Chapter Leadership
President
Mikki Gates, SHRM-SCP
With more than 20 years navigating the wild world of People & Culture, I'm your go-to strategic HR leader, currently as the Head of HR for iDE (International Development Enterprises). I'm all about bringing some serious pizzazz to the workplace – whether it's fine-tuning processes, crafting inclusive and engaging employee experiences, or just making sure everyone feels like they've hit the career jackpot.
At the heart of it all, I'm a firm believer that our employees' safety and happiness come first. Because, let's be real, a happy workplace is a productive one.
Beyond the HR hustle, you'll catch me leading the charge at our local TEDx events, sharing and soaking up awesome ideas. I've also got a bit of wanderlust in my veins – there's nothing like exploring new corners of the globe and getting a taste of different cultures.
But here's the twist – I'm also a certified escape room junkie. Give me a puzzle, mix in some teamwork, and I'm in my element. Because who says HR can't be a bit quirky and a whole lot of fun?
In a nutshell, I'm on a mission to sprinkle some fun into work life while keeping things running like a well-oiled machine.
With all of this, I am honored to serve as the President for Colorado Springs SHRM and look forward to working with all the amazing HR folks in our community.
Contact: President@csshrm.org
President-Elect
Clint Calli, M.J., SPHR
Clint started his career in HR within the retail sector. He was an HR Operations Manager for Kohl’s, supporting several stores throughout Colorado, including Castle Rock, multiple stores in Denver, and Grand Junction. He moved from that role to a Store Manager, leading teams of various sizes in both Pueblo and Denver. During his time with Kohl’s, he was a District HR Captain, where he supported training, company initiatives, and rollouts for over 1500 employees in 15 locations. He also served as the campus recruiting captain for the University of Colorado system.
Clint is currently the Director of HR with Space Foundation, where he has been since 2018. Clint supports team members and leaders within the organization in all facets of HR. The highlight of his time there has been leading the HR function through tremendous growth, where the organization’s workforce doubled in size over a 2-year period. Clint earned his undergraduate degree from UCCS and has a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law from Tulane Law School.
Though they had moved away at one point, Clint and his wife, Stephanie, couldn’t stay gone and were drawn back to Colorado Springs. They are passionate about our community and intend on staying here with their two children.
Contact: PresidentElect@csshrm.org
Immediate Past President
Jen DeFranco, M.A. HRM, ODCP, SHRM-SCP, PHR
Jen DeFranco has been in the HR field since 2002. She has spent most of her career in the non-profit sector as well as some time with a PEO. She enjoys mentoring, coaching, strategic planning, employee relations, benefits management, and organizational development.
Jen currently works as an HRBP for the City of Colorado Springs. She earned a Bachelor of Arts in Psychology from Indiana University, Bloomington, and her Master of Arts in Human Resources Management from Webster University. She holds her PHR and SHRM-SCP.
Jen grew up in Indianapolis and has called Colorado her home since 1998. She enjoys walking our beautiful trails, knitting, paper crafts, and coffee.
Contact: Foundation@csshrm.org
Secretary
Nina Woodard, MBA, SHRM- SCP
Ms. Woodard serves currently as the President and Chief ‘N’ Sights Officer for Nina E. Woodard & Associates. Ms. Woodard strives to heighten confidence in business leaders as they move into the Indian and other foreign marketplaces, help them increase their understanding of the cultural nuances influencing business in foreign markets, and engage in more meaningful and productive communications with their new colleagues; all to increase business results. In addition to her consulting practice, Ms. Woodard is a Lecturer at UAGC and the University of Colorado Colorado Springs. She founded her consulting company after a 32-year banking career with 25 years of emphasis in Human Resource Management at the Executive Level. After being an SHRM member and leader for many years, she launched the SHRM India office as the first Managing Director in 2006, after experiencing the opportunity while on an international assignment.
She has a bachelor’s degree in Management and an MBA and is certified as a Senior Certified Professional by the Society for Human Resource Management and an SPHR/GPHR by HRCI. She serves on the National Global Expertise Panel for SHRM and the California State Council of SHRM as a part of the continuity committee. She is a Business Advisor for Husys Consulting in India and to the Board of Directors for JBS and their VetCTAP program. On July 1, 2022, Nina became the Chair of the Board of Directors for Colorado Springs-based Safe Place for Pets (www.safeplacepets.org) She is the Past President of San Diego SHRM, and following her move to Colorado, she is a member of the Colorado Springs SHRM Chapter. She is also a member of the Board of Directors of Skill Beyond Boundaries as UK based startup.
Contact: secretary@csshrm.org
Treasurer
David Gohn
Contact: treasurer@csshrm.org
Vice President of Programs
Heather Kissack, Ph.D., M.S., CTP
Heather has more than 20 years of human resource experience. She has a Doctor of Philosophy in Human Resource Development and is a Certified Training Professional (CTP). She has served as the chief human resources officer with several employers and possesses significant experience in all areas of the industry including, but not limited to, learning and development, policies and compliance, performance management, talent acquisition, total rewards, employee relations and coaching, and employment/job classifications. Recently, Heather founded Kissack HR Consulting and currently works to help clients reach their business goals by supporting their human resource needs.
Contact: programs@csshrm.org
Vice President of Membership
Erin Johnson
Erin Johnson is a seasoned Human Resources professional with a decade of dynamic experience, currently acting as the Human Resources Manager for DSoft Technology.
She has a passion for continued learning and development and empowering teams to reach their full potential. Erin’s dedication in fostering a positive work environment led her to contribute to the development of effective processes and employee engagement initiatives.
Her enthusiasm for employee relations is evident in her ability to address workplace concerns with sensitivity. Her cross-industry exposure, ranging from non-profit to municipalities, has honed her ability to adapt HR strategies to various work cultures. With a proven track record in change management, benefits administration, and compliance, Erin is a versatile HR professional who combines deep expertise with a forward-thinking approach. Her commitment to fostering collaborative environments and nurturing talent continues to make her a driving force in managing people operations. As an HR leader, Erin is eager to take on new challenges and her passion for promoting a culture of inclusivity and positivity showcases her impact in the Human Resources field.
Contact: membership@csshrm.org
Director of Certification
Melanie White, M.S., SHRM-SCP, PHR
Melanie "Lanie" White has been in HR since 2004 and brings a wealth of experience and knowledge to the profession. She has worked in various industries, including DoD, hospitality, and education. While she brings experience in many HR functions, she considers her area of HR expertise to be employee relations, as she enjoys roles where she can partner with leaders to provide coaching and guidance regarding employment law, performance management, and succession planning to department supervisors, managers, and executive staff. She is extremely passionate about driving positive change and dedicating time to company-wide projects that focus on large- and small-scale solutions geared towards improving critical aspects such as employee retention, engagement, and culture.
Melanie earned her Bachelor of Science in Psychology and Master of Science in Counseling Psychology, both from the University of Central Arkansas. She also holds her SHRM-SCP and PHR certifications.
Contact: certification@csshrm.org
Vice President of Technology & Social Media
Kirsten Ellis, SHRM-SCP
.jpg)
Kirsten is an experienced HR and operations professional. She has experience in nonprofit, government contracting, and sports management industries. Kirsten has worked in all facets of HR and considers herself a true generalist. Her areas of passion include learning and development, mentoring, benefits, and compliance.
Kirsten currently works at Employers Council as an HR consultant. She enjoys the problem solving aspect and variety of industries she is able to serve to strengthen the HR community.
Kirsten holds a Bachelor of Science in Kinesiology from San Diego State University. She is also certified as a Senior Certified Professional by SHRM.
Contact: technology@csshrm.org
Director of Belonging
Dr. MelindaJoy Mingo
As the founder/president of Significant Life Change, Inc.© Dr. MelindaJoy Mingo has worked in multifaceted capacities such as high-impact leadership training for individuals and organizations, equity and inclusion training, racial justice contextualized curriculum development, national and international motivational speaking, and diversity initiatives at the grassroots and community level. She has worked in the Human Resource Development(HRD) field for over 20 years in various career capacities as a human resource director, supervisor of volunteers, corporate assessments and strategic planning consultant, a human resource recruiter for the law enforcement arena, and an employment law professor.
In the state of Colorado, she has conducted diversity, equity, and inclusion training seminars for agencies such as Leadership Pikes Peak, the Denver Sheriff’s Department, the Department of Health and Human Services, the Colorado Springs Police Department, the Department of Corrections, the University of Colorado at Colorado Springs, and for the Denver Institute of Urban Studies to name a few.
Contact: diversity@csshrm.org
Director of Government & Legislative Affairs
Christian Spears, M.S., PHR
.JPG)
Christian is an HR practitioner supporting an industry leading company in HVAC with over 40,000 employees globally. In this capacity, he partners with managers and HR leaders to monitor employee climate, counsel people leaders, and increase engagement and efficiencies.
His professional career began in the United States Air Force where he served as a Personnel Officer, leading HR and Operations functions for an organization with over 600 employees, comprising servicemembers, civilian contractors, and local nationals. Highlights of his military career include working with phenomenal Airmen and staff at the United States Air Force Academy, and Aviano Air Base in northeastern Italy.
As a passionate developer, Christian has experience educating and training in academic and corporate settings. He has facilitated leadership courses and undergraduate studies in Higher Education, and he has supported managerial competencies of people leaders in the corporate arena.
Christian’s skills and abilities come from a breadth of formal education and training. He holds a Bachelor of Science in Psychology, a Master of Science in Organizational Leadership, and certifications from the Academy of Creative Coaching, the HR Certification Institute (HRCI), and Hogan Assessments.
A native of Dallas, TX, Christian has become a proud resident of Colorado Springs, CO. Outside of professional duties, he enjoys spending time with his family.
Contact: legislation@csshrm.org
Director of College Relations
Jade Johnson-Masuen, SHRM-SCP, PHR
Jade currently works in the Community Development Financing Industry (CDFI) as a Director of People & Culture for Colorado Enterprise Fund (CEF). CEF works to create meaningful impact in Colorado’s communities by providing equitable and affordable business financing for entrepreneurs who cannot access bank loans or other financial resources.
Prior experience includes work in defense, medical, logistics, and with National Governing Body (NGB) of sport employers in the local Colorado Springs area. Jade’s areas of focus include employee relations, labor relations, full-cycle recruiting, engagement, DEI, benefits administration, performance management, and change management.
Jade holds a Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado, Colorado Springs. She also holds her SHRM-SCP, PHR, adult and youth mental health CPR certifications.
Contact: collegerelations@csshrm.org
Director of Workforce Readiness
Grace Ferguson
Grace Ferguson has more than 10 years of experience in Human Resources in a variety of public and private entities. She also has more than 10 years of experience working in Secondary and Higher Education where she developed a passion for work-based learning, career-connected education, CTE, concurrent enrollment, career exploration, and talking with students about finding career paths that fit their interests and strengths.
In her free time, you will find Grace helping students and adults with resumes, cover letters, and preparing for interviews. She loves to cheer on her beloved Purdue Boilermakers and going to the beach where she can wade, swim, snorkel, paddleboard and shell hunt. Grace is a foodie at heart and you can find her trying the best local eateries and donut shops in whatever town she is visiting.
Contact: workforce@csshrm.org
Director of Southern Colorado Affairs
Cember Oxley, SHRM-CP, M.S. HRM
Cember Oxley brings over a decade of experience in Human Resources across various sectors, including military, pharmaceutical, retail, and non-profit organizations. Holding a Master's Degree in Human Resource Management and certification as a SHRM-CP, Cember is deeply committed to advancing strategic HR practices and fostering positive workplace cultures.
Having recently relocated to Colorado, Cember is eager to contribute to the HR landscape in Pueblo, Canon City, and the surrounding areas. With a diverse background in human resource leadership and a passion for community growth, Cember looks forward to making a lasting impact and helping shape the future of HR in the region.
Contact:
Board Administrative Assistant
Yana Hodapp
Yana Hodapp is a passionate and dedicated human resources professional with over three years of experience in navigating the complexities of union and employee relations, compensation and benefits, strategic HR planning, people and data analytics, and performance management metrics. With strong expertise in various HRIS systems, she has played a pivotal role in optimizing human resources processes, utilizing data analysis to drive decisions that enhance organizational effectiveness.
Originally from Khabarovsk, Russia, Yana relocated to various parts of the world and the United States, eventually settling in Colorado Springs in 2007 due to her family’s military background. This experience allowed her to develop adaptability, a global mindset, and a strong appreciation for diverse cultures, all of which has played a crucial role in her human resources career.
Known for her approachable and vibrant personality, Yana calls herself the “Elle Woods of HR”, drawing inspiration from the iconic character in the movie Legally Blonde. She embodies a blend of professionalism and compassion, bringing a unique, energetic approach to the HR field while proving that you can succeed in business without sacrificing authenticity or style.
Outside of her career, Yana is a proud wife and mother. She enjoys spending quality time with her family, which includes her energetic German Shepard, Haley. In her free time, Yana is committed to giving back to her community. She is an avid blood donor through the American Red Cross and volunteers regularly for Springs Rescue Mission. When she is not juggling motherhood and volunteering, Yana finds peace and joy in hiking with her loved ones and playing tennis at Springs Tennis.
