Scholarship Recipient Takes on Management Role

Barbara S. Calhoun scholarship recipient Vernessa Britt enrolled in our Human Resources SHRM-CP/SHRM-SCP program to enhance her career. She applied for the scholarship, aside from financial benefit, because she believes it represents the academic longevity of a community and represents the faith the college has in the incoming students.

“I was honored to be chosen. It empowered me to approach my education with confidence and show my peers that I was serious about continuing my education,” she said.

Vernessa took the course with the intent of focusing on strengthening her abilities in data and analytics. According to the Society for Human Resource Management (shrm.org), over the past five years nearly two-thirds of organizations have increased the number of positions requiring data analysis skills, and it is expected to continue increasing.

Vernessa also liked the course’s interactive approach where students could share real experiences and talk through solutions. Along with improving her analytical skills, she feels it is important to learn how to foster a diverse and inclusive workforce.

Vernessa finished the program in December 2017, adding a new set of skills and knowledge to her 15-year career. She originally served a functional role, more focused on hiring and performance management. This course helped to build her skills to play a more strategic role in an organization, helping to strengthen employee-employee relationships and workforce strategy.

Armed with her new certificate from CCPE, she was offered a position as an office manager at Raintree Waste, a locally owned waste and recycling collection company for businesses. Learning how to approach new partnerships with openness, along with focusing on common goals, has been helpful at the new job. She also cultivates relationships with internal employees and maintains connections with the clients.

“This puts me closer to the operations of the company so I am at the table when discussing the business and how employees play an important role,” she said.

She said it is common to wear many hats at her new job. Thanks to our course, Vernessa said she has been able to successfully find exactly where she fits within the industry.

“HR professionals serve as the voice of a company,” she said. “I want to support the broader organization’s initiatives, goals and strategic direction.”