Member Spotlight: Melissa Olsen

August 7, 2007

Melissa was born in Indiana and raised in Houston. She's been working HR since high school and was president of her SHRM student chapter at Texas Christian University. She passed the PHR as a college senior and was certified as a PHR in 2005 after completing her employment.

Since graduating, Melissa has worked for the Houston Airport System, Shriner's Hospitals for Children, and is currently PrimeWay Federal Credit Union's HR manager.

“I have learned that I prefer smaller organizations, which allow me to get involved in all areas of HR,” says Melissa.

Newly wed (July 7, 2007), Melissa and her husband just bought a house in Humble (a suburb of Houston ). They have two dogs and plan to have kids in the future.

Biggest challenge for 2007

Creating incentive plans for several new projects. Also determining what the market is doing and insuring that all employees have equal opportunities to benefit from the different plans.

Best advice

Be as fair as possible with employees, but realize that everyone will never like every change. Some people will appreciate it, others will not (and they will let you know). It's okay, though!

Greatest benefit of Council membership

Networking. Whether through the council conference or the Listserv, I am building a large network of people I can turn to when I need advice or opinions on a HR issue. This is invaluable.

Best part of my job

Being involved with the different facets of HR and seeing that I make a difference in people's lives. I also love that I'm in a company that makes a difference. It's important to me to work some place you believe in.

Hardest part of my job

Making the tough decisions. Sometimes you know the answer will affect an employee on a personal level, and it is often difficult not think about how it affects that person (declining FMLA, terminations, benefits changes, etc.). I try to remember that my job is to uphold and interpret policy and law and try to give the employee all the alternatives and assistance I can provide.

Success story

I love helping college students with questions about their careers and HR. Giving back, like others have given to me, makes me feel very successful and blessed to be where I am.

Hobbies and interests

I would say scrapbooking, but my husband says I collect scrapbooking stuff but don't really scrapbook! Other than that, reading and spending time with my five-year-old niece.

People would be most surprised to learn that . . .

I've been in HR (in some capacity) for 11 years and I'm only 28.

Recent book

Harry Potter and the Deadly Hallows

Life goal not yet accomplished

Kids, maybe a Master's of HR or an SPHR.

Something that always makes me laugh

My family—we are incredibly dysfunctional but in the best possible way.

If I had an extra hour in the day . . .

I'd get housework done and work on thank-you cards from the wedding!

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