Prior to joining Respect Inc., Shirley spent over 20 years in human resources management for the service and manufacturing sectors, providing human capital solutions in training and organizational development, employee and labor relations, legal compliance, recruiting and retention, and compensation and benefits. Highlights of her accomplishments include the creation of a Diversity Team which developed and implemented training and development initiatives beyond the awareness level at multi-plant locations; facilitation of a company’s first five-year labor agreement (a year in advance), introducing new work systems using interest bargaining techniques; and, as a member of a global optimization team, design of a state-of-the-art manufacturing plant, resulting in reduced costs through reengineered processes.

Shirley began her professional career as a special education teacher in New Jersey and was appointed the first Director of Special Services in her school district four years later. She was recognized at the county and state levels for implementing new programs to improve outcomes for students with disabilities, their families, and their teachers.

Her professional affiliations include Society for Human Resource Management (Past President of Delaware Chapter, Past Secretary, Past Membership Chair), American Management Association National Human Resources Council, Delaware State Chamber of Commerce Employee Relations Committee, and Delaware Work Force Diversity Group.

Throughout her life, Shirley has been involved with community outreach. She has served on the Board of Trustees of Kentmere Nursing Care Center as Past President; Human Resources chair; and currently Strategic Planning chair. As a member of the Kennett Education Foundation Board of Directors, Shirley is chair of the Innovative Grants Program and is an active school volunteer. She is a volunteer educator for Planned Parenthood of Chester County, has recently completed a second term on her homeowners’ association Board of Directors, and is a Board member of the Friends of Tennis, a community-based non-profit organization to promote youth tennis.

Shirley holds a B.S. with Honors in Special/Elementary Education from the University of Delaware and received her M.Ed. with Honors in Educational Leadership from the University of Delaware. She is a certified Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR).