Meet Karen Tomlinson! She joined NEOMED in September and has been settling in ever since.
Tell us a little bit about yourself.
I’m a Northeast Ohio native. I grew up in Champion, Ohio, and now live in Liberty, Ohio. I’m married and have one daughter. She plays soccer for her high school and two different club teams, so we hit the freeways on the weekend and travel a lot for her games.
We hear you have a history in the financial industry. Is that true?
It is. I spent 30-plus years in the financial industry doing everything from accounting and teller work to human resources and payroll.
How did you end up finding your way to NEOMED?
A former colleague of mine had come to NEOMED after we both left the financial industry. She told me how much she liked it here and kept me abreast of when HR positions would open. So I stayed in touch with her. When this position opened up, I decided it was the right time.
It’s kind of funny, I’ve always had such an interest in medicine. Since I was a teenager, I always thought it would be so cool.
I always had that in the back of my mind, so I knew this position at NEOMED would be a perfect fit. I’m just doing what I love to do – human resources and helping people.
Tell us about your job as a senior human resources generalist, benefits and data management.
I’ll be the contact person for benefit plans and open enrollment, so I’ll help people select their coverages and explain to them what the University offers to them in their benefit package overall. I will manage the data, input and training for performance reviews. I’ll be helping with employee relations, too.
What do you like to do when you’re not on the road for soccer?
We are a soccer family, but we like Youngstown Phantoms Hockey, too. We’re at the Covelli Center in Youngstown a lot for hockey games.
We also like to support breast cancer awareness. We participate in the Joanie Abdu Comprehensive Breast Care Center walk at the Covelli Center and the Relay for Life walks.
Is there anybody special that you walk for?
I am a breast cancer survivor. It will be five years in December. It was very, scary, but I decided I wasn’t going to be a victim. It just kind of reinforces that I’m where I need to be.
What are some of your favorite spots in Northeast Ohio?
I love the rose garden at Mill Creek Metro Park. It is one of my all-time favorite spots. I also enjoy visiting some of the little out-of-the-way restaurants. There’s one in Ashtabula, Ohio, that I like called Hil-Mak Seafood Restaurant. I also like Pickle Bills Lobster House up in Painesville, Ohio. They’re just so cool.
To contact Karen Tomlinson, call extension 6727 or email ktomlinson@neomed.edu.