Professional Trainers

Troy CE&O Instructors

Our trainers and consultants consist of a diverse and unique group, whether considering gender, race, age, experience and even thought diversity. Besides diversity, three of our eight instructors are Master Trainers with four being certified in the Continuing Education Presentation Skills Program. The following Troy CE&O instructors may be used to provide both the technical and business expertise needed, based on the training content selected.

Joel Hughes, Training Program Manager and Instructor
Jessie Rosa, Professional Development Trainer
Dr. Jane Goodson, Professional Development Instructor and Consultant
Michael Jackson, Professional Development Instructor and Consultant
Ronda Walker, Professional Development Instructor
Ashley Jernigan, Professional Development Instructor
Laura Chambliss, Director
Dr. Lee Vardaman, Associate Provost, SHRM – SCP, Instructor and Organizational Consultant

Collectively, the staff assembled for this effort has experience in professional development, training, human resource management, and organizational consulting. CE&O Instructors and consultants have worked to not only plan and develop, but also implement training programs, certification programs and leadership academies for governmental entities and throughout multiple industries in the private sector.

Joel Hughes

Joel has two decades of experience in higher education administration, including his time with TROY CE&O as Training Program Manager. He works with organizations to develop leaders with successful project management skills, all the while reinforcing the importance of follow-through and authentically connecting with others. He works with organizations to strengthen and develop personal and professional growth

Jessie Rosa

Jessie Rosa serves as a Professional Development Trainer for Continuing Education and Outreach with Troy University. She works with organizations to develop leaders with successful communication skills, while emphasizing the importance of engagement, customer service, and teamwork. Her goal is to assist organizations in maximizing the professional capabilities of their employees, managers and leaders.

Prior to her current position with Troy University, Jessie served as a college athletics administrator for 15 years, with her most recent role as the Senior Director of Athletics for Auburn University at Montgomery. In this capacity, she led the department through the completion of the NAIA to NCAA Division II Membership process and through the navigation of the department’s operations through the COVID-19 pandemic.

Jessie graduated from Auburn University at Montgomery with a Bachelor’s Degree in Communications. She also earned her MBA from AUM. She is originally from Warner Robins, GA (Robins Air Force Base). She is a member of Women Leaders in College Sports and serves as a Board Member for the Cancer Wellness Foundation of Central Alabama.

Jane Goodson

Dr. Goodson has more than 30 years of consulting and training experience in both public and private sector organizations. She earned her doctoral degree in Human Resource Management and Organizational Behavior, master’s degree in Human Resource Management, and bachelor’s degree in Health Care Management from the College of Commerce and Business at the University of Alabama. She is passionate about helping organizations reach their highest potential and gain the necessary knowledge, skills, and abilities to impact their development in their respective industries.

Michael Jackson

Michael has more than 30 years of experience with public and private sector organizational consulting and training. He has led trainings for state agencies, various city’s leadership programs / academies along with overseeing the State of Alabama’s Department of Corrections Training Academy. He has years of experience with the United States Marine Corp, Federal Bureau of Investigation and Alabama Department of Corrections.

Ronda Walker

Ronda has more than 20 years of experience in the Political Science and History field. She worked for several years in Washington, D.C. on the legislative staff of a U.S. Senator and a Congressman. She is a certified, professional trainer and widely respected for her forthright approach to challenging subjects and controversial issues. She is known for captivating audiences with her insightful real-talk style. Also, she was appointed to the Montgomery County Commission in 2014 and is currently serving her second term.

Ashley Jernigan

Ashley is originally from the San Francisco Bay Area and came to Montgomery to attend Alabama State University where she received her degree in Public Relations, before going on to Georgia State for her MBA. She serves as a professional development instructor for TROY CE&O. She also owns JDB Hospitality, LLC specializing in event management, brand awareness, marketing, and public relations

Laura Chambliss

Laura serves as the Director for Continuing Education and Outreach with Troy University. Through this role she has the privilege of helping public, private, and nonprofit organizations explore the personal and professional development opportunities that Continuing Education and Outreach offers across the state and the nation.

Dr. Lee Vardaman

Dr. Vardaman has 20 years of higher education administration and teaching experience. He earned his doctoral degree in Educational Leadership, Policy and Law from Alabama State University. He also holds SHRM Senior Certified Professional certification from the Society for Human Resource Management. Dr. Vardaman has held local, state, and national leadership positions in SHRM and CUPA-HR. He spent nine years leading the Human Resources Department at Troy University along with direction to the Payroll Department.