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PBC SHRM BOARD & LEADERSHIP BIO'S

Katie I. Kato, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Katie I. Kato has thirty-five+ years of human resources experience serving in leadership roles primarily within the hospital & healthcare industry. She is the President/ Chief Human Resources Strategist for The Human Resources Factor, LLC, where she provides human resources consulting services to small businesses with various HR and employment-related compliance matters including her current role as Senior Director of Human Resources at iRISE Spine & Joint. Previously, she was the Senior Vice President-Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer for Promise Healthcare/Success Healthcare (with 19 facilities in 9 states) in Boca Raton, FL. She also worked as Interim VP HR for HCA West Hills Hospital and HCA Aventura Medical Center and Director of Human Resources for HCA Palms West Hospital & HCA Largo Medical Center, Regional Director of Human Resources for Doctor’s Hospital/Miami Rehab/West Gables/Larkin Hospitals (previously with HealthSouth…now part of Baptist Healthcare), Senior Home Care (a home health company), Parkway Regional Medical Center, and other HR roles/positions.

Katie is very proud to have served on the PBC SHRM Board since 2016 and is very excited to be the 2023 President for PBC SHRM.  Since 1987, she has served in a number of other SHRM Board roles with the North Central Florida SHRM, Greater Miami SHRM, and Suncoast SHRM Chapters including Secretary, VP Membership, At-Large Director, Non-Dues Revenue, College Relations, Programs, Awards Chairs and Past-President of the Student Chapter of ASPA (predecessor of SHRM) at the University of Florida. She was also previously the President of the ASTD Chapter (now ATD) in North Central Florida.

Katie received her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees from the University of Florida and is lifetime certified by HRCI as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), & a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with the Society for Human Resources Management. 



Paula Humber, MBA, SHRM-SCP


Paula Humber, MBA, SHRM-SCP serves as President and Senior HR Consultant at West Palm Beach based business consulting firm, P&L Corporate Solutions, LLC and PL Staffing. Paula earned a bachelor’s degree in Psychology from Wheaton College (Wheaton, IL) and a master’s degree in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern University in Ft. Lauderdale, FL. She later became certified to practice Human Resources at a Senior level by the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM). Paula is a devoted wife and mother of 4 and is honored to serve entrepreneurs and organizations with resources to help them succeed.


Aimee Mangold, SHRM-SCP, SPHR

Aimee Mangold is the Vice President of Human Resources for SROA Capital and has 25 years experience in the areas of employee relations, talent management, culture change, strategic planning and execution and learning and development. Aimee is an active member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) and has served as President, Director at Large and Workforce Readiness Chair for Palm Beach County SHRM. She currently serves as Past President and HR Florida Ambassador.  Aimee is a recipient of the 2018 HR Professional of the Year from HRPBC and 2022 Lifetime Achievement Award winner from PBC SHRM.



Katie Colon

Katie is a Retirement Plan Consultant with OneDigital, a leading insurance, financial services, and HR consulting advisory firm. Katie is committed to helping employers operate their Retirement Plans with maximum efficiency and creating the most superior outcomes. Her goal is to empower employees so they can retire comfortably. This stems from her passion for education and dedication to improving financial literacy. Katie is actively involved with local non-profit organizations including Gulfstream Goodwill Industries and United Way of Palm Beach County MISSION UNITED. Katie attended Towson University where she was a member of the Division 1 tennis team and graduated with Criminal Justice/Psychology degrees. In her free time, she enjoys playing tennis as well as spending quality time with her husband and daughter.  


Deeawn T. Roundtree

Dr. Deeawn Roundtree is the CEO of Roundtree Training & Consulting and Franchise Owner of Network in Action. She is also a Senior Certified Professional with the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP), an Executive Director and Certified Leadership Coach, Trainer, and Speaker with the John Maxwell Team, as well as a Certified DISC Trainer and Consultant. Additionally, she is the author of “Beyond the Boardroom: Learn how to play and win at the game of corporate politics” and has taught and conducted workshops on various topics including: â™¦Business Etiquette â™¦Change Management â™¦Conflict Management Skills â™¦Corporate Politics â™¦Customer Service Skills â™¦Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion â™¦Effective Selling â™¦Emotional intelligence â™¦Employee Engagement â™¦Entrepreneurship â™¦Image Management â™¦Leadership Development â™¦Networking â™¦Personal Financial Planning â™¦Proper Interviewing â™¦Public Speaking â™¦Self-Awareness, â™¦and Strategic Planning. She is inspired to help individuals successfully accomplish their personal and professional goals effectively and efficiently.

Teaching and sales have been the hallmark of Dr. Roundtree’s career for decades. She has held numerous top-level faculty and administrative positions in several academic institutions, with additional responsibilities in curriculum development. She was a highly regarded successful pharmaceutical sales consultant and was recognized as one of the top 2 performers in the nation for her company. Her educational background includes a Doctorate of Business Administration degree from Wilmington University, a Doctor of Ministry degree from South University achieving high honors, an M.S. degree in Professional Leadership with a concentration in Training and Development, and a B.S. degree in Business Management from Carlow University. Her proven methods will enhance your untapped personal abilities and improve your Company’s bottom line.

Dr. Roundtree is very involved in her community as a board member for the Black Chamber of Commerce, Genesis Community Health Center, and the Women’s Circle. She is also a member of IMPACT the Palm Beaches, Palm Beach County SHRM (PBCSHRM), and a Charter Member and VP of Operations for the Alpha Alpha Upsilon Omega Chapter of Alpha Kappa Alpha Sorority, Inc. Her new faith-based book on leadership is due to come out in 2023.


Brenda Tirado

Brenda Tirado is a Global HR Business Partner, leveraging her strategic mindset and unique perspective to navigate complexities and uncover the best routes towards success. Born in Puerto Rico and having spent most of her life in Illinois before relocating to Florida in 2009, Brenda brings a diverse range of experiences and cultural perspectives to her work.

With over 16 years of experience in the field of human resources, Brenda has developed a deep understanding of the retail, transportation, and aviation industries. Her passion for people and her ability to see patterns where others see complexity have been instrumental in her accomplishments throughout her career.

Brenda holds a BA in Human Resources from Florida International University (FIU) and is a proud alumni of the FIU Honors College. She is equipped with a unique set of strengths, as recognized by Gallup, including strategic thinking, individualization, positivity, relator, and restorative skills. These strengths have allowed her to excel in various projects, including leadership coaching, talent development, HR4HR, compensation benchmarking, benefits administration and negotiation, HR operations transformation, performance management, and succession planning.

Having spent the last 6 years in the aviation industry, Brenda has gained valuable insights into the intricacies of this dynamic field. She is adept at identifying opportunities for improvement and implementing effective strategies that enhance organizational performance and employee satisfaction.

Beyond her professional pursuits, Brenda is driven by a deep appreciation for cultural diversity and a passion for travel and new adventures. She embraces every opportunity to expand her horizons, whether through discovering hidden gems, exploring unique cuisines, or cultivating new friendships around the world.

Continuously fueled by her thirst for knowledge and personal growth, Brenda remains committed to staying ahead of the curve in her field. She approaches every endeavor with dedication, an open mind, and a genuine desire to make a positive impact on the organizations and individuals she works with.


Tammy Lane, SHRM-SCP, GBA

Tammy is an Area Vice President and Health and Welfare Consultant on the Florida Gallagher team. Tammy has over 20 years of global benefits consulting and risk management experience. Her role at Gallagher focuses on strategic risk management with responsibility of employee health and welfare plans. She’s known for her ability to develop, drive and execute a client’s strategy to achieve the targeted financial and workforce outcomes.

She joined Gallagher from USI Insurance were she held the position of Vice President in the Health and Welfare Division. Prior to her work at USI, Tammy worked for TD Insurance, a division of TD Bank. Her career at TD Insurance spanned over 14 years with her most recent position as the southeast region’s Vice President of the Health and Welfare Practice.

Tammy currently serves as a Board member and Immediate Past President of Palm Beach County SHRM. Tammy served as Palm Beach County SHRM’s President in 2022 and served as Conference Chair in 2021 and Director of Programs since 2018.

Tammy was awarded the “Seven Seal’s Award” and “The Spirit of Patriotism Award” in 2022 for her to bring awareness to the challenges faced by servicemen and women entering the workforce.

Tammy is SHRM-SCP Certified and holds the designation of GBA through IFEBP and the Wharton School, University of Pennsylvania. She also holds a current Florida license in Property and Casualty Risk.


Mike Powers 


Mike Powers is the founding member of the Competitive Edge Series, a grass roots-based organization made up of 85+ local HR Professionals who seek to assist fellow HR professionals by providing Accelerated Job Search Tools for HR in Transition.

In the Summer of 2015, the Competitive Edge Series, now executed in partnership with six Southeast Florida SHRM, (Society of Human Resource Management), chapters, including Miami-Dade, (HRMIAMI), Broward, (HRABC),  Palm Beach, (PBCSHRM), Martin County, (HRMARTIN), South Florida Staffing Mgmt. Association, (SMA), and the South Florida Chapter of NAAAHR, (National Association of African American Human Resources) combined forces to offer a weekly video conference call program, known as the “Monday HR Happy Hour Series” for HR Professionals in Transition. Today, the “HR Happy Hour” happens on the 2nd Monday of the month and features a variety of past and present SHRM chapter leaders, HR Consultants, Seasoned HR Recruiters & HR Practitioners who present on a variety of topics including video interviewing, strategic networking tactics, advanced interviewing skills, social medical job search techniques and accessing the hidden HR job market(s).

By day, Mike is an employee benefits advisor at Risk Strategies Corp. and is known to help companies maximize the value of their employee benefit programs while accelerating the employee’s and their families overall benefits experience. By night, he serves as a volunteer for HRABC, PBCSHRM and GMSHRM’s Workforce Readiness Committees.

In 2012, Mike received the Volunteer of the Year Award from the Human Resources Association of Palm Beach County (now PBCSHRM). In 2015, Mike was a contributor to the GMSHRM Chapter Excellence Award at HR Florida by assisting in the facilitation of the WFR Career Booster workshops.


Monica Buzek

I am an HR Professional with 20 years’ experience in various industries, G4S, Rinker/Cemex, SBA Communications and Service Finance Company. I have been a member of Palm Beach SHRM since 2008 and have grown as a person with this chapter.   I have held various roles from SHRM Foundation, three years as co-chair PBSHRM annual conference and currently I hold the hospitality role. 



Kathleen Van Horn

Kathleen’s passion for Human Resources began in the staffing industry. She specialized in the managed staffing function for organization such as UPS, Office Depot , Sensormatic, ADT, Pollo Tropical and the GEO group.

In 2007, Kathleen joined Oasis Outsourcing as a founding member of the Human Resource team. For the next 12 years, Kathleen held several roles in HR  as Oasis grew from 200 to 1700 internal employees in multiple locations and states. In 2018, Oasis was acquired by Paychex. Kathleen was a member of the acquisition integration team to join the two organizations. From 2018 to 2022, Kathleen was a member of the Paychex, Employee Relations team continuing to support the Paychex’s PEO business unit.

In 2022, Kathleen joined SBA Communications as a Global Human Resources Business Partner.

Kathleen holds a BA in Communications from the University of Kentucky and a Master of Science in Human Resources Administration from Barry University. She earned her SHRM-SCP certification in 2019.

Kathleen biggest accomplishment is her family. She has been married to Stuart Van Horn for the past 30 years. Together they are the proudest of their two children, Shane and Megan. When not working, Kathleen can be found on the golf course or at the beach.


Tracy Ellison

Tracy Ellison is a Chief Human Resources Officer with over 18 years experience. Tracy has worked in the healthcare, hospitality, Aeronautical Software industry and currently works in public sector/government as the CHRO for the Clerk of Circuit Court and Comptroller of Palm Beach County. Her responsibilities includes but not limited to overseeing the day to day operations in the Human Resources which includes employee relations, benefits, organizational management, talent management, HRIS, Compliance, policies and procedures. Tracy has been on the PBC SHRM Leadership team since 2019 and also a member and contributor of Forbes Human Resources Council, an invitation only  organization .  Tracy also won the Gold Award from CEO World Awards for "Outstanding Executive-Professional of the Year in Human Resources (2020)". 


Lynette Marraffa

Lynette Marraffa is delightfully “living the Florida lifestyle” since 2004.  She was born and raised in Chicago, IL and attended DePaul University.  Lynette is the Palm Beach County Business Manager with Manpower.  ManpowerGroup® (NYSE: MAN), the leading global workforce solutions company, helps organizations transform in a fast-changing world of work by sourcing, assessing, developing, and managing the talent that enables them to win.  Providing meaningful employment opportunities changes lives.  Lynette also serves as a Board Director with Palm Beach County SHRM as the 2023 – 2025 Membership Director.  


Lynette is a multi-business owner of LM Productions and co-owns the Treasure Coast Business Summit (Treasure Coast Business Builders), an annual B2B event hosting over 1200 businesses under one roof for one day for an enriching and enterprising experience.  Lynette is appointed to the St Lucie County School Board Advisory Committee, as well as the City of Port St Lucie Budget Advisory Committee.  She is a past board president of PACE Treasure Coast and a community volunteer with multiple organizations. 

Lynette loves spending time with her family, boating, fishing, diving, cooking, playing poker, and exploring new places.  She plays competitive softball weekly and enjoys working out at Orange Theory Fitness.  


Esmeralda Baltazar

Esmeralda Baltazar is a dynamic HR professional with 10+ years of human resource management experience. She has significant experience in federal and state law compliance, employee benefits, compensation and payroll, training and development, performance management, and management coaching. Esmeralda holds a Bachelor’s and Master’s Degree in Business Administration, certified by the Human Resources Certification Institute as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR), and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with the Society for Human Resources Management.  


Ozlem Fonda

I am an authentic and innovative goal-driven Human Resources leader with a proven record of quickly assessing an organization's needs while creating and implementing impactful human capital strategies to enable business growth. I have extensive global and multi-industry public and private experience. A recognized strategic partner with a collaborative and inclusive style that supports  rapid resolution of business issues. I help to strengthen competitive advantage through a focus on talent acquisition, performance management and effective organizational design roadmaps. 

Industry experience includes: Renewable Energy, Aerospace, Manufacturing, Healthcare, Security and Retail. 


Core Capabilities: Global HR Business Leader, HR Transformation, HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition & Management, Talent /Culture Assessment, Organizational Design, Building HR Infrastructure: Total Rewards/Benefits/Payroll/HRIS, Executive Compensation, Change Management, Effective Employee Relations, Workforce Planning, Performance Management, Global Human Resources Focus (Japan,

Taiwan, Singapore, S. Korea & China), Executive Team Effectiveness and Mergers and Acquisitions.



Karen Roberts

2023 marks Karen’s 40th year as an HR professional with experience in the private, public and not for profit sectors. She earned her Bachelor’s degree in Finance from Stetson University, an MBA from Florida Atlantic University and holds a certificate in HR Management from Capella University. She also has been a SHRM SCP (senior certified professional) since 2005.

Karen started her career in the Aerospace Industry where she worked in various HR capacities for 15 years, attaining the position of Manager, Workforce Diversity. In 2002 she found another  passion – working in the not-for-profit sector - where she has remained since.  

Karen has been a member of Palm Beach County SHRM (previously HRPBC), since 1997. She served as President in 2004-2005 and was honored with a lifetime achievement award from that organization in 2016. PBC SHRM also honored her with their HR Professional of the Year Award twice (1998 and 2011) as well as the HR Volunteer of The Year Award in 2018 and HR Mentor of the Year Award in 2021.

In addition to currently teaching the SHRM certification program at Palm Beach State College (PBSC), she previously taught the HRCI PHR/SPHR Prep course there as well.

Karen enjoys educating others about exciting topics in HR and in both May 2021 and May 2022 she presented a concurrent session at the Palm Beach County SHRM Annual Conference. She also presented a concurrent session on Risk Management for HR Professionals at HR Florida in Orlando in August 2022.


Lavern Blackwood, MSHRM

Lavern Blackwood is the Human Resources Director at MCO Construction and Services, Inc., a Miami-based construction management firm, where she serves as a HR strategic leader on the Executive Team. She has over 15 years of experience working in a variety of HR functions for both public and private sector organizations.Lavern is the owner of Blackwood Consulting & Services which provides tailored HR solutions to help organizations maximize operational efficiency and forge a competitive edge.   

Lavern is passionate about helping others grow into their best selves and finds joy in helping employees and youth empowerment groups by providing coaching and support in achieving their professional and personal goals.Lavern holds a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications from Pace University and a Master’s Degree in Human Resources Management from Nova Southeastern University. She enjoys spending time with her husband and their two teenage sons, cooking, reading, traveling, and shopping



Laurie B. Myers 


Laurie B. Myers is duly certified as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR/SHRM-CP) with 20+ years of HR experience as a Generalist, Consultant, Business Partner, and Manager.  Her HR work history includes supporting a diversified workforce of for profit, non-profit, and governmental organizations.  Laurie is currently working with RoadSafe Traffic Systems since 2022 as the HR Business Partner for the state of Florida.

While originally from Chicago, IL, Laurie is a long-time Floridian having graduated from Florida State University with a Bachelor of Science in Education. Laurie has recently rejoined the PBC SHRM leadership team as Facilities/Special Events Chair. She previously served for many years with the chapter in various roles over 15+ years.  In her spare time, she volunteers with other non-profits including Kravis Center, HR Director for Scholar Career Coaching, and All-For-One Pet Rescue where she fosters abandoned puppies and occasionally drives rescue missions to collect abandoned puppies from out of state.


Seth Mitchell, CFA

Seth Mitchell, CFA most recently was a Sales Director and credentialed Financial Advisor for Mutual of Omaha Investor Services, Inc. where he was tasked with building a team of holistic wealth managers for the firm’s Boca Raton, Florida office. Previously, Seth worked in various positions in Wealth Management, Federal Government and Retail sectors. Historically, He worked for Goldman Sachs (Asia) LLC as an Executive Director based in Hong Kong sourcing high yield and distressed corporate debt instruments and various other special situations. Prior to Goldman Sachs, He was a credit trader, having worked for ING in Hong Kong and New York, trading and analyzing par, high yield, and distressed corporate and sovereign credits. He is formally corporate credit-trained as part of a two-year Analyst training program in corporate & investment banking.


Seth maintains His FINRA Series 24 and Series 7 licenses, His NASAA Series 66 license, and His Florida 0215 Health and Insurance license. Seth earned the right to use the CFA designation in 2009 and joined the CFA Society of South Florida’s Board of Directors as Director and Secretary in July 2023.  He is Finance Chair for the SHRM Palm Beach County Chapter and is 2nd Vice Chairman of The Board of Adjustment for The City of Delray Beach. 


He has his MBA in Finance from the Wharton School and BS in Economics from Cornell University. He’s an Alumni Ambassador the University of Pennsylvania's Undergraduate Admissions Program and is active in both Wharton and Cornell Alumni Clubs in Southeast Florida.  


Seth enjoys fitness, golf, travel, fine food, scuba diving, and film.



                                                                                                                                         Nikki Carpenito, MBA, SHRM-CP


 

As a young professional in the Human Resources and City Administration field, Nikki brings a wealth of knowledge and experience to our board as Sponsorship Chair. Her journey in government sector has been marked by a relentless pursuit of innovation and a knack for anticipating employee trends and challenges. Her career milestones include multiple labor relations contract negotiations, successful management of Town strategic initiatives and much more. Nikki received her Master’s in Business Administration from Nova Southeastern and is a certified Florida Public Labor Relations specialist. When she isn’t changing the world, one HR initiative at a time, she is spending time at the Softball fields with her daughter or at Loggerhead Marine Life Center with her turtle loving son.

Nikki's strong work ethic, dedication to her craft, and genuine care for her community have earned her respect and admiration among her peers and colleagues. Her unwavering commitment to success, both professionally and personally, makes her a true asset to the PBCSHRM board



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Katie I. Kato, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Katie I. Kato has thirty-five+ years of human resources experience serving in leadership roles primarily within the hospital & healthcare industry. She is the President/ Chief Human Resources Strategist for The Human Resources Factor, LLC, where she provides human resources consulting services to small businesses with various HR and employment-related compliance matters including her current role as Senior Director of Human Resources at iRISE Spine & Joint. Previously, she was the Senior Vice President-Human Resources/Chief Human Resources Officer for Promise Healthcare/Success Healthcare (with 19 facilities in 9 states) in Boca Raton, FL. She also worked as Interim VP HR for HCA West Hills Hospital and HCA Aventura Medical Center and Director of Human Resources for HCA Palms West Hospital & HCA Largo Medical Center, Regional Director of Human Resources for Doctor’s Hospital/Miami Rehab/West Gables/Larkin Hospitals (previously with HealthSouth…now part of Baptist Healthcare), Senior Home Care (a home health company), Parkway Regional Medical Center, and other HR roles/positions.

Katie is very proud to have served on the PBC SHRM Board since 2016 and is very excited to be the 2023 President for PBC SHRM.  Since 1987, she has served in a number of other SHRM Board roles with the North Central Florida SHRM, Greater Miami SHRM, and Suncoast SHRM Chapters including Secretary, VP Membership, At-Large Director, Non-Dues Revenue, College Relations, Programs, Awards Chairs and Past-President of the Student Chapter of ASPA (predecessor of SHRM) at the University of Florida. She was also previously the President of the ASTD Chapter (now ATD) in North Central Florida.

Katie received her bachelor’s and master’s Degrees from the University of Florida and is lifetime certified by HRCI as a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), & a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with the Society for Human Resources Management. 

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