy joined the Alumni Association Board of Directors because I wanted to get more involved with the CHRLS again, and give back by volunteering my time, he said. I also wanted to network with all the great alumni. He advises current students to make connections early and often. Start getting involved with Alumni events now, he said, and try to stay involved after you graduate.

4 Patrick Stone, 86 Pat Stone entered the MA-IR program right after graduating from college. I knew I wanted to go to graduate school and a friend s father told me about HR, and the Industrial Relations program at the University of Minnesota, he said. Stone graduated in 1986 from the full-time program and works as a Vice President of HR at Wells Fargo. He s also worked at Target Corporation and U.S. Bank. I knew nothing about HR since I entered the program right out of college, he recalled. The IR program provided both practical and theoretical information about the discipline of HR that would have taken me a long time to acquire, had I just started working in HR. The school also provided access to internships and job opportunities in the field, he said. Becoming a member of the Alumni Association Board of Directors also came through a referral. A former Board member and colleague of mine told me about the opportunity, Stone said. I attended the HR Tomorrow Conference a couple of times and had always been impressed with the content of the program. I am a big fan of the University of Minnesota and was looking for a way to stay connected, he said. Stone has some beneficial advice for current students. Take advantage of all the school has to offer you, he says. If you are interested in a particular field, or already have experience in a particular HR discipline, utilize your graduate school opportunity to broaden your knowledge of HR. You never know when or where an opportunity may arise. You may discover an area of HR that appeals to you that you didn t know about before, he advises. Carla Zachman, 04 Carla Zachman found the MA-HRIR program at the University of Minnesota to be the gold standard of curriculum and opportunities to build not only my human resources skill set, but my business and leadership acumen, she said. Zachman, who graduated from the full-time program in 2004, currently works as a Talent Development Manager for The Walgreen Company. She has previously worked at Honeywell, Thomson Reuters, Target and Oberon Consulting. She believes the program prepared her well for an HR career. The program provided me with a vast array of tools that has allowed me to be functional and successful in a variety of HR forums, she said, such as talent development, organizational effectiveness, talent acquisition, employee relations and training. She offers some important advice to current students. At the end of the day, you build relationships with your business partners as well as establish yourself as a trusted HR leader when you can articulate the business case for human resources, she said. As cliché as it may sound, by developing your business acumen and translating it into HR support, you will quickly build trust and support.

5 Steve Lewis, 88 While taking his undergraduate program business courses, Steve Lewis discovered that he most enjoyed the people aspect of things. After playing drums professionally for several years, he wanted to shift gears back to business. I decided to look into HR masters programs and loved what I learned about the U of M s Industrial Relations Center, now the Center for Human Resources and Labor Studies, he said. With his only leadership experience that of running a show orchestra on a cruise ship, Steve knew he d have difficulty finding a job in a new area. The IRC provided me with the best grounding I could have in HR and labor knowledge and practices, he said. It gave me a fantastic education that has served over and over in my profession. There is no way I could have had as successful a career as I m now enjoying without the strong programming and teaching I received. He joined the CHRLS AA for the second time having served previously in the 1990 s to give back to the program that gave me so much. I have made some of my most enjoyable and beneficial relationships through my association with the Board and its network, he said. Steve has some great advice for current students. Make the most of your time in the program, he said. Learn from one another as well as through your classes. Be involved with the extra offerings outside of the classes, and make sure you start developing relationships with employers who come to campus. But most of all, he said, have fun and enjoy the experience. I know I look back at my time in the program with fond memories. Karen Phang, 98 While working on her liberal arts undergraduate degree, Karen Phang knew she needed the technical HR knowledge to be competitive in the job market. The majority of HR job descriptions I referenced strongly preferred candidates with a masters degree, she said. Phang enrolled in the part-time program and worked for Medtronic and St. Jude Medical before joining AGA Medical. The MA-HRIR program prepared me very well for my career in human resources, she said. I chose to attend the part-time program while working full-time. This allowed me to apply in real time much of what I was learning in the classroom. Joining the CHRLS Alumni Association Board was a great way to reconnect with HR professionals in the Twin Cities after she d relocated to the west coast for four years. And, she said, it s been a good way to give back to the University. Any advice for current students? Take advantage of the MBA courses, Phang said. Begin to build your business acumen early!