The SHRM Foundation Announces New Emerging HR Professionals Selected for HR Tomorrow Leadership Program

Alexandria, VA – Today, the SHRM Foundation announced the 10 HR professionals who will participate in this year’s HR Tomorrow Leadership program. HR Tomorrow is a leadership development initiative established for emerging professionals from underrepresented groups who have 2-4 years of experience in the HR field.

The purpose of this innovative program is to strengthen the HR field by providing emerging HR professionals with the resources and support they need to develop leadership qualities. This in turn strengthens the HR sector with greater opportunity, growth, diversity and innovation.

“The SHRM Foundation is committed to equipping students and emerging professionals with the tools and resources they need to be successful as they embark on their professional journey in HR,” said Wendi Safstrom, SHRM Foundation President. “We are also helping to elevate awareness and interest in HR careers, in particular supporting individuals who are currently underrepresented in HR, which will strengthen our profession and contribute to increasingly inclusive workplace cultures.”

The 10 selected HR professionals include:

Eduardo Celis

Eduardo is a talent acquisition professional at the Idaho National Laboratory (INL), a premier nuclear research facility within the U.S. Department of Energy.

A proud first-generation professional, Eduardo’s passion for recruitment led him to his current role he’s held over the last two years to help source the next generation of engineers and researchers for INL.

Riniya Countiss

Riniya is a human resources coordinator at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science specializing in recruitment and talent acquisition. 

With a passion for helping others and making a positive impact, she has had the opportunity to help job seekers take the next steps in their careers and be a resource to them throughout their professional journeys.

Ali Donnelly

Ali serves as the HR business partner for the entire SRS Distribution West Region encompassing over 80 field locations. Previously, Ali was a proud military spouse for more than 25 years, which included 17 worldwide moves during which she supported not only her family but many others within the military community. 

Eager to contribute her skills as a military spouse and leader in retail to the world of HR, she is honored to be able to participate in this unique opportunity.

Marcos R. Garcia

Marcos works for the Human Rights Campaign Foundation as Deputy Director of the Workplace Equality Program, leading the Corporate Equality Index, the national benchmarking tool on LGBTQ+ inclusive workplace policies, practices and benefits.

He is eager to represent and share the needs of the LGBTQ+ community with his peers throughout this program and in this field through HR Tomorrow.

Dennis Green

Dennis Green is an associate HRBP at Figure where he supports Figure's day-to-day human resource operations and helps set the foundation for his team to succeed. Dennis strives to create an environment for empowerment and inclusion in all aspects of the business.  

He aspires to one day serve as a vice president of people, leveraging his passion and expertise to drive transformative change within organizations.

Seychelle Hercules Padgett

Seychelle is a Human Resources Business Analyst (HRBA) at DKW Communications, Inc., headquartered in Washington, D.C., spearheading process improvement and corporate rebranding efforts for the company.

She looks forward to this opportunity to strengthen her personal vision and develop HR leaders who are change catalysts, employee advocates, strategic partners and stewards of fairness, equity and ethical practice.

Dalton Johnson

Dalton is the senior human resources generalist for the City of Missoula, a first-class city in Montana, focusing on partnering with leaders to drive innovative human-centered government design and organizational growth in alignment with community values. 

He envisions HR Tomorrow as a platform to grow long-lasting professional relationships and an opportunity to continue advancing his career in human resources.

Richelle Johnson

Richelle is an experienced operations manager with a focus on helping small businesses with people management, business strategy and development, organizational development, customer and partnership management and program management.

She aspires to focus her skills, passion and interests into an HR role, pursuing the SHRM Foundation’s HR Tomorrow Leadership Program to help her discover that opportunity

Matt King, M.Ed.

Matt is a growing human resource professional as a Senior Manager at Organizational Development at MBX Biosciences in Carmel, IN.

Interested in strategic and organizational development, employee learning and development and enhancing employee engagement and inclusion, Matt is pivotal in implementing HR technologies that enable data-driven decisions during the hiring process and bring employee data to life.

Atlantis Wigfall

Atlantis, a seasoned human resources professional based in Upper Marlboro, Maryland, brings over four years of dedicated expertise to the field.

From educational institutions like Hopkins High School where she excelled as an administrative coordinator to impactful roles at organizations such as the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and SOME (So Others Might Eat) in Washington, D.C., she is eager to provide her invaluable opportunities for professional growth.

These promising and dedicated professionals will participate in this year-round leadership program and receive:

• A complimentary year extension of their SHRM membership; 
• A grant to attend SHRM’s Annual, Inclusion and Talent conferences, participating in a curated schedule of leadership sessions and networking activities and events;
• Receive a grant to take the certification exam and access to the learning system;
• Access to all of SHRM Foundation’s mentorship activities throughout the year;

About the SHRM Foundation

SHRM Foundation empowers Human Resources as a force for social good. As the nonprofit arm of SHRM, the world's largest HR professional society, the Foundation believes that HR holds a unique position to lead change in the face of complex challenges within the world of work. The organization mobilizes and equips HR to ensure the prosperity and thriving of talent and workplaces. The Foundation works by widening pathways to work for more skills-first candidates and more kinds of talent; tackling societal challenges, with a current focus on workplace mental health and wellness; and strengthening the HR field with even more diversity, growth and readiness to address these needs. SHRM Foundation works with SHRM, courageous partners and bold investors to generate awareness, action and impact to build a world of work that works for all. Discover more at SHRMFoundation.org.

About SHRM

SHRM is a member-driven catalyst for creating better workplaces where people and businesses thrive together. As the trusted authority on all things work, SHRM is the foremost expert, researcher, advocate and thought leader on issues and innovations impacting today’s evolving workplaces. With nearly 340,000 members in 180 countries, SHRM touches the lives of more than 362 million workers and their families globally. Discover more at SHRM.org.