Meet our newest Board Member, Amanda McCollum!
We’re excited to introduce our new board member, Amanda McCollum!
Amanda has been working in human resources for Adams Keegan for fourteen years. She started as a HR Administrator and has ascended to the role of Vice President of Human Resources while also serving the firm as a consultant in human capital advisory. At present, she oversees strategic HR plans and policies both internally and for Adams Keegan’s clients, researching and implementing competitive compensation, performance management, and employee incentive programs.
Amanda’s introduction to HR occurred at an entry-level in 2008 with her intent to use the position as a placeholder while she built upon her undergraduate degree in Counseling/Psychology. What Amanda found was a career that allowed her to thrive within the unique HR dichotomy of loving people and respecting the workplace rules designed to help people thrive.
Amanda’s tenure at Adams Keegan has not been without difficulty. During her employment she tragically lost her first child in 2010 at only 16-days old, and 4 years later gave birth to a child with Down Syndrome and a myriad of health issues who would spend 9 months of his first 2 years in the hospital. These challenges could have been career-ending for Amanda, but instead, she walked away from those difficult experiences with gratitude for a supportive employer and a newfound empathy for the unique struggles that everyone faces while living their life, and ultimately while working. Amanda’s approach of gratitude, empathy, and understanding, has allowed her to create HR policies internally at Adams Keegan, and for hundreds of their clients that fosters a culture of care, which ultimately leads to a better work environment and employee retention.
Within her internal role as Vice President of Human Resources at Adams Keegan, Amanda has recently redesigned the company’s Paid Time Off plan to make it more flexible and beneficial for employees while also strategically limiting liability for her company. She also designed and facilitated a “Summer of Training” in which the staff of Adams Keegan were able to benefit from onsite training each month on various HR-related topics. Amanda has also reimagined the orientation and onboarding process for employees of Adams Keegan, creating a standardized approach to ensure all employees feel informed, wanted, and welcomed on their first day with the Company.
Amanda leads the “Charitable Donation Committee” of Adams Keegan, which is an employee-based committee made up of “Employee of the Year” winners. This committee meets quarterly to discuss and vote on charitable donation requests that have been submitted to Adams Keegan by outside sources or employees. Since starting the Charitable Donation Committee, the giving of Adams Keegan has become more diverse to reflect the interests and passions of the Adams Keegan employee population.
Tell us about your previous experience working in the nonprofit sector.
As a HR Consultant, I'm not supposed to have "favorite clients" but, (shhhhh-don't tell) I'm a proud Memphian and I experience great pride and fulfillment by serving my local non-profit clients and helping them alleviate any HR-related pain points so that they can effectively carry out their various missions to make our community better.
Why did you decide to become a board member of Momentum Nonprofit Partners?
Again, I love Memphis and believe within the MidSouth there is great need, accompanied by a great potential for meaningful change. There are so many people and organizations with big hearts and ideas, but without the resources or the knowledge to put them into action. I'm thrilled to be serving an organization that provides training and resources to help our community in such a significant way.
What would you say to nonprofit leaders if they hadn't yet heard about Momentum?
You are missing out! I often tell my HR clients that I am their "phone a friend," I get to be the expert in my field to help them succeed in theirs. The metaphor also works for Momentum- they are the nonprofit's #1 "phone a friend!" They know the questions you should be asking, and the answers. They provide resources and training. They want to help you help others, and that is a beautiful thing.
What do you hope Momentum is able to change or improve in the nonprofit sector?
I hope that Momentum is able to support those new or small non-profits who hit the ground running but need someone to come alongside them and grab the baton occasionally. Operating a nonprofit is not a sprint, but a long race that can be full of hurdles. The staff of Momentum is well versed in the obstacles and roadblocks and are ready to come alongside and support people/organizations before they give up or burn out.
What shows are you currently streaming? Are you enjoying them?
"Only Murders in the Building" on Hulu is probably my current favorite. Steve Martin and Martin Short are brilliant (as expected) along with Selena Gomez and the many guest stars. The show is witty, quirky, and fast-paced. If it can keep me awake after my kids are asleep, it's a keeper.
My go-to show that I never tire of is "The Office." It makes sense because I work in an office and I am a HR Lady. I'm not a Toby Flenderson, but sometimes I am a Holly Flax.
Have any loved ones you want to brag about?
I'm married to Timothy, who is a freelance graphic designer/artist and sometimes stay at home dad to our kids. I have two sons, Dax and Miles, who are currently 10 and 8. Motherhood to me is a 50/50 split of feeling completely inadequate and completely grateful. My kids keep me on my toes, on my knees in prayer, and in the need of wrinkle cream and hair dye. They make me nuts and I'm totally nuts about them. Dax loves math, video games, serving at our church, and "hamburger challenges" from local fast-food establishments. Miles has Down Syndrome, several health issues, a feisty personality and a strong love of the artist Lizzo.
We have a dog, Brutus, or "Bru-Bru" who is a rescue we adopted from Street Dog Foundation. He is better than your dog. I said it and I'm not sorry. We also have two fish, Balki and Larry. Your fish are probably just as good.
What are some of your favorite restaurants in Memphis, and why?
I love to eat- and I love Summer Ave. because it is such a melting-pot of cultures. A few of my Summer Ave. favorites include La Guadulapana, Los Comales (their green sauce is the stuff dreams are made of), and Jerusalem Market. Now my mouth is watering...
Outside of Momentum's staff and board, who are a few standouts in the nonprofit community that you want to lift up?
The Forrest Spence Fund is a nonprofit that assists with the non-medical needs of critically and chronically ill children. I probably would have never known about this organization if I did not have two children with significant illnesses. My daughter Charlotte passed away unexpectedly following a heart surgery when she was 16 days old, and the Forrest Spence Fund offered to pay for grief counseling and modeled for me that life could continue after such a devastating loss. I never anticipated that I would have another child with Special Needs, and when Miles was born in 2014, he had Down Syndrome and a heart condition. He spent over 9 months in the hospital during his first 2 years of life, having countless operations and procedures. I would never have thought about the significant non-medical needs that families experience if I had not been one of those families. My husband and I were both trying to juggle work, unpaid FMLA days, nights at the hospital, etc. We were hitting our maximum out-of-pocket on our insurance every year, while missing income from work, and spending money people don't even consider- like eating hospital meals or meals in the car going to and from the hospital. The Forrest Spence Fund provided us with a financial grant to help with bills, meal vouchers, resources for our entire family- such as books for my kids, gifts when we were in the hospital around Christmas, etc. I also watched them provide things like gas cards and accommodations to families who weren't fortunate enough to live in Memphis and had to travel to and from smaller towns. The Forrest Spence Fund is one of those organizations that was built by people who experienced their own hardship, and then decided to give back to others as a result of that experience. Along with the resources that are so incredibly helpful and meaningful, they offer hope which is priceless.
Kevin Dean, Ed.D.
Kevin is the Chief Executive Officer at Momentum Nonprofit Partners.