Event Details

This will be a moderated, Panel discussion, featuring local experts from varying perspectives, on assisting Military Service Personnel and families entering the civilian workforce, as well as how Human Resource professionals can be more open and educated on these existing and potential employees.  

Kelly Folliard Transition Services Site Manager USO Las Vegas
Kelly Y. Folliard is the Transition Services Site Manager for the USO Las Vegas. The Transition Services program is operated out of Nellis Air Force Base. Mrs. Folliard has been working with the USO Las Vegas for 1.5 years. Prior to working with the USO Mrs. Folliard held the position of Regional Chapter Field Officer for USA Cares, a national non-profit that assists military families in crisis. She remains on their Nevada Chapters Board of Directors. Mrs. Folliard is also a State of Nevada Certified Veterans Advocate and Co-Chairs the Southern Nevada Veterans Community Engagement Board.
The USO Las Vegas Transition Services program was built in order to assist our service members as they transition out of the military. The program provides assistance with employment, education, VA benefits, legal assistance, family programs, wellness and volunteerism. By working one on one with clients and providing a concierge service the USO Las Vegas is able to ensure that our service members are successful during their transition to civilian life.

Toni Giddens

Toni Giddens is the Program Manager of Nevada’s Work for Warriors Program, a hands on DoD employment assistance program. Toni is a mother, Human Resources professional, volunteer, military family advocate, and military spouse. She shares her knowledge and passion regarding military family strength, patriotism, what employers want, and military job seekers’ struggles in the corporate workforce. Toni is a strong advocate for bridging the gap between our Military and Veteran job seekers and employers.
Prior to Work for Warriors, Toni built her executive corporate career as Human Resources Manager and Director at various companies in the Las Vegas valley. She has also logged numerous volunteer hours supporting the troops of the Nevada National Guard both in employment issues as well as family readiness. Toni possess Master’s degrees in both Human Resources Management and Counseling Psychology.

Doreen Owens Nevada State Director Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) U.S. Department of Labor

Doreen Owens joined the U.S. Department of Labor, Veterans’ Employment and Training Service (VETS) in September 2011, having served as Nevada Assistant Director until assuming the duties as the Director in August 2014. In her current role, she assists the Regional Administrator by providing leadership, strategic vision and managerial oversight for operations in Nevada. Working in partnership with senior state work force officials, military commanders, private non-profits, veterans’ service organizations and the private sector, she implements and executes programs that serve America's veterans and separating service members by preparing them for meaningful careers, providing employment resources and expertise, and protecting their employment rights. Ms. Owens has program oversight for the Jobs for Veterans State Grant, Competitive Grants, Uniformed Services Employment & Reemployment Rights Act, Veterans Preference, and compliance and monitoring responsibilities associated with these programs.
Ms. Owens served in many leadership and staff positions with 22 years of active service in both the U.S. Air Force, and the Nevada Army National Guard. She served as a Human Resources Officer, specializing in Administration, Recruiting, Education, and Training. She earned a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration from University of Nevada – Las Vegas, and a minor in Secondary Education. She is a committee member for many local veteran organizations and an active volunteer for Employer Support for the Guard and Reserve.

Lieutenant Commander Mary T. Johnson
Lieutenant Commander Mary T. Johnson was selected as the U.S. Navy’s 2013 “Junior Officer of
the Year” by the Reserve Officer Association. She is currently assigned to NAWDC [Naval Aviation Warfighting Development Center] 0194, winner of the 2014 Taylor Award for Unit Excellence while she was serving as N3 Department Head. She is currently an N1 Department Head and is an Intelligence Instructor for active duty squadron air intelligence officers. She is one of fewer than 60 officers in both the Active and Reserve Components to have earned the Carrier Air Wing (CVW) Targeting Officer 3A1 AQD [Additional Qualification Designator]. Most of LCDR Johnson’s 14-year Navy Reserve career has been spent on active duty underway and in combined and joint environments. She has deployed multiple times to include: Combined Joint Task Force – Horn of Africa in Djibouti (2014); the Combined Intelligence Fusion Center in Turkey for a Presidentially-directed counterterrorist operation (2010); and with the North Atlantic Treaty Organization’s International Security Assistance Force in Afghanistan (2007). During heightened tensions from 2011-2012, LCDR Johnson spent six months at-sea as a Reserve Targeting Officer during two deployments in the Fifth Fleet Area of Responsibility, embarked with CVW NINE and TWO aboard the USS STENNIS (CVN-74) and USS LINCOLN (CVN-72), respectively. While underway in the Arabian Gulf the Commander of CVW-9 selected her for Carrier Strike Group (CSG) 3’s “Admiral-For-A-Day” mentorship program.
While stateside, LCDR Johnson served on active duty with the Joint Chiefs of Staff J2 at the Pentagon as a newly-pinned O3 in an O5 billet (2009), and as a Lead Analyst at the Joint Improvised Explosive Device (IED) Defeat Organization’s Counter-IED Operations Integration Center (2007-2008). She also served on active duty at both Combat Support Agencies in the National Intelligence Community: the Defense Intelligence Agency (2008-2009) and the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency embedded at U.S. Special Operations Command (2011). LCDR Johnson is currently enrolled in a Master’s of Science program from which she took a leave of absence upon board selection for in-residence Joint Professional Military Education at the US Army’s Command and General Staff College (2015-2016). She received her Bachelor of Science in International Business from American University in Washington, D.C. (1993).
Her personal medals include: Joint Service Commendation with three oak leaves, Navy/Marine Corps Commendation, Joint Service Achievement, and Navy Achievement with gold star. She is warfare-qualified and has earned permanent wear of the Joint Chiefs of Staff badge and multiple Navy Occupational Billet Codes and AQDs, notably Targeting Officer and Collection Manager

Kevin Panet

Kevin Panet served 12 years on active duty with the United States Air Force (including 2 overseas tours), and an additional 9 years with the California Air National Guard, retiring as a Master Sergeant after more than 21 years of faithful service.  His career in Human Resources spans over 30 years, working with various industries including the military, aerospace, manufacturing, insurance, non-profit, hospitality, and mortgage banking.  Currently Kevin is the Vice President of Human Resources for Alterra Home Loans, with over 700 employees, at 75 branch offices across the United States.  In addition to his “day job,” Kevin has also taught the PHR/SPHR exam prep course, as well as numerous Human Resources courses for Los Angeles Valley College and the University of Redlands.  Kevin stays involved fellow veterans as the “Hike Master” for the non-profit Team RWB, dedicated to enriching the lives of veterans through physical and social activity.  He holds an BS degree in Business Administration, a MS in Human Resources Management, and has SPHR, PHRca, and SHRM-SCP certifications.  Kevin lives here in Las Vegas with his wife and 3 dogs.

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Please Note: Beginning January 2018 our Monthly Meeting prices will be changing! Members of our Chapter will be required to provide their SHRM ID upon check out to receive the $25 rate. All other attendees will be charged $35 to attend. If you are interested in becoming a SHRM member to receive the meeting discount, please visit shrm.org and fill out an application today!