2017 MEMBER DIRECTORY AMY ALLEN Chief Legal Counsel, Executive Vice President of Human Resources Barkley [email protected]Ask Amy Allen about the weirdest legal issue she’s had to deal with in her career, and she’ll probably mention bat guano. You don’t want to know. (Yes, you do.) This just hints at the vast range of her legal experience. Before joining Barkley, Ms. Allen spent 13 years in private practice, most recently as a partner at the law firm of Lathrop & Gage. Her focus was on commercial and employment litigation, including false advertising, trade secret and noncompete, and breach of contract disputes. She has first-chair experience for both plaintiffs and defendants in courts across the country. Notably, Ms. Allen was one of Barkley’s outside attorneys from the first day of her legal career as an intern until she came in-house. She now serves as Barkley’s Chief Legal Counsel/EVP Human Resources, overseeing and handling all things legal, human resources, and facilities. JENNIFER ANZALONE Director of Human Resource Operations GEHA [email protected]JILL BECKMAN Vice President of Human Resources Blue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas City [email protected]In her role, Jill Beckman provides HR strategy and leadership to the enterprise to ensure people strategies, programs, and processes are aligned with the business needs of the company. She oversees all human resource functions, including talent management and development, workforce planning and analytics, compensation, benefits, and recognition. Ms. Beckman has over 30 years in HR management positions; the past 20 years have been in senior leadership positions in healthcare and banking. JULIE HAMMES Title Company email Julie Hammes is responsible for enterprisewide HR corporate administration including payroll and benefits, compensation, and HR technology. Additionally, Ms. Hammes has HR business partner oversight for the corporate infrastructure groups including Marketing, Finance, Technology, Product Development, Human Resources, and Legal. In this capacity, she is responsible for fulfilling the ongoing areas of talent acquisition, employee relations, advice and counsel, benefits and compensation management, managerial coaching, mentoring, and talent management. As a strategic business partner and HR leader with almost 10 years of diverse HR experience, Ms. Hammes has expertise in the following areas: organizational development, change management, employee relations, compensation, coaching/consulting, and HR policy. Ms. Hammes holds a bachelor degree in psychology from Kansas State University and a master’s in industrial and organizational psychology from Emporia State University. JENNIFER JENNINGS Title Company email 2017 Human Capital Council
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AMY ALLENChief Legal Counsel, Executive Vice President of Human [email protected]
Ask Amy Allen about the weirdest legal issue she’s had to deal with in her career, and she’ll probably mention bat guano. You don’t want to know. (Yes, you do.) This just hints at the vast range of her legal experience. Before joining Barkley, Ms. Allen spent 13 years in private practice, most recently as a partner at the law � rm of Lathrop & Gage. Her focus was on commercial and employment litigation, including false advertising, trade secret and noncompete, and breach of contract disputes. She has � rst-chair experience for both plainti� s and defendants in courts across the country. Notably, Ms. Allen was one of Barkley’s outside attorneys from the � rst day of her legal career as an intern until she came in-house. She now serves as Barkley’s Chief Legal Counsel/EVP Human Resources, overseeing and handling all things legal, human resources, and facilities.
JILL BECKMANVice President of Human ResourcesBlue Cross Blue Shield of Kansas [email protected]
In her role, Jill Beckman provides HR strategy and leadership to the enterprise to ensure people strategies, programs, and processes are aligned with the business needs of the company. She oversees all human resource functions, including talent management and development, workforce planning and analytics, compensation, bene� ts, and recognition. Ms. Beckman has over 30 years in HR management positions; the past 20 years have been in senior leadership positions in healthcare and banking.
JULIE HAMMESTitleCompanyemail
Julie Hammes is responsible for enterprisewide HR corporate administration including payroll and bene� ts, compensation, and HR technology. Additionally, Ms. Hammes has HR business partner oversight for the corporate infrastructure groups including Marketing, Finance, Technology, Product Development, Human Resources, and Legal. In this capacity, she is responsible for ful� lling the ongoing areas of talent acquisition, employee relations, advice and counsel, bene� ts and compensation management, managerial coaching, mentoring, and talent management. As a strategic business partner and HR leader with almost 10 years of diverse HR experience, Ms. Hammes has expertise in the following areas: organizational development, change management, employee relations, compensation, coaching/consulting, and HR policy. Ms. Hammes holds a bachelor degree in psychology from Kansas State University and a master’s in industrial and organizational psychology from Emporia State University.
JENNIFER JENNINGSTitleCompanyemail
2017 Human Capital Council
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KIM KLOSAKVice President of Human ResourcesService Management [email protected]
Kim Klosak is responsible for SMG’s global activities in talent acquisition, development, organization design, and compensation bene� t and wellness strategy. She is also responsible for contract negotiation, corporate structure, compliance, and general legal a� airs. Prior to joining SMG, Ms. Klosak served as an HR Relationship Manager at Sprint, where she led cross-functional HR teams in designing and delivering HR solutions. Ms. Klosak holds a B.S.B.A. in human resources from Rockhurst University and a juris doctorate from Saint Louis University School of Law.
Cristina Martinez’s experience prior to joining Barkley in 2012 was in the entertainment industry in New York City casting movies, television, and commercials. While exciting and sometimes even glamorous, she decided to change it up and do something a bit more grounded in reality, though still focused on her favorite part of a business—the people! Cristina is Barkley’s one-stop shop for anything the employees need, or don’t even know they need. She has her master’s in HR, her PHR, and SHRM-CP.
CRAIG PETERSONChief Human Resources O� cerSedgwick [email protected]
Craig Peterson has held the HR leadership position for Sedgwick Law since March 2016. He has full responsibility for all human resources for a 600-plus employee � rm with 14 locations including London and Bermuda. Mr. Peterson’s career spans the past 24 plus years in the human resources profession with experience in both public and private sector. Mr. Peterson is a senior HR executive with the ability to lead a human resources function and a proven track record of adding value to growing organizations through improved performance management, leadership development, enhanced people systems, and operational e� ciencies.
KURT PETERSONChief Human Resources O� cerThe Scoular [email protected]
Kurt Peterson is responsible for the strategic direction of all human resources and talent development programs. His role is to ensure The Scoular Company has the industry-leading level of talent it needs to continue to grow and succeed. Prior to Scoular, he served in several leadership roles in the agriculture sector. These roles included general manager positions overseeing groups of grain elevators in several Midwestern states and the Human Resources Leader and the Process Improvement Leader for the AgHorizons Business Unit of Cargill.
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MARTIN RIGGSVice President of Human ResourcesConcorde Career [email protected]
Martin Riggs oversees Concorde Career Colleges’ human resource functions, including associate development, recruiting, associate relations, bene� ts, and compensation. Since arriving in July 2014, he has worked through the reorganization of support teams to better serve Concorde associates on the campuses and at the Campus Support Center. Martin came to Concorde from DineEquity, Inc., in Kansas City, Missouri, where he served as Director, Field and Franchise Human Resources for two years. He has spent much of his professional life in the foodservice and restaurant industry, working in human resources for Applebee’s, Taco Bell, Chili’s, and Panera Bread.
BRANDI RIGGSTitleCompanyemail
JANNA RUSTController and Director of Human ResourcesMusselman & Hall [email protected]
As a result of her varied experience as Corporate Controller, Director of Operations for a local nonpro� t and Leadership Coach, Janna Rust is a well-rounded individual with experience in all aspects of organizational leadership who enjoys being a big picture visionary while also monitoring details required by the accounting profession. The common thread throughout her career has been her passionate pursuit of excellence and the desire to equip and empower others to achieve their full potential. She is currently the Controller and Human Resources Manager for Musselman and Hall Contractors, LLC, has an M.B.A. from Rockhurst University and an accounting degree from the University of Missouri-Columbia, and is a certi� ed trainer on the DISC and Motivators assessments. When she isn’t working, she enjoys spending time on the golf course, reading, watching her favorite sports teams and spending time with family and friends, her husband Troy, and her fuzzy canine “son,” Brandy.
NOREEN VERGARAGeneral Counsel and Chief Human Resources O� cerNew Directions Behavioral [email protected]
Noreen Vergara joined New Directions Behavioral Health, LLC, in 2012. As General Counsel, Ms. Vergara has responsibility over the legal strategy and operations of the organization, as well as serves as New Directions’ Privacy O� cer and Corporate Secretary. Ms. Vergara assumed oversight of New Directions’ human resources operations in 2016. New Directions serves over 13 million people nationwide. It o� ers integrated medical and behavioral healthcare solutions designed to improve health and reduce costs. Its services help individuals achieve healthier, balanced lives through employee assistance and student assistance programs, managed behavioral healthcare, organizational consulting, and health coaching. Previously, Ms. Vergara was counsel with the National Association of Insurance Commissioners. She obtained her juris doctor and Certi� cate of Health Law from Saint Louis University and is licensed to practice law in Florida, Kansas, and Missouri.
Burke Walker is an accomplished and enterprising human resources executive with 15 plus years of leadership in Fortune 100 and 500 companies in a broad range of industries. A champion of change with demonstrated success in creating people strategies aligned with organizational goals leading to increased employee engagement and retention, Mr. Walker is a proven coach and collaborator known for building high-performance teams and strong relationships at all levels. His work experience includes various roles at Sprint, H&R Block, and most recently Applebee’s/Dine Equity where he was the Vice President of Human Resources (Head of HR) for the Applebee’s brand.
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NANCY WHITWORTHVice President of Human ResourcesMcCown [email protected]
Nancy Whitworth has blazed new trails for McCownGordon as the company’s Vice President of Human Resources. Ms. Whitworth has more than 20 years of human resources experience, focusing on talent management, leadership development, total rewards, associate relations, and organizational development. Her e� orts have helped enhance a distinctive company culture that sets McCownGordon apart. In fact, the company has been named one of the Kansas City Business Journal’s “Best Places to Work” for the twelfth consecutive year and has been named one of Kansas City’s “Healthiest Employers” for four years.
MARY WIDMERChief Strategic O� cerService Management [email protected]
THOMAS WRIGHTSenior Vice President of Human Resources and AdministrationEPR [email protected]
Tom Wright is the Senior Vice President of Human Resources and Administration and an o� cer for EPR Properties. Mr. Wright is responsible for overseeing the human resources and administrative services, which includes total rewards programs, organizational development, performance management, talent acquisition and development, leadership development, human capital planning, change management, and o� ce administration services. Mr. Wright has over 30 years of diverse human resources experience in corporate, operations, and retail environments and is viewed as a strategic senior human resources executive, business partner, and team leader with extensive experience in organizational development, compensation, change management, leadership development, human capital planning, executive coaching, diversity, and HR strategy development. Mr. Wright not only has a tremendous grasp of the technical fundamentals of all aspects of HR, but more importantly, brings strong HR strategic insights into his work. Mr. Wright has a strong background in organization change strategies including mergers, acquisitions, business integrations, and reorganizations.
SHANNON YEATESVice President of Human ResourcesZotec [email protected]
Shannon Yeates wants to live in a world where health and � tness are a way of life, and where passion and compassion fuel our interactions. As a Senior human resources professional with more than 10 years’ experience, she currently works for Zotec Partners, an innovative revenue cycle management � rm. She achieved her M.B.A. through the University of Missouri-Kansas City’s intense two-year EMBA program while passionately driving results at CBIZ-MMP. She holds SPHR and SHRM-SCP certi� cations and spends nonworking professional hours with Kansas City’s HR Forum and other people strategy groups and events. When she isn’t “masterfully” navigating through people strategy, she is whipping up enticing dishes, training for half marathons, and chasing around two little toddlers who teach her to be a better person every day!
For more information regarding the Human Capital Council, visit lockton.com/humancapitalcouncil.
