Brighton Resident Awarded for Excellence in Human Resources

Patty Spinelli, RIT assistant vice president of human resources, has been named the 2006 Human Resource Executive of the Year by The Genesee Valley Chapter of the Society for Human Resources Management. The first annual award was announced Thursday, March 9, during a luncheon held at the Hyatt Regency in downtown Rochester.

“Patty’s award is a top human resources honor,” says Renee Brownstein, RIT’s associate director of human resources. “Now we have outside validation of the significant role that human resources plays at RIT.”

This year’s announcement marks the first time that an individual has been selected for this prestigious award. In the past, only local area companies have received recognition for their human resource practices.

“In her seven years at RIT, Patty has worked to transform the culture and processes of the Human Resources Department,” states James Watters, RIT’s senior vice president of finance and administration. “She has repositioned the department’s role in helping to provide more strategic direction in compensation planning, employee recruitment, and the use of self-help technology.” Spinelli was one of four finalists, which also included Renee Baker, manager of faculty recruitment at RIT.

Spinelli is a resident of Brighton.