Starkville aldermen are expected to schedule interviews for the city’s vacant human resource officer position after four candidates, including the department’s interim director, emerged as finalists for the job.
The finalists include Aramark Higher Education Senior Human Resources Manager Navarrete Ashford, Mississippi State University Human Resources Generalist Craig Blaylock, interim Starkville HR Director Stephanie Halbert and Calsonic Kansei Human Resources Generalist Amanda Jenkins.
The finalists emerged out of a total candidate pool of 37 applicants, City Clerk Lesa Hardin confirmed. Aldermen previously tasked Hardin to handle the search process since Halbert was expected to apply for the job.
Ashford has worked as AHE south region’s senior human resources manager since 2013, moving to the position after serving with the company in a similar capacity at MSU for four years. He also previously worked as MSU Dining Services location manager from 2006-07.
Blaylock has worked with the university since 2010. He previously worked as an executive team leader for Target in Tuscaloosa, Alabama, and as a human resources assistant for Columbus-based Microtek Medical Inc.
Halbert began working for Starkville in 2010 as a receptionist and general clerk. From there, she assumed other roles, including deputy city clerk (2011-12), deputy payroll clerk (2012-14) and payroll/assistant personnel officer (2014-15).
Halbert assumed the interim HR leader’s position last spring after outgoing director Randy Boyd retired.
Jenkins has worked for the Canton-based automotive manufacturer Calsonic Kansei since March 2014. She previously served stints as an HR specialist with International Paper in Memphis, Tennessee, and Savannah, Georgia, and also worked other HR jobs at International Paper’s Ridgeland location.
Aldermen advertised the HR director’s position in August, setting the job’s pay range between $55,566.18-$73,951.29.
Mayor Parker Wiseman said he expects aldermen will interview all four candidates.
“I’m happy with the pool. It’s a group of well-qualified candidates, and I look forward to the interview process,” he said. “The HR director is responsible for making sure our workforce is trained, safe, effective and fulfilled in their work for the city. Our workforce is a critical asset in city government, which means this is a very important position.”
This term, aldermen have favored internal candidates over outsiders for key positions, promoting from within to fill a variety of posts.
After dismissing former Chief Administrative Officer Lynn Spruill in 2013, aldermen promoted City Clerk Taylor Adams to the position in 2014. His role was then filled by then-Deputy Clerk Lesa Hardin.
Adams later left the city, and the CAO role is expected to remain unfilled for the remainder of this term.
Additionally in 2014, aldermen promoted Frank Nichols to Starkville Police chief after his predecessor, David Lindley, retired. Former City Planner Buddy Sanders was also tapped to lead the city’s community development division after William Snowden resigned due to health issues.
Starkville Fire Chief Charles Yarbrough was promoted to run the city’s fire services in 2015 after former Chief Rodger Mann retired.
In other business, aldermen are scheduled to approve a contract for services with the lobbying group Cornerstone Affairs LLC and hear an update on SPD renovations from Nichols.
If approved, the $30,000 contract would task Cornerstone with state and federal lobbying efforts through June 30. The city also utilized the group during the last legislative term.
A $4.48 million renovation to SPD’s base at Starkville’s former city hall began last month when aldermen tapped Columbus-based Weathers Construction Inc. for the job. Aldermen also assigned $5.4 million in combined bonds to Raymond James at their last meeting, and those proceeds will fund the project.
Renovation efforts are forecast to conclude in May.
Carl Smith covers Starkville and Oktibbeha County for The Dispatch. Follow him on Twitter @StarkDispatch
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