Our Team
Brenda McChriston, MA, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
CEO and Principal
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, MPS
Vice President of Operations
Kelly is an Organizational Development specialist focused on creating better workplaces and improving business sustainability. Kelly works with businesses in Baltimore City and Maryland to help make job quality improvements to processes, policies, and procedures to create thriving and sustainable businesses and company cultures. She is passionate about the work she does in helping to improve the employee daily work experience. Kelly joined Spectrum HR as a Jr. Productivity Partner Consultant in 2010. She completed her MPS in Industrial/Organizational Psychology. She is now the VP of Operations.
Fun Fact: Kelly loves to do almost everything that involves sunshine, nature, and adventure including hiking, camping, kayaking, lake/ocean swimming, traveling and having fun!
Ky Bashir, PHR, SHRM-CP
Administrative Services Coordinator
Ky is a Training and Development professional with a 15-year career in Human Resources. In addition to designing and facilitating training programs, Ky has taught human resources, business, and supervisory courses at community college. Ky holds a BS in Business Education, a MA in Human Services Administration and certificates in Instructional Systems Development and Technology. After a successful Human Resources career, Ky has transitioned to entrepreneurship and partnering with small businesses to utilize her expertise in project management, training and employee development.
Fun Fact: Ky is crazy about organizing and staging homes. When she is not obsessing over home designs, she enjoys jazz festivals, shopping, traveling, spas and having fun!
Karen Jacobs, MBA, PCC
Senior Productivity Trainer and Coach
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.
TJ DeLoatch, GPHR, SHRM-SCP
Sr. Productivity Partner
TJ DeLoatch is a 25-year seasoned Human Resources professional and has worked in various HR roles in profit and non-profit entities across industries. Her global Human Resources industry experience has nurtured a strong emphasis on employee relations and compliance. She has worked as a Lead HR Consultant, Compensation Lead, and HR Compliance Trainer, to name a few. TJ is also the Director of Digital Media and the immediate past President of the Greater Baltimore Chapter of the National Association of African Americans in Human Resources (NAAAHR).
Fun Fact: TJ is a creative baker, lover of music, an avid reader, and a lifelong learner in her spare time. She is the wife of a seasoned 18-year Anne Arundel County police officer, mother of 3, and grandmother of 2.
Ruth Bassham, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Productivity Partner
Ruth Bassham’s 25-year Human Resources career spans a wide spectrum of industries, from Fortune 500 to start-ups, government contracting, manufacturing and distribution, and professional services organizations. Ruth has been hands-on with each HR functional area, supervised teams, and headed an HR department of 6 in a complex environment. Ruth helps businesses to be more effective through policy development, change management, training development and delivery, and communications; her expertise also extends to labor and employee relations, mergers/acquisitions, compensation and benefits design, and retention plans—all in multi-state and global operations. In early 2022, she requalified in her longstanding dual Senior HR certifications—SPHR and SHRM-SCP.
Fun Fact: When it’s time for even more fun, Ruth loves singing and making harmony with family and friends and in her church. A backyard barbeque—also with family and friends—is her ideal summer evening.
Dr. Tonya Cannon, PhD, SHRM-CP, ACUE, CHEP, SOLC, CCEM
Sr. Productivity Partner
Dr. Tonya Cannon earned a PhD in Organization Management with a specialization in Management Education, a Masters of Science in Human Resource Management, and a Bachelors of Arts in Theatre Arts & Psychology. Dr. Cannon has more than 20 years the Human Resources field and more than 25 years in the entertainment field. She brings a wealth of education, experiences, and insights in support of organizational strategic goals.
Fun Fact: Not only can I analyze and advise on strategic business functions, I can also get on stage or in front of the camera and give engaging performances, some of which were award winning, many of which I’ve written and produced myself.
Erin Callahan, BBHR, MSHRD, SPHR
Productivity Partner
Erin has over 14 years of Human Resources experience solving complex organizational challenges, driving growth, and leading strategic change initiatives through people focused solutions. Over her career, Erin has worked in several industries ranging from construction, manufacturing, logistics, government contracting, non-profit, and finance. Erin specializes in employee relations, unions, continuous improvement, process/system design, and change management. Erin has earned her Master’s degree in HR Development & Leadership, has obtained certifications as a Senior Professional in Human Resources, and is a Six Sigma Black Belt.
Fun Fact: Erin is a car enthusiast who spends her free time working on cars and drag racing in community sponsored events.
Melody Gratic M.A. Ed
Productivity Partner
Melody Gratic completed her Master of Arts in Education with a specialization in Educational Leadership and Administration and retired honorably from the United States Army with 24 years of active service. Melody has over 24 years of leadership, management, and instruction facilitation experience. She brings diverse professional experience, knowledge and skill to any organization’s strategic goals and mission.
Fun Fact: Melody loves reading, visiting museums, and attending Broadway plays. Not to mention, traveling on vacation (e.g., tropical beaches) with family and friends.
Nicola Edwards, MBA, SHRM-SCP
Productivity Partner
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: 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
Senior Productivity Partner
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.