In-Person Program
Human Resources Certificate
Program Overview
The Human Resources Certificate can equip you with the necessary skills and knowledge to effectively manage people in the workplace.
Human resources professionals deal with a wide range of issues such as employee recruitment and retention, compensation and benefits, employee relations, performance management, and compliance with labor laws and regulations.
Certificate requirements:
4 core courses
3 electives
1 technology elective
Our program has met the HR Certification Institute’s® criteria to be pre-approved for recertification credit.
PROGRAM DESCRIPTION
By taking courses in human resources, you can learn how to handle these issues in a fair, ethical, and legally compliant manner, thereby contributing to a positive work culture and a more productive and engaged workforce.
Additionally, professionals who have a good understanding of human resources can also advance their career prospects and potentially take on leadership roles within their organization.
Program Courses and electives
Please click the course titles below for details.
Core Courses:
Onboarding: Creating a High Return on Your Hiring Investment (Nov. 22, 2024)
Compensation & Benefits Overview & Best Practices (Jan. 24, 2025)
Onboarding: Creating a High Return on Your Hiring Investment (Feb. 7, 2025)
Effective Feedback & Difficult Conversations (March 26, 2025)
Interviewing & Selecting the Best Candidate (April 23, 2025)
Effective Feedback & Difficult Conversations (Oct. 1, 2025)
Compensation & Benefits Overview & Best Practices (Nov. 7, 2025)
Interviewing & Selecting the Best Candidate (Nov. 13, 2025)
Onboarding: Creating a High Return on Your Hiring Investment (Nov. 21, 2025)
Electives:
Building Effective Teams Through Effective Communication (Feb. 18, 2025)
Business & Financial Concepts (March 6, 2025)
Aligning HR with Organizational Strategies (March 17, 2025)
What Am I Doing & Why Am I Doing It? (April 15, 2025)
NEW! The Energy Business (May 13, 2025)
Aligning HR with Organizational Strategies (Aug. 21, 2025)
Building Effective Teams Through Effective Communication (Sept. 25, 2025)
What Am I Doing & Why Am I Doing It? (Oct. 7, 2025)
Business & Financial Concepts (Oct. 16, 2025)
NEW! The Energy Bus (Nov. 18, 2025)
Technology Elective (Choose one of the Computer Application courses.)
Meet Your Instructors
Naomi Asher
Naomi Asher is executive director of the United Way of Anderson County. She is a graduate of Johnson University, where she double majored in music and theology. Asher also earned an M.B.A. in marketing from King University.
She is the Chief Development Officer for Boys and Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley.
Paul Boyles
Paul Boyles is president of Paul Boyles Executive Coaching, LLC. He has more than 35 years of progressive experience in human resources within the manufacturing, government, and hotel/casino industries. Boyles earned a B.S. degree in management at the University of Scranton.
Terrence Carter
Terrence Carter is the vice president of workforce and economic development for the Knoxville Area Urban League, overseeing a $3.4 million loan program and preparing grants and investment proposals. He has more than 25 years of experience in community, economic, and business development.
Carter has worked for Knoxville’s Community Development Corporation (KCDC) and has served as executive director for the Partnership for Neighborhood Improvement. He earned a bachelor’s degree in public administration from the University of Tennessee and a master’s degree from Baruch College in New York City.
Carter is a results-oriented leader with demonstrated initiative and creativity.
Kelly Drummond
Dr. Kelly Drummond is a certified professional in human resources through the HR Certification Institute and the Society for Human Resource Management. As the current director of human resources with the City of Knoxville, Drummond administers the compensation/classification system, talent acquisition, pre-employment processes, employee training, employee relations, succession planning, and assist directors in employee discipline. She previously worked as the vice president of human resource and leadership development with the Boys & Girls Clubs of the Tennessee Valley and the executive director of human resources for Knox County Schools. She also served as a national trainer for Boys & Girls Clubs of America and facilitated national trainings on leadership, human resources development, employee motivation, and personal effectiveness. Drummond earned a doctorate degree in education with a concentration in human resource development from Lincoln Memorial University.
Amy Zubko Jordan
Amy Zubko serves as a human resources manager at North Wind Group, a government contracting holding entity that includes eleven subsidiary companies focusing in the environmental, engineering, construction, and technical consulting industries. Prior to her current role, Amy worked at Oak Ridge National Laboratory (ORNL), a U.S. Department of Energy (DOE) lab operated by UT-Battelle, LLC for 7 years as a Human Resources Consultant. Amy is practiced in developing staffing plans and employee programs, managing employee compensation and benefit plans, and developing and implementing HR policies. Amy serves as a consultant on performance management issues, is a business coach and mentor, and works with managers to create development plans for staff. In her prior HR positions, Amy worked in a variety of industry settings, including a DOE contractor, bank, and manufacturer. She also has experience in settings with international staffing needs.
Amy holds an M.S. in Human Resource Management and a B.S. in Business Administration, both from the University of Tennessee, Knoxville. Amy also holds a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification Institute (HRCI), and a Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification from the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).
Jesse Nelson
Jesse D. Nelson is founder of the Nelson Law Group, PLLC, in Knoxville, where he focuses on employee rights litigation. He is a frequent presenter at conferences on issues of employment discrimination, wage/hour issues, and unlawful retaliation.
Nelson earned a bachelor’s degree in sociology at Lambuth University and a law degree at the University of Mississippi School of Law.
Tammie Smeltzer
Tammie Smeltzer is a Talent Development Training Specialist for Oak Ridge National Laboratory, collaborating with key stakeholders to design, develop, facilitate, and coordinate the delivery of professional development programs. She has worked for more than 25 years in adult education. Smeltzer is also a retired Air Force Senior Master Sergeant with more than 20 years of service. She holds a master’s degree in adult education.
Shane Smith, CFA
Shane Smith is a financial advisor at Quality Financial Concepts in Maryville, Tennessee. Smith earned a bachelor’s degree in accounting at the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. He became a Certified Financial Planner in 2014 and completed all three levels of the Chartered Financial Analyst program in 2022.
Register Today
Call 865-974-0150 to prepay for all required courses at a discounted fee of $1,249.
