Lonnie Boyd, director of human resources at Southwestern College, has been recognized as a human resources (HR) professional by the Wichita Business Journal.

The 2019 class of HR professionals is composed of 25 of the best HR professionals in Wichita and the surrounding area.

Boyd, and her husband, Timothy, live in Winfield.  She is the daughter of David and Grace Nichols, Winfield.  Boyd earned her bachelor of arts degree and master of science degree from Southwestern College and joined the college administration in February 2009.  Prior to that, she worked as Winfield community events coordinator for the city of Winfield/Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce, from 2001-2006, and was CEO of the Winfield Area Chamber of Commerce 2006-2009.

“I was offered a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity to begin a career in HR at my alma mater,” Boyd says.   “I could not have asked for a better training ground in that I already had an intimate understanding of the organization’s mission and vision and was being given the chance to be a part of achieving those outcomes.  HR allows you to have a direct positive impact on the organization through personal connections and open communication. It’s incredible what can be accomplished when people feel respected, informed, and appreciated.”  
Boyd credits her former supervisor, Sheila Krug, as her most important mentor.

Boyd says there are challenges to her position.

“The ongoing challenge is to serve as an advocate and trusted facilitator on issues that are important to both the organization and its employees, respectively,” Boyd says.  “Understanding how and when organizational and individual perspectives intersect and finding the mutual ‘win’ is the most satisfying aspect of my job.”