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

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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Anne Vallette, President

Anne decided to join CGI Employee Benefits Group as a Senior Benefits Consultant after 13 years with NEMIA, New England Medical Insurance Agency.  Her successful career at NEMIA along with 5 years experience with Rogers Benefit Group, a marketing arm of Principal Mutual Life Insurance Company, gives her 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.

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Vicki Kress, Secretary

Vicki is the Director of Administration for Child Health Services here on Elm Street in Manchester. She has been at Child Health Services for 5 years and prior to that served as the Director of Administration at 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 continues to serve on their board 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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Jean Irvine, HR Hero Chair

 

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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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Cameron Shilling, Program Chair

Cameron chairs McLane's Employment Litigation Group. His expertise is in complex business litigation, particularly employment and intellectual property disputes. He is adept at handling trade secrets and non-competition lawsuits, commercial and employment contract cases, employment discrimination and harassment, complex electronic discovery
issues, and matters under Title VII, the Americans with Disabilities Act and Family and Medical Leave Act. Cameron also counsels employers with respect to risk management issues, and he creates and implements electronic data management policies and procedures. He has an active practice in New Hampshire and Massachusetts, and litigates cases throughout New England and around the country.

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Jason Blais, PR/Marketing Chair

Jason brings more than 15 years of marketing, PR, and business development experience to the Granite State HR Conference Board, most with media companies.  During his time with JobsInTheUS, the parent company of JobsInNH, Jason built the largest event marketing presence in New England, and was a regular speaker on Recruitment Advertising at local SHRM chapters and through Webinars which attracted Fortune 1000 companies across the US.  Jason joined First Advantage Corporation, the nation's leading recruitment technology provider, in January 2010, and now consults with mid-market and enterprise organizations across the Northeast US.  He has been a member of SHRM for 6 years, and is currently a member of the Greater Monadnock SHRM (Keene), HR Association of Southern Maine (Portland, ME), and the HR Association of Western New England (Springfield, MA). 

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Dawn Barker, Succession Planning Chair

I have had the privilege of being a part of RiverWoods at Exeter, a continuing care retirement community located in Exeter, NH for the last 8 years.  I received my NH administrators’ license and SPHR credentialing from The Society of Human Resource Management.  I have a bachelor’s degree in and currently pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership.  I have lived in New Hampshire for the majority of my life and never plan to leave.   I share my life with my husband and two daughters.  I love to learn new things, read, cook and spend time outside with my family.

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Debra Tuttle, M.Ed., NH SHRM State Council – ad hoc

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Charla B. Stevens, Board Member

In her practice at McLane, Charla represents individuals and small business clients regarding litigated and non-litigated matters and provides consultation to these clients in  conjunction with  a variety of employment issues such as sexual harassment, personnel policy manuals, wage and hour issues, labor audits, discrimination claims and termination and discipline of employees. She is also available to conduct in-house management and harassment training as well as
self-audits for companies who want to evaluate their personnel practices. She has extensive background and experience representing professionals such as attorneys and mental health professionals before licensing and disciplinary boards and in malpractice litigation. She also handles domestic relations matters to include divorce, custody and adoption. She has tried numerous contested cases to conclusion and is a strong advocate of mediation as a means of resolving disputes. Her litigation background includes practice in state and federal courts and before numerous administrative agencies such as the Department of Labor, the New Hampshire Commission for Human Rights, and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission.

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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.