Bio

Cheryl’s primary focus is recruiting IT professionals for Vaco Midsouth and gets involved in just about everything at Vaco from mentoring and training Vaco employees to advising on technology for the company.  “I can’t stand to be idle so I am always getting involved in something.”  She was one of 3 people who started the Technology division for Vaco and has worked with every specialty from Help Desk to CIO/CTO during her recruiting career.  Cheryl’s current focus is IT Executive Search, Project Management, Business Analysts, DBA and ERP professionals which aligns with her industry background.
 
Cheryl spent 15 years as an IT professional starting as a Help Desk Analyst in healthcare.  She progressed through the ranks of healthcare IT including Manager of Technical Support for a multi-hospital healthcare corporation  Her resume also includes technology management for regional and national telecom companies, CIO for a manufacturing company, ERP project management, business analysis and various other independent consulting engagements in between.

Cheryl’s career in recruiting began in 2002 when she was downsized from her IT Management position.  “The company was having financial trouble, cut 6000 positions and, unfortunately, one was mine.  But, through that experience, I gained a heart for those candidates who have lost their jobs through no fault of their own.  I certainly understand the range of emotions that go along with receiving that pink slip.  Hopefully I can be a beacon of hope because my career change has certainly worked out for me!”   Cheryl has been successful in her new career consistently ranking in the top 10 for technology placements year over year.  You can read recommendations for Cheryl’s work by visiting her LinkedIn profile.

Cheryl supports the local chapters for Project Management Institute (PMI),  International Institute of Business Analysts (IIBA) and the Midsouth Association of Contingency Planners including presenting at the 2008 EPIC conference.  She is a past member of the Board of Directors for Women in Technology Midsouth.  Cheryl is a regular speaker for career counseling groups and manages the career counseling ministry for her church.  She is also active in the women’s ministry which supports and acts as advisors to a half-way house for women who have spent time in prison. “The focus is to teach these women how to be self-sufficient so they can become productive members of society.” 

“What puts the wind in my sail about working at VACO?  Oh man, that’s easy to answer!!  I love making that call to tell somebody  ‘Let’s go to work!!!’  Nothing is more rewarding than going home at night knowing you have helped someone feed their family or better their life.  How cool is that!  I also love watching people join our company and realize they are truly free to do their job.  Observing their evolution from focusing on the numbers and revenue to being client and candidate focused lights me up.”

When Cheryl is not at work, she is taking care of her Italian and Southern family which includes husband, son, granddaughters, parents, in-laws and 2 cats.  This also gives her plenty of material for her blog:  Southern Belle Blog – Adventures of a Perfectly Normal Southern Belle at www.SouthernBelleBlog@BlogSpot.com.  She holds a Bachelor of Professional Studies in Computer Education from the University of Memphis.