HR Quarterly - Spring 2025
Happy Spring!
I hope this message finds you well. As we welcome the spring season, I wish all of you a period of renewal and growth, both personally and professionally. May the favorable weather, longer days, and vibrant surroundings inspire you, and provide you with the opportunity to achieve your goals with success and satisfaction. Wishing you all a very productive and fulfilling spring season.
Liz Parkes
Associate Vice President of Human Resources
HR Updates
Coming soon, our second HR open house! Details to follow.
Professional Staff Performance Evaluations are migrating to Page Up. More info. and training materials coming soon!
Seasonal Fun
Summertime Car Prep
Summertime car prep: time to swap out winter tire chains, blankets and emergency food for summertime fun supplies!!
- Camp chairs for spontaneous roadside pit stops, baseball games or beach combing.
- Picnic supplies – few paper plates and napkins, small knife and cutting board, wet wipes, small cooler or lunch bag for on the fly car picnics.
- Blanket or a few beach towels, sand pails and toys.
- Pet supplies – treats, water bowl, leash, waste bags.
- Sunscreen, lip balm and bug spray.
- Shelf stable snacks – granola bars, snack size chips and crackers, bottled water.
Grilling Season Recipe!
Whiskey Soy flank steak marinade – quick and easy BBQ favorite…pour ingredients into a Ziploc and let your flank steak marinate for a few hours or all day.
- 1 1/2 pounds flank steak, about 1/2-inch thick
- 1 clove garlic, minced
- 1 tablespoon stone-ground mustard
- 1/4 cup vegetable oil
- 1/4 cup whiskey of your choice
- 2 teaspoons sea salt
- 1/2 teaspoon coarsely ground black pepper
2 tablespoons unsalted butter, room temperature (brush on meat during grilling)
If you want a faster marinade that's ready in a couple of hours but can also sit in the fridge for up to 8, add 1/4 cup soy sauce or Worcestershire sauce.
If you want a slightly sweeter marinade, add 1/4 cup of brown sugar.
To kick up the heat, feel free to include 1/4 to 1/2 teaspoon of red pepper flakes.
For more herbal notes, use a teaspoon of dried thyme or rosemary (or a combination of both), or a tablespoon of chopped fresh thyme and/or rosemary.
Local Spring Events and Places to See!
- Bellingham Farmers Market
- April Brews Day
- Sea to Ski
- Tulip Festival
- Sylvia Grace Magnolia Collection at Cornwall Park
Photos below of Sylvia Grace Magnolia Collection, courtesy of Kristin Isakovic, HR
Shout Outs
Congratulations!
From the HR staff to Janelle Talley & her fiance' Spencer Gueno on their upcoming wedding on April 26th!
Best wishes to you both!
Shout out to Kennedy Stephens
Kudos to Kennedy. They used critical thinking to see something was off and reached out to me so we could get it fixed. I greatly appreciated it!
Bow Jerns, Human Resources
Shout out to Janelle Talley for Excellent Benefits Guidance
I am writing about a drop-in meeting I had with Janelle last week. I wanted to learn about how to add a spouse to my benefits next fall, and Janelle gave me a three-step to-do list, then told me exactly what could go wrong in that to-do list, and how to address things if that happened. Our meeting was quick, efficient, detailed, and cordial—top-notch professionalism and excellent knowledge of the systems we work in.
Lee Gulyas, Senior Lecturer, Department of English
Shout out to Carrie Thurman for her ongoing support in assisting HRIS with position number activations and always being available to help us with any questions we have!
Tara Terry, Human Resources
Shout out to Katie Swanson for her awesome organization skills ensuring a smooth start to Spring quarter!
Buffi Jones
FAQ's
Please visit our Budget Reductions and Reorganization FAQ webpage.
Please visit our ESE templates webpage. HR no longer needs to sign off on the offers/appointment letters. The HR signature area has been removed from the template. Please use the updated templates by using the link above.
Our Benefits Assistant Janelle Talley has walk in office hours set each Wednesday from 8:00AM - 12:30Pm , 1:45PM - 4:30PM (no walk ins available April 23, 30 or May 21 as Janelle will be out of the office please contact hr.benefits@wwu.edu for assistance).
Use this link to schedule a one-on-one consultation with Janelle.
For either type of visit, please check in with the HR Reception office: HU 203.
HR Staff Pets
Stein (Kaylan)
Pipi Longstocking (Kristen)
DJ Forrest Wilson (Kristen)
Luna (Sonja)
Millie (Katie)
Dexter (Kennedy)
Emma (Ryan)
Jax (Lisa)
Sushi (Toni)
Rocco & Cooper (Buffi)
Rudy ( Kennedy)
Chloe (Liz)
Cuddles & Snuggles (Tara)
Honey (Toni)
Bella (Buffi)
Daisy (Marcy)
Kitten (Stephanie)
Kilo Grace (Stephanie)
Toast (Toni)
Meet the Staff
Janelle Talley
Benefits Assistant
- Administer Health Care (PEBB) & Retirement Benefits to employees
- Determine employee eligibility for benefits – for new hires & existing employees.
- Consult with employees regarding PEBB and/or retirement questions.
- Advise employees of potential retirement eligibility at time of separation
- Coordinate annual wellness clinics for employees & their families
- Entry of employee benefits/retirement forms
Fun Fact:
The longest friendship I have is going on 23 years (as of September) now! I met my two best friends when I attended grade school at Geiger Elementary. We still play a big part in each other lives even though we no longer live in the same city anymore, and ever since our 20th year of friendship we try to see each other every year to explore a new place we’ve never been to, catch up in person and reminisce about our friendship throughout the years. If I’m ever out longer than a week, I am probably out with my two friends creating more memories!
Tara Terry
HR Administrator
- HRIS
- Oversees and manages PageUp recruitment system
- Hiring Process
- Recruitment/talent acquisition
- Offer Letters
- Classified Compensation
- Secondary support, Onboarding
- Secondary support, Sexual Misconduct Background Checks
Fun Facts:
Sixteen years ago, I traded the hustle and bustle of Seattle for the natural beauty of Whatcom County, and I’ve never looked back! My husband and I, along with our son and daughter, love making the most of life here—whether it’s hiking, exploring the outdoors, or gathering around the table for a competitive (but friendly!) family board game night. We’re always up for trying new activities, and our latest adventure? Axe throwing! Who knew hitting a target with a flying blade could be so satisfying?
Ryan Greer
Employee and Labor Relations Partner
(360) 650-3222
- Workplace Conflict Resolution
- Classified Staff Labor Partner
- Project Implementation
Fun Facts:
Music is my life outside of work. I have been actively playing in bands since I was 18 in a variety of different genres including: Punk, Post-Punk, Horror-Punk, Metal, and Hardcore. I’ve toured in the US many times and even toured the UK! Between shows, I work part-time nights at a local music venue.
When I’m not playing music or spending time with the family, I’m playing D&D, board games, and Magic the Gathering. I like extra Nerdy board games with lots of pieces that take all day to play. I’m currently serving as a forever DM in a campaign that’s been running almost 10 years.