WSAHCR

WSAHCR began life in 1983 as the Puget Sound Nurse Recruiter Group, a small community of recruiters who came together to "talk shop" about their collective challenges. Our group has grown in size, stature and scope, joining with two other Puget Sound recruiter groups to form WSAHCR in 1992. In 1993 we became a chapter of the national health care recruiters organization NAHCR.

We're now a thriving group of around eighty HR professionals from all over the state of Washington sharing information through our bi-monthly meetings and an annual retreat. At our meetings, members share current happenings and challenges in their respective organizations in a lively and supportive environment. In our "roundtable" discussions, we discuss the ups and downs of filling in-demand positions as staff moves from one institution to another. Rather than viewing each other as "competitors" for staff, we see each other as partners working together in a challenging field. We also invite guest speakers to update us on current trends and issues relevant to our members.

Our annual retreat is a popular event where members gather to gain fresh perspectives, participate in workshops and hear from keynote speakers.

Want to know what other companies belong to WSAHCR, click here.

Board members

Our board members are elected to represent and guide our organization as we promote best practices in health care recruitment.

Valerie Albano
President

Valerie Albano is currently Director of Human Resources for The Regional Hospital of Respiratory and Complex Care. Valerie has been in the human resource field for over 20 years, having spent many of them in the banking world. Happy to have made the change to healthcare, Valerie has been with The Regional Hospital for nearly 6 years. In her role as Director of Human Resources, Valerie is responsible all human resources functions, with an emphasis on employment and employee and labor relations. She is also in charge of employee recognition activities and is the editor of The Regional Hospital employee newsletter.

Valerie attained her Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation in 2005 and her Professional in Human Resource (PHR) designation in 1995. Valerie is currently working on her Masters in Healthcare Administration. She received her Bachelor of Arts from the University of Washington, where she double majored in Communications and Sociology.

Valerie and her husband recently celebrated their 20th wedding anniversary. Valerie's hobbies include gardening, walking on the beach, reading decorating books, aerobics/cardio-kick boxing classes and talking with her friends.

Mary Davis
Treasurer

Mary Davis has been recruiting RNs at Children's Hospital and Regional Medical Center for the past 7 years - and for 7 years in the 1990s at Group Health Cooperative. A BSN grad from Seattle U, her RN experience includes Special Care Nursery, Family Practice Ambulatory Care, Telephone Triage, and rural Community Hospital med-surg as a staff RN and nursing manager. The interview/hiring process was her favorite part of management – so recruitment quickly became the obvious career for her! An active member of WSAHCR, Mary has served as chapter president and treasurer in the past. WSAHCR has been an invaluable support for her career – and a great place to make friends as well!

Evelyn Maritvold
Secretary

Evelyn has been in Human Resources for the last 14 years. She is a Technical/Professional recruiter for Good Samaritan Hospital, a part of the Multicare Health Service. Evelyn attained her Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation in 2002 and (CIR) Certified Internet Recruiter designation in 2007.