Garber resigns as Director of Human Resources

Gena Garber, Director of Human Resources for the Iowa Annual Conference of The United Methodist Church, has resigned her position effective December 30. She has been hired as the Director of Human Resources at Central College in Pella, where she began January 3, 2012.

During her two years with the Conference, several initiatives and process improvements were made. With the new IT system implemented in October of 2009 came several challenges with the direct billing system. Gena, along with the benefits team, the IT and administrative services departments have worked to resolve many billing issues, provide a standard benefit enrollment process, and enhance the level of service in benefits direct billing. More information on the availability of benefits and pension came through a variety of communication channels. The Wellness offerings were expanded and a new walking program rolled out. Several projects are in process including an updated employee handbook, improvements to the compensation plan, and an enhanced performance management process for conference staff.

Because of the critical nature of the work and limited resources to facilitate the search process, the human resources committee has retained a firm to expedite the recruitment process. The Palmer Group, a full-service employment firm located in West Des Moines, has been retained to handle the search for Gena's replacement. Senior Search Consultant Donna Bigg specifically will be working with our Search Committee to identify qualified candidates for the Director of Human Resources position. All interested candidates should contact Donna directly: dbigg@thepalmergroup.com  or 515.225.7000.

The Iowa Annual Conference is most grateful to Gena for the outstanding work she has done during her two-year tenure and for the many contributions she has made to the Human Resources services of the Conference. We wish her the very best in her new venture at Central College and will miss her continued leadership.