HR professional Andy Thiede of Berlin recently presented her fifth Human Resources Certification Scholarship. The latest recipient is Gregory Judd of Canton, an HR representative for a publicly held international manufacturer in Connecticut. He was selected for the scholarship by a board of advisors comprised of HR professionals throughout the state. Judd is responsible for managing employee benefits, recruiting hourly workers, and keeping employees engaged and motivated through HR best practices. He holds a bachelor’s degree from Southern Connecticut State University, and a Certificate in HR from Pace University.

“Receiving this scholarship is a direct testament to the power of perseverance and the importance of connecting with others,” said Judd. “Early in my HR career, several well-established professionals lent their guidance and support from afar. If I had not made the effort to foster those connections, I may have never discovered this scholarship or the Human Resource Association of Central Connecticut (HRACC). After gaining experience in employee relations, benefit management and talent acquisition, I am excited to sit for the SHRM-CP exam and see what comes next on this journey. I would like to thank the scholarship committee for this distinction. I would also like to thank Julie Haas, Terry Montouri, Christina Danforth, Lois Krause, and of course, Andy Thiede for their continued gracious support.”

Judd is scheduled to test for his SHRM-SCP certification in the coming weeks.

With a passion for HR, and a desire to give back to the profession, Thiede created this scholarship in 2016 to help offset the expense of certification for a fellow HR professional. She believes that her memberships in the HRACC and SHRM have significantly contributed to her career success. She has been a member of both organizations for more than 20 years, and holds both SPHR and SHRM-SCP certifications. Thiede is a consultant with KardasLarson, one of Connecticut’s leading HR consulting firms.