“Youth have always been FIRST here at the Skillman Foundation, they are the first friendly face to greet you when you come to the Foundation’s office.”

Simonne Searles is the human resource & operations officer for the Skillman Foundation. She began her tenure in 2006, working with the program staff before transitioning to operations. Prior to joining the Foundation, Simonne worked at Miller, Canfield, Paddock & Stone PLC.

Simonne has a deep passion for talent development and project management. She advocates for diversity, inclusion, and succession planning in organizational development. She earned a bachelor’s degree from the University of Michigan, and a Master’s of Public Administration degree in nonprofit management from the University of Michigan-Dearborn. She is a Society of Human Resources Management certified professional.

Areas of expertise:
Shaping organizational culture, human resources support, and talent acquisition.

How I can support partners:
Human resources compliance support and connections to resources and providers.

Some of my favorite things:
90s pop culture, collecting sneakers and dolls, ComiCons, and movies of all kinds.

How I reenergize:
Putting my phone down and being intentional about enjoying time with others.