GTHRA OFFICERS
Dean Watkins The Taylor Group, Inc. President
Danny Avery The CPI Group, Inc. Vice-President
Brenda Johnson Clay County Med Center Secretary
Allison Pearson Mississippi State Univ. Treasurer
Judy Cascio Southern Ionics, Inc. Former Pres.
Dean Watkins -- President
Born and reared in Griffin, Georgia, Dean was an honor graduate from Griffin High School. She received several several scholastic awards and was offered the opportunity to play semi-pro basketball which she declined. In 1996 she was inducted in the Sports Hall of Fame as one of the state’s outstanding female basketball players.
Dean travelled extensively with her military husband and two sons, working in many different occupations during her travels. She especially enjoyed serving on the Staff of the Commanding General, United States Army, Hawaii, and spent three years in that position. Her most interesting work was with the State Crime Laboratory in Atlanta, Georgia.
Upon her husband’s retirement from the military, she moved to his hometown in Lousivlle, Mississippi where she owned and operated her own retail business. She later accepted a position with the State Rehabilitation for the Blind. She attended the Realtor’s Institute and earned her license as Sales Associate and accepted employment with Home Finders Realty where she still works in real estate sales as a part-time associate.
Dean accepted a position as Executive Secretary to the President & CEO of Taylor Machine Works, Inc. in 1973 and worked in that capacity until her promotion to Manager of Human Resources in March 1990. Dean was the first woman ever promoted to a management position in this company which had been in business for nearly 70 years.
In 1996 The Taylor Group, Inc. was formed and Taylor Machine Works became a subsidiary company. Dean now heads up the Corporate Human Resources office with responsibility for five subsidiary companies and approximately 1050 employees. Accountabilities include designing, staffing, and managing the effective recruitment, placement, and training of new employees; administering the employee benefit program to including providing and managing a self-funded health and disability program; Administering the Labor Agreement between the Steelworkers Union and Taylor Machine Works; developing, implementing, and monitoring comprehensive safety program; providing security for the company facilities; providing an employee assistance program to include rehabilitation services for employees with mental and substances abuse disorders; and serving as the company representative for EEOC, Affirmative Action, or other employee-related matters that may involve the company in litigation.
She presently serves on the Board of Directors of the Mississippi Association of Self-Insured Companies and is a member of several organizations related to her human resources responsibilities. She has always been active in community affairs and in the 1970's spearheaded the organization of PTA in the Winston County School System. She served for many years on the Board of Directors of Reach-Out Services, Inc., a shelter for abused and neglected children.
She has been active in the Mississippi Business and Professional Women/Mississippi for many years serving in many positions both at the local and state level. She will serve as president-elect in the upcoming year.
Her hobbies include reading non-fiction novels and collecting antique jewelry, crystal, silver, and depression glass.
...Information Coming Soon!
Brenda Johnson -- Secretary
Brenda is a native Clay Countian. She graduated from West Point High School, then continued her education at East Miss. Community College at Scooba and then Mayhew. After working for several years for the local library and a CPA firm, she attained CPS (certified professional secretary) certification. This encouraged Brenda to continue her post high school education.
She enrolled in MUW and for nine years worked full-time and attended night school. Having no prior human resource experience, Brenda applied for and was hired as the Personnel Manager at Clay County Medical Center in 1985. She continued her education and achieved her B.S. in Business Administration in 1991. Upon her graduation, the term "personnel" was evolving to "human resources" and she was named the Director of Human Resources. Along with this title came more responsibility, so in 1995 she prepared for and passed the PHR.
A couple of years later, she felt the strings of education tugging once again, so Brenda enrolled in the Miss. State MBA program through Columbus Air Force Base. She attended this program two nights a week for two years and completed the program in May, 2001 with a 3.8 average.
Brenda is married to Marion Johnson who is a 30 year employee of Bryan Foods and also has a karaoke business. They have a 19 year old son who attends EMCC and plans to further his education at MSU.
With the support of her company, she is striving to stay abreast of the changing world of HR by participating in societies like GTHRA and professional organizations like SHRM.
Judy Cascio -- Former President
Judy Cascio is the Human Resource Manager for Southern Ionics Incorporated. She started in human resources in 1989. Received a BS from Mississippi State University in 1987 in Office Administration. She received her PHR certification in 1999. Judy currently serves as Former President of the GTHRA.