The Membership Advisory Council (MAC) serves as an interface between the volunteer leaders and the SHRM Board of Directors. The MAC is composed of one elected representative from each of the Regional Councils. The MAC provides input from the membership through the regional councils to the board and feedback from the board to the membership, back through the regional councils; and provides operational input to SHRM to ensure optimum service/support to and from the volunteer leadership.
2023 MAC Representatives:
NORTHEAST REGION
CT, DE, MA, MD, ME, NH, NJ, NY, PA, RI, VT
Louis Lessig, SHRM-SCP
Partner
BROWN & CONNERY, LLP
Cherry Hill, NJ
E-mail: llessig@brownconnery.com
- Louis R. Lessig, Esquire, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, is a partner with the firm of Brown & Connery, LLP. His practice concentrates in labor and employment litigation, counseling, negotiations, speaking and training.
- Mr. Lessig represents clients in all types of employment and labor matters, including but not limited to claims of discrimination, harassment, hostile work environment, wage and hour irregularities and retaliation in state and federal courts as well as before administrative agencies including the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, National Labor Relations Board, U.S. Department of Labor, American Arbitration Association, New Jersey Division on Civil Rights, New Jersey Department of Labor and Workforce Development, New Jersey Office of Administrative Law, New Jersey Public Employment Relations Commission, Pennsylvania Human Relations Commission, and Philadelphia Commission on Human Relations.
- Mr. Lessig is a nationally recognized speaker, also known as the Employment Law Translator®, and publishes articles that have appeared in periodicals including XpertHR, Westlaw Journal Employment, Westlaw Journal Computer and Internet, the Family and Medical Leave Handbook, Employment Litigation Reporter, Corporate Risk Spectrum, HR Professional, The Tri-Stater and Labor and Employment Law Quarterly.
- He is admitted to practice in New Jersey, Pennsylvania and the District of Columbia. He is also admitted to practice before the Supreme Court of the United States, the United States Court of Appeals for the Third Circuit, the United States Court of Appeals for the District of Columbia, United States District Court for the District of New Jersey and the United States District Court for the Eastern District of Pennsylvania. Mr. Lessig is a member of the American, New Jersey (Executive Committee, Labor and Employment Law Section), Pennsylvania, District of Columbia, and Camden County (Past President, Bar Foundation; Past President, Board of Trustees) Bar Associations. He is also an active member of the National Speakers Association and serves as a Past President of the Philadelphia Chapter.
- In addition to his professional activities, he is the State Director for Garden State Council-SHRM (NJ) and immediate past Legislative Director for Garden State Council – SHRM (NJ). He is also a member of Tri-State HRMA where he is a Past Chapter President. Mr. Lessig is also Past President of the Muhlenberg College Alumni Board.
Northeast Region Alternate: Ned Hirt (NY)
SOUTHEAST REGION
AL, GA, FL, MS, BM, BS, PR, USVI, DC, KY, NC, SC, TN, VA, WV
Heather "HD" Deyrieux, SHRM-SCP
Manager - Workforce Planning
Sarasota County Government
Sarasota, FL
Email: HDshrmMAC@gmail.com
- Heather "HD" Deyrieux, MSM, SHRM-SCP, SPHR obtained her Masters in Management, with a Concentration in Human Resources, and her Bachelor's Degree in General Business from the University of Central Florida.
- HD relocated to Florida in 1994 and has called Sarasota home since 2017.
- As part of the Human Resources Team for Sarasota County Government, Heather supports over 2,200 employees and 1,100 volunteers.
- She previously served in the private sector as Director of Talent at Dental Care Alliance, Director of Strategic Development at the International Business Innovation Association (InBIA), and Director of Strategic Planning & Development with the Great Job Spot Network.
- HD has served as the Immediate Past President, President, President-Elect, Conference Director, Secretary, Treasurer, Emcee and other volunteer roles since 2008 for the HR Florida State Council.
Southeast Region Alternate: Michael Latsko (VA)
SOUTHWEST CENTRAL REGION
AR, AZ, CO, KS, LA, MO, NM, OK, TX, UT
James Stevens, SHRM-CP
Chief Human Resources Officer
NM Wellness Center
Albuquerque, NM
E-mail: james.abeytastevens@gmail.com
- James Abeyta Stevens is originally from Las Vegas, NM and is a native New Mexican residing in Albuquerque, NM. He holds a Master’s degree from New Mexico Highlands University in Guidance and Counseling, Professional Counseling, which began his professional therapeutic career in 2012. He also holds an undergraduate Bachelor’s degree in Marketing from the University of New Mexico, and a second Bachelor’s degree in Organizational Psychology from the College of Santa Fe. He holds a SHRM-CP certification from SHRM and a PHR certification from HRCI. On top of that, he is also a Licensed Mental Health Therapist in the State of New Mexico.
- James recently retired as a Director of Human Resources in 2021 in the Native American tribal gaming industry extending more than two decades. As a therapist, he currently assists those with gambling addictions, bereavement, substance abuse, domestic violence, and career counseling. James took over as the Chief Human Resources Officer for his agency, where he doesn’t only do therapy, but completes all the HR functions as well. You can take the person out of Human Resources, but you can never take the Human Resources out of the person. In fact, “Fun” is James’ middle name as he is a corporate culture Champion. He led his large organization to more than a dozen #1 titles in a large company category within the State of New Mexico in organizational competitions such as the Albuquerque Journal Top Workplaces, Best Places to Work, and others.
- James is also an Instructor in the Substance Abuse Certificate, as well as in the Human Services Degree program at Central New Mexico Community College (CNM) in Albuquerque, the largest community college in the State of New Mexico.
- James is the current SHRM New Mexico State Council Director and the very first male in this position in SHRM NM history. He is a driving force to bettering Human Resources support in and around the state of New Mexico.
Southwest Central Region Alternate: Angie Schaefer (MO)
NORTH CENTRAL REGION
IA, MN, WI, ND, SD, NE, IL, IN, MI, OH
Megan Nail, SHRM-SCP
Vice President, Total Rewards Practice
NFP
Brownsburg, IN
E-mail: megan.nail@nfp.com
- As Vice President, Total Rewards Practice at NFP, Megan advises clients on how to meet their organization’s goals through total rewards and compensation strategy. She builds and designs market competitive base and incentive pay structures for organizations.
- Megan is also the Past State Director for HR Indiana SHRM. Megan has her Master of Science in Organizational Communication from Purdue University and a Bachelor of Arts from the University of Dayton.
- She also possesses professional certifications including Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS), SHRM-SCP, and SPHR-CA. Megan most recently served as Senior Human Resources & Compensation Senior Manager at Faegre Baker Daniels law firm.
North Central Region Alternate: Julie Doyle (OH)
PACIFIC WEST REGION
AK, CA, Guam, HI, ID, MT, NV, Northern Mariana Islands, OR, WA, WY
Desireé Navarro, SHRM-SCP
Chief Human Resources Officer
Shodair Children’s Hospital
Helena, MT
Email: dnavarro@shodair.org
- Desireé is the Chief Human Resource Officer for Shodair Children’s Hospital, a non-profit facility in Montana specializing in psychiatric care for children and adolescents along with a nationally recognized genetics program providing care for all ages.
- Desireé has over 13 years’ experience in Human Resources, specializing in the non-profit/not-for-profit private sector for large and small organizations across multiple states. She has a passion for change management, engagement, leadership and employee development.
- Desireé has a Master of Business Administration from The University of Liverpool, a Bachelor’s from the University of Montana Western, and is both SHRM-SCP and SPHR certified.
- Desireé has been a SHRM Volunteer member since 2015. Desireé has held different volunteer leader roles on both her local Helena SHRM Chapter and the Montana State Council. She enjoyed her time on the Helena SHRM Chapter where she was able to volunteer as the Membership Director, President-Elect, President, and Past President. While President of the Helena Chapter they achieved the SHRM Platinum Excel Award.
- During her time on the Montana SHRM State Council, she served as the Secretary, Communications Director, Director-Elect (Conference Coordinator), Director, and Past-Director achieving the SHRM Platinum Excel Award.
- In addition to her volunteer leadership for SHRM, she also volunteers for her local DUI Task Force.
- In her free time Desireé enjoys traveling with her family, riding her Peloton, baking, and reading.
Pacific West Region Alternate: Richard Steel (ID)
SHRM Staff
Michael P. Aitken
Chief Membership Officer
Phone: 1.800.283.7476, enter "1", ext. 6027
Email:
mike.aitken@shrm.org
Meredith Nethercutt
Manager, Member Engagement
Phone: 1.800.283.7476, enter "1", ext. 6417
Email:
meredith.nethercutt@shrm.org