Meet the Staff

Timothy Gunn joined DallasHR is June 2017 serving as the director of membership. He is responsible for the acquisition and retention efforts for the chapter. In his role he directs member engagement and operational activities which support the overall strategic growth and engagement of DallasHR chapter members and HRSouthwest Conference attendees. Tim works closely with the chapter leadership on programs which enrich and enhance the value of a member’s experience. He frequently attends chapter events to hear first-hand how members are utilizing their benefits and to better understand the ever changing needs of the profession.

For more than 15 years he has managed associations in Rhode Island and Texas. He began his career planning meetings and events at Roger Williams University in Rhode Island where he later became the Director of Alumni and Admission Relations. After moving to Texas in 2004, he served as the Director of Alumni Relations at Parker University where he increased participation of graduates and developed programs to support the association’s goals. During his tenure he saw record breaking event attendance and financial contributions. In 2013 he joined Meeting Professionals International (MPI) as the Manager of Member Engagement and then as Chapter Business Manager where he developed many new processes in membership and chapter operations. He developed training sessions for chapters to guide their success in member retention and recruitment efforts.

Tim and his partner Jeff live in Carrollton, Texas with their four legged child, Giada where they enjoy spending time with family and friends, exploring the Dallas restaurant scene, and traveling.

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Kristi Johnson joined DallasHR in January 2017 as director of brand marketing. She is responsible for the development and execution of the marketing strategy, PR and communication approach and brand awareness for both DallasHR and The HRSouthwest Conference. Utilizing lifecycle marketing strategies, Kristi drives both digital and traditional marketing and communication efforts for the chapter in support of member acquisition and retention, vendor engagement and participation and educational event attendance throughout the year.  

Prior to joining DallasHR, Kristi served as marketing director for Meeting Professionals International. She and her team were responsible for driving member retention and acquisition, filling over 200+ educational events per year, driving sales revenue and influencing attendance for two global annual events. Prior to MPI, Kristi was director of marketing, communications and events for 14 years at Pegasus Solutions, a hospitality technology company.

Kristi and her husband Hamilton live in Carrollton, Texas with their adopted Schnauzer Elliott.

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Beth Roach joined DallasHR in June 2007 as administrative assistant and was promoted to member and attendee relations manager in early 2014. She is responsible for developing, implementing and maintaining effective programs to support member development, retention and services. Beth also manages the registration process and attendee experience before, during and after The HRSouthwest Conference to ensure attendee satisfaction. 

Prior to joining DallasHR, Beth served as an administrative assistant at Wylie High School, a senior research loan counselor at Countrywide Home Loans and a record management technician for the Federal Deposit Insurance Corporation (FDIC).

Outside of work, Beth is very involved with her church, singing in the choir and serving on the outreach ministry team. She has completed 40 hours of Pastoral Care training, four years of Commissioned Ministry training and 50 hours of Stephen Ministry training. Beth and her husband reside in Wylie, where they enjoy going to high school football games and spending time with family.

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Brad Shanklin joined DallasHR as executive director in March 2016. Reporting to the board of trustees, Brad is responsible for implementing board policy and strategic initiatives, and managing the overall operation of the organization. He leads a dedicated team of staff and volunteers who provide DallasHR members and HRSWC attendees with critical education and resources.

Prior to joining DallasHR, Brad served as the director of chapters and then as the senior director of chapter business for Meeting Professionals International, where he had been since April 2010. His responsibilities included leading the Chapter Business team and the more than 80 chapters and clubs throughout the world. Prior to that, Brad served eight years as the president/CEO of the Plano Chamber of Commerce, where he earned his IOM, Institute for Organization Management, a certificate in non-profit management from the US Chamber of Commerce. Prior to the chamber, he had a 14-year tenure with the American Heart Association (AHA) at the national headquarters in Dallas, as the state director in New Mexico and in the council office in Houston. 

Brad was elected to the Plano Independent School District Board of Trustees in 2005 and served for six years, holding the position of vice president during his second term. He is a former Rotarian and a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin. He and his wife, Julia have a daughter who is also a graduate of the University of Texas at Austin and a son who is a graduate of Oklahoma State University.

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Samantha (“Sammi”) Spiegel joined DallasHR in May 2016 as the education manager, responsible for developing, implementing and delivering HR educational opportunities for both DallasHR and The HRSouthwest Conference to provide HR professionals with relevant and timely knowledge. Prior to this role, Sammi served as a program manager for the American Heart Association’s annual conference and was responsible for the educational programming for featured tracks. She also served as a program coordinator at the American Society of Clinical Oncology, managing professional development opportunities (both in-person meetings as well as online educational offerings) for oncology fellows and training program directors.

New to Dallas, Sammi is originally from New York and spent nearly eight years in Washington, D.C. where she received her B.A. in psychology and a minor in mathematics from American University. Outside of work, Sammi loves to explore all that Dallas has to offer (and is on the hunt for the best NY style bagels and pizza!), travel and relax at home with her husband, puppy and a good book.

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Brian Wilsford, Sr. Manager of IT

Brian Wilsford joined DallasHR as senior manager of IT (Information Technology) in January 2018. Brian is responsible for guiding the technology and information strategy of the organization and supporting the department mission of providing a strong technology foundation for DallasHR. He supports staff by developing technology projects, and providing resources to strategically manage, implement and maintain DallasHR’s project deliverables. He oversees all IT functions of the organization and ensures efficient operation of the IT department in alignment with the strategic objectives of the organization.

Prior to joining DallasHR, Brian served as project manager and virtual CIO for the Fulcrum Group (IT managed service provider) managing a wide array of IT solutions and projects for clients.  Prior to that, Brian has worked with non-profit associations with over 18 years of experience as a database administrator and IT manager.

Brian lives in Fort Worth, Texas and has 3 grown children (Lindsay, Kyle and Tyler) and 3 grandchildren (Matthew, Joshua and Caitlyn), and enjoys spending time with family and friends. He volunteers at the Tarrant Area Food Bank, and he is involved in causes assisting the homeless and military veterans. Brian enjoys outside activities including camping, hiking, fishing, skydiving and photography. 

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