Our Team
Brenda McChriston, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Brenda is CEO and Principal of Spectrum HR Solutions. Her vision for the company began in 2004. Since then Spectrum has helped more than 80 companies and organizations nationwide save money, improve employee productivity and achieve organization growth. In the community, she is an advocate for youth and women’s issues. She was appointed by Governor Hogan to the Maryland Commission for women in 2018. As Commissioner, she works to protect and promote young women’s issues such as education and workforce development. She is past President of the Howard County Human Resources Society and a member of the Board of Directors for the Better Business Bureau.
Fun Fact: Brenda sings with the renowned Columbia ProCantare, a classical chorus that performs several concerts a year with internationally known vocal classical artists. She has a passion for horses and live sports games.
Kelly Brooks
Kelly joined Spectrum as a Jr. Productivity Partner consultant in 2010 while completing her Bachelor's and Master's degrees in Organizational Behavior and Psychology from UMBC. She is now the VP of Operations.
Fun Fact: Kelly loves to hike and bike through tough terrain, including Machu Pichu, Peru.
TJ DeLoatch
TJ DeLoatch is a 20-year seasoned Human Resources Professional. She is a results-driven HR professional who strives to set, achieve, and exceed professional goals. She has spent the majority of her career in the retail and commercial furniture industry, with developed experience in areas such as compliance, training & development, and organizational change.
Fun Fact: While HR is her primary job function by day, TJ changes the world as an avid baker, budding graphic artist, and Life Coach.
Karen Jacobs, MBA, PCC
Karen is a business leader experienced in Leadership and Organization Development disciplines navigating the corporate landscape particularly within a Fortune 200, government and not-for-profit organizations. After 26 years as an executive in the corporate world, Karen has transitioned into an entrepreneur of a training, business coaching and consulting firm empowering employees, teams and organizations to grow and succeed. She joined the Spectrum HR Solutions Team in 2014 as a Senior Productivity Trainer and Coach. As an innovative solutions provider within complex organizations, Karen understands the challenges of today’s workforce, and she delivers relevant and practical training and executive coaching to encourage professional, teaming and personal growth.
Fun Fact: Karen is an Elite-level certified Master Scuba Diver with experience spanning from the Great Barrier and Coral seas of Australia to the depths of the Hammer Head infested Caverns of San Salvador.
Nicola Edwards
Nicola has over 20 years of experience in Human Resources and is an innovative and results-driven Leader with proven success in performance management, training, talent development, recruiting, and mediation of complex employee relations issues. She is a solution provider with excellent analytical skills and consistent results, with the ability to quickly build strong relationships with stakeholders and strategically align Human Resources with organizational goals and objectives. Nicola is also passionate about employing best practices in diversity, equity and inclusion to support a diverse workforce and create a corporate culture where all employees can thrive.
Fun fact about Nicola: Nicola has recently taken up cycling and has been riding to raise money for organizations such as Children's Cancer Research Fund, American Diabetes Association, and National Multiple Sclerosis Society.
Amy S. Ledbetter, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Amy joined the team in 2017 as a Senior Productivity Partner. She brings over 24 years of management and Human Resources expertise from healthcare, engineering, and software development industries, and in both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Her ability to work with companies to assess and prioritize their needs, and her guidance to actively manage change with a positive attitude, has resulted in client successes with measurable outcomes. She believes in helping organizations reach their full potential through clear strategic direction, flexibility, and a commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace.
Fun Fact: Amy enjoys reading and cooking, but her number one passion is hiking and camping with her family in our National Parks.