Board of Directors

Rick Nelson, President

Rick began his career in recruiting in 1999 as an electrical engineering recruiter during the peak of the dot-com era. He later joined Robert half International in Novato before spending almost 5 years leading the recruiting function for Restoration Hardware’s corporate offices. Rick is currently the AVP of Talent Management for Redwood Trust Inc. Redwood Trust is a publicly traded REIT based in Mill Valley.  Rick enjoys building strategies around the full employee life cycle including recruitment, workforce planning/development and succession planning.

Rick is very local to the North Bay having grown up in Sonoma County.  Prior to his HR career he worked in Marketing at Costco Wholesale in Novato and earlier worked for Marin Produce in San Rafael.

Rick can be reached by email at president@marinhr.org or by phone at 415-380-3435.

Svetlana Whitener, Vice-President

Ten years ago Svetlana Whitener came to the US from Russia with an MBA in organizational development and significant leadership experience in corporate and private enterprises, including ownership. During Russian Perestroika she was able to generate strong revenue streams for companies where she worked by using her business creativity and drive. This kind of approach helped Svetlana to succeed and to become a vice president when she was 28 year old and to start her own business at age 31. Currently Svetlana works at the Coaches Training Institute as the Human Resources Manager. Personal development is her area of expertise where she works on employee engagement, retention and productivity. Her husband is a successful lawyer in Marin and her daughter is finishing her PhD at Harvard. Svetlana is a cultural and personal development junkie who is comfortable with change and pursuing a dream that she will share with you if you ask.

Svetlana can be reached by email at speakers@marinhr.org.

Debi Geller, Membership Co-Chair

Debi Geller is proud to be Account Executive for Nelson Staffing. Debi has a diverse professional background of retail, advertising sales, teaching elementary school, and non-profit fund-raising. A San Rafael native, Debi is happy to have the chance to raise her daughters in her home town. She is very well-connected in the business and non-profit communities here, volunteering for various organizations including Girl Scouts, Hospice of Marin, and Ritter Center, and local schools. Debi serves on the Board of Directors for the Corte Madera Chamber of Commerce, and as a committee member for the San Rafael Chamber’s Women for Success group.  She also serves as an Ambassador for the San Rafael Chamber of Commerce.  Debi earned her Bachelor of Arts degree from San Francisco State University.

Debi can be reached by email at membership@marinhr.org or by phone at (415) 446-0208.

Andrea Salvemeni, Membership Co-Chair

Andrea Salvemini is Vice President of Client Services at Right Management. She works with her customers to help them align their talent strategy with their business strategy. She has over 20 years of experience working with organizations to help them to overcome their challenges and strive to exceed their goals. With B.A. from UCSD in Physiology, Andrea began her career in the medical industry with Dynasplint Systems, where she created systems to enable the sales team to be more efficient and productive. Andrea’s love of learning and development promoted her to start Alliances Corporate Training in 1997, a corporate training resource consultancy. She created the University concept for companies in the North Bay to pool their resources and obtain the best training and development for their employees. Andrea has most recently worked with The Personnel Perspective as their Director of Business Development.

Andrea spends her free time with her 2 young boys and husband hiking, going to swim meets, the beach and enjoying the beauty of Marin. She is active in the local schools and organizations to promote children’s emotional intelligence and wellness.

Andrea can be reached  or andrea.salvemini@right.comAndrea can be reached by email at membership@marinhr.org or at 415.283.2126.

Dawn Larkin, Secretary

Dawn can be reached by email at secretary@marinhr.org.

Veronika Johnson, Treasurer

Veronika is a well-rounded HR professional with over 17 years of progressive HR experience.
Her ability to easily establish rapport and credibility with diverse and multi-cultural groups comes from her experience with European based companies as well as American companies with offices world-wide. Veronika was able to refine her professional skills and establish loyal relationships within the local community while working for businesses such as the former Sonoma County HMO, Health Plan of the Redwoods, and CCEnergy, a renewable energy corporation based in San Rafael.

Veronika’s passion to attract, retain and empower talent prompted her to specialize in the Compensation and Benefits areas. In 2005 she joined Bank of Marin and is currently managing its Compensation, Benefits, Retirement, and Leave of Absence programs. Veronika holds a Master’s Degree in Philosophy and has special interests in behavioral psychology.

Veronika can be reached by email at treasurer@marinhr.org.

Randy Ferino, Facilities

Randy can be reached by email at facilities@marinhr.org.

Debbie Zimmerman, Past President

Debbie started her career in Human Resources 15 years ago. Her background includes working for large organizations such as Liberty Mutual, Fireman’s Fund, GE, and Lonza Biologics. In the last 5 years she joined smaller firms to build the Human Resource function in the company. She is currently employed as the HR Field Leader for Esurance in San Francisco, CA.

Debbie is originally from New Hampshire. She moved to Marin county in 1994 and currently lives in Larkspur. She has been teaching aerobics for over 25 years and she enjoys running, hiking, gardening and remodeling homes in her free time.