State Council Officers and Directors
The following is a list of the 2026 officers and directors of the SHRM New York State Council.
Note: All local chapter presidents are voting members of the Council.
Council Members: Please use this expense form for your State Council Expenses
 | State Director Dan Higham, SHRM-CP, PHR |
 | Director Elect & Annual Conference Chair Michele Wilkes Hawkins, SHRM-CP, PHR |
 | Finance Director Mary Stone |
 | Secretary Anita Lyndaker |
 | Immediate Past State Director Mat Petrin, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CEBS |
 | Deputy Director of Revenue Jon Helmin, SHRM-CP, PHR, GPHR |
 | Deputy Director of Program Sandy Whitmore, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | SHRM Members & Community Director Theresa Velykis, SHRM-CP 1800 Duke Street Alexandria, VA 22314 |
 | Advocacy Director Jeanne Stewart, SHRM-SCP, SPHR, CDP |
 | Certification Director Matt Burr |
 | Communications Director Tom Schin |
 | College Relations/Young Professionals Director Collin Gehl |
 | Foundation Director Laurie-Ann Platt |
 | Diversity Director Leon Holden |
 | General Counsel John Bagyi, Esq, SHRM-SCP, SPHR Bond, Schoeneck & King, PLLC |
 | Leadership Director Pam Nicastro, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | Membership Director Beth Bowers, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | Social Media Director Alton Wilson, MS, MBA, PMQ, RACR, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | Special Initiatives Director Ken Meyer, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | Sponsor & Vendor Director Vacant |
 | Workforce Readiness Director Theresa Jalowiec, SHRM-SCP, MBA |
 | District Director, Central (Syracuse, Utica) Iolanda A Cooper, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | District Director, Hudson South (Long Island, Middletown, NYC, Poughkeepsie, White Plains) Janet Giannetta, SHRM-SCP, SPHR |
 | District Director, North County (Jefferson/Lewis Counties, Potsdam) Bobby Killmer, SHRM-CP |
 | District Director, Northwest (Buffalo, Jamestown, Rochester) Christine DePeters |
 | District Director, Southwest (Corning, Elmira, Ithaca, Binghamton) Tammy Dibble |