• Alisa Hobb, Associate Executive Director-Human Resources, Safety and Training, The Arc Lexington
• Kathleen Caggiano-Siino, Vice-President of Human Resources, SUNY Research Foundation
• Jennifer Pickering (CRHRA HR Leadership Class of 2013), CHRO, Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corp
• Sandy Castilla, Vice President and CHRO, Albany Medical Center
• Susan Hollister, CHRO, Pioneer Bank

BIOS:

Melissa Feck

Ms. Feck has 25+ years of experience as a human resources leader in public, private equity and non-profit environments spanning multiple industries. She was Chief People Officer most recently at Ascend Wellness Holdings; Chief Human Resources Officer at Latham Pool Products from 2016-2024; VP, HR and Member Education at the Healthcare Association of NYS in Rensselaer, NY from 2011-2016; and, previously, VP HR and Corporate Services at Broadview (CAP COM) Federal Credit Union in Albany, NY from 1993-2010 (during which she held prior management positions). While at Latham, Melissa was part of the leadership team responsible for the company’s IPO in 2021. In her former roles, Ms. Feck was responsible for all aspects of global HR strategy as a member of executive leadership teams. She has served as a member of Capital Region, NY non-profit boards including St. Catherine’s Center for Children, Whitney M. Young Health Center, and CAP COM Cares Foundation. She has also participated in many HR educational programs as a speaker and facilitator on myriad HR topics. Ms. Feck has been engaged with the Capital Region Human Resources Association’s Executive Roundtable as the program co-facilitator (2012-2022) and HR Leadership program mentor (2011-present). Ms. Feck received her Bachelor of Arts degree in English from the University at Albany in 1993, her Senior Professional in Human Resources Certification in 2007 and Global Professional in Human Resources in 2025. Ms. Feck lives in Altamont, NY with her husband (owner of DrumART, LLC), daughter Abby (a recent Northeastern University graduate) and son Andy (a Rochester Institute of Technology Industrial Engineering student).

Alisa Hobb

Alisa currently serves as Lexington’s Associate Executive Director for HR, Foundation, and Safety, where she leads a team of 15+ professionals responsible for Human Resources, Benefits Administration, Recruitment, Safety, and Lexington’s Foundation. Lexington employs more than 1,700 staff members and supports 1,300+ people with intellectual and physical disabilities across Fulton, Schoharie, and Albany counties. In her role, Alisa works closely with the Executive Team to drive strategic workforce initiatives, strengthen organizational culture, and support Lexington’s mission of providing high-quality services to individuals with developmental disabilities.

Previously, Alisa served as the Chief Human Resource Officer at The Arc of Rensselaer County. She began her career as a Direct Support Supervisor and advanced through multiple HR leadership positions, contributing to the care and support of over 250 individuals with intellectual and physical disabilities and providing oversight to a workforce of more than 500 employees.

With 15+ years of HR experience, she has extensive expertise in recruitment, employee relations, training and development, workplace investigations, and strategic planning. Alisa is a graduate of SUNY Oneonta and earned her Master of Science in Health Services Administration from Sage Graduate School. She received her PHR certification in December 2009 and her SHRM-CP certification in April 2015. Alisa is a 2011 graduate of the CRHRA HR Leadership Program and continues to contribute to the HR community through her role on its Steering Committee.

Jennifer Pickering

Jennifer Pickering is the Chief Human Resources Officer at Espey Manufacturing & Electronics Corporation in Saratoga, where she leads the organization’s people strategy, and overall cultural and talent development initiatives. With over 30 years of experience in human capital management, Jen oversees key areas of the hire to retire life cycle. 

Before joining Espey, Jen held senior HR leadership roles at GlobalFoundries and Owens Corning, where she was instrumental in driving workforce transformation and fostering high-performance cultures.   A trusted advisor to executives and boards, Jen is known for aligning people strategies with business objectives and championing employee-centric leadership. She holds a Bachelor’s of Science in Business Administration from The Ohio State University.  She is married to Mike and has 5 children and 2 labs.  When she is not in the office, she can be found on soccer sidelines or pool deck with her kids or at Crossfit.

Kathleen Caggiano-Siino

Kathleen Caggiano Siino is currently the Vice President (VP) of Human Resources (HR) at the SUNY Research Foundation (RF). In this role, she leads the SUNY RF’s talent management practices for over 15,000 employees, builds leadership programs with SUNY campuses, and supports the organization in becoming an Employer of Choice. The RF has launched several talent management initiatives including Mentoring/Protégé Programs, Leadership/Elevation Academies, Research Symposiums, Leading People Responsibly sessions, Servant Leadership, and Succession Planning programs. Kathleen has more than 30 years of experience as a leader and HR professional.

Prior to joining the RF, she served as Executive Deputy Commissioner of the Office of Alcoholism and Substance Abuse Services (OASAS). She also led four state behavioral health agencies that were named to the list of Best Companies to Work for in New York State. Before her appointment at OASAS, she served as the Senior VP of HR at the American Cancer Society. There she led teams of employees who were honored among the “Best Places to Work” in both NJ and NY. She was also actively involved in a nationwide Talent Management Design Team whose strategic focus included “How to Buy and Build Exceptional Talent.” Kathleen was named the Outstanding HR/NY Professional of the Year in by the Human Resources Association of New York. While in government she was nominated for Public Manager of the Year from the International Public Management Association for Human Resources. She also received the NYS ASTD Talent Developer of the Year and the Outstanding Achievement in Professional Development Award by her colleagues at the inaugural SUNY R Research Administrator’s Symposium.

Sandy Castilla

Sandy Castilla is Vice President for Human Resources and Chief Human Resources Officer for the Albany Med Health System. 

Castilla joined Albany Medical Center in 2005 as the Associate Director of Compensation and Benefits. She was subsequently promoted to Director of Human Resources, Assistant Vice President of Human Resources, and then Vice President. 

In her role, Castilla oversees benefits, compensation, and human resources management. She leads the team responsible for executing retention and recruitment strategies for clinical departments and non-clinical business departments. 

Along with her extensive experience in the health care sector, Castilla has held human resources leadership roles in the finance, manufacturing, and gaming industries. 

Castilla holds a bachelor’s degree in Industrial and Labor Relations from the State University of New York at Potsdam and a master’s degree in Business and Public Management from the State University of New York Polytechnic Institute. 

Susan Hollister

Susan joined Pioneer’s Executive Team in 2016 as Executive Vice President and Chief Human Resources Officer. She is a certified SHRM-Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) with extensive experience leading human resources strategy in the banking industry. Before joining Pioneer, she served as Chief Human Resources Officer for National Savings Bank of Albany and Hudson River Bank and Trust Company, and as Senior Human Resources Executive at First Niagara Bank.

At Pioneer, Susan is an integral member of the Executive Team, serves as the company’s Corporate Secretary, and chairs the Pioneer Foundation. Beyond her role at Pioneer, she also chairs the Committee on Human Resources for the New York State Bankers Association and serves on the Boards of Directors for both the Northeastern New York Chapter of the Cystic Fibrosis Foundation and AAA Hudson Valley.

A passionate advocate for mentoring women in the field of human resources, Susan finds fulfillment in developing and sustaining meaningful professional relationships. Early recognition as one of the region’s “40 Under 40” honorees helped expand her network—a network she continues to nurture and support today.

Susan’s involvement with CHRA, which began in the early 1990s, marked a pivotal period of professional and personal growth. She deeply values the knowledge, networking, and lifelong relationships she has built through that community.

This program will be submitted for 1 hour of continuing education credits through SHRM and HRCI.