Her Story
About Deborah
I've dedicated between 12 and 15 years to the human resources and management field, where my passion lies in employee engagement and recruiting. My typical day involves engaging with team members, building strong relationships with them, overseeing payroll, recruiting new talent, and focusing on team member development. I wear many hats in my role, but what drives me is treating people with dignity and respect in everything I do. My educational journey includes earning a master's in Human Resource Management in 2013, which I completed under extraordinary circumstances while undergoing chemotherapy and radiation treatment as a breast cancer survivor. I started my master's program to keep my mind off what was going on in my life during that challenging time. I'm also three classes shy of completing a second master's in healthcare administration, though I've put that on hold for now. Beyond my HR career, I'm deeply committed to causes that matter to me personally. I serve on the board of domestic violence prevention for Carroll County, a position I've held for going on two years. I applied for this role because I can talk the talk since I've walked the walk as a domestic violence victim in my teenage years. I'm also passionate about supporting Susan G. Komen, domestic violence organizations, and the Red Cross. I'm an inventor with two patents that I'm working to bring to market. My AP3 Smart Luggage was born from a personal experience when my husband and I had our luggage stolen at the Dallas airport. This innovative luggage uses thumbprint technology so that if the thumbprint doesn't match, the handle goes up but it locks the wheels, making it impossible to roll. It also makes noise and flashes to alert people that the luggage doesn't belong to that person. My second invention is the Umbrella Slicker, which incorporates a rain slicker into one of the umbrella prongs that can be used for protection or as a seat cover.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Deborah
01What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to mentorship and education. Having strong mentors throughout my career has been invaluable, and I've always believed in the power of continuous learning and education to open doors and create opportunities. These two elements have been the foundation of everything I've accomplished in my career.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
The best career advice I ever received was to treat people with dignity and respect. This principle has guided me throughout my entire career and shapes how I approach every interaction, whether with team members, colleagues, or anyone I work with. It's simple but powerful advice that has served me well.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
My advice to young women entering the human resources industry is to learn everything that you can and be open and honest with all types of feedback. Don't take criticism to heart in a negative way. Instead, learn from it. I want people to give it to me straight with constructive criticism rather than sugarcoating things and laughing behind my back. Being open to honest feedback and using it as a learning opportunity is essential for growth in this field.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Right now, the field is very open with tremendous opportunities. When you look on LinkedIn, there are so many job openings available, which shows the demand for HR professionals. However, the biggest challenge we're facing is competing with AI. With so many people applying for these positions, artificial intelligence is increasingly being used in the recruitment and HR process, and that's something we have to navigate and adapt to as professionals in this industry.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values most important to me are treating people with dignity and respect, and being honest and open. I believe strongly in honesty because I don't want anyone to sugarcoat things and then laugh behind my back. If someone has constructive criticism for me, I want them to give it to me straight. I value direct, honest communication over false pleasantries. These principles guide both my professional work and my personal relationships.
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