Board of Director

Denise Batista, MSHR

Denise Batista is currently the Director of Human Resources at Luzerne County Transit Authority. She holds a Master of Science in Human Resources and has an undergraduate degree in Business Management. She relocated from NYC 3 years ago and has been an excited new member of the community. 

Tina Bird, PHR

Tina Bird is currently the People Operations Manager For Nammo Defense Systems/HR Manager for Nammo Pocal Inc, a defense contractor in the Scranton area. She is interested in being considered for a Board of Directors seat for NEPA SHRM.

Beginning in college, through internships and through present, she has worked to excel and shape her HR background with local NEPA companies. In her present role, there is a broad depth of responsibilities including managing all aspects of the employee life cycle, supporting our Nammo Pocal site in Scranton with both HR and Safety, and also serving as the Nammo Pocal, Inc. Board of Directors Secretary. She was born and raised in the NEPA area, and loves to support local businesses throughout. She also enjoys traveling, fitness, cooking and baking, and spending time with family.

Heather Buck

Heather Buck is the Director of Human Resources at Johnson College, overseeing the department's day-to-day operations. Her career encompasses experience within all areas of human resources including employee relations, recruiting, coaching and counseling, training, benefits administration, compensation, talent planning, policy implementation, employee development, and performance management. Heather is accustomed to handling sensitive, confidential records. She is flexible and versatile – able to maintain a sense of humor under pressure.

She has a combined 12 years of experience in Human Resources, primarily within the higher education and veterinary medicine fields. Heather has developed team members, leaders, and managers helping to improve their knowledge and abilities within their areas of expertise and worked to outline career paths to develop future leaders and amplify succession planning. Heather has been promoted multiple times within the last 8 years while working at Johnson College due to her continued success within the organization's projects and committees.

Heather was born and raised in Scranton, Pennsylvania. She officially became a member of NEPA SHRM in 2016. Heather earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business with a minor in Human Resource Management from Keystone College. Heather aspires to become a Certified Human Resource Professional one day. Her true passion for Human Resources started during college while taking classes with the late, Dr. Karen Yarrish. Dr. Yarrish was a true inspiration during Heather’s college years and when she began her career, Dr. Yarrish would invite Heather to NEPA SHRM events as a student, refer Heather to job opportunities, and invite her to collaborate on a publishing project. In April 2012, “The Encyclopedia of Human Resource Management” Volume 2:HR Forms and Job Aids was released and Heather was recognized in the acknowledgement section as a contributor to the development.

Heather truly enjoys working in the HR field and the excitement of bringing in new hires, getting them acclimated to the company’s culture and seeing those employees build relationships with each other and come together to share their successes.

Regina Corchado, SHRM-SCP

Regina currently serves as the Director of Human Resources for King’s College where she is responsible for human resource planning, including HR informational systems, compliance, organizational design, benefits and compensation analysis, talent management, and employee relations. She has held several roles in human resources during her professional career at large for-profit and non-profit companies. She has extensive experience in recruiting entry-level and executive level employees for each company she has worked for including Pepperjam and the Home Depot. She has successfully overseen the implementation of numerous wellness and employee engagement programs. Most recently she was the Senior Manager of Human Resources at Maternal and Family Health Services. She is a recipient of a bachelor’s degree from King’s College and holds her SHRM-SCP. Regina has served on the NEPA SHRM board since 2023.

Jo Ann Kaminski, PHR

Jo Ann is currently the Assistant Vice President, Global Digital Learning & Development Solution Designer for Chubb Insurance.  Prior to her current role Jo Ann was a North America Specialist for Learning & Development, managing several of the Leadership and Development programs across North America in addition to managing the day-to-day operations of the Chubb Investment in Education Program.  Jo Ann has a diverse human resource background with not only Chubb and Penn Millers but with organizations such as Pennsylvania Gas & Water Company and Quaker Oats.  Jo Ann possesses a PHR and Kirkpatrick Certified Professional certifications.

Jackie Kendzor

Jackie Kendzor currently holds the role of Assistant Vice President of Human Resources for Berkshire Hathaway GUARD Insurance Companies, a nationwide property and casualty insurance company with over 1,000 employees across the United States. Jackie joined GUARD in 2011. In her 12+ years with the organization, she has been responsible for overseeing, directing, and coordinating all functions of the Human Resource department including employee and labor relations, employee onboarding and orientation, discipline and performance management, employee development, recruitment, strategic planning, and legal compliance. Jackie earned a bachelor’s degree in marketing from Kutztown University.

Born and raised in Northeast PA, Jackie continues to reside in the Pittston area and is a valued member of her local community. She volunteers with several organizations such as The United Way and Sleep in Heavenly Peace of Luzerne County to name a few. She actively participates in local leadership training programs, and several other community networking and learning opportunities. Jackie currently serves on the Board of Directors for Leadership Northeast and Luzerne County Children's Advocacy Center. Jackie has been a member of the Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM) since 2011.

Sean Miller, SHRM-CP

Sean Miller is the Human Resources Manager at Slocomb Windows and Doors in Hanover Township for the last 7 years. In addition to his duties in the HR portion of the business, he is also the Safety Committee Chair as well as the Benefits Administrator. Outside of work, he coaches high school basketball and thoroughly enjoys that work/life balance with his family. Sean currently resides in Dallas with his wife Mary and two young children, Kenny and Madeline.

Melissa Sharp, MA, SHRM-CP

My passion for HR is a journey that I have traveled over both the course of my career and in my life as a daughter, wife, and HR professional.  Early in my career, like some, my path was unclear.  I knew I wanted to find a career I was passionate about and one that would help me fulfill my true purpose in this life.  The answer did not come easily to me.  I pursued a degree in Marketing and chose this path because of my love of creativity and art.  I enjoyed seeing something new come out of something familiar.  

After achieving my bachelor's degree, I became aware that finding a career in this profession was not the vision I had hoped for.  At the time, I knew I needed to find something more, something more fulfilling.  I decided to work at a local call center in the technology industry, thinking I would figure it all out at some point.  I soon found myself promoted to a leadership role.  This is where I found fulfillment in serving people.  Not only the customers on the other end of the line, but to those call center employees on my team who needed help.  They needed help in all areas of their lives.  Sometimes both professionally and personally.  I found pride in the role and knew I was good at helping them.  I decided that I wanted to move toward a career in HR!  But, it was not as easy as it sounded.  

It took me several years to gain the courage to apply for an HR Generalist role with the same organization.  I wasn't sure if I had what it took to help the employee base and leaders thrive, after all my degree was in Marketing, not HR.  At the time, I thought this would limit my pursuit.  I got up the courage and applied for the HR Generalist role, but was passed over.  I did not look at this as a failure, but quickly partnered with the HR Generalist that was hired and learned more about HR in partnership with her.  Ironically, she was promoted to a manager role, and I was pursued by the HR Director about the HR Generalist role.  My opening in HR was awaiting me! I accepted the role and almost twenty years in the making, I became an HR professional.  All that experience with my team had paid off.  After all, I WAS doing HR every day with them.   

I decided to use the tuition reimbursement program at the organization to pursue my Master's degree in Human Resources.  I achieved that goal and graduated in May of 2021.  I found I enjoyed learning about HR so much, that I returned to SHRM to complete my SHRM-CP certification.  I have since been promoted to a new role with a new organization as HR Manager and Business Partner.  I use those early lessons in HR and management daily to inspire and encourage employees, leaders, and my HR team.  I am now looking to the future to expand out into the HR community and help others thrive in their HR roles.   Human Resources is not just a career to me anymore.  It is a way of life that I bring to my roles, not only at work but as a daughter in the way I support my 80-year-old father. In the ways I help support my friendships, and in the ways I support my husband.  

Finding a career in HR was a profound turning point in my life because of the impact one can make in this profession, and I truly want to help others experience the fulfillment and pride I have been so grateful to find in my life. 

I am excited to pursue this next step in my journey and look for your vote for a seat on the Northeast Pennsylvania Chapter of the SHRM Board of Directors.