Meet Our Coaches
Linda Strauss, Shrm-Scp, Sphr
Over her 25-year career in human resources, linda has specialized in every aspect of hr, with an emphasis on recruiting, so she knows what employers are seeking. As a career coach, linda advises professionals in all industries and levels, preparing them for success in their next steps. As a trainer, she teaches communication and interpersonal skills, change management, and accountability, helping job seekers in transition find and live their purpose and passion. She can also help them get out of their own way when necessary. Linda is originally from new york and dc, has also worked in miami, and has been in nm for 18 years. Linda was laid off twice in her career, first when the dot-com bubble burst in nyc 2001, then after the market crash of 2009. She opened her own business and hasn’t looked back. When not under quarantine, linda also plays cello with 80s drag rock band, hella bella.
Lead Coach
Karen Mickool
Karen is a principal and co-founder of stone associates, llc, an hr consulting firm. She has an extensive background in hr, organization and leadership development, and coaching in a wide variety of environments including bank of new york, bank of america, southco engineering, aig marketing, and the coca cola company. Previously, karen served as a senior consultant and executive coach for several outplacement and consulting firms including cci consulting in pa and kensington international based in chicago. There she coached clients who were part of huge corporate layoffs as well as candidates looking to step up to the next level and senior executives transitioning due to relocation. Personally experiencing 3 layoffs in 5 years has given karen valuable perspective in working with outplacement candidates at all levels and enabled her to provide compassionate advice and perspective.
Coach
Cindy Murphy
Cindy is a principal and co-founder of stone associates-hr. The company provides hr services to a variety of both for profit and non-profit businesses in the fine arts, retail, service, and education sectors. Over the last twenty years, cindy has managed various aspects of both human resources and administrative needs at the corporate level including recruiting, new hire on-boarding/orientation, and employee development. In these roles she also served as a trusted confidant for both senior management and employees, providing support for a wide variety of concerns. Cindy was born in texas, went to college in virginia, and has also lived in new jersey and nm. She recently returned to richmond, virginia with her husband and their incredible lab, kelly. Cindy enjoys cooking, baseball, kayaking and collecting antiques. She and her husband love history and music, and especially enjoy hunting for items for their collection as well as her husband’s antique business.
Coach
Jeff Gruber
Jeff gruber is a senior human resource professional with over 30 years of business and human resources experience. His industry experiences include companies in consumer products and marketing, manufacturing, healthcare, telecommunications, transportation and distribution and food service. Jeff has been involved with teams in workforce reduction and supporting employees with outplacement services. He started j n gruber group in 2014 and his practice services include human resources support for small employers, leadership development, behavioral and personality-based assessments and coaching.
Jeff received an mba from st. Francis college and a bs in business from indiana university.
Jeff joined the santa fe community in 2014 and he and his wife sara and super mutt poppy enjoy the wonderful weather and hiking the many trails in the area.
Coach
Melissa Haid, Phr
Melissa thrives in an entrepreneurial setting and building genuine relationships. Over her career, she has been recognized for cultivating winning teams, leading with empathy, honesty, and a clear strategic vision. She has 18 years of experience in talent acquisition, hr and sales. Naturally a “people person”, she began her career in recruiting and moved into sales and operations for a fortune 500 staffing firm. After a long career there, she was laid off and co-founded sweet resumes – a firm dedicated to helping clients achieve their professional goals and find meaningful work. She received her ba in communication, minor in business management from unm and is a certified hr professional (phr). She has lived in san diego, albuquerque, dallas, and the uk. Passion projects include helping survivors of domestic violence and human trafficking. In her free time, she enjoys traveling, being outside and spending with her family and 4- legged child. In a perfect world, she would be awesome at playing the drums, which is why patience is a virtue.
Coach
Amy Montoya, Maol
Amy has 15 years of experience in hr and has worked in every aspect of hr, with a focus on recruiting and employee relations. With this experience, amy can help you understand what employers are seeking. She currently serves as thehr manager for a non-profit focused on creating career paths for individuals facing challenges getting and keeping a job in nm. Originally from santa fe, amy started her hr career in santa fe. She earned her ba in organization leadership in 2012 from lewis university. Amy was laid off in 2012 when her position was outsourced. She moved on to work with the homeless population in albuquerque as a job developer, helping many people find and maintain gainful employment. At the same time, she pursued and achieved her master’s degree in organizational leadership with a focus in management and not for profits. When amy has time on her hands, she enjoys crafts like crocheting, sewing, and embroidering. She also helps out at the homeless shelter where she once worked.
Coach
Launi De Young, Shrm-scp
Launi deyoung has over 20 years’ experience in hr and leadership development, working primarily with government agencies and contractors, including both small entrepreneurial organizations, as well as fortune 100 companies. An innovative problem solver, she brings a variety of perspectives and knowledge to every project. In 2014, launi got tired of the eight to five grind and excessive travel away from her family, and left boeing to start her own organizational effectiveness consulting firm, orgworks llc. As launi’s experience has mainly been working with engineers, she has an appreciation of dilbert, and advocating for women. Launi has an ms in organizational development from pepperdine, is a shrm-scp (senior certified hr professional) and is an authorized disc behavioral assessment distributor and facilitator. A member of local and national hr organizations, she previously served on the local board as vp of communications and was president of the rio grande industrial liaison group. A native new mexican, launi enjoys spending time with her family and their backyard menagerie
Coach
William Gray
William has over 24 years of experience in human resources in varied industries including post-secondary education, manufacturing, fitness and public accounting. He attained his senior professional of hr (sphr) certification in 2012 and his shrm-scp certification in 2015.
Throughout his career he has specialized in recruiting, employee benefits and compensation, employee relations and training and development. He has been focused in albuquerque and santa fe so he understands the nm job market. After 23 years of working in varied hr roles for businesses, william began working as an hr consultant for small business clients as the vp of consulting services for the hr solution company. His new career path is to work with small businesses to attract, retain and develop employees in this challenging arena.
In his free time, he enjoys spending time with his husband dustin and his dog macy. He is a fitness enthusiast who enjoys staying healthy and focused, and when not under quarantine, going to the gym.
Coach