The Conference Committee is committed to providing a venue that stimulates thinking, generates new ideas, offers timely and relevant information and opportunities for networking to enhance the professional development of HR professionals and their colleagues. We accomplish this by selecting high quality speakers and seminar presenters who have national stature and expertise in their field. Participants will also have access to products and programs available through business partners representing benefits providers,training sources, recruitment resources, and may other HR related vendors.

Collaborating Partners

Greater Merrimack Valley Human Resource Association (GMVHRA)
Greater Monadnock SHRM
Greater Nashua Human Resources Association (GNHRA)
Human Resources Association—Greater Concord (HRA-GC)
Manchester Area Human Resources Association (MAHRA)
National Human Resources Association—NH Affiliate (NHRA-NH)
NH State Council (SHRM)
River Valley Human Resources Association
Seacoast Human Resources Association (SHRA)

Mission
By planning, organizing, and delivering a high standard, timely, and industry relevant conference to human resource professionals and their colleagues, the Granite State Human Resources Conference is committed to providing a venue that stimulates the acquisition, transfer, and enhancement of knowledge, professional development, increased social capital, and enhanced networks. This is accomplished through securing high quality program and seminar presenters; providing access to industry specific vendors; and engaging in support activities.

Conference Committee

Anne Vallette, President

Anne is currently employed with CGI Employee Benefits Group as a Senior Benefits Consultant – with 19 years of experience working for an insurance consultant as well as an insurance carrier, she has a very unique perspective on Industry Trends and Market Positioning that has been invaluable to her Clients and their employees.

Anne understands the needs of employer groups of all sizes and is committed to providing her clients with immediate as well as long term planning initiatives. She looks to create and maintain a long term partnership with her clients with her dedication to her clients in all of their benefit and HR needs. Anne has been very active in the HR community. Serving as President of the Granite State Human Resource Conference, Treasurer of the Seacoast HR Chapter, having served as President; and most recently awarded the SHRM State Council of NH's Outstanding HR Volunteer of the year for 2011.

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Lisa Descheneau, Past President, and Finance Chair

Lisa is Director of Human Resources at The Mental Health Center of Greater Manchester. She has been there for 10+ years. Prior experience includes Generalist at St. Paul's School and Loral Microwave FSI. She received her MBA in 2006 from Southern New Hampshire University and a BA in Human Resources Management in 1997 from Southern New Hampshire University.

 

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Vicki Kress, Secretary

Vicki is the Human Resource Manager at Sabbow and Companies, Inc. in Concord. She has been with Sabbow for just a few months, prior to that she worked as the Director of Administration for both Child Health Services in Manchester and Harbor Homes.in Nashua. She received her MS in Non-profit Management from New England College in 2006. She is a founding board member of Media Power Youth and is a member of the board of Northeast Deaf and Hard of Hearing Services.

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Jim Whitmore, Treasurer

Jim is the director of human resources for Southern New Hampshire University located in Manchester, NH. Jim has been a member of the Manchester Area Human Resources Association (MAHRA) since 1992 and has served on the Board in various capacities. Currently, Jim is the vice president of membership services for the association. Jim received his Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification in June of 2006.

 

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Shari Marston, Exhibitor Chair

Shari moves into the role of Chair for the 2010 Conference after being on the Exhibitor committee for the past six (6) years; and participating on the Programs committee for one (1) year.  She has been a liaison from the National Human Resources Association – New Hampshire Affiliate (NHRA-NH) to the Granite State Human Resources Conference for the past seven (7) years. Shari has been a member of NHRA-NH for 19 years, and has held various board positions with the organization for most of those years, most recently as President.  Shari has over 20 years of progressively responsible human resources experience as a solo practitioner/generalist.  She has been the Human Resources Manager for Degree Controls, Inc. in Milford, New Hampshire for the past five (5) years. 

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Laurie Glaude, HR Hero Chair

Laurie Glaude, PHR, is currently Director of Human Resources, Allard Nazarian Group. As a Human Resources Professional for more than twenty years Laurie Glaude has broad expertise in providing strategy, direction and innovative solutions to today’s complex business environments.  She is a strategist who has been instrumental in bringing organizations to the next level. A strong and dynamic communicator, her major strengths include training and development. Her breadth of experience crosses many industries including manufacturing, grocery retail and wholesale distribution, non-profit and human services.

Her experience encompasses employee relations, benefit administration, compensation programs, training and development, safety programs and federal and state labor compliance.  Her strong belief in perspective, inclusion and creative thinking was instrumental in developing programs that continued to bring the organizations she has served successfully forward, maximizing human capital while mindful of the bottom line.

Laurie began her career as a Human Resources Manager with Shaw’s Supermarkets where she was responsible for recruitment and training of all employees.  She initiated and developed strategies for benefit administration, labor management systems and employee relations. She ultimately became responsible for auditing human resources practices for both New Hampshire and Vermont market areas.

One of her major accomplishments was the development and ultimately piloting an HR structure for the Northeast Region market area.  This model was approved and implemented and expanded to all regions.

She later joined The Associated Grocers of New England where she was the Director of Human Resources and Safety.   She continued to develop innovative and successful programs that contributed to the success of the organization, confirming the company’s mission and fostering a positive environment.  She developed a company training “University” which resulted in a catalog of leadership, public speaking, compliance and skills training for all levels within the organization without excessive cost.  While there she also developed value added member-training programs.  Her development of comprehensive safety programs and policies resulted in a significant reduction of workers compensation costs.  Her leadership skills fostered and nurtured a staff that helped implement safety training, compliance and retail management.

Laurie has dedicated her professional life to Human Resources.  She is a mentor for many HR Professionals and has presented seminars on developing HR careers, for the Women’s Leadership Summit, Manchester Area Human Resources Association, HR Boot Camp, MetroWest HR Association and at Southern New Hampshire University. 
She is an active member of her community and sits on a number of boards for non-profit agencies, most notably Child Health Services of Manchester. She has previously served on the University of New Hampshire Advisory Board and currently serves on the board of the American Nystagmus Network, a national organization for individuals with visual disabilities and served as its president. Laurie attended Southern New Hampshire University and is a Professional in Human Resources, holding certification with Human Resources Certification Institute; she is a licensed health and life producer. She is a current board member of Manchester Area Human Resources Association and the State HR Council of NH.  In May of 2010 Laurie was the recipient of the Granite State HR Hero Award. 

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Amy Cann, Resource Management Chair

Amy Cann, Human Resources Manager at Laars Heating Systems Co, located in Rochester, NH. She has a B.A. in HR Management & Psychology and is currently working on her MBA through Southern NH University. She has been in the HR & Safety field for 12 years and obtained her SPHR certification in 2008. Aside from the GSHRC board, she is also the Certification Chair on the HR State Council of NH. She enjoys spending time with her daughter, pets, and volunteering with several local animal welfare organizations.

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Fran Lefavour, Program Chair

Fran Lefavour has 30+ years of Human Resource experience. She started FPL Consulting in 1991 and sold that business to Leddy HR in 2000. She currently consults under Leddy HR. She has served on the DOL Wage & Hour Appeals Board, NH Workers’ Compensation Appeals Board, NH Public Employee Labor Relations Board and is a member of the Seacoast Human Resources Group and SHRM.

P.S. - She refuses to be photographed!

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Open Position, Succession Planning Chair

 

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Silvia McCarron, NH SHRM State Council – Ad-hoc Member

Silvia is the Executive Director at Wadleigh, Starr & Peters, PLLC, a general practice law firm in Manchester. Silvia has 18+ years of Management and Human Resource Management experience, working in organizations in New York City and New Hampshire. She has a B.A. and is certified as Senior Professional in Human Resources through the Society for Human Resource Management Certification Institute. Silvia is the Director-Elect of the NH HR State Council, an affiliate of the Society for Human Resource Management. She has volunteered her time serving on the State Council Board for several years, as well as being active on the Board for the Seacoast Human Resources Association and participating statewide in Workforce Readiness initiatives. In 2010 Silvia was named the NH HR State Council HR Volunteer of the year.

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Stefa Normantas, Event Coordinator

Stefa Normantas - As co-owner of Green Tree Event Consultants, Stefa brings over 20 years of diverse marketing and communication experience including event management, advertising, account management, public relations, editorial, and design to her clients. Stefa holds a dual undergraduate degree in Communications/Studio Art and masters degree in Communications Management from Simmons College, Boston, Massachusetts. Stefa is the founding president of the Maine Marketing Association, a member of the Maine Public Relations Council, and former president of the Ad Club of Maine. Stefa and her husband, Frank, have four children.