East Texas Human Resources Association

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Tanya Johnson, SHRM-CP, SPHR - President

As the Human Resources Manager at Camfil, USA, Tanya (SPHR, SHRM-CP) leads her team as they focus on various strategic initiatives that support Camfil’s most valuable resource: the people. A servant leader, Tanya strives to provide exceptional customer service to Camfil’s employees and the communities Camfil serves. Regularly labeled as a “people person,” Tanya truly enjoys watching people grow professionally and make a positive impact through the work they do. While she can be seen personally volunteering with several non-profit organizations, Tanya regularly gives back to her community using her “HR superpowers.” “I served on the personnel committee for my church, assisted with mock interviews for the participants of Heartisan’s Marketplace and I recently had the pleasure of leading resume and interviewing prep courses for Graciously Broken Ministries. Making a positive impact in the lives of women was a very clear direction placed on my heart in 2010 as one of the ways I was going to make a difference in this big world. It is a beautiful thing when your professional skills and experience align so perfectly with the needs of your community. It is truly a joy,” exclaims Tanya. Tanya received her BBA from Stephen F. Austin State University and her MBA from LeTourneau University. Another fun fact about Tanya is that she is a certified Zumba instructor and you can catch her class every Thursday night at Crunch Fitness in Longview, TX.

April McCamey, MHRD, SPHR - President Elect

April McCamey, MHRD, SPHR is a Human Resources Manager at Komatsu. People are her true passion and she loves serving, whether it is the employees of Komatsu or non-profits around East Texas. After working in marketing and graphic design for several years, she believes there is a career that is a perfect fit for everyone and there’s no better feeling than finding just the right match. April has served on the ETHRA board for several years and is thrilled to take on a new challenge as President Elect.
April brings her passion for people and eagerness to help to the non-profit world by serving as Vice President of Heartisans Marketplace board and as a board member for Education by Design. Heartisans helps women to break the chains of dependency and achieve self-sufficiency. Education by Design Education tutors, mentors, and coaches for academic achievement and constructive character development to assist students from low-income, under-resourced, single parent, minority families in transformation. April previously served as President of Longview Midtown Rotary Club, as First Vice Chair for DORS Youth Transition Center and is a proud graduate of the Leadership Longview Class of 2016.
She holds a Bachelor of Marketing from LeTourneau University and a Master of Human Resource Development from the University of Texas at Tyler. She also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from HRCI. An avid (some might call it ‘social’) outdoor runner, April is a marathon finisher and also enjoys indoor cycling – but never without friends!

Jennifer Fox, SHRM-CP, PHR - Past President, Membership Director
Jennifer Fox, PHR, SHRM-CP has been a member of SHRM since 2011, and a member of NTSHRM in North Texas from 2013 to 2016. She joined ETHRA when her husband Michael J. Fox (yes, that’s his real name) relocated to East Texas from the D/FW area in 2016. She joined ETHRA in 2016 and began serving on board in 2017. She has been in HR since 1998 serving in various environments, supporting supply chain environments in the role of HR support, and Talent Acquisition. She is active with her church, serving in several positions. She has a passion for helping others find their professional and spiritual calling, and to see East Texas diversify its trade and industry base to ensure East Texans thrive in all economic circumstances. She will drop everything for a Chick-fil-A sandwich. Not even kidding.

Cindy Perritt, SHRM-CP, PHR - Past Chapter President and Treasurer
Cindy Perritt is the Human Resources Manager for Cassity Jones Companies. She has been with Cassity Jones Companies for 8 years in charge of all human resources and payroll for the company. Cindy earned her PHR and SHRM-CP in 2012. Prior to joining Cassity Jones, Cindy worked for 17 years as the office manager for The Psychology Clinic of Lake Charles, LA. Cindy grew up in southwest Louisiana and attended McNeese State University where she earned a BS in Office Administration. Currently, Cindy is serving as the Treasurer and Past President of the local SHRM Chapter, East Texas Human Resources Association. She enjoys running and keeping up with her 15 year old son Jackson.

Suzanne Brown, IOM, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP - Legislative Director
Suzanne Stadden Brown, IOM, MBA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is the Senior Vice President, Public Policy & Communications, for the Longview Chamber of Commerce. She was born and raised in Houston, Texas, earned her Bachelor of Science in Clinical Nutrition at the University of Houston, and grew up working in the Chemical Industry, recruited by GB Biosciences. Beginning as a Research Chemist, she was promoted into positions in Public Relations/Community Affairs, Safety & Industrial Hygiene, and finally Human Resources. She served on 11 different community and agency boards while there and went to night school (and Saturdays) to earn her MBA. Recruited to U. S. Steel in Lone Star, Texas, she worked in Employment Relations for 9 years until asked to relocate and take on a plant expansion in Pine Bluff, Arkansas. That is when she approached the Longview Chamber of Commerce to let them know that she would be putting her “name out there” for employment opportunities to stay in Longview. And that is where this new journey began. Her brothers and dad, and their families live in Houston. She is married to the love of her life and very best friend, Bruce, whose daughter and her husband have blessed them with 3 amazing grandkids. She loves to cook (Heal the world – cook dinner tonight!), anything artistic, and anything outdoors/nature.

Whitney Schubarth - Chapter Secretary & Technology Director

Whitney Schubarth is the Benefits and Wellness Specialist at Komatsu. Her job consists of overseeing the Short Term Disability process, company-wide wellness activities and employee and community engagement activities. Whitney grew up in Longview and is a graduate of both Longview High School and LeTourneau University, with degrees in both Child Development and Early Childhood Education. Her professional experience has taken her from East Texas to Baltimore to the Mojave Desert of Southern California and right back to East Texas. From her first job out of college at the Belcher Center in 2007 to present day at Komatsu, she has learned extensively ‘on the job’ and continued to say yes to increasingly challenging opportunities. Outside of work, she is a 2022 Leadership Longview graduate, Ultra-marathoner, wife and mom to 3 future-Lobos. She’s an Enneagram type-1 - type-A - Labrador that enjoys a good cup of coffee shared with even better friends and a healthy serving of laughter. The world is a heavy place and laughter is a gift she bestows with abandon.

Brandon Langford, SHRM-SCP, SPHR - Certification & Education Director

Brandon Langford is the Founder of HR LaunchPoint. He received his BBA and MBA from Texas A&M - Texarkana. He is passionate about professional development and holds certifications, including SHRM-SCP and SPHR. Before starting his consulting firm, Brandon held HR roles in retail, supply chain, staffing, and healthcare industries. At HR LaunchPoint, he specializes in helping small businesses succeed through compliance and aiding in employee relations and investigations. Brandon likes to spend his free time hanging with his family and reading (mostly) apocalyptic thrillers.

Angela Bridges - Regional Network Representative

Angela Bridges is Vice President at Higginbotham Insurance and Financial Services in Tyler. For 20 years she has built her career in assisting HR professionals in all facets of their Employee Benefit Program with an emphasis on compliance. She holds an Advanced Self-Funding Certification from the National Association of Health Underwriters and certifications for ACA and Wellness. Angela worked as a private consultant until 2015 when she led and owned the employee benefits division for EIG in Tyler. In 2019 Higginbotham approached Angela about a partnership so they could expand their footprint in the East Texas area. Angela partnered with Higginbotham to expand her compliance capabilities and offer her clients other valuable resources.

Although compliance is a strength, Angela’s favorite part about her work is the ability to deliver a customized experience with each client and tailoring a benefit package for the needs of each company. Her passion is educating employees on how best to use their benefits for the betterment of themselves, their company benefit plans, and the insurance industry as a whole.

Angela is married with 2 kids, 3 dogs, and a rabbit. Her favorite hobbies include Friday night football games, watching her kids in any and all passions they pursue, playing tennis or pickle ball, eating a great meal, reading a good book, traveling, learning something new, and living the dream. Need motivation? Reach out to Angela who loves a good motivational quote and has them taped up all over her office!

Tesa Wilson - Board Advisor

Tesa Wilson is an Associate HRBP, for Westlake Chemical in Longview. Tesa has over 35 years of manufacturing experience at the Westlake site, almost 20 of those years with Texas Eastman. Her primary functions are recruiting, payroll, benefits, and charitable contributions. Being able to give back to the community is not only part of her job, but it is also a large part of her heart. Tesa currently serves on the board of directors for East Texas Counsel on Alcohol and Drug Abuse and also Miracle League of East Texas. She has served as a CASA child advocate for over 8 years. Tesa believes it’s important that we help those that “can’t”, whatever it may be. She has a great love for family and spends her spare time digging in the yard.

Cindy Patterson, SHRM-CP, PHR - Board Advisor
Cindy Patterson, PHR, SHRM-CP, has been in Human Resources for 40 Years. She started her career at Norris Cylinder here in Longview in 1981 as an HR Generalist. She later moved to Pak-Sher in Kilgore in 1997 as Director of HR. She managed every aspect of Human Resources until she thought she wanted to retire in 2015. Eights month of retirement was enough for her to decide that she wasn’t ready for that slower pace of life just yet. Cindy began working for Longview Eye Associates in January of 2016 as their Practice Administrator. They rapidly grew from 15 Employees and 1 location to 49 Employees in 2 locations. She now serves in the capacity of the Chief People Office of Ward Eye Associates. Cindy has been a member of ETHRA and SHRM since 1997. She earned her PHR, Professional Human Resource Certification in 1999, and then later earned her SHRM-CP in 2014. Cindy began serving on the Board in 2017 in the capacity of Board Advisor. She is most passionate about developing people both professionally as well as personally! She is very proud that the Company that she is currently working for, Ward Eye Associates, is very passionate about serving our local Community. In her spare time she enjoys spending time with her family, whether it is cooking and entertaining with her Husband or chasing her 4 Grandsons in all of their Sporting Events!