Meet Us

Legal
Compensation & Surveys
EEO & Compliance Solutions
Training & Organizational Development
Membership & Marketing
Admin, Operations & Membership Support
Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services

Mary Lynn Fayoumi, CAE, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
President & CEO

Mary Lynn is a highly respected speaker, prolific writer, facilitator, advisor and an accepted authority on organizational issues including workplace culture, employment trends, people management and leadership. Countless organizations and their teams have benefited from her expertise during her three decades at the Association. 

Mary Lynn is a summa cum laude graduate of the University of Iowa with a Bachelor’s of Business Administration in Industrial Relations/Human Resources. She holds an MBA with Honors from the Thunderbird School of Global Management. In addition to serving HR Source’s 1200 member organizations, she volunteers on several business association and charitable boards and advisory councils.

Although the line between Mary Lynn’s personal and professional life is almost non-existent, she manages to find time to be a mother, a sister, a friend, a mentor, a Hawkeye, a yogi, a world traveler, a researcher and a pop-culture fan.

Legal

Stephanie Dorning, JD
Employment Law Counsel

Stephanie’s interest in employment law began when she joined the Wage and Hour Division of the U.S. Department of Labor. In more than nine years with the department, she acted as lead investigator in more than 120 investigations and helped employers across northern Illinois come into compliance with laws such as the Fair Labor Standards Act, Family Medical Leave Act, Davis Bacon Act, and more. Stephanie uses her first-hand agency experience to help employers navigate complicated legal issues and avoid potential violations.

Kelly A. Hayden, JD
Chief Legal Counsel

Kelly provides counseling and representation to employers before the IDHR, the Illinois Human Rights Commission, the EEOC, the IDOL, the USDOL and other state and federal agencies. She also assists employers with employee handbooks, employment law compliance training, employment agreements and all areas of employment law including discrimination, leave administration, wage/hour, layoffs and terminations. You will often find Kelly presenting on employment topics as a keynote presenter and for small groups/workshops locally and throughout the U.S.

Sonal Shah, JD
Assistant Director, Employment Law Services

Sonal has more than fifteen years of experience counseling employers on properly complying with the law and managing their workforce; preparing employment and severance agreements; drafting/revising disciplinary and termination notices; and crafting employment policies and handbooks. As part of her practice, she has represented more than100 employers against wrongful discharge and discrimination claims in front of the EEOC and IDHR. Sonal also provides employment law compliance training and is part of our HR Hotline team.

Allison Sues, JD
Senior Employment Law Counsel

Allison works with employers to proactively ensure compliance with the law, including revising employee handbooks and policies and counseling employers on legal or management questions. She is a member of the HR Source Hotline. As part of her practice, she also represents employers against charges of discrimination at the EEOC, IDHR, and other administrative agencies. She also conducts in-depth investigations into claims of workplace discrimination, harassment, or retaliation. Prior to coming to HR Source, she was in private practice and litigated employment matters in state and federal court, giving her great insight into important ways that employers can best navigate complex personnel matters and protect themselves against legal liability.

Compensation & Surveys

Joy Lynn Hyer, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP
Senior Compensation/Survey Analyst

Joy Lynn is HR Source’s joyful analyst, spreading joy inside the office and out. As our employee engagement expert, she surveys and advises employers on how to increase employee engagement, retention, and loyalty. Joy Lynn is also a key contributor to the compensation department, where she leads market benchmarking projects, performs FLSA analysis, and shares her compensation expertise on the HR Hotline.

Kathryn O'Connor, PHR, SHRM-CP, CCP, GRP 
Director, Compensation Services

Kathryn leads both the compensation and survey departments, ensuring Chicagoland employers have access to accurate, timely benchmarking data for compensation, benefits, and human resources practices. She consults with employers on compensation system design, pay range development, adherence to wage and hour laws, and performance management systems. Kathryn holds a Bachelor of Arts in Economics from Northwestern University.

Monica Sorenson, PHR
Survey Manager

Monica oversees the administration of our various compensation and benefits surveys. She also works with external clients to administer their custom survey projects. She is a friendly voice on the HR Hotline, and is a regular contributor to our weekly newsletter.

EEO & Compliance Solutions

Angela Adams, CEBS, SPHR
Director, EEO & Compliance Solutions

Angela has been with HR Source since 2000. She has expertise in affirmative action programs and general HR services and provides assistance in training for member organizations. Angela is also a part of our HR Hotline team.

Rosanne Mesce, SPHR
Senior Human Resource Specialist

Rosanne provides affirmative action services to member and non-member organizations including program development, consulting in program implementation and assisting with compliance evaluations by OFCCP. Rosanne has more than 30 years’ experience in all aspects of affirmative action compliance spanning manufacturing, service, union and non-union environments.

Helen Mikulski, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Senior Human Resource Specialist

Helen has been with HR Source since 2001 offers a wide variety of human resource expertise through her experience across several industries. She holds special expertise in affirmative action program development and consultation and answers the HR Hotline.

Sally Weldin
Senior Human Resource Specialist

Sally offers strategic affirmative action services including program development, consulting, and training to organizations. She is a sympathetic ear on our HR Hotline. In addition, she contributes material to The Source and our social media platforms where she generates ideas for video content. She’s a news seeker and a sports fan.

Training & Organizational Development

Blaise Adams, aPHR
OD & Data Analytics Specialist

Blaise provides support to the Training and OD Department by assisting in the development of training materials, supplying customers with reference information on training content, and helping prepare and track proposals for potential new members. In his spare time Blaise enjoys reading classic Science Fiction, trying-out new recipes in the kitchen, and ordering pizza when those recipes fail spectacularly.

Candace Fisher, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, Certified Coach
Director, Organizational Development

Candace works with members to help develop the talent in their organizations.  This includes facilitating training sessions, coaching individual managers and teams and designing organization-specific performance management systems. She also facilitates training sessions at HR Source and, as part of our HR Hotline team, advises members on a variety of organizational issues such as employee relations, supervisory and management concerns and change management. In her spare time, Candace volunteers at a local humane society and has earned the moniker, “Crazy Cat Lady” at the Association.

Lauren Soderstrom, PHR 
Senior Organizational Development Partner

Lauren’s passion is helping others realize their potential. She accomplishes this by conducting training at our members locations or at our public programs and through executive and interpersonal coaching. As a Gallup certified strength coach, Lauren’s feels her life’s mission is helping others discover and maximize their unique gifts and improve team performance.

Membership & Marketing

Julie Belloli, CAE
Chief Experience Officer  

Julie lives and breathes all things membership when she’s out and about visiting members, recruiting brand new ones or planning our next big event. She also helps facilitate our Human Resource Advisory Council and manages our social media presence (so start following us, please!). 

Julie used to face a shocking amount of HR challenges early in her career as a restaurant manager. This experience motivates her to support our members in every way possible.

Maura McDermott
Manager, Marketing & Brand Strategy

As staff “aestheticist,” Maura is responsible for managing marketing initiatives and making our brand pop through the abundant collateral materials she produces for our organization.

Maura’s first job was as a vet assistant at a small animal hospital. Today she gets her canine “fix” from her 125# Great Pyrenees, JJ.

Christopher Schneider 
Director, Strategic Partnerships

As “Chief Pesterer in Charge”, Chris gently and tactfully steers new members to HR Source, while educating, engaging and retaining more than 1,200 member organizations. Chris also manages new business opportunities including exhibits, speaking engagements, partnerships and the Provider Partner Program. 

He is an army brat, a Hoosier, a free thinker and an amateur beer-maker. Past careers include begging on a philanthropic scale – so offering our great association services in exchange for currency seems natural to all who fall under his spell. Beware.

Cheryl Shumake
Membership Development Specialist

Cheryl is our newest membership team member and her enthusiasm for serving members current and prospective is palpable. Her background working with local chambers of commerce and convention and visitors’ bureaus matches well with our dedication to serving a vibrant business community. Cheryl has coordinated many events in her career, including lunch and learns, golf outings and her favorite, donating vehicles to families in need. In her off time, she enjoys golfing, hanging out at the lake and her favorite time of the year is March Madness.

Admin, Operations & Membership Support

George Khoury 
Controller

As the resident “numbers guy” George has been part of our organization for more than 25 years. George provides invaluable insight and leadership to our team, all while safekeeping the Association’s finances. When he’s not crunching numbers, George enjoys Jeeping with the doors and top off!

Kevin MacTaggart
HR Assistant

Kevin provides valuable support services to our survey and affirmative action departments. In his spare time, you can find him hiking at the Morton Arboretum or refereeing soccer on the weekends.

Kevin Menzer
Chief Operating Officer

In his role, Kevin coordinates the member services, business development and marketing functions of the Association and also oversees IT and administrative support. Kevin likes to introduce himself as the "Vice-President of Other Duties as Assigned"!

Ben Opp, SPHR
HR Hotline Advisor

Ben serves our members as a friendly voice on the HR Hotline, ready to hunt down the best answer to their HR questions. His 20 years working in small business and broad background in HR, sales, accounting, and consulting lend him empathy toward the unique challenges of small and growing organizations and a holistic understanding of business operations. Outside of the office, you’ll find Ben hanging out with his brilliant wife and rascally kids, and fixing up his 1885 Chicago cottage.

Dawn Pintozzi 
Coordinator, Member Services

Ever the team-player, Dawn provides valuable support services to our membership team, employee engagement surveys and general support to the daily function of the Association. She has a Bachelor of Science in Business degree from DePaul University. 

Speaking of teams, Dawn is an avid follower of Chicago sports teams and always enjoys re-hashing "yesterday's game".

Laura Reinbold
Training Coordinator

Laura has been with HR Source since 2006. She is the "go-to" person for coordinating training. Additionally, she's always ready with a helping-hand to supporting the daily function of the Association.

By the way, there's not a random fact, musical song and dance, or movie fact Laura doesn't know... watch out Ken Jennings.

 Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services

Andria Curtis
HR Support Specialist

Andria supports our Outsourced HR and Recruiting department helping to coordinate team member assignments and recruiting assignments. She loves collaborating in all her roles both here at HR Source, as well as her other endeavors, including acting as Social Chairperson on her Homeowners’ Association Board.

Cathy Peterson, PHR, CSMR
Recruiting Manager

Twenty years of talent search experience has made Cathy the expert in not only finding that ‘needle in a haystack’ candidate but also implementing recruiting strategies that work. From designing internship programs, getting creative on recruiting sources to positively presenting an organization's offerings, Cathy makes recruiting a non-stressful process. Have a stalled talent search? Cathy brings difficult searches across the finish line.

Jackie Throop, SPHR
Director, Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services

Jackie has a long history with HR Source. As a staff member from 1996 – 2002, she focused on training and started Interim HR, now known as Outsourced HR and Recruiting Services. She then spent many years with a member company focusing on Employee Benefits and HRIS. Jackie returned to HR Source in 2020 and now leads the Outsourced HR and Recruiting team. Jackie is always anxious to share her many years of HR experience with our members!

Outsourced HR & Recruiting Services Team

Jennie Altendorf
HR Partner

Jennie brings over 10 years of HR experience to the table with roles including Technical Recruiter, HR Associate and HR Generalist. She is passionate about training and development, employee engagement and the onboarding experience. An effective communicator, Jennie excels at building rapport and relationships. She is also a summa cum laude graduate of Illinois State University with a BS in Elementary Education. In her spare time, Jennie enjoys traveling, cooking and spending time with her husband and sons.

Kristine Anderson, SPHR
HR Partner

Kristine’s 20+ years of HR experience include General HR and Operations, HR Systems and Solutions, HR Business Consulting and most recently Total Rewards. She also has extensive international experience having lived and worked in Denmark for more than eight years. When not working, Kristine enjoys spending time with her husband and two daughters. She also serves as a volunteer mentor with the organization Kid’s Hope USA.

Bob Baxa, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
HR Partner

With 40+ years of experience in HR in a variety of organizations, Bob has handled just about everything at the operating level. “He knows a thing or two because he’s seen a thing or two.”

Victoria Conner
HR Partner

An HR Professional with seven years of experience as an HR Generalist, Victoria has a passion for employee relations and employee engagement. Victoria earned her B.A. in Biology from Aurora University and received the PHR certification in 2020.

Jessica Frank
HR Partner

Jessica began her career in Human Resources while earning her B.A. at DePaul University and has 10 years of HR experience working for a variety of organizations. Jessica brings her passion and commitment to all aspects of HR, including employee relations, employee engagement and performance management. Jessica is never afraid of embracing a new challenge and tries to have a few laughs along the way.

Erin Guth
HR Partner

Erin has more than twenty years of HR experience in a variety of industries in both corporate and outsourced capacities. Her previous role as an operational consultant involved helping small businesses solidify their infrastructure to position for growth, in preparation for sale, in response to a crisis or simply because investing in your people and processes makes good business sense. Corporate HR strengths include: compensation and benefits administration, policy management, compliance, employee relations, training/coaching and recruitment. Erin spends her free time working with her favorite local non-profit – grit2, cooking, doing literally anything that involves the outdoors, snuggling with her dog and begging her children to return the cups and silverware.

Madeline Hernandez
HR Partner

Madeline has worked in all areas of human resources with key areas of focus in employee relations, legal compliance, benefits, employee relations, management coaching, training, and client relationship management. As a bilingual Spanish speaking HR Consultant for over 20 years, she has worked with diverse populations within a variety of industries. Madeline strives to build and maintain good relationships by providing excellent high touch service. Her experience allows her to adapt to any environment so she can meet the specific needs of each client. 

Nancy Kolar
HR Partner

Nancy is an accomplished Human Resources professional with vast experience in manufacturing both at the divisional and corporate level. She has a strong background in recruitment, interview and retention strategies, along with compensation and benefit administration. She has been an integral part of Union negotiations and contracts. Nancy has an innovative approach toward employee relations, including development, feedback, and recognition.

Kathy McGrath, PHR
HR Partner

With more than 20 years of HR experience, Kathy is a seasoned Human Resources executive. Having worked in varied roles with expertise in recruitment, coaching, employee relations, training, benefits, and compensation administration, Kathy enjoys sharing her wealth of knowledge.

Mary Petersen, SPHR
HR Partner

With a focus on recruiting, Mary has more than 12 years of experience in HR including HR Project Manager, HR Manager, and Compensation Analyst. Mary received both her Bachelor’s in Business Administration and her Master’s in Human Resources from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign. In her free time Mary enjoys staying active, spending time with her two kids, and anything and everything outdoors.

Tracy Ro,SHRM-CP, PHR
HR Partner

For more than 17 years, Tracy has served as an "HR team of one" in the nonprofit realm. She is passionate about helping people thrive in their work. She enjoys supporting culture work and organizational development along with getting things done on the administrative and compliance side. Tracy and her family recently moved from Colorado and enjoy exploring all that Chicago has to offer.

Teresa Surdyk, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
HR Partner

Whether you're looking for that “diamond” in the applicant landscape or in need a little Human Resources on-site support, Teresa is a versatile team player that can juggle many priorities! Rich with a great attitude and experience, Teresa is always ready to support your organization’s mission, whatever it may be.