Yvonne Thomas is the 2023/2024 Director of Alabama SHRM (ALSHRM) as well as the Chief Human Resources Officer for SEA Wire and Cable Inc in Madison, AL. Yvonne has held the SPHR certification and currently has SHRM-CP certification and People Analytics Specialty Credential. She has also held a CHHR (Certified Hospitality Human Resources) and is a John Maxwell Certified Trainer and Coach. Yvonne has 40+ years in Human Resources management in the hospitality, retail, construction, and manufacturing industries. As CHRO at SEA Wire and Cable, Yvonne oversees all aspects of human resources management and provides leadership development, workforce strategy, and a focus on the culture as the company continues to grow.
Yvonne started her career in 1982 at the Opryland Hotel in Nashville, TN as a Personnel Clerk at the age of 20. She was attending Western Kentucky University to become a medical secretary. She ran out of money, support, and resources and had to quit school. Yvonne left Opryland Hotel and went to work for Holiday Inns, Inc. in Nashville. She moved up the ladder from Personnel Assistant to Personnel Manager and Director of Human Resources. Yvonne moved to Huntsville, AL in 1990. She eventually went back to school and graduated from Athens State University with a Bachelor of Business Administration at the age of 38 while raising three boys and working full-time.
Yvonne has been in involved in ASPA (American Society of Personnel Administration) which transitioned to SHRM in 1989 for more than 40 years. Yvonne was Secretary for Baldwin County SHRM, the VP – Membership of Shoals SHRM, and President of Shoals SHRM. She had been the Volunteer Coordinator for the ALSHRM state conference for four years and the Director-Elect for three years before becoming Director in January 2023.