Board of Directors and Committee Memberships
Standing Committees:
Appointment & Payroll Committee
Chair: Tina Vumbaco, SUNY System Human Resources
Mission: The SUNY Payroll Committee is a collaborative group of payroll professionals throughout the SUNY System who are focused on training, mentoring, and sharing payroll-based knowledge for the benefit of all campuses.
Goals:
- Develop and continue the payroll and appointment training offered by SUNY each year
- Network among campus payroll and appointment staff for the purpose of knowledge sharing and collaboration
- Mentor and assist new payroll staff within the SUNY system
Benefits Committee
Chair: Victoria Phipps, SUNY System Benefits
Mission: The SUNY Benefits Committee is a subdivision of the SUNY Human Resources Association (SUHRA) comprised of SUNY campus HR and Benefits community members willing to share their knowledge and expertise for the greater good. The group’s activities include advising and assisting SUNY System Administration in designing and delivering its employee benefit programs, assisting and mentoring new Benefits Administrators at other SUNY campuses, sharing information, and working on benefits-related projects that benefit everyone.
Goals:
- Collaborate with the U-Wide Benefits team on creation and content of the SUNY Blue Benefits Administrator password protected website.
- Create a “buddy” mentor program.
- Collaborate with the U-Wide Benefits team on the 2025 Benefits Administrator Meeting.
Civil Service Committee
Chair: Jamie Lynn Bluhm, University at Buffalo
Mission: The Civil Service Committee is a collaborative group of SUNY classification professionals and Civil Service representatives that come together to discuss the classified service positions within the SUNY system. This group focuses on exam planning, classification reviews, problem resolution, and staying informed of upcoming changes within the Civil Service that impact SUNY.
Goals:
- Communicate SUNY business trends and challenges related to civil service employment
- Ensure SUNY competitive exam needs are met
Conference Committee
Chair: Colette Brown, Stony Brook University Hospital
Mission: To enhance the knowledge, professionalism, and best practices of Human Resources professionals across SUNY by delivering engaging workshops and educational opportunities on relevant topics through our annual conference.
Goals:
- Develop the conference schedule and agenda
- Source speakers and subject matter experts
- Recommend the keynote topic and speaker
Professional Development Committee
Chair: Michele Reno, University at Buffalo
Mission: Identify and promote training and development opportunities for SUNY HR professionals to enhance identified competencies and to ensure succession planning across SUNY.
Goals:
- Develop competency descriptions for specific Human Resources and payroll functions within the SUNY System.
- Develop tools and resources to perform gap analysis at both the association level as well as the individual level.
- Establish sub-committees to develop resources specific to competencies.
Provide opportunities for skill development and knowledge sharing
Recognition & Awards Committee
Chair: Carin Perkins, SUNY System Employee Relations
Mission: Promote HR professional and service excellence through peer recognition of members of the SUNY Human Resources profession whose professional contributions optimize such excellence. Recognize retiring SUHRA members who have demonstrated a commitment to the mission, vision, and values of SUHRA and those they have served.