Makela McDermott; Jodi Fannin; Shelley DePalma; Kristen Irwin; HRC-Partners

Makela McDermott

Makela is a leader spearheading human resource initiatives that support strategic business results across nonprofit, retail, and healthcare. She is known for building consensus and buy-in among senior business leaders and employees alike. Makela is a Certified HR generalist who excels at leading positive change and increasing competitiveness while controlling costs. She is a strong senior leader with expertise in driving on-time, on-budget implementation of key solutions. Makela possess the demonstrated ability to streamline processes and effect improvement through auditing and benchmarking. She has helped to increase internal promotions, reduce turnover and saved companies from $50K to $450K in medical audits, from $20K to $1 million in process audits as well as $70K to $250K in contract reviews.

Makela created HR Consulting Partners LLC (HRC-Partners) after working in various industries, most of them in high-growth or high-volume modes. Through all these experiences, Makela saw several common traits among those successful organizations and teams, their focus on continuous process improvement, open communication and teamwork. In the last 15 years, she participated in Mergers & Acquisitions and Divestures teams as well as numerous project teams upgrading, selecting and implementing software, selecting vendors, outsourcing services, and centralizing and then de-centralizing shared services, designing compensation programs and managing benefit plans. She also enjoyed working closely with Executives during contract negotiations with SEIU, AFSCME and Teamsters.

Makela earned a Bachelor of Arts degree from Saint Vincent College and a Master's in Industrial and Labor Relations from Indiana University of Pennsylvania. She earned multiple certifications including: PHR, Process Management, Mediation and Facilitation of Change. Makela values her family and friends and enjoys many fond travel memories: at last count, she visited 35 states and 11 countries. Although no longer living in Pittsburgh, she remains an avid Steeler fan! She spends her remaining free time at the beach and volunteering for causes close to her heart.

Jodi Fannin

Jodi Fannin provides valuable insights to help businesses better understand the issues that prevent and inhibit success in the recruitment and retention arena. Her highly innovative approach to the analysis and customized solution plans demonstrate how positioning and planning for tomorrow's success gives her clients the advantage they need to compete in the market place.

Jodi brings twenty successful years of hands-on experience working in the recruitment industry with a high energy, common-sense approach. Among her significant accomplishments during her tenure as a Regional Director of Marketing for Sun Healthcare, Jodi and her team won the National Region of the Year Award for facility increase in occupancy resulting in a net income increase of $1.8 million dollars for Sun Healthcare.

Jodi then accepted the position of Corporate Director of Recruitment for Tandem Health Care. She successfully developed the recruitment department for this $684 million dollar healthcare organization. She reduced advertising, agency and outsourcing costs by $3 million dollars. As the new leader of the RCI RPO team, Jodi formed a Healthcare Division fulfilling major client recruitment contracts with Humana, HCA and other healthcare entities nationwide.

Jodi holds a Master’s of International Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, Florida. Jodi also earned her Professional Human Resources (PHR) Certification from the Society of Human Resources. Jodi is the Board Membership Chair for the South Brevard Society of Human Resource Management. She also volunteers for the Brevard Job Link's Emerge program, which provides career readiness training and work experience for young adults.

Jodi calls Florida her home and shares her life with a loving family which includes her husband and three retired grey hounds she rescued.

Kristen Irwin

Kristen Irwin is a Certified Professional in Human Resources (PHR) with over 15 years of progressive Human Resources management experience in both corporate and field locations as well as consulting. She is an accomplished HR professional with strong team building, leadership, communication and interpersonal skills. She is known for her ability to establish strong relationships with managers, supervisors, employees and the general public. Kristen utilized these skills to provide excellent customer service and negotiate and manage union contracts.

Kristen held multiple roles to include: HR Consultant, HR Director, Division HR Manager, Employee Relations Manager, Recruiter, and Temporary Staffing Specialist. She managed the HR functions for start-ups; rolled out new staffing programs; streamlined processes saving man hours and dollars; managed employee relations and union avoidance and advised management on EEO claims. Kristen has provided Human Resources services across multiple industries to include: Health Care, Retail, Banking, PEO/HR Consulting, Mortgage, Call Center, Real Estate, Telecommunications and Government Contracting.

In the past 15 years Kristen has practiced and provided practical advice in the areas of: Employee Relations, Performance Management, Benefits Administration, Compensation Design, Training & Development, Recruiting & Staffing, Policy & Procedure Development, HRIS Management, Worker’s Compensation Administration and Safety. Kristen is an advocate of human development. She has developed and conducted employee and supervisor training, managed succession plans and worked with managers on staff development and coaching.

Kristen earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Ecology with an emphasis in HR Management from Mercyhurst College in Erie, PA. Today, Kristen calls Atlanta, Georgia home and enjoys spending time with her devoted and playful yellow lab, Maggie.

Shelley DePalma

Shelley DePalma founded SMD Kreations to help her clients during these tough economic times. Shelley provides valuable insights to help businesses and home owners better understand the issues that prevent and inhibit success in the merchandising of their homes and businesses. Shelley is known for her boundless creativity and energy.

Her passion, has been in fashion merchandising as far back as she can remember. She earned a degree from the Art Institute of Fort Lauderdale. Shelley brings twenty years of hands-on experience working in the retail industry. Shelley has opened over fifty retail stores within the Unites States and abroad, all on time and within budget. She has directed two hundred staff members to ensure the smooth execution of visual standards.

In 2005, Shelley earned her Pennsylvania real estate license. This allowed her an opportunity to share her knowledge of merchandising to another customer base.

Shelley is originally from Ohio but calls Pittsburgh her home now. She is married to a loving husband and is a new mother, to a growing baby boy. In her spare time she walks the family dog, spends time on arts and crafts projects and works in the back yard.