SHRM Foundation Announces Inaugural ‘HR Tomorrow’ Class

Ten emerging HR professionals are members of the SHRM Foundation’s inaugural HR Tomorrow Leadership Program. The educational programs and activities are for SHRM members with two to four years of experience in HR who are from at least one of the following underrepresented groups:

• Black people, Indigenous people, and people of color.
• Justice-impacted individuals.
• LGBTQ+ individuals.
• Men.
• People with disabilities.
• Veterans and military partners and caregivers.

Participants in the yearlong program have access to all of the Foundation’s mentorship activities, a complimentary year of SHRM professional membership, a grant to take the SHRM certification exam during the winter 2024-2025 cycle, and access to the SHRM Learning System. They also receive funding to attend the SHRM Annual Conference & Expo 2024 in Chicago, SHRM INCLUSION 2024 in Denver, and the SHRM Talent Conference & Expo 2025 in Nashville.

The program’s purpose is to strengthen the HR field by supporting emerging professionals from groups that are currently underrepresented in the HR sector as they develop leadership qualities. This will help them in turn strengthen the sector with greater opportunities, 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 SHRM Foundation President Wendi Safstrom. 

After completing the program, participants will become mentors to future HR Tomorrow cohorts.

Class Members

Members of the 2024-2025 class are:

Eduardo Celis
Eduardo Celis is a first-generation HR professional from Idaho. He is a university recruiter for Idaho National Laboratory, a nuclear research facility under the U.S. Department of Energy, based in Idaho Falls.

He has a master’s degree in adult organizational learning and leadership and a bachelor’s degree in marketing and HR management. He also earned several certificates and is on the board of the Idaho Latino Scholarship Foundation.

HR Tomorrow’s emphasis on networking with peers and experts in the field is “invaluable,” he said.

“These connections will provide me with diverse perspectives and insights that will be crucial in my professional growth. I'm confident that HR Tomorrow will provide me with the tools and knowledge to excel in my HR career,” Celis said.

Riniya Countiss, SHRM-CP
Riniya Countiss is the HR coordinator at the University of Maryland Center for Environmental Science.

She has a master’s degree in HR management as well as a certificate in leadership and management from the University of Maryland Global Campus and a bachelor’s degree in HR management from Salisbury University. In addition to her SHRM-CP, she holds multiple SHRM Specialty Credentials.

Countiss is the director of social media and marketing for Maryland SHRM (MD SHRM) and is on the planning committee for the 2024 MD SHRM conference. She also is a member of the Human Resources Association of Southern Maryland (HRASM).

“One thing I would specifically like to get out of my experience [with HR Tomorrow] is gaining the necessary skills and knowledge to eventually become an HR leader,” she said. “I feel this program will provide me with connections and experiences that will adequately prepare me to take on a leadership role in the near future.”

Ali Donnelly
Ali Donnelly is a military spouse who accompanied her husband on 17 worldwide moves during the 25 years that he was on active duty.

She has worked in retail, participating in Gap Inc.’s 18-month Work Study Intern Program and advancing up Gap’s management ladder to serve in multiple roles with Gap, Old Navy, and Banana Republic.

When Donnelly’s husband retired from active duty, she began a career with SRS Distribution, where she has served as regional recruiter and regional HR generalist and currently is an HR business partner.

She earned an MBA with a concentration in HR from the University of Phoenix and graduated magna cum laude from Fayetteville State University with a bachelor’s degree in history.

She is a licensed Realtor and home stager and also operates a handmade silver jewelry business.

Marcos Garcia
Marcos R. Garcia is the deputy director of the Workplace Equality Program at the Human Rights Campaign Foundation in Washington, D.C., where he leads the Corporate Equality Index—the national benchmarking tool for LGBTQ+-inclusive workplace policies, practices, and benefits.

Garcia consults daily with corporate executives to address gaps in workplace inclusion and provides training on key issues such as allyship, pronoun use, and respectful interactions in the workplace.

Garcia has a bachelor’s degree in neuroscience and behavior from Columbia University in New York City.

“I am eager to learn how to develop and empower the leaders around me to achieve success in their workplace,” he said of his participation in HR Tomorrow.

Dennis Green, SHRM-CP
Dennis Green is an associate HR business partner for lending operations at Figure, a financial technology services firm based in Reno, Nev.

Green was previously a people experience consultant and HR generalist at PlayStation.

He has an MBA in entrepreneurial studies and a bachelor’s degree in criminal justice from the University of Nevada, Reno. He volunteers with Big Brothers Big Sisters of America and the Silver Dollar Court, a charitable and social organization, and serves as the vice chairman of the City of Reno Chartering Committee.

Green said he’s particularly interested in the leadership skills he hopes to learn through HR Tomorrow.

“I'm excited to enhance my expertise in people strategy and building influence, particularly at the executive level,” he said. “Mastering the art of effectively contributing to key business discussions is pivotal for my professional growth at this stage of my career.”

Dalton Johnson
Dalton Johnson is senior HR generalist for the city of Missoula, Mont.

He earned a master’s degree in public administration from the University of Montana School of Law, a bachelor’s degree in organizational communication and nonprofit administration from the University of Montana, and an associate degree in applied science, accounting, and business technology from Helena College. His campus leadership and student government involvement culminated in a gubernatorial appointment as a student regent on the Montana Board of Regents and appointment as a commissioner of the Montana State Library.

“I’m hoping [this] program can equip me with skills to have difficult conversations that address internal and external inequities so that I can ensure that all voices are heard. I look forward to the networking and mentorship opportunities,” he said.

Richelle Johnson
Richelle Johnson is the remote operations manager for Earthseed Permaculture Farm & Education Center in Sonoma County, Calif., with responsibilities that include HR, operations, and advisory-related duties.

She was previously a brand consultant and operations manager for consumer packaged-goods companies Malai Ice Cream and BakedNYC and has worked in advertising as an account manager and account supervisor for the financial, government, and telecommunications sectors.

Johnson has a bachelor’s degree in English and a minor in communications from Florida State University in Tallahassee.

The HR Tomorrow program “will provide mentoring, networking, experiences, and resources to help me make the transition into an HR-focused role. The one thing I hope to gain: guidance,” she said.

Matt King
Matt King is the senior manager of organizational development at MBX Biosciences in Carmel, Ind.

He has a master’s degree in curriculum and instruction from the University of Notre Dame and a bachelor’s degree in religious studies with a concentration in peace and conflict from the College of the Holy Cross in Worcester, Mass. He also studied abroad at the University of St. Andrews in Scotland.

“Community, connections, and continuous improvement drew me to the HR Tomorrow program,” said King, who works within small teams primarily in startup environments.

This program “offered me an opportunity to not only stay current on best practices and trends in the HR field but also the ability to meet with and form relationships with other HR professionals and experts,” he said. “My hope in being a member of this first cohort is to pass my SHRM certification and make lasting connections with the current and future HR leaders who will directly impact the ever-evolving world of work.”

Seychelle Hercules Padgett
Seychelle Hercules Padgett is an HR business analyst (HRBA) at DKW Communications Inc., a technology firm in Washington, D.C.

Prior to becoming an HRBA, she served as a technical writer on government contracts for DKW; worked in training, marketing, and operations for Chick-Fil-A restaurants in the D.C. metro area; and assisted nonprofit and for-profit organizations in their public relations and corporate social responsibility efforts. 

She received a master’s degree in HR management and has graduate certificates in project management and strategic communications from the University of Maryland Global Campus. She earned bachelor’s degrees in international business, business administration, and communication from Wesleyan College in Macon, Ga.

The HR Tomorrow program will provide her the opportunity to strengthen her personal vision to be and develop HR leaders “who are change catalysts, employee advocates, strategic partners, and stewards of fairness, equity, and ethical practices,” Padgett said.

Atlantis Wigfall
Atlantis Wigfall specializes in onboarding and human resource information system (HRIS) management as an HR coordinator at SOME (So Others Might Eat).

Prior to working at SOME, she managed HR functions at Hopkins High School in Minnetonka, Minn., and worked for the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in Washington, D.C.

Wigfall has a bachelor’s degree in communications from Bowie State University in Maryland.

She is the owner and creative director of Walking Testimonee, a mentoring program for girls and women ages 16 to 25 that she founded nearly 15 years ago. Based in the Washington, D.C., Maryland, and Virginia area, it focuses on cultivating essential life skills and fostering leadership development.

“The opportunity to build on my knowledge and leadership skills in HR, as well as representing diversity in the industry,” drew her to HR Tomorrow, Wigfall said.