President-Elect
Mya Kelly
she/her

With a resume that ranges from teaching English in South Korea to 15+ years' experience in Human Resources, working in a variety of industries; Mya is a multi-faceted HR leader who always maintains a "people-first" mindset.

Mya is a graduate of Texas Southern University, where she received her B.A. in General Studies and minored in Business Administration. She also currently holds her HR certifications with SHRM and HRCI.

In 2018, Mya joined Holtzman Partners, where she currently leads the HR function overseeing the firm's Total Rewards Program, Employee Engagement Initiatives, Training & Development, Recruitment, Workforce Planning and Compliance. Mya has a passion for developing others and implementing initiatives that have a hyper-focus on employee growth.

In her spare time, Mya can be found with family and friends, training for her next 10k, or simply at home reading and watching movies.

Billie is an accomplished HR and operations strategic leader with 20+ years’ progressive people operations and executive leadership experience in various industries, scaling and leading teams, coaching for greatness, driving culture and change transformation, and strategy execution at all levels to achieve business results.

In addition to serving as the 2023 President for Austin SHRM, Billie has also served in various industries in executive level HR positions such as VP of People Operations, VP of Human Resources, Chief Human Resources Officer and Chief Learning Officer. Billie continues to serve as a Leadership Coach and Consultant and is a much sought-after speaker and facilitator.

Billie is a Master Certified Engagement Curriculum Facilitator, nationally certified Crucial Conversations® instructor, certified change and project management practitioner, DEIB practitioner and certified leadership coach. She is also a skilled facilitator who brings a sense of fun and curiosity into her presentations!

Billie hails from Texas by way of Louisiana, enjoys traveling and spending time with her family. She is a graduate of Western Governor’s University, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Human Resource Management and a Master’s Degree in Management and Leadership.

President Elect
Odette Perez

P. Odette Perez is an accomplished Senior Business Development Manager for the Austin branch of L.K. Jordan & Associates. She is responsible for developing new business and managing sales by prospecting, gaining, and maintaining clientele. She successfully connects with existing clients to maintain business relationships by identifying current needs. Odette is experienced in identifying recruitment needs of companies in multiple industries, such as Office Administration, Accounting & Finance, Manufacturing, Construction and Engineering. She has a long history of excelling at sales, is a 5-time L.K. Jordan President’s Club Winner and has won the Quarterly Top Sales award for the company over 10 times. Odette holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Apparel Design from the University of Texas at Austin.

Odette has been a part of the Austin SHRM organization since 2014. She is an “adopted Austinite” having moved here in 1999 to attend The University of Texas. Outside of her profession, Odette enjoys traveling the world, immersing herself in Astrophysics documentaries, and loves to enjoy the culinary delights of Austin.  

2024 Board Secretary
Kaitlyn Vicars

Kaitlyn Vicars is an Austin native and has been working in Human Resources for over 15 years.  She achieved her SHRM-CP and PHR designations in 2015 and then her Associates in Risk Management (ARM) in 2019.  She is currently in HR with Hospice Austin, the only central Texas Hospice that is non-profit.  Hospice Austin believes that all individuals deserve dignity and comfort during their end-of-life care no matter their ability to pay and the commitment and love she sees from employees daily has revived her love of HR.  She is grateful to not only work with amazing individuals who care for others but has also found that same commitment from the individuals she volunteers with at Austin SHRM. She has been a part of Austin SHRM for 4 years and in past years has served on the membership committee as well as the conference sponsorship committee.  For 2023, Kaitlyn is grateful and honored to be serving as the Board Secretary and Volunteer Coordinator as well as Conference Sponsorship committee chair.  When she is not working or volunteering, Kaitlyn enjoys spending time with her son Miles as he gets ready to graduate high school, spending time as a newlywed with her husband Jon, relaxing and catching up on shows, or planning her families next travel adventure.

Co-VP of Conference
Sam Moore

Sam is certified SHRM-CP and a member of SHRM. He is passionate about his profession and is active in the local HR community. He serves on the board of CTCBA as Past-President, previously served as VP of Programs. He has also held the board position of VP Communications for AustinSHRM (formerly AHRMA) as well as part of several committees with AustinSHRM. He was Chapter Partner with the global HR learning community, Hacking HR. Sam received a Bachelor of Business degree in Human Resource Management from The University of Texas at San Antonio. He earned his SHRM certification through a partnership with AustinSHRM(AHRMA) and Concordia University.

Experienced Human Resource Professional with a demonstrated history of leading teams to successful results. 

Co-VP of Conference
Leah Jaramillo

Leah Jaramillo is the Director of Learning & Development at the Austin Alliance Group, a people-centered consulting firm, where she leads business strategy and service delivery for teams committed to developing talent and aligning their people. She works with Fortune 100 companies, small businesses, entrepreneurial firms, non-profits, and government agencies to improve work environments using communication, relationship building, and cultural transformation solutions. With two decades of experience in talent development, operations management, and organizational leadership, clients trust Leah’s insight and appreciate her partnership in achieving their goals.

While completing a Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Psychology, studies focused on the impact of leadership on employee wellbeing, organizational innovation, and prosperity. As an MBA graduate in Healthcare Management, she applied this research to launching a start-up business focused on helping leaders adapt to the changing needs of their workforce through organizational health measures. 

VP of Legal & Legislation
Sarah Glaser

Sarah is an employment attorney at Lloyd Gosselink Rochelle & Townsend, P.C. who specializes in assisting employers with federal and state employment law compliance and prides herself on providing efficient, cost-effective representation rooted in an understanding of the business. Sarah also defends employers when they are sued or under investigation by governmental agencies, litigating matters in state and federal court and before various governmental agencies. Sarah was named a Texas Super Lawyers Rising Star for the years 2019 through 2021 in the area of Employment Litigation: Defense and was named a Top Austin Attorney by Austin Monthly Magazine in Labor and Employment in 2020.

Sarah has long believed that it is important to love your job, enjoy your colleagues, and give back to your community. To that end, she serves as Chair of the Travis County Women Lawyers’ Foundation, immediate Past-President of the Travis County Women Lawyers' Association, and is an Associate member of the Robert W. Calvert Inn of Court. On the weekends, she is usually running after two little kids and trying to catch up on sleep.

VP of Communication
Derek Curlee

Derek Curlee brings fifteen years of experience in healthcare sales and management, and currently leads a team at Airrosti focused on employer, broker, and carrier partnerships.  An Austin native and Texas A&M grad, he is passionate about developing strategies to lower health plan costs and educate employees on a solution to pain.  Derek has been an active member of various SHRM chapters for nearly a decade, and he is proud to serve as VP of Communications for the best chapter in the greatest city!

VP of Certification
Angela Johnson

Angela Johnson is Director of Human Resources at Greater Austin Merchants Cooperative Association, (GAMA) a Convenience Store Distribution Center with locations in Austin and Georgetown with 150 employees and over 600 members. She has 20 plus years as an HR Professional with a focus in various Engineering industries, including Transportation, Utilities, Water/WasteWater, and now Retail Distribution. Angela is a passionate People's Advocate, who enjoys helping others define, and achieve both their personal and professional goals.  Angela enjoy's public speaking, taking road trips, participating in volunteer education programs and spending time with her family. 

VP of Programs
Marie Carroll

Marie Carroll is VP of People and Culture at Social Factor. A social media moderation agency based in Ft Worth with distributed employees across the nation and the globe. She has 20+ years’ experience as a HR Professional in a variety of industries including advertising agencies and software start ups. Marie specializes in building human resource practices and teams in growing organizations.

Marie has served as a member or the Programs committee since March of 2020 and is our VP of Programs. She has a passion for sharing her knowledge of the human resource practice with others and creating worthwhile programs for our membership. 

Bathusi (Ba2c) is a visionary HR professional with 10+ years of experience in Human Resources. A consummate bridge builder who works collaboratively across the organization to drive and achieve goals. Currently, Bathusi is an accomplished HR Business Services Consultant with Equus Workforce Solutions. She is responsible for working with businesses to identify job openings, alternative work activities, and training initiatives. Establish rapport with area businesses and maintain ongoing relationships with businesses to help increase awareness of available workforce services in the community.

She completed her Professional in Human Resources Certificate (PHR) from DePaul University in Chicago. In addition to serving as an Austin SHRM DEIB Committee Member, she is proud to serve as Co-VP of Membership.

Bathusi is passionate about community service and helping people in general. When she’s not working or volunteering, she is planning her next adventure. She has been to all 50 States and is now trying to get to 50 countries before she retires. 

Alexis is a results-driven HR professional with 6+ years’ progressive people operations and leadership experience bringing a wealth of innovation and strategic vision in people and culture management spanning various industries including staffing, public accounting, advertising, e-commerce and tech. Alexis’ passion lies in optimizing organizational success through a “people first” approach.

In addition to serving as the 2024 Co-VP of Membership for Austin SHRM, Alexis is currently the Manager of People & Culture at Katalys. With a background enriched with cross-functional team leadership - Alexis specializes in enhancing organizations through thoughtful HR practices and effective people strategies to meet diverse organizational needs. Alexis demonstrates a steadfast commitment to fostering a constructive and dynamic work environment, ensuring that the organizational culture thrives. Her holistic approach, coupled with a relentless pursuit of excellence, makes Alexis a pivotal asset in driving organizational vision and growth through strategic HR leadership.

Alexis is a proud graduate from Baylor University, holding a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management Administration. In addition to her university degree, Alexis currently holds her SHRM-CP certification and has also been certified by The University of Texas at Austin in Human Resource Management. Outside of her professional career and volunteer opportunities, Alexis is a wife and holds her most precious title - a mother to twin toddler boys with whom she spends her weekends exploring all the amazing parks Austin, TX has to offer! 

Co-VP of Career Dev.
Karen Nieft

Karen Nieft retired after a wonderful career in HR worldwide working in international transportation with a steamship line, finishing the last few years in HR with an Austin tech company.

She volunteers with Austin SHRM co-chairing the Mentorship Program and has 3 amazing Mentees. She also serves with the SHRM Advocacy Team working with legislation on HR issues nationally.

Karen enjoys traveling, gardening and white water rafting.

Co-VP of Career Dev.
Ricardo Carlos

Ricardo is passionate about empowering and developing individuals and teams while advocating for equitable spaces. During his career, he has worked as a facilitator, consultant, and leader across small and large organizations in the private, public, and non-profit sectors.

Currently, Ricardo is the Director, Global Inclusion, Diversity, & Equity with Stantec Consulting, a global design firm. Since joining Stantec in 2012, Ricardo has worked to advance inclusion, diversity, and equity at Stantec by developing strategies, leading initiatives, and facilitating numerous education sessions, including Unconscious Bias training. Prior to Stantec, Ricardo was the Associate Director at the Centre for Race and Culture in Edmonton, Alberta, Canada, where he was responsible for Cultural Competence, Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion programs.

Ricardo graduated with a Bachelor of Commerce Degree in International Business from the University of Guadalajara in Mexico and completed a Human Resources Management Certificate from the University of Alberta in Canada. He holds the SHRM-SCP and CHPR designations.