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MEET OUR Board Members
President Jennifer Olson Chief Human Resources Officer ATCC |
President Elect Open |  Past-President Julie Winters, SHRM-SCP Director of Talent Strategy & Engagement DeZURIK |
Treasurer Caryn Schutz, SHRM-CP Business & Accounting Manager Trumm Drug |
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Secretary & Membership Director Sarah Huisman, SHRM-CP HR Business Partner LGC |
Programming Director Karen Hunt Talent & Organizational Development Manager Douglas Machine |
Certification Director Ashley Phillips, SHRM-CP Human Resources Officer United Community Bank-Perham |
Communications & Marketing Director Kelsey Deling Human Resources Director City of Alexandria |
Workforce Readiness & College Relations Director Courtney Murphy Community Outreach Coordinator AAEDC |
Legislative Director Amy Wischmann, SHRM-SCP HR Consultant Horizon Performance Solutions | 
Social Media & Public Relations Director Rachel Jahner Sr. Human Resources Professional Central Specialties, Inc. |
Our Past Chapter Presidents
Meet Ashlie Bradley! Ashlie served as Chapter President from January 2022 - December 2023.
| What did you enjoy most during your time as chapter president? Serving as Chapter President was one of the most meaningful leadership experiences of my career. I loved the opportunity to strengthen connections across our region, welcome new members into the profession, and help grow a chapter that consistently shows up with curiosity, courage, and generosity. In just a few short years, our chapter grew membership by more than 30%, offered over two dozen SHRM and HRCI approved certification credits, and held some of our largest‑ever professional development events across our region. These results were only possible because of a Board that cares deeply about reaching members, enhancing value, and ensuring West Central MN SHRM remains the premier HR professional network in central Minnesota. What inspired you to take on the role of chapter president? I stepped into the President role because I deeply believe in the power of HR to transform workplaces and communities and I wanted to give back to the chapter that supported my own growth since 2005. I was inspired by the leaders who came before me and energized by the chance to help elevate the profession locally while creating a space for HR professionals to learn, connect, and lead together. What would you say was the key lesson you learned while serving in this role? One of the greatest lessons I learned is that the strength of a chapter lies in the collective; in volunteers who show up wholeheartedly, in members who are willing to invest in themselves and others, and in the partnerships we build along the way. When people feel valued, connected, and empowered, they create momentum that carries far beyond any single term of leadership. What is your current professional role and what you’re doing today? I currently serve as the Senior Director of Human Resource Business Partnership for CentraCare, where I lead a team of HRBPs supporting enterprise‑wide strategic initiatives, workforce strategy, leadership coaching, and business partnership across multiple hospitals, clinics, specialty centers, and enterprise‑wide service lines. My work centers on people strategy, shaping organizational effectiveness, strengthening leadership capability, and ensuring our people processes and culture enable the system’s mission. I continue to be passionate about building strong, high‑trust teams and supporting leaders as they navigate complex and meaningful work. People strategy is the part of the work I enjoy most, and I’m grateful every day to lead a team that directly influences the employee experience and operational outcomes across CentraCare. |
Meet Jessie Hjelle! Jessie served as Chapter President from January 2014 - December 2015.
| What did you enjoy most during your time as chapter president? What I enjoyed most was the opportunity to bring people together—creating a sense of connection, supporting others’ growth, and helping the chapter move forward in a positive and purposeful way. During my time as president, we were able to introduce programming that allowed our members to earn HRCI certification credit—something that had not previously been offered by the chapter. This added meaningful value to their professional development and elevated the overall member experience. What inspired you to take on the role of chapter president? I was inspired to take on the role because I wanted to give back to an organization that had already provided me with invaluable experiences and support. Early in my career, when I was still very green, I was fortunate to learn from a number of seasoned HR leaders who generously shared their wisdom, guidance, and perspective. Their willingness to invest in my growth had a lasting impact on me, both professionally and personally. Stepping into the chapter president role felt like a meaningful way to pay that forward—creating similar opportunities for others to learn, connect, and grow. What would you say was the key lesson you learned while serving in this role? A key lesson I learned is that creating meaningful value for members takes a dedicated team working behind the scenes. For busy professionals to invest their time and resources, the experience has to be intentional, relevant, and well-executed. It reinforced for me the importance of collaboration and thoughtful planning in delivering programming and opportunities that truly meet members’ needs. What is your current professional role and what you’re doing today? Today, I serve as the Director of Human Resources for Alexandria Public Schools. The Human Resources Department serves more than 800 district employees, substitutes, coaches, and individuals working on behalf of our students, and is responsible for implementing systems and structures aligned with the district’s mission, vision, and strategic plan. |
