The HRSouthwest Conference Volunteer Leader of the Year: Award Recipient & Finalists

The HRSouthwest Conference Volunteer Leader of the Year Award is given to one volunteer leader on the Board of Directors for The HRSouthwest Conference whose hard work and dedication have made a significant impact in serving all conference participants, attendees, speakers, sponsors, exhibitors, staff and other volunteers participating in the conference.

Nominees are chosen from current Board volunteer leaders and the winner is chosen by the sitting Conference Director of The HRSouthwest Conference.






















Award Recipient

 

Mariya Gavrilova-Aguilar, PHR, SHRM-SCP, Lecturer, Dept. of Management, College of Business, University of North Texas   

Mariya Gavrilova Aguilar was born and raised in Sofia, Bulgaria. She began her undergraduate studies in the US as a Marketing major. By the time she graduated with three bachelor’s degrees in three and a half years, she had become passionate about Human Resources. Mariya graduated with a master’s degree in Performance Improvement in 2010.
 
While working on her PhD at the University of North Texas, Mariya secured a full-time position in Human Resources at the City of Corinth, where she was responsible for leave administration, assisting with training and creating customized training programs for managers and supervisors, conducting leave and salary analyses, preparing and evaluating requests for proposals, and revising policies and procedures. Mariya has held the PHR certification since 2013 and she obtained the SHRM-SCP certification in 2016. Mariya currently teaches courses in human resource management and general business as a faculty member at the University of North Texas. 

She has expertise in performance improvement, instructional design, and career development. Mariya has been a member of DallasHR and she has volunteered for The HRSouthwest Conference for 10 years. Mariya was awarded a SHRM Virtual Seminar Scholarship in 2017 and she was selected as a member of Leadership North Texas University Class III in 2018. In addition to her involvement and leadership positions within professional associations such as DallasHR and Fort Worth/Mid-Cities ATD, Mariya has served the DFW community by volunteering with Junior Achievement Dallas and teaching ESL courses as the Richardson Public Library. 
 
 

Award Finalists

Thomas Barton, SHRM-SCP - HR Director Kidscare Home Health 


Tom Barton has over 20 years of experience in the Human Resources field, and has been the HR Director for KidsCare Home Health in Addison, TX, for the past 6 years.  Although Tom started off as a Computer Information Systems major, he changed course and received a Bachelor’s Degree in Management and Human Resources from California State Polytechnic University at Pomona, and currently holds the SHRM-SCP certification.  This unique blend of an IT education and work experience along with his HR education experience, is pivotal for the new digital age of Human Resources.  Also, as the child of missionaries, Tom spent 4 years of his youth living in Kenya, East Africa.  This diverse experience, living amongst many different cultures, ethnicities, and religions, had a huge impact on his life and his success as an HR professional.

As a volunteer for DallasHR and the HR Southwest Conference, Tom has focused many of his efforts on HR university students.  Remembering the challenging  experience coming out of college and looking for that first HR job, has driven Tom to assist HR students as they approach graduation and desire that start in their HR career.  Tom’s leadership of the Student Engagement Committee for the past couple years has been instrumental in providing an enhanced experience for these students.  From emphasizing the value of networking to connecting students to job opportunities, the Student Engagement Committee has enriched the futures of many HR students in the State of Texas.
 

 

Kathy Hassenpflug, SPHR, SHRM-SCP – Senior Manager, Human Resources, HR Insights 


Kathy Hassenpflug is an accomplished Human Resources executive with more than 30 years of proven leadership experience supporting small and medium sized organizations in manufacturing, distribution and service industries. She currently provides HR services to small and medium sized organizations through her own Human Resource Consulting business, HR Insights.  

Kathy received a Bachelors degree from Virginia Tech in Blacksburg, VA and holds both the SHRM-SCP and SPHR certifications.  She has been a volunteer for The HRSouthwest Conference for 13 years (six of which have been on the Board of Directors), serving on the Resource Center, Registration/Onsite, Special Services and Education Sessions committees and was Conference Director in 2017. A life member of DallasHR, Kathy has been an active member of SHRM throughout her career where she has held leadership positions in the Mid Cities Human Resources Association (two-time President), served 10 years as District Director on the SHRM Texas State Council, and was a  Co-Chair of the 2013 Texas SHRM Legislative Conference.