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
Nick Drinker, President
Nick has served as the Granite State HR Conference Board Exhibitor Chair for eight years before becoming its current president. He has also been on several HR association boards since 1999. He is currently Managing Director, Sales and Marketing for Granite Group Benefits, LLC in Manchester and prior to GGB was a VP of sales and marketing for Lee Hecht Harrison's Manchester, NH office.
Lisa Descheneau, Vice President
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.
Connie Roy-Czyzowski, Past President
Connie is the Vice President, Human Resources, for Northeast Delta Dental. With over 25 years of experience in HR, Connie is active with and has served as President of the Manchester Area Human Resources Association, as well as the HR Association – Greater Concord; both are local chapters of the Society for Human Resource Management. Connie has a Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification and she is a Certified Compensation Professional. Connie was awarded the ‘HR Hero’ Award at the Granite State Human Resources Annual Conference in 2003 and chaired both the 2006 and 2007 GSHR Annual Conference for HR professionals throughout New Hampshire.
Debra “Deb” Tuttle, M. Ed., Secretary
Deb Interacts with numerous companies nationally as a result of her expansive network through professional associations. She contributes her time locally in community service and “goes above and beyond” when coaching career professionals. She President-Elect of the Seacoast Human Resource Association and the NH SHRM State Council, Workforce Readiness Chair for Manchester HR Assn. and Secretary of the Granite State Human Resource Conference. Deb brings sounds business solutions to her clients.
Dottie O’Gorman, Treasurer
Dottie is HR/Training Manager for Granite State Credit Union. GSCU serves residents and employees in the State of New Hampshire, with branch locations in Manchester, Nasua, Amherst, Candia and the newest branch to open in Concord in May of 2008. Dottie has served on the board for NHRA for three years as Treasurer and is a member of SHRM and MAHRA. She has been a member of the Granite State Human Resources Conference Committee for four years.
Anne Vallette, Exhibitor Chair
Anne is a Senior Account Executive with New England Medical Insurance Agency, LLC. Her office is located in Chelmsford, MA but works with clients primarily in MA, ME, NH but has accounts throughout the country. In her role at Senior Account Executive, Anne focuses on creating employer benefit packages that fit the client’s bottom line but keeping in them in mind their employees needs. Anne is the current President of the Seacoast Human Resource Association (SHRA), Exhibitor Chair for the 2008 Granite State HR Conference and member of the Greater Beverly Board of Directors.
Committee Members: Yola DeDominicis, Shari Marston, and Gordon Woodfall
Janis (Jan) Smith, HR Hero Chair
Jan has been actively involved in the Human Resource Community throughout her sixteen year tenure (as a Recruiter) with Adecco (formerly Olsten). Jan has served on the Seacoast Human Resource Board of Directors and been a Membership chair for the past 5 years she has been Granite State Conference Committee, this year chairing the Hero Award committee.
Committee Members: Allison Kivikoski and Mara Olisky
Jim Whitmore, Resource Management Chair
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.
Committee Members: Lisa Descheneau and Joan Ford
Robin J. Pullo, Program Chair
Robin is Human Resources Manager at Granite State Independent Living (GSIL). Chosen as the 2007 Non-Profit of the Year by NH Business Magazine, GSIL provides core services to help people with disabilities live independently. Robin brings to GSIL over 17 years of human resources experience. She obtained her PHR in December of 2005, and has been a SHRM member since 2003. Robin is also a member of the HRA-GC chapter and serves as Communication Representative for the PR/Marketing Committee. This is the second year Robin has been active with GSHRC. Last year she was a member of both programming and marketing, and this year Chair of the Program Committee.
Committee Members: Lisa Descheneau, Lynda Gianopoulos, Alison Kivikoski and Melissa Fleming
Patti Kallander, PR/Marketing Chair
Patti is the HR Administrator at the Union Leader Corporation, where she has worked since 1988. Before joining the Union Leader, she worked in advertising and marketing for Raytheon. She began at the UL in the Circulation Department and was asked to join the HR Department in June of 1992. Patti has a generalist background, with a current focus on staffing, HRIS management, employee and labor relations; and has a degree in Business Administration. She has been a member of NHRA for several years and has served in many capacities including Programs and Professional Development, Secretary, President-Elect, and 2-year terms as President and Past-President of the NH Affiliate and is currently their Marketing Director. Patti has also served on NHRA’s National Board as a member of the Executive Committee for three years. She has also been active in the Granite State HR Conference, serving on its Steering Committee for two years and as Program Chair in 2003.
Committee Members: Donna Marcin
Tracy Jordan, Information Management Chair
Tracy is Human Resource Administrator at the Monarch School of New England. The Monarch School is located in Rochester, NH and serves students between the ages of 5 and 21 years of age with severe physical and developmental disabilities, those who are medically fragile and student with behaviors. Tracy has been a member of SHRA for since 2002 and volunteers her time on the Membership Committee. Tracy has also been a volunteer on the GSHRC for the past three years. In June of 2006 she received her Professional in Human Resources credentialing from The Society of Human Resource Management.
Dawn Barker, Succession Planning Chair
Dawn is VP of Human Resources has been employed at RiverWoods at Exeter, a continuing care retirement community located in Exeter, NH for the last 8 years. Prior to joining the RiverWoods’ team, Dawn’s experience was in recruiting and general Human Resource practice. Dawn received her Senior Professional in Human Resources credentialing from The Society of Human Resource Management in the Spring of 2006. Dawn has a bachelor’s degree in Marketing from Bentley College. She is greatly pursuing a Master’s degree in Organizational Leadership from Southern New Hampshire University.
Joel Moran, Finance Chair
Joel Moran is Human Resources Manager for McDevitt Trucks, Inc., a Heavy Truck dealership located in Manchester, NH. Joel has been a member of MAHRA since 2003 and serves as their Asst. Treasurer. This is Joel's first year serving on the GSHRC committee.
Committee Members: Dottie O’Gorman and Marsha Matzkin
2007 Marketing Messages
About GSHRC 