Melissa Gunn, SHRM-CP
Melissa Gunn, SHRM-CP, is a strategic Human Resources professional with over a decade of experience spanning the education and public sectors. She is known for her innovative, people-centered approach to workforce development and organizational effectiveness. Currently serving as Supervisor of Staffing and Retention for the York County School Division in Virginia, Melissa leads a team of four staffing professionals responsible for recruiting and supporting a workforce of approximately 2,400 employees. In this role, she partners closely with executive leadership to align staffing strategies with organizational priorities, ensuring sustainable growth, strong talent pipelines, and high employee engagement.
Melissa’s HR journey began in New Mexico at a credit union, where she discovered her passion for human resources and customer service. She went on to serve as Human Resources Director for Curry County, where she oversaw comprehensive HR operations and played a critical leadership role during the COVID-19 pandemic. Notably, she launched a student internship program that expanded from 60 participants to hundreds across two counties, creating meaningful career pathways and resulting in long-term employment opportunities for many students. Her expertise includes full-cycle recruiting, employee relations, benefits design, compliance, and policy development, supported by a strong ability to translate workforce needs into actionable, data-informed strategies.
In addition to her professional accomplishments, Melissa is deeply committed to service and community impact. As a military spouse, she is particularly passionate about supporting veterans and military spouses in employment. She previously served as Affiliate Chair for the Human Resources Affiliate of the New Mexico Association of Counties, representing all 33 counties, and holds designation as a Certified Public Official in the State of New Mexico. Melissa earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Human Resource Management from Western Governors University and holds the SHRM-CP certification. She continues to champion leadership development, diversity and inclusion, and forward-thinking HR practices that empower both organizations and their people to thrive.
• SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP)
• WGU Capstone Excellence Award
• WGU Certificate: Strategic Thinking and Innovation
• WGU Human Resource Management Certificate
• Substitute Teacher
• Certified Public Official
• New Mexico State University - AS, Business Administration and Management, General
• Eastern New Mexico University - BBA, Business Administration and Management, General
• Western Governors University - BBA, Human Resources Management/Personnel Administration, General
• Capstone Award
• Employee of the Year Nominee
• Peninsula SHRM
• SHRM (Society of Human Resource Management)
• AASPA (Association of School Personnel Administrators)
• Former Affiliate Chair
• Human Resources Affiliate
• New Mexico Association of Counties
• Veteran and Military Spouse Employment Support
• Student Internship Program
What do you attribute your success to?
I really attribute my success to my mom's drive and really how much she instilled a great work ethic in myself and my brother. She's always worked in the customer service field, and you know, I really looked up to her as I was growing up. And just her presence and how she is always there to help people in any type of capacity, and so it really made me want to go into human resources and be better and really make a positive impact, a positive impact, on everyone around me.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I would say the best piece of advice that I've received would be to really follow your passion. You know, and do what you do to the best of your ability. Because you're making a difference. You know, and even if it's as small as smiling at somebody who seems to be having a bad day, or somebody in the supermarket, or assisting somebody who seems like they're struggling with something, it really does make a positive impact on your own life.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
I would say to be yourself, you know, and be a leader in any type of role you are in. So, you know, whether you're in an entry-level role or you're in a management or executive role, is to really be a leader in all that you do. Because being a leader is really a privilege. And being able to make those changes and showcase yourself and really want the best for everyone around you will show through in your work. So don't change who you are, and just be present.
What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
I think the biggest challenge is really finding individuals that have soft skills. So, I think that's kind of the biggest challenge. You know, work skills can be taught, but I think as we've gone on and technology has grown and things are more now on computers and everything, is just finding those individuals that have soft skills, or helping train them. When we hire now, we're having to focus more on soft skills in the beginning. You know, even these things as like eye contact, shaking people's hand, speaking to people in person, like those things, with everything being online now, they just don't do that anymore. So we really focused on those type of items in our student internship program, and I've seen quite a few of our students grow those skills.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Really, integrity and owning it. You know, if you make a mistake, own it. Let's work through it together. Being kind. So, being nice to me is not the same as being kind, so, you know, just making sure you know that people are going through things that you might not know of. But being truthful, having that integrity, knowing whenever you are wrong and admitting to it. Also, just being thoughtful and calm, and really valuing the truth.