Her Story
About Debbie
She is a dedicated human resources and organizational development professional with over 25 years of experience in HR operations, talent acquisition, training, and event coordination, currently serving as Senior Human Resources Analyst and Internship Program Coordinator at Henrico County, where she manages the full recruitment process for internships, screens applicants, conducts interviews, and oversees the Internship Program, including program design, orientation training, and evaluation. Prior to this role, she served as Human Resources Specialist in Organizational Learning and Talent Development, conducting new employee orientation and customer service training, and as Office Assistant IV in Library Administration, where she planned and executed community events. She holds an Associate's degree in Management from Reynolds Community College, where she graduated Cum Laude and was a member of Phi Theta Kappa, and completed Train-the-Trainer certification at the University of Richmond. She is recognized as a strategic, detail-oriented, and people-focused HR professional who is deeply committed to employee development, talent management, and organizational excellence.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Debbie
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to maintaining a positive attitude, working hard, being adaptable, and staying determined even when faced with challenges. I believe success comes from being willing to learn, embracing change, and persevering through setbacks rather than giving up. My strong work ethic and commitment to continuous improvement have helped me overcome obstacles and achieve my goals, both personally and professionally.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I've ever received was to stay open-minded and be willing to try new things. By exploring different opportunities, you learn what you're naturally good at, what challenges you, and what you genuinely enjoy. While it's important to develop strategies to overcome obstacles and improve weaker areas, I've found that people often excel most in areas that align with their natural strengths and interests. That advice has encouraged me to continue learning, identify what motivates me, and pursue career opportunities that are a good fit for my skills, values, and long-term goals.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Network with folks that can help you get the job you want and be open to learn new things all the time. People change jobs in their early careers a lot to increase their income or they just don't like the job but more often people leave because of people. The people you might leave a job for are everywhere so you have to learn how to work with them.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
One of the biggest challenges I see in Human Resources right now is that there seem to be more qualified candidates pursuing HR careers than there are available positions, making the job market very competitive. That means HR professionals need to continuously develop new skills, stay current with employment laws and HR technology, and demonstrate the value they can bring to an organization. At the same time, I think this creates an opportunity for candidates who are adaptable, committed to learning, and able to build strong relationships with employees and leaders. Those are the qualities I'm continuing to develop as I build my HR career.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
I value commitment, dedication, integrity, and authentic relationships, believing that meaningful success is built through consistent effort, trust, and accountability. I am committed to building lasting relationships and strong partnerships, knowing that genuine connections and a shared sense of purpose are the foundation of both personal fulfillment and professional achievement.
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