Damona Barnes joined her first Society for Human Resources Management Chapter, SHRM at LSU, in 2007 during her undergraduate studies at Louisiana State University. Her volunteer career with SHRM started as the Vice President of Public Relations. She graduated from LSU in 2009, with a Bachelor of Science degree in Human Resources Education. She obtained her Professional in Human Resources certification (PHR) in 2010 and begun working as a Human Resources Specialist at Essential Federal Credit Union in Plaquemine, LA. Her volunteer service continued with the Greater Baton Rouge Society for Human Resources Management (GBRSHRM) as a member of the Workforce Readiness committee. She also served the Association for Talent Development (ATD) Baton Rouge Chapter as the Vice President of Professional Development, Vice President of Membership, President Elect and lastly President in 2015.
Damona’s family relocated to New Orleans in the winter of 2016. She joined the New Orleans Louisiana Society for Human Resources Management (NOLA SHRM) chapter and began networking at local chapter events. Since joining the chapter, she has served as Certification Director, President Elect and currently as President. In 2020 Damona was influential in the chapter’s immediate transition to virtual programming, successfully recruiting new board members for her administration, laying out the groundwork for a completely virtual voting and installation process. She feels having the opportunity to serve over 600 members with their need for knowledge during the initial days of the coronavirus pandemic was very rewarding.
In her current role as Human Resources Director at Warren Easton Charter High School, she leads all areas of HR, including Title IX, employee relations, benefits administration, recruitment, and retention efforts. Prior to her current role, she served as a Human Resources Consultant at HR NOLA where she supported small businesses with their various HR needs. Damona’s involvement in SHRM at each level of her professional career has provided her with the continuing education, mentorship and resources necessary to be successful in the field of Human Resource Management.