With more than 30 years of experience in human resources, Trummell Valdera brings a wide range of experience and skill to the profession. She is a Senior Professional in Human Resources, or SPHR, a certification she has held since the mid-1980s. To become a SPHR, a person needs at least six years of experience in the HR field. It's not enough to hold one position to earn the SPHR certificate. An HR professional needs also to advance in her field and demonstrate competence not only in HR but in the organization she works for.

Trummell Valdera knows first hand the twists and turns life brings. When she attended Penn State, she didn’t intend on landing a job in HR.  Rather, she wanted to start a career as a psychologist. She has a BA in psychology from the respected institution. But college life does not always prepare a person for the work world. When Valdera gained experience as a social worker, she found that the work was not suited to her.

When she took a job recruiting minority workers for a health consortium in Philadelphia, the light bulb went on. Valdera realized that she loved human resources. From there, she found work in the HR department of a bank. It was in the human resources department at Johns Hopkins in Maryland that Trummell Valdera really cut her teeth. After nine years in the department, she worked her way up from entry level to a senior position. While there, she learned about labor contract negotiations and the way unions operate. Her knowledge of labor unions would help her in future roles at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and Jackson Health System in Miami.

Trummell Valdera was able to use her expertise as an HR professional to help the community around her. While a career in psychology and social work was not for her, she has demonstrated her charitable philosophies through volunteer efforts. Her volunteer work spans a number industries. She has worked to help homeless people find jobs. And she currently works to raise awareness about medical conditions that impact millions, such as diabetes.