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CHARLESTON,
W.Va. – Acting Cabinet Secretary Mary Jane Pickens of the West Virginia
Department of Administration announced that Joe Thomas has been named Acting
Director of the West Virginia Division of Personnel, effective September 1,
2016. Thomas succeeds Sara Walker, who retired on August
31, 2016, after serving as director for seven years.
With 23 years of West Virginia state agency human
resources service, Thomas has spent the past 17 years at the Division of
Personnel. He holds a master's degree in Industrial and Employee Relations from
the Marshall University Graduate College and has earned the Senior Professional
in Human Resources (SPHR) certification from the Human Resources Certification
Institute and the Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) certification from
the Society for Human Resource Management.
In July 2016, Thomas was promoted to Deputy
Director for the Division of Personnel. Prior to his promotion, he served as
Assistant Director of Employee Relations for the Division.
“The position of State Personnel Director can
be very challenging, but my experience with Joe indicates he is definitely up
to the task,” Secretary Pickens said. “He brings experience and a wealth of
knowledge to the job. I look forward to working with him in this new capacity.”