About Us

Since

1984

We’ve been in business since 1984 doing just what we do now. That amount of knowledge and experience simply can’t be matched. We aren’t a subsidiary or a business unit. We’re the one so many attorneys turn to when they need expert help in AAP preparation, compliance, consulting and more.
View Team

Who We Are

Our Senior Team Members average over 25 years of hands-on human resource experience in a wide variety of public, private and non-profit sector organizations. Other team members average 15 years experience. This extraordinary depth of experience, unheard of with most AAP providers, means that your affirmative action plan is specially designed to meet the highest standards of accuracy and compliance. You won’t find students, interns or other inexperienced individuals working on your AAPs.

You can rely on personal attention and exceptional service. Our team members interact personally with you at each step of the preparation process and all your work is carefully supervised by your Human Resource Specialties Project Manager.

Our Mission

Our Mission

HR Specialties takes pride in providing clients with fully compliant Affirmative Action compliance nationwide for over 36 years. Whether creating Affirmative Action plans for Federal Contractors and Sub-Contractors, providing Pay Equity Analysis, or performing special projects under attorney-client privilege, there simply isn’t an industry we do not represent. Reach out and let us show you why many of our clients have been with us for decades.

We provide a full range of Affirmative Action Plans and related services. All of our products and services are fully compliant with current rules enforced by the U.S. Department of Labor, Office of Federal Contract Compliance Programs (OFCCP).

Our Team

Sandy L. Henderson

Founder & President

Sandy founded Human Resource Specialties in 1984, following several years in both human resources and equal opportunity enforcement. Her professional credentials include more than 35 years of executive and management-level experience in all facets of human resources. Her career includes extensive hands-on experience in EEO and Affirmative Action, training and assisting clients with scores of OFCCP audits. As president, Sandy’s vision is for Human Resource Specialties to be an organization where ethics, expertise, and exceptional customer service are the focus.

Scott W. Mylnechuk

General Manager

As General Manager, Scott works side-by-side with colleagues in all aspects of the company, with a keen focus on client satisfaction and retention. He has now been with Human Resource Specialties for 6 plus years, previously as the Business Development Manager. Before joining Human Resource Specialties in 2009, Scott held management roles in other organizations with a focus in facility operations and management. He studied Business Management and Communications at the University of Montana and Portland State University, as well as advertising and video production at the Art Institute of Portland. In his free time, Scott enjoys backpacking, fly –fishing, and Oregon Duck athletics.

Janette Kilgore

Business Manager

Janette joined Human Resource Specialties in 2002, after more than ten years experience in controller and accounting positions. She is responsible for all accounting functions and oversees invoicing and processing of client payments. She is dedicated to providing excellent customer service to her co-workers and our clients.

Janette’s educational background includes studies in Biology, Chemistry and Physical Therapy at the College of San Mateo. She enjoys spending time with her family, reading, and walking in the beautiful Pacific Northwest.

Heidi L. Shaw

Director Of Affirmative Action Services

Heidi’s credentials include fifteen years in administrative and financial support. She began her career with Human Resource Specialties in 2004 in the accounting department and advanced into Affirmative Action Plan Specialist. She works full time preparing both AAP statistics and narratives. She takes pride in being easy to contact and easy to work with.

Heidi is a proud mother and enjoys spending time with her family. She loves almost all outdoor activities, including camping, hiking, kayaking, mountain biking and rock climbing.

Andrew Vacek

OFCCP Audit Manager

Andrew’s job title is the OFCCP Audit Manager. He joined HRS in 2021 after 15 years in the legal world where he worked on AAPs for companies of all shapes and sizes. He is responsible for OFCCP Audit submissions, as well as standard plan preparation.

Andrew is originally from Chicago, IL. He attended the University of Illinois Champaign-Urbana, where he studied Political Science and Speech Communication. He earned his MBA with a focus on Business Management in 2013 from Lewis University. He enjoys playing with his dogs and watching the Chicago White Sox play baseball.

Lisa Green

Project Manager

Lisa joined Human Resource Specialties in 2014, bringing 12 years of experience in affirmative action plan development and OFCCP compliance guidance. She thoroughly enjoys helping HR professionals gain deeper understanding of the regulatory requirements for federal contractors/subcontractors.

Lisa is a Pacific NW native who enjoys flora and fauna of all sorts, music, singing, photography and crafts.

Liz Mitchell

Project Manager

Liz’s professional credentials include more than eighteen years of office administration. She joined Human Resource Specialties in 2007. In addition to keeping up with her active children, she enjoys quiet moments reading and spinning tales for children and the young at heart.

Susan C. Kokesh

Human Resource Specialist

Susan has been preparing Affirmative Action Plans for clients of Human Resource Specialties since 1998. She also has extensive finance and accounting experience in both the high technology and food manufacturing industries.

Susan holds a Bachelor’s degree in Economics from Willamette University. She has completed post-baccalaureate studies in Accounting at Portland State University, and also holds an M.B.A. from Portland State University.

Susan’s interests involve flower gardening, ultra-marathon running, cooking, reading/book club, her church, and spending quality time with her family.

Ray McKean

Affirmative Action Narratives Coordinator

Ray works with our clients in gathering and editing information for the narrative portions of their Affirmative Action Plans. Ray’s administrative background includes 16 years in customer service with a national wireless company. He is also a professional accompanist and church musician, with a Master of Music degree in Piano Performance. In 14 years as accompanist for the Oregon Children’s Choir and Youth Chorale, he has toured both nationally and internationally. Ray enjoys family time, reading and going to movies.

Debra Hirschmann

Client Service Extraordinaire

Debra is a native Oregonian and has lived in the Clackamas County area with her husband for over 20 years. She has enjoyed a long standing office administration background and has attended both Oregon State and the University of Oregon.

Debra is a Rose City Astronomers and OMSI volunteer. Her interests include music, fiber arts, bicycle riding and camping.

Schellene Clendenin

Client Service Extraordinaire

Schellene has worked in print media, distribution, technology and sales and holds a B.S. in Communications from Oregon State University. She’s traveled widely throughout the United States and Canada, meeting and making friends with people from all walks of life, and has a talent for building quick rapport. Most summer weekends she can be found in pre-grid at Portland International Raceway as a race volunteer, feeding her need for speed. She loves to read, cook and garden and often takes long hikes with her intrepid Scottish terrier to relax.

Schellene joined Human Resource Specialties in February 2020.

Need An HR Expert You Can Trust?

Request An AAP