Human Resources Professional of the Year Honored

COLUMBIA, SC – February 24, 2009 – The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce and the South Carolina State Council of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) honored the 2009 Human Resources Professional of the Year, presented by Ogletree, Deakins, Nash, Smoak & Stewart, P.C. (Greenville, Columbia and Charleston offices), on February 10 in Columbia. More than 150 were in attendance as Thyra Austin SPHR, of U.S. Food Services Inc. in Lexington, was named the 2009 Human Resources Professional of the Year. 

Austin’s accomplishments include service on the board of directors of the South Carolina State Council of SHRM for the past seven years. In her work at Lamson and Sessions, Austin spearheaded effective safety meetings and associate, manager and supervisory training. Austin was instrumental in establishing a South Carolina Diversity Council Board of Directors at the South Carolina Chamber and served as chairperson of the group in 2007. 

In accepting the award, Austin told her fellow business leaders, “As a young HR professional, I stood in awe of the winner at the Human Resources Professional of the Year Awards. The blessing is truly in the nomination.” 

The evening’s keynote address was given by Jesse Harriott, Ph.D, vice president of research for Monster Worldwide. In December, Monster broke ground on a 500 employee facility in Florence, South Carolina.

Harriott told the human resources professionals that even in today’s economy, there are still 140 million people in the United States working. But, he said, the global challenge is the need for skilled workers will not be met. In 1955, workers stayed at a job an average of 27 years. Today, they stay an average of four years. Focusing on a diverse workforce can increase retention. Successful companies know they have to create a brand that attracts employees.

Thyra Austin was joined by five nominees for the 2009 HR Professional of the Year Award:

Amy Marchbanks, Kravet Inc. (Anderson)
Teresa Medlin, The Bradshaw Group (Greer)
K. Michelle Powell, Select Health of South Carolina (North Charleston)
Danny L. Rhodes, Ph.D., Anderson University (Anderson)
Peggy Smith, SPHR, Goodwill Industries of Lower South Carolina Inc. (North Charleston)

The South Carolina Chamber of Commerce, the nation’s first state chamber Accredited with Distinction by the U.S. Chamber, is the state’s largest statewide broad-based business and industry trade association representing more than 6,500 member companies and more than 600,000 member employees, with 90 percent of membership comprised of small businesses. As the unified voice for business and industry, the Chamber is a catalyst for increasing per capita income and enhancing the state’s global competitiveness in order to improve the quality of life for all South Carolinians.