Director, Organizational Development and Human Resources
Brenda Sherer joined HRA in March 2020 as the Director of Organizational Development and Human Resources. She comes to HRA with over 25 years of experience in the Human Resources field. Starting out in her journey as an HR assistant, Benefits Administrator, HR Administrator, Director of HR and HR Business Partner in a multi-state law firm. Brenda has worked in many different industries, including manufacturing, hospital, condo association and law firm, which has given her the well-rounded appeal to her HR thought process.
Ironically she graduated from Rowan University in Glassboro, NJ as an Elementary/Early Childhood teacher. She worked in the private sector early in her career as an Intermediate and then the Pre-K teacher. She moved into the public school sector teaching all grades from Kindergarten to 6th grade.
When an opportunity struck to move to another state, no one could guess the fateful day when her life would change forever and all the hard work behind the pharmacy counter while she attended college, would come into play. That was the day she started working in HR as a green behind the ears protégé. She taught the HR director everything she knew about insurance/benefits and he took her under the wing of the HR world.
Fast forward to CT and her skills, continuous learning and positive attitude brought her to the senior management of more than one, billion dollar company. She is a national and local member of SHRM, Society for Human Resources Management, for the last 10+ years. She is also greatly involved in the impact of Pet Therapy in relation to the animal/human bond and has attended many hours of courses in order to become a sitting member of K9 First Responders Organization and a Pet Partner Therapy team, with her black Lab mix, Ryan.
In Brenda’s down time she is deeply involved in volunteering through pet therapy at two different rehab/assistant living facilities. Assisting on deployments for K9FR such as Boston Strong, Country Show shooting in Las Vegas and unfortunately, other disasters that have a profound effect on victims, families and our First Responders. She is a standing member of the Columbia Club/Knights of Columbus, doing various charity work and a current officer of the Benevolent Order of Elks #844 sitting as Chaplin. She also is the first full dress female member of the American Legion Post #72, color guard.
Ms. Sherer is excited to join the team and bring her base of knowledge to the Senior Management and meet all of the staff.