The Wichita Business Journal features top young professionals working in Human Resources in the Wichita area and our very own Madison Simms was selected for inclusion in the special issue. Learn more about her career and gain some insight on what it takes to work in the field.

What do you do in your role?In my current role I have the pleasure of working alongside and supporting the HR director, Ashley Olberding. In my role as an HR generalist with TVFC, I am responsible for the administration of new employee orientation, compensation and benefits, employee relations, legal compliance, worker’s compensation, unemployment compensation, performance evaluations, terminations, and record administration.

How did you get involved in human resources? In 2016, I worked as an administrative assistant to a chief administrative officer. The CAO oversaw three departments in the organization, and Human Resources was one of them. Working alongside her, and the HR team sparked my interest in the profession.

Tell us about a mentor who got you started on this path and why they’re important to you. I have two very important mentors in my HR journey, Lea Ann Gabbert, chief administrative officer at Credit Union of America and Donna Metcalf, HR manager at Credit Union of America. Both Lea Ann and Donna were with me at the beginning of my HR journey, and they remain a strong support system as I continue to develop. These two women have truly paved my path for success in HR. They have both guided me from the ground up and enabled me to be successful. I will forever be grateful for their guidance and continued support.

What’s a recent challenge to HR professionals? The continued challenge we see in HR is attracting and hiring qualified talent. This endeavor is never easy, however, TVFC has a terrific talent acquisition partner who works hard to source and find the best talent. TVFC continues to research and offer competitive compensation and employee benefits packages while also providing a meaningful experience and sense of purpose for our employees.

Will this be your profession long-term and why?Absolutely. HR has my heart. I have always been a people-person, and I enjoy being able to be a part of the employee experience. I look forward to continued growth in my role with TVFC and the years ahead of building meaningful, lasting relationships with employees.