And the 2025 HRSTAR Award Winners are...

The Gala evening was filled with stars, HR STARS!  Congratulations to all of the award winners. 

The DallasHR Lifetime Achievement Recipient

Bruce Waller

Vice President Corporate Relocation, The Armstrong Company

Bruce Waller is an award-winning relocation executive, author, keynote speaker, and podcast host who inspires professionals to “find their lane” and gain clarity, confidence, and purpose in the workplace. As Vice President of Corporate Relocation for The Armstrong Company in Dallas, Texas, Bruce partners with HR, TA, and Mobility leaders to deliver comprehensive employee relocation and transportation solutions across the United States and worldwide. He brings more than 30 years of experience helping organizations navigate the complexities of global mobility.  A passionate volunteer leader, Bruce serves as Assistant State Director for Texas SHRM and is a former president of DallasHR, demonstrating a long-standing commitment to advancing the HR profession.

Award Sponsored by

HR Student Leader of the Year

Ashlyn McMullen, SHRM-CP

HR Coordinator, Allied OMS

Ashlyn graduated from the University of North Texas in May 2025 with a B.B.A. in Human Resource Management. During her studies, she completed three internships that provided hands-on experience across multiple HR functions. Those internships led to her current role as an HR Coordinator with Allied OMS. In this position, Ashlyn has gained valuable experience in full-cycle HR, strengthening her decision-making skills and professional confidence while contributing meaningfully to organizational and employee success.

Inclusion Leader of the Year

Gerry Altamirano

Culture & Belonging Partner, AMN Healthcare

Gerry Altamirano is the Culture & Belonging Partner at AMN Healthcare, where he leads employee engagement and inclusion efforts. Previously, he served as an Inclusion Strategist for an organizational consulting firm in NY and as Assistant Dean & Director of the Disability Resource Center at the University of Florida. Gerry holds leadership roles on non-profit boards, including REACH and Resource Center, supporting disability and LGBTQ+ communities in DFW. Gerry has earned degrees from UT Arlington, UT Southwestern Medical Center, and the University of Florida. Gerry has dedicated his career to advancing opportunities for access and inclusion in the workplace and beyond.

Emerging HR Leader of the Year

Mitali Sharma, MBA

Human Resources Officer, Liberty Capital Bank

Mitali Sharma began her career in banking as a teller and later held leadership roles, which shaped her practical, people-first approach to HR. She is now the HR Officer at Liberty Capital Bank and the first dedicated HR professional supporting the integration of Texas Heritage Bank following its acquisition. Mitali leads end-to-end HR across employee relations, hiring and onboarding, performance support, policy and documentation, benefits and leave coordination, and HR operations. DallasHR is a key part of her professional community, where she volunteers and stays connected to the HR field.

HR Change Champion of the Year

Chrissie Rogers, SPHR

Human Resources Manager, Acumed

Chrissie Rogers is a Certified Human Resources professional with more than 15 years of experience providing strategic HR leadership across operations, manufacturing, and corporate functions. She partners with leaders and employees to align people strategies with business objectives, driving performance, engagement, and sustainable growth. Chrissie has led initiatives spanning talent management, employee relations, organizational effectiveness, compensation, compliance, and leadership development. Known for navigating complex challenges with clarity and credibility, she balances business needs with a strong commitment to employee experience, culture, and long-term organizational impact.

Award Sponsored by

Recruiting Leader of the Year

Amy Allen

Head of Recruiting, Selene Finance

Amy Allen is a recruiting leader with 20 years of experience shaping talent acquisition strategy across financial services and highly regulated environments. As the current supervisor of recruiting at Selene Finance, she leads full-cycle recruiting across multiple lines of business and partners with leaders to align hiring strategies to business priorities, compliance standards, and workforce planning needs. Amy is known for building high-performing recruiting teams, launching scalable internship programs, and serving as a trusted advisor to senior leaders on talent strategy and organizational growth. 

Award Sponsored by

HR Consultant of the Year

Robert Rich, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Vice President, The Encompass Group

Robert is an HR and people optimization consultant with deep expertise in organizational effectiveness, workforce planning, and M&A integration. Over a 15-year career, he has partnered with organizations across finance, technology, and other industries to navigate complex change and build people-centric, high-performing teams. He is a speaker and facilitator focused on applying human capital strategy and modern leadership. Robert earned his undergraduate degree from the University of North Texas and is currently completing graduate studies in Organizational Leadership at the University of Oklahoma. He maintains SHRM-CP, SHRM-SCP, and SPHR certifications and lives in Dallas with his wife and two sons.

Award Sponsored by

AI Innovator of the Year

Mary Baird, PHR, CSM

Author + EX Strategist, The Simplifiers

Mary Baird is a leadership and employee experience strategist and workshop facilitator with 18+ years of experience helping organizations improve culture, engagement, and performance. She has led large-scale learning and transformation initiatives for major brands and is known for simplifying complex topics into straightforward, practical actions teams can use right away. Mary teaches teams to use AI for HR ethically and advises HR/executive leaders on people-first strategies that drive business results. She hosts The Simplifiers Podcast, listened to in 155+ countries worldwide. Her forthcoming book, The Simplifiers Guide to Better Employee Experience, will be released in spring 2026.

DallasHR Volunteer of the Year

Mary Southworth, MBA, SHRM-CP

HR Consultant, The Shiftly, LLC

Mary Southworth is the founder of The Shiftly, where she helps small and mid-sized businesses turn HR and payroll into efficient, people-centered foundations with measurable impact. With nearly a decade of HR experience, she specializes in HR transformation, workforce strategy, and operational design. She holds a degree in Mathematics and an MBA in Finance, and is a SHRM-certified professional. Mary bridges HR systems and processes so they actually work for humans, making HR infrastructure smarter, simpler, and more sustainable. Her work reframes HR as a catalyst for clarity, compassion, and growth for both businesses and the people who power them.

Award Sponsored by

DallasHR Volunteer Leader of the Year

Michele Haugh, MS, HR-OD

Co-Founder, EarlyEngage

Michele Haugh brings decades of HR experience across corporate and consulting roles, supporting more than 200 organizations. In 2020, she co-founded EarlyHR Solutions and later launched EarlyEngage to help organizations strengthen engagement, development, and retention. She holds a BS in Business and a Master’s in HR and Organizational Development and is passionate about building inclusive, people-first cultures. Michele is the DallasHR Consultant of the Year (2024) and DEI Leader of the Year finalist (2024). In addition to her professional work, she is actively involved with DallasHR and serves on the board of Neighbors Nourishing Neighbors, supporting hunger-relief efforts in North Dallas.

Award Sponsored by

HR Executive Impact 

Felica Taylor, SPHR-CA

Chief Human Resources Officer, Quantum Health

Felicia Taylor is a transformational HR executive and trusted change agent with over 20 years of experience helping technology and private equity-backed companies grow with clarity, resilience, and purpose. She is known for leading bold people strategies that strengthen leadership, unlock performance, and build cultures rooted in trust and accountability. Most recently, Felicia served as Chief People Officer at WebPT, guiding rapid growth, M&A integration, and cultural renewal. Her career spans startups and public companies in senior HR leadership roles. Felicia holds SPHR and PHR-CA certifications and is deeply committed to mentoring, community service, and creating workplaces where people thrive.

Award Sponsored by

HR Executive of the Year, Medium-Company

Jennifer Davis, SHRM-SCP

Chief People Officer, Rightsline

Jennifer (Jen) Davis has over 28 years of experience in HR. She is currently with Rightsline as their Chief People Officer. Prior to Rightsline, she spent 5 years with Lone Wolf Real Estate Technologies and 14 years with PFSweb, Inc. In her role as an HR professional, Jen enjoys approaching her work from both an employee and employer perspective, taking the time to analyze how decisions impact both the organization and individual employees.

Award Sponsored by

HR Executive of the Year, Large-Company 

Suzanne Myers

Chief HR Officer, Arcosa, Inc.

Suzanne Myers is the Chief Human Resources Officer of Arcosa, Inc., a publicly traded provider of infrastructure-related products and solutions serving construction, energy, and transportation markets. As CHRO, Suzanne leads Arcosa’s enterprise people strategy, including succession planning, leadership development, labor relations, and total rewards across a highly decentralized manufacturing footprint. A trusted advisor to the executive leadership team and Board of Directors, Suzanne has played a pivotal role in strengthening leadership capability and aligning HR strategy with Arcosa’s long-term growth objectives.

Award Sponsored by

Recruiting Team of the Year 

The Container Store 

The Talent Acquisition Team

The Container Store Talent Acquisition team is a small but mighty group of two recruiters, a coordinator, and their leader who partner closely with executives across the business to drive transformation and growth for a nationwide retailer. Taking the word partnership to another level, the team supports hiring across retail, supply chain, manufacturing, and corporate functions, leveraging AI-enabled tools, modern recruiting technology, and data-driven insights to solve complex talent challenges and hiring initiatives. Known for their hands-on, collaborative approach, the team plays a critical role in scaling the business while keeping people, culture, and candidate experience at the center.

Award Sponsored by

HR Team of the Year 

Smoothie King

The People Services Team

The People Services team at Smoothie King is a passionate, people-first group committed to helping leaders and team members thrive. The tag lines in our signatures literally say, "Connecting People to Purpose. With expertise spanning HR operations, talent development, and leadership support, the team is known for its collaborative spirit, thoughtful problem-solving, and deep care for the employee experience. Together, we bring the company’s mission and values to life through practical tools, clear guidance, and trusted partnership across the brand.

Award Sponsored by