Human Resources Management in the Public Sector Certificate Program

Introducing Our CEO/Founder and Chief Disruptor…

Stacey Lewis is the Founder/CEO of HR Interrupted (www.hrinterrupted.com). HRI is a consultancy firm dedicated to providing expert and proven resources to business thought leaders who have GRIT to unapologetically disrupt outdated workplace ideologies, principles, and practices that impact the People, Business, and Culture experience.  She is the former Chief Human Resources Officer for the Port of Long Beach, the second-busiest seaport in the United States, with approximately 600 employees, and generates annual operating revenues in excess of $300 million. Stacey has over 35 years of professional human resources experience, both in the private and public sectors.  

A dynamic and highly sought-after “transformational” speaker and self-proclaimed disruptor, Stacey received her bachelor’s degree in psychology from the University of the Pacific. She also holds a Human Resources Management Certification from Loyola Marymount University, a Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Certification from Cornell University, as well as several other professional HR designations/certifications. Stacey is a former Commissioner for the Long Beach Unified School District Personnel Commission and serves on several local boards, including Girls Inc. of Los Angeles, Inglewood Baseball Fund, and Little Owl Foundation for Childhood Education. Additionally, Stacey is an instructor/program liaison for the Human Resources Management Certification program at California State University, Long Beach, and is a member of their HR Advisory Committee. She teaches the Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion Series programs. Stacey is a member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated. She currently serves in the Theta Alpha Omega Chapter as a Member-at-Large and the Parliamentarian for the Pearl Foundation. She is the former Chair of the Advocate for Social Justice Committee.

In addition to being tenacious about her professional career and following her purpose and passion to encourage people, especially women, to live their very best lives, Stacey formerly served as a Host on everywaywoman.com, a local cable and internet talk show committed to celebrating everyday women in every way. She also hosted a local radio show on Accelerated radio.net.  Her professional, relationship, and parenting expertise and advice have been featured on several websites, publications, and TV shows, including Indeed, the #1 Job Site in the World, LinkedIn, the Rachael Ray Show, Ebony, Parenting, and Voyage Los Angeles magazine. 

However, at the end of the day, when the business meetings, interviews, webinars, and podcasts have concluded, Stacey finds complete solace in bowling, car concerts, and spending quality time with her husband of 30 years, and their three young adult children

Mrs. Ramirez serves as the Human Resources Manager for the City of Rosemead, where she is dedicated to fostering a safe, productive, and compliant work environment. Throughout her career, she has actively pursued opportunities to lead by example, inspire and motivate others, and create a positive impact on both employees and the organization.

With more than 15 years of human resources management experience, Mrs. Ramirez previously worked as the Principal Human Resources Analyst for the City of Monterey Park. She also held the role of Support Staff Supervisor with the Ontario-Montclair School District, where she focused on employee development and training.

Mrs. Ramirez earned her Juris Doctorate from Western State University and holds a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from Azusa Pacific University. In her free time, she enjoys traveling and spending time with her husband and twins.

Khristina Jason serves as the Director of Human Resources at the Port of Long Beach, overseeing human capital strategies and services for approximately 655 budgeted personnel. Appointed to this role in December 2023, she previously held the position of Assistant Director of Human Resources and Manager of Talent Relations and Engagement.

With a foundational career in public sector human resources spanning 17 years, she holds a Bachelor’s degree in Healthcare Administration with a minor in Human Resources Management and a Master’s degree in Public Administration, both from California State University, Long Beach.

Khristina is certified as an IMPA-CP (International Public Management Association – Certified Professional), underscoring her commitment to excellence in public sector human resources. Her expertise encompasses employee relations, talent management, organizational development, and employee engagement, with a focus on fostering inclusive and effective workplace cultures.

Kelly Trainer Policky has been an employment attorney, focusing on local government employers, for over 20 years.  She currently serves as the California Joint Powers Insurance Authority’s Employment Programs Manager.  Prior to this role, Kelly was a partner at Burke, Williams & Sorensen, LLP.  With a passion for the preventative side of law, Kelly has extensive experience as an advisor, trainer, investigator, and labor negotiator. 

At the Authority, Kelly oversees the Employment Hotline, providing advice and counsel support to over 125 member agencies on complex, high-risk employment law issues.  Kelly works directly with members on matters such as discipline, investigations, reasonable accommodation and the interactive process, leave management, discrimination, harassment, retaliation, freedom of speech and association, and privacy. 

Kelly is also a highly regarded trainer, regularly conducting seminars and workplace trainings for employees on topics such as harassment prevention, disability discrimination, workplace investigations, managing difficult employees, workplace violence, discipline and termination, social media, performance evaluations, creating effective documentation, and leaves of absence.

Kelly received a Bachelor of Arts in Political Science from the University of Houston, and a Juris Doctor from the University of the Pacific, McGeorge School of Law.  Kelly is admitted to practice in both California and Texas.  During Kelly’s tenure at Burke, Williams, & Sorensen, Kelly was a contributing author to Burke’s Legal Trends publication.  She also co-authored the 3^rd and 4^th editions of the CPER Pocket Guide to Disability Discrimination in the California Workplace.

With over 30 years’ experience in the strategy, development, execution, and measurement of training and continuing education certification initiatives, Penni Wells is known for her versatile approach to creating and delivering training and education. 

Penni has brought her proprietary 360 Degree Customer Experience methodology to clients in the private and public sectors, targeting the successful customer experience for everyone involved - the customer, the employee, and the organization. 

Some of her clients include The Boeing Company, Southern California Edison, Steelcase Corporation, Southern California Edison, the Center for International Trade and Transportation, and the Gateway Cities Partnership. 

In the education sector, Penni has provided facilitation services for the California State University Chancellor’s Office and provided her management and staff development training to administrative departments and personnel at CSU Dominguez Hills, CSU Long Beach, Fullerton College, and Rio Hondo College. 

In addition, she was asked to bring her ability to transcend cultural, generational, and experiential differences to the State of California’s retraining efforts by providing her training courses for the Long Beach Community Action Partnership. 

The former Associate Director for Professional Programs at the College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) at California State University, Long Beach, Penni has also held management positions with the YWCA, Health and Tennis Corporation, and Bally’s Health and Tennis.  

Demetrius “D” Parker is the visionary founder of Trust Leadership Collective (www.trustleadershipcollective.org)and a distinguished instructor for The College of Professional and Continuing Education (CPaCE) at CSULB, as well as a guest instructor with CU Denver. With four decades of leadership and over 30 years of DEIAB expertise, Demetrius has made his mark as an innovator and leader in both the public and nonprofit sectors.

Throughout his distinguished career, Demetrius has served as executive chair and president for multiple boards, including local and regional HR associations, and has held the role of contracted CEO for a mental health nonprofit. His deep experience includes 20 years in Human Resources and Organizational Development and more than a decade in local government, uniquely positioning him to guide others in the complexities of public sector HR.

Nationally recognized for his impact, Demetrius was ranked 3rd on the 2024 ELGL Top 100 Government Influencers list and has been featured in “Shout Out Colorado.” A self-proclaimed pragmatic solutions architect, his early leadership as an NCO in the US Army instilled in him the value of self-awareness as a foundation for great leadership.

Known for his motto, “Growth is the goal,” Demetrius inspires others to achieve their fullest potential and intentionally builds collaborative environments he calls CoSpheres. He is dedicated to fostering cultures of continuous improvement, inclusion, and shared leadership, empowering the next generation of HR professionals and leaders.

David Kitchen loves to CONNECT and EMPOWER employees and managers of the public sector.  With over 15 years of experience in public sector HR, David is known for his modern, people-centered approach to workplace operations and his commitment to ethical leadership. HR is his career and passion.

David is the Human Resources Director for Lehi City, Utah, where he leads strategic HR initiatives that support a dynamic and growing municipal workforce. His prior experience includes the Utah Department of Human Resource Management, where he developed key performance indicators and strategic measures for a statewide HR shared service center. David also tries to stay apprised of the latest technology training for public sector HR, including completing the Partnership for Public Service’s AI Government Leadership Program.

In addition to his municipal role, David is a partner with Compensation Survey System (comp-survey.com), an online platform that helps public sector agencies benchmark and manage compensation, benefits, and pay practices data more effectively. His work with the system reflects his passion for data-informed decision-making and operational transparency.

David holds a Master of Public Administration and Bachelor of Communications from Brigham Young University and is certified as a PSHRA-SCP, SHRM-SCP, and PHR. He has presented nationally on topics such as crisis leadership and trust-building in government organizations, and he actively contributes to the HR community through thought leadership and mentoring.

He is excited to collaborate with fellow professionals to continue advancing the impact of HR in the public sector.