Northwest Ohio Human Resource Association

Gail Ritchie , SHRM-SCP

Gail Ritchie is a Human Resources Director for the Rudolph Libbe Group in Walbridge, Ohio. She received her Bachelors of Science in Business Administration with a concentration in Organizational Development from the University of Toledo. Gail began her HR career at EY in 1997 and her role took her to Nashville, TN in 2005. That’s where she developed her passion for country music and good BBQ!

Family ties beckoned her home in 2011 and prior to joining the Rudolph Libbe Group in 2016, she spent five years at Findley / USI as an HR Manager. She received her SHRM Senior Certified Professional designation in 2015 and has served on the THRAC committee, as NOHRA Communicatons Chair, Board Secretary, and President Elect. She was honored to be the recipient of the Northwest Ohio Human Resources Association HR Professional of the Year award in 2020.

Gail currently resides in Oregon, OH with her husband Mike and their mini-Dachshund Jaxson. In her spare time, she enjoys reading and watching college football (Go IRISH!). She can be contacted at Gail.Ritchie@RLGbuilds.com.

Kendallyn Jacobs , aPHR, SHRM-CP

Kendallyn Jacobs is an HR Operations Supervisor with the Rudolph Libbe Group and has been with the organization for 4 years. Within this role, Kendallyn‘s primary responsibilities are day-to-day team management, HRIS maintenance, project management, and recruitment, and is a leader within RLG’s Wellness Committee. She graduated from BGSU with a Bachelor of Science in Business Management (Go falcons!). She holds an aPHR and SHRM-CP certification and has been a member of the NOHRA board since June 2020. Kendallyn was honorably named NOHRA’s Emerging HR Professional of the Year in 2021.

Kendallyn is very involved within the community. She volunteers to be a part of the Maumee Valley Habitat for Humanity’s Women Build Committee, frequently helps UT and BGSU students with mock interviews and resume critiques, and serves as a facilitator for the NOHRA SHRM certification prep group study sessions. She is also a United Way of Greater Toledo Campaign Manager Hall of Fame Inductee for her campaign efforts at the Rudolph Libbe Group.

Kendallyn has an extremely unique and fun hobby, drag racing! Yes, she has been racing dragsters since she was just 9 years old. Kendallyn lives in Maumee, with her fiancé - a Project Manager at GEM Inc, part of the Rudolph Libbe Group. She has 2 dogs that she absolutely adores, Chevy (Golden Retriever) and Gus (Golden Retriever-Shepherd mix).

Being in HR is Kendallyn’s absolute dream career. She has a passion for helping others and making an associate’s overall employment experience positive and enjoyable. Kendallyn is eager to serve on the NOHRA board as President-Elect and will bring great programs and networking opportunities to the HR community. She is looking forward to both 2023 and 2024 to bring the organization to the next level!

Emily Lewallen , PHR

Emily Lewallen, PHR has been volunteering her time on the NOHRA board since 2017.  Currently, she is the HR Leader for Owens Corning's Global Information Systems organization. In this role, Emily is responsible for the coordination of talent acquisition, talent management, and talent development. Emily joined OC in October of 2021 after spending 6 years with SSOE supporting international HR operations. She is a proud lifelong resident of Toledo and received her undergrad and graduate degrees from the University of Toledo.

Lynnette Hibbard

Lynnette Hibbard is the Payroll Administrator for Premier Financial Corporation (Premier Bank & First Insurance Group) of about 1200 employees. She received her degree in Higher Accounting from University of Northwestern OH in Lima. She has been in Human Resources/Payroll for over 21 years before she had started with Premier in June of 2021. She received her SHRM certification December 7, 2020. She is looking to become payroll certified in late 2023 or early 2024. She is also a member of the APA (American Payroll Association), a member of Toledo's APA Chapter & also a member of NAMI (National Alliance on Mental Health). 

Lynnette Hibbard currently resides in Fayette with her husband, Trevor. She has three children: Evan (32), Adrianna (26) & Jennaya (24) & four grandchildren:  Ava (7), Maci (5), Kade (18 mos) & Elaine (8 mos). She loves to spend time with her family, shop & travel. 

Holly Newcomer , GBA

Senior Health Care Consultant serving the tri-state area advising on employee benefits health care use, cost and spend analysis, data analytics, employee education, financial trend, disease managment, wellness initiatives, total rewards, claims reporting and executive summaries.Ohio, Michigan and Indiana Licensed Life, Health, Accident, Property and Casualty insurance agent. Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans. Holds a Bachelor of Education from The University of Toledo, and is an active Alumni Member.

Katie Huss , SHRM-CP, PHR

Katie Huss, SHRM-CP, PHR is the Human Resouces Business Partner, Corporate Services, at The Andersons and has worked a variety of roles there since June 2019. Previous she worked for  Empowered for Excellence Behavioral Health, Zepf Center, ProMedica St. Luke’s Hospital and for Josina Lott Residential & Community Services. In her HR career she has been responsible for recruitment, training and education, benefits administration, employee health, employee engagement, organizational culture initiatives, employee and labor relations. She has a passion for helping others and feels that it is HR’s role to serve the employees that are serving others.

Katie obtained her PHR as a student in 2006, completed her requirements to be fully certified in 2008, and has been certified since. She obtained her SHRM-CP certification in 2016. She has been a NOHRA and SHRM member most of her professional career. She has held several positions within the NOHRA board including, President, V.P. of Membership,SHRM Foundation Chair and the Arrangements Chair. 

https://www.linkedin.com/in/katiemhuss/

Nancy Disbrow

Chad Mick , SHRM-SCP

Chad Mick, SHRM-SCP, is the Past President of NOHRA and the current DEI Director for OhioSHRM.  He is the Director of Talent Resources (HR) at Directions Credit Union. He received his Bachelors from Heidelberg College in 2008 and then his Masters in Public Administration from the University of Toledo in 2013. Since then he worked in recruiting for 4 years and now in HR.  Prior to working in HR, he obtained his Masters in German from the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and taught German as an Adjunct Lecturer for 3 years. He has a passion for DEI and continues to keep up on his German skills in hopes of combining his two passions in a Global HR role.

Chad can be contacted at cmick@directionscu.org.

Drew Peterson , MBA

Andrew Kelleher , GBA

Andrew Kelleher is an Employee Benefits Consultant with Hylant in Toledo, Ohio. His main focus is helping to empower financial and human resource executives with strategic employee benefit solutions.

In his time at Hylant,  Andrew completed his Group Benefits Associate (GBA) designation from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans and earned the Group Benefits Disability Specialist designation (GBDS) from the National Underwriting Company.

Before joining Hylant, Andrew received his bachelors in 2013 from Miami University in business marketing. He then served 6 years with a non-profit organization named CRU in Oxford, OH.

Andrew currently lives in Perrysburg, OH with his wife Megan and three daughters.

Virginia Diaz , SHRM-CP

Virginia Diaz is a part of NOHRA’s board as the Communications Co-Chair. Virginia has worked in HR for 5 years within different healthcare companies around the Toledo region. She currently works with North American Dental Group providing Employment Relations to all practices within the 17 states NADG is located within. Virginia received her Bachelor’s in human resource management and a Masters in the Study of Law with a focus on Employment Law from the University of Toledo. She received her SHRM-CP certification in December 2020. Other affiliations include Toledo Public School executive advisory board for Escuela SMART where Virginia sits as a member.

Rhonda Chillus

Rhonda Chillus is native of the suburbs of Chicago, Illinois.

She has a diverse cultural background including industry and professional experience. 

She moved to the Toledo, OH area in 2016 and continues to grow in her career.

 Starting right out of high school working at the Great Lakes Naval Base as the only female administrator in the department, then moving 

into the Mental Health field, assisting HR informally by supporting the department as a Program Manager. 

At (NorthPointe Resources formerly known as Northpointe Achievement Center) in Zion, Illinois is where an interest in human resources developed.

She began with reviewing resumes, scheduling interviews and facilitating unemployment hearings including processing leaves of absence.

She began a second career by changing industries from the Mental Health/Disabilities to the corporate arena and has worked for employers such as ADP, Aon/Hewitt, NBCGA, a benefits division of Northwestern Mutual and USI. 

Her roles varied from Service Delivery Manager, HR Benefits Manager to Director of Benefits and Administration, including Director of Human Resources.

She has played a vital role in improving processes in organizational effectiveness and development, strategic planning and management.

She addressed mainstreaming and inclusion early as an advocate for one of her daughters, who has special needs. This has fueled the passion she has for inclusion and diversity on multiple levels and platforms. 

Ms. Chillus has partnered and collaborated on several diversity & inclusion projects raising awareness within business as well as in the community. 

In 2018, Ms. Chillus launched her own consulting company “RGC HR Consulting” and provides consultation in the areas of strategic planning and management, payroll, policy and procedures, best practices and standard operating procedures.

Ms. Chillus received a Bachelor of Science in Technology Management with an emphasis on Business Administration from

DeVry University, Alpharetta, GA. 

Masters in Human Resource Management from Keller Graduate School of Management Atlanta, GA.

Joy Goodner , CDP

Princeton Bryson , SHRM-CP

Sarah Pawlicki , Esq., SHRM-SCP

 Sarah Pawlicki is an attorney, SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) and a certified Senior Professional of Human Resources (SPHR) focusing on advising the Human Resource practitioner on best practices and legal compliance. Sarah has been a member of TAHRA for over 12 years and has served as its Legislative Chair and Workforce Readiness Chair and has been a member of the Diversity Committee.  She has also taught Module 5 (Labor and Employee Relations) for the HRCI Study Group for several years.  As an attorney in Eastman & Smith Ltd.’s Labor and Employment practice group, she counsels employers on state and federal employment law compliance and represents employers in employment discrimination and workers compensation matters before administrative agencies such as the Ohio Industrial Commission, Ohio Civil Rights Commission, and Unemployment Review Commission.  Sarah is also experienced in representing clients in Ohio state and federal courts.  Sarah is a frequent presenter to human resource groups including TAHRA, FAHRA, and Ohio SHRM. 

Tarah Pinkert , SHRM-CP

Tarah Pinkert is currently the HR Supervisor at Egelhof Controls Corp. located in Toledo, Ohio. She received her Bachelor's degree from the University of Toledo in Human Resource Management and Finance. She is certified as a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP). Ms. Pinkert has been a NOHRA member since 2012, where she has served as the Programs Chair, Arrangements Chair, and presently serves as VP of Membership. She can be reached at t.pinkert@egelhof.com.

Catherine Clark , SHRM-CP

Cathy Clark is the Executive Administrator at Perrysburg Eye Center in Perrysburg, OH. She received her Bachelor of Science in Technology from BGSU and her MBA from Butler University in Indianapolis, IN. Ms. Clark was an instructor at BGSU before working full time at Perrysburg Eye Center.  She is involved in the Ohio State Medical Alliance, Country Garden Club of Perrysburg, and is a Toledo Museum of Art Ambassador.  

Cathy lives in Perrysburg with her husband Steve, three children and three dogs.  She can be contacted at; cclark@pburgeye.com

Michelle Willard

Michelle has over 30 years of experience in the insurance and employee benefits industry. Over her years in the business, she has served in roles that include senior level client service, executive leadership and benefits consulting. Michelle’s primary responsibility at Hylant includes growth and retention of a book of business in a fast-evolving industry. 

Michelle’s client includes Libbey Glass LLC; Ohio Virtual Academy (K12); Sanoh America, Inc. and Roki America Co., Ltd. 

Michelle has served as a board member of the Northwest Ohio Human Resource Association (NOHRA) for over seven years and is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM) and Findlay Area Human Resource Association (FAHRA). Additionally, she has also served on the Toledo Human Resource Association Conference (THRAC) committee for many years.

Heather Mallette

Heather Mallette is the Director of Human Resources at Envelope Mart/HOT Graphics in Northwood, Ohio. She receieved her B.A from University of Toledo in human resources and a minor in business law. Mrs. Mallette spent over twenty-years in Toleds as a career HR professional in a variety of positions. She volunteers at the school her children attend and an ethusiastic Rockets fan. 

Heather Mallette currently resides in Toledo with her husband Doug, and two children. She can be contacted at malletteheather@gmail.com. 

Siccorah Martin

Denise Dahl

Denise wears three hats. She owns Epiphany Planning & Development, doing workforce training and management development, is people and business development for Delventhal Construction & Concrete, and occasionally teaches (has taught) at BGSU, Bluffton University, and Trine University utilizing her Master’s in Public Administration. She is a lifelong learner with strategic certifications from Northwestern University, University of Michigan, International Economic Development Council, etc. and is a certified yoga instructor. While not working Denise loves reading, being out on a trail, or listening to live music.

Thomas Daniels , SPHR

Tom Daniels is the Assistant Director for Graduate & Executive Program in Business at Bowling Green State University.  His primary focus is admissions and academic advising for the full-time MBA and Executive Master of Executive Development programs. Prior to BGSU, Daniels was the Director of the Executive Interviewing Center at MROps and the Vice President of Learning & Development at TNS North America. 

Tom is a graduate of Owens Community College and the University of Toledo. He earned his Master’s degree in Organization Development from Bowling Green State University. 

Tom is involved in multiple organizations in the Toledo area: Past President of the Greater Toledo Area Chapter of the Association for Talent Development, Director on the Owens Community College Foundation Board, Workforce Readiness for the Northern Ohio Human Resources Association and other organizations. When he's not working or in a board meeting, you can find him getting his miles in by running around town. Tom lives in Perrysburg with his wife and two sons.

Michelle Wing , SHRM-CP

Michelle Wing is the HR Manager for Eastman & Smith Ltd in Toledo, OH. She received her B.A from Spring Arbor University in Management and Organizational Development and her M.A from Spring Arbor University in Organizational Management. Ms. Wing earned her SHRM-CP certification in June of 2016. Ms. Wing serves as Past President in 2022. 

Michelle currently resides in Ottawa Lake, MI with her husband Ted, youngest son, Bryce, and her barn cats. She has two grown children as well. She can be reached at pastpresident@toledoshrm.org.