Board of Directors
Crystal McFarland, PHR
Chapter President
Crystal has been an HR practitioner for over 18 years with multiple roles in supporting employees and leaders. She is currently employed by WGU and serves as a P&T (HR) Director over the WGU Affiliates. The most rewarding part of being in HR is creating an environment where leaders see HR as a strategic service that they cannot do without and adding value to all things people.
Gabriela Benitez
Past President
Gabriela is a Senior Benefits Advisor at Diversified Insurance Group. Her focus is delivering profitability to clients by identifying, and implementing innovative strategies to reduce employee and employer costs.
Beca Mark, PHR
President Elect / Programs
Beca Mark is the CEO and Founder of Megastar HR, an HR consulting and outsourcing firm located in Sandy, UT. She has worked in the HR industry for over 12 years, most recently as the Vice President of HR for Brighton Hospice. Beca received a Master's in Public Administration with an emphasis in HR Management from Brigham Young University. She is passionate about leading teams and supporting companies changing the world for the better.
Melissa Ceballos, PHR, SHRM-SCP
Past President
Melissa spent 19 years working for a Global Transportation Company in areas of HR, Talent Acquisition, and Management, and made a move to the Financial Services industry in 2016 and is currently the Director of Talent and Business Acquisition for Elevated Retirement Group.
Sheena Blauvelt SHRM-SCP
Past President
Sheena is the Director of HR at USANA where she leads the company in talent acquisition, organizational development, and culture matters. She has over 20 years of experience in the industry and has a passion for helping businesses and its people find ultimate success!
Tara Higbee
Director of SHRM Foundation
Tara Higbee is the VP of Culture and Community at Tranont and has been since 2015. She has a passion for driving culture through service and showing employees the impact they make in the organization and the larger community. She received her MA in HR Management and BS in Travel and Tourism.
Stacey Holscher
Co-Director of Programs
Stacey Holscher has over 16 years’ experience working in Human Resources and is currently the Operations Manager for Monterey Technologies, Inc. Stacey is PHR certified and has been focused on human resources, talent acquisition, and building exceptional workgroups throughout her career. Stacey has a Masters in Business Administration with a background in Exercise Physiology. In addition to her work with the South Salt Lake Chamber of Commerce Women in Business, she also serves as a Planning Commissioner for the City of South Salt Lake, Utah, and is the President for Canvas4ACause, a nonprofit organization.
Wendy Rand, MILR, MBA, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Co-Director of Certification
Wendy Rand is a seasoned Senior Human Resources Leader renowned for partnering with senior executives in designing and implementing strategies that drive business growth. Her expertise lies in creative problem-solving, acting as a change agent, and developing people to foster a high-performance culture. Wendy excels in acquisition integration, managing change, and utilizing a data-driven approach for business results.
Heather Woichik
Co-Director of Programs
Heather brings more than two decades of experience in local government that led her into the HR industry. Originally fueled by a passion for health, she earned an MS in Exercise Physiology with a focus on Corporate Wellness. Her expertise has since expanded to excellence in leadership development and positive communication, backed by an MBA and PHR Certification
Teri Slaugh
Co-Director of Membership
Teri Slaugh, a Business Performance Advisor, is known for her role as a connector and a resource to the community. With Insperity, Teri specializes in crafting tailored HR solutions for small and midsized businesses across diverse sectors. Drawing from a rich background in B2B sales, she excels in nurturing authentic connections and collaborating closely with clients to address their most pressing challenges, driving cost containment, and enhancing operational efficiency.
Outside her professional realm, Teri is deeply involved in community initiatives. She holds influential positions such as Co-Director of Membership on the Board of Directors for Salt Lake SHRM and Secretary on the Board of Directors for the Dual Immersion Academy. Additionally, she is an active member of the South Salt Lake Women in Business Committee. Reflecting her commitment to making a meaningful impact beyond the boardroom, Teri extends her support to various other nonprofit organizations as much as time will allow.
Jessica Hale, MSOD, HR, SPHR
Co-Director of Membership Engagement
Jessica Hale is a strategic and innovative HR Professional known for effectively transforming business visions into impactful HR strategies that enhance performance, profitability, growth, and employee engagement. She excels in collaborating with leaders and executives, valuing human capital as the foremost asset of any organization.
Maddie Carter
Co-Director of Member Engagement
Maddie Carter is a dynamic leader who excels in people management, emphasizing engagement and accountability to enhance organizational growth. She is highly adaptable, with a keen interest in refining people processes.
Mark Tolman, Esq.
Co-Director of Legal Affairs
Mark is a management-side employment attorney at Parsons Behle & Latimer. Mark has served on the Salt Lake SHRM Board for over a decade, and also serves as the Director of Legal Affairs for the Utah Human Resources State Council (Utah SHRM).
Bob Coursey, Esq. SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Co-Director of Legal Affairs
Bob has been an employment lawyer for over 20 years. He spent his first 10 years of practice at Fisher Phillips, one of the most respected employment law firms in the country, where he defended companies in employment-related litigation. He then spent 11 years at Employers Council, where he focused his practice on keeping employers out of trouble. In 2021, Bob started his own company—Modern Age Employment Law—where he counsels, represents, and trains employers who are looking for a modern approach to their employment law and HR challenges.
Bob is licensed to practice law in Utah and Georgia. He’s also a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) and SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP).
Chris Badger, CPA
Treasurer
Chris has been partner at NOW CFO since 2014. He has extensive experience in external financial reporting, support for Boards and investor relationships.
Jessalyn Marler
Co-Director of Membership
Jessalyn has 11 years of HR Management experience as a previous Director of Management Training and is currently the Human Capital & Culture Site Manager for Bedgear's newest facility in Salt Lake City. She is an entrepreneur with experience in start-up operations and business acquisition strategies. She also continues to work with a small exclusive list of clients as a consultant with a huge focus on Management development.
Jaydee Blackburn, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, PHRca
Co-Director of Programs
Jaydee Blackburn, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, PHRca has worked in Human Resources for 15 years and is currently an Associate Director, Human Resources for the University of Utah. In his past corporate roles, Jaydee has focused on all areas of Human Resources; specializing Talent Management, Organizational Development, and being a Strategic Partner to company executives. Jaydee holds a Bachelor of Science in Human Resource Management from Utah State University, a Masters in Business Administration from Westminster College, and has obtained his credentials as a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP). In addition, Jaydee also serves on the Board of Directors for a non-profit, Youth Futures focused on child homelessness.
Michael Sayre, AIF, CPFA
Co-Director of Sponsorships
Michael is an Advisor with CUI Wealth Management focused on 401(k) plans. His dedication to the HR community has developed through his interaction with outstanding HR professionals in his occupation. He hopes to serve the HR community better through his involvement with the Salt Lake SHRM Board of Directors.
Jason Knight
Committee Co-director
Jason is the Principal Benefits Consultant with CUI Benefits based in Midvale, UT and has been in the industry since 2013. He specializes in alternative funding healthcare models like level and self-funding to help small and medium-size employers take control of their medical plan. He has a bachelor’s degree in Economics from the University of Utah. He lives in Sugarhouse with his wife and their four children.
Tim Keegan
Co-Director of Legal Affairs
Tim Keegan is a shareholder in the Salt Lake City office of Ogletree Deakins. Tim’s practice focuses on the defense of employers against claims for discrimination, harassment, retaliation, wrongful termination, and wage and hour violations. Tim’s extensive experience includes successfully first-chairing numerous trials and arbitrations. In addition, Tim has successfully argued scores of motions, including dispositive motions, in both state and federal court.
Tegan Nardone, SHRM-CP
Director of Public Relations
Tegan Nardone is a prominent HR professional with extensive experience in talent acquisition and development. Currently, she is the Head of Talent Acquisition at Incite Tax and serves as an HR Board Advisor for MedicalMatch, showcasing her versatility in the HR field. Previously, Tegan made significant impacts as Vice President of Human Resources at Megastar HR and as National Director of Talent Acquisition and Development at Bristol Hospice. Her achievements include dramatically increasing employer brand recognition, and community relationships, implementing effective and unique recruiting strategies, and ensuring compliance with personnel-related regulations. Tegan's skills in coaching, leadership development, and HR systems, combined with her strategic thinking and innovative approach, make her a respected figure in the HR community.
Jessica Jones
Co-Director of College Relations
Jessica has been in the Human Resources field for the past 15 years. She is a Utah native and is currently the VP of HR for Quten Research Institute, a nutraceutical company based out of NJ. She is experienced in all facets of HR, but her passion is in employee development and succession planning. She has a bachelor’s degree in business, an MBA with a focus in Human Resources and has her SHRM-SCP certification.
Sarra Idehen, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Co-Director of Certification
Sarra Idehen is an experienced HR professional, recognized for her collaboration with senior management to develop and implement growth-oriented strategies. Her strength in innovative problem-solving, role as an initiator of change, and dedication to people development are key to cultivating a culture of high performance. Sarra's proficiency in integrating acquisitions, leading change management, and leveraging a data-centric approach contributes significantly to achieving organizational objectives.
James Wood
Co-Director of Sponsorship
James is the Director of Sales at SimpliVerified, a local Background Screening and Drug Testing company. With 15 years of experience in sales, he has actively participated in SHRM events nationwide. James has cultivated a strong passion for collaborating with HR professionals and continually expanding his knowledge in HR and SHRM practices.
Myka Smith, MBA, SHRM-SCP
Director of Community Partnerships
Myka Smith is a skilled professional with a unique talent for solving complex people-related puzzles. She focuses on optimizing employee benefits and driving Human Resource initiatives, demonstrating leadership coupled with sharp business acumen. Myka excels in bridging the gap between talent management and organizational success, underlining her comprehensive understanding of both HR strategy and business operations.
Kellie Edwards
Co-Director of Diversity
Kellie is highly organized, inherently driven to fill voids, firm believer in applying business process improvement techniques, and an optimist who dreams to make a difference.
Grant Langston
Committee Co-Director
Grant Langston has over 10 years of HR experience and is the Sr. HR Director for Webb Productions. He received his Masters in HR from Utah State University and has been a small business owner for over 14 years. He has a Generalist focus being the jack of all trades – master of some. He has benefitted from great leaders and mentors along his career and hopes to pay it forward as part of SL SHRM
Latonya Howell
Co-Director of Diversity
Latonya Howell has over 15 years of HR experience and is the Vice President of HR for Tafi and Daz 3D. In her role, she provides executive-level leadership and guidance to the organization's HR operations. Latonya holds a Bachelor of Science in Child and Family Services. She's also a member of the National African American Gun Association, a published author, artist, and an SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP).
Lora Lea Mock
Director of Volunteers
Lora Lee is the president of Professional Recruiters which has specialized in the recruitment of corporate stars globally. The best potential teammates are not looking for new jobs. Professional Recruiters identifies and recruits corporate stars and put them to work for their clients.
Johanna Fawson, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Secretary
Johanna Fawson brings over 25 years of HR experience, primarily in startup environments. She excels in developing programs and strategies that benefit both organizations and their employees. Johanna thrives in dynamic settings, skillfully handling various aspects of HR. Her expertise includes crafting effective policies, performance programs, and comprehensive training for employees and managers.