Our People
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Samantha Brinkley is the CEO of Rocket City HR Consulting. She earned a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and served 5 years in the Air Force, where she attained the rank of Captain. While serving, she earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Chapman University.
Samantha is a member of the Society for Human Resource Managemen
Samantha Brinkley is the CEO of Rocket City HR Consulting. She earned a B.A. degree from the University of Virginia and served 5 years in the Air Force, where she attained the rank of Captain. While serving, she earned a Master’s Degree in Psychology from Chapman University.
Samantha is a member of the Society for Human Resource Management and has over 20 years of HR Management experience. She previously held the following certifications: HRCI CP, HRCI SCP, and SHRM SCP. She founded Rocket City HR Consulting in 2011 to serve businesses in need of HR services who either didn’t need full-time HR support or who needed additional expertise to support their existing HR team. The firm is now a boutique HR Consultancy that handles hiring to firing and just about everything in between.
Samantha is originally from southeastern Virginia. She is married to an aerospace engineer and they have 2 sons attending college. She has two golden doodles, Joules and Mocha. In addition to being a Past President of the Women’s Economic Development Council, she is a member of the Aum Foundation Board of Directors. In her spare time, Samantha enjoys barre classes, gardening, and being a member of the Rocket City Novas marching krewe.
Alicia Shelley – Chief Operating Officer
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Alicia Shelley graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky with a double Bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism & English Literature.
In her previous professional work roles, Mrs. Shelley has had experience in both corporations and small businesses in general administration, service operations, human resources, proposals pric
Alicia Shelley graduated from Murray State University in Murray, Kentucky with a double Bachelor’s degree in Print Journalism & English Literature.
In her previous professional work roles, Mrs. Shelley has had experience in both corporations and small businesses in general administration, service operations, human resources, proposals pricing, and I.T.
She originally joined Rocket City HR Consulting in 2017 as the H.R. Office Manager, supporting both our organization and our clients, including government contractors, non-profits, manufacturing, and commercial enterprises. Internally, she managed our bookkeeping and accounting (both A/P and A/R), marketing, and I.T. functions. Her human resources-specific experience includes benefits, HRIS, recruiting, hiring, onboarding, and training. After a two-year break to take care of her family, Shelley rejoined the team in early 2023 as our Special Projects Manager and then became our Operations Manager. She is now our Chief Operating Officer and directs daily business operations for our team.
In 2022, Shelley wrote her first non-fiction book, Resigned: How to Know When It’s Time to Go which addresses core reasons employees choose to resign from their job. She is a member of Mensa, and she and her family have been a part of the Madison, Alabama community for over 20 years. Her philanthropic interests include New Futures, Inc. and the Christian Job Corps, and she serves on the Business Department Advisory Committee at J.F. Drake State Community and Technical College.
Brooke Morris – Accounting Administrator & Recruiter
Samantha Brinkley, MA, – Founder, CEO/HR Business Advisor
Brooke Morris – Accounting Administrator & Recruiter
Brooke Morris is the Accounting Administrator & Recruiter at Rocket City HR Consulting, LLC. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Athens State University. She has over 10 years of experience in Finance, Accounting, and Office Administration roles. She will continue to grow her experience as part of the team at Rocke
Brooke Morris is the Accounting Administrator & Recruiter at Rocket City HR Consulting, LLC. She earned her Bachelors Degree in Business Management from Athens State University. She has over 10 years of experience in Finance, Accounting, and Office Administration roles. She will continue to grow her experience as part of the team at Rocket City HR Consulting.
At Rocket City HR Consulting, Brooke aids and supports our dynamic team using her well-developed organizational skills. She implements and maintains processes and procedures to maximize productivity for our clients. Brooke performs contract administration, bookkeeping, billing, and recruiting functions. She is highly adaptive to the many needs of our office, staff, and clients.
Brooke is originally from Athens, Alabama, where she still resides. She is married and has three children and one Golden Doodle, named Trinity.
When time allows, Brooke has several hobbies and interests including: crafting, home décor, and painting. Otherwise, you will find her and her husband chauffeuring their three children to extracurricular activities around town. She loves to travel and make memories with her family.
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Karen Burton earned a Bachelor of Science in Management of Technology with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Athens State University. Karen has held the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification through the Human Resources Certification Institute since 2003, and the SHRM-SCP (Society of Human Resource M
Karen Burton earned a Bachelor of Science in Management of Technology with a concentration in Human Resources Management from Athens State University. Karen has held the SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) certification through the Human Resources Certification Institute since 2003, and the SHRM-SCP (Society of Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional) designation since 2016. Most recently, Karen has completed the HRCI Certificate in HR Ethics.
Karen has decades of federal government, government contractor, and private sector (non-profit & healthcare) experience, including recruitment, onboarding, employee engagement, federal employment laws, job analysis, job descriptions, performance management, employee and labor relations, mediation, training and development, and HR management.
She is enthusiastic about training and development of managers and HR professionals and assisting organizations with strategic planning, root cause analysis, and employee engagement activities. Karen has taught supervisory, leadership, and human resource development courses. She previously served as the Director of Certification for the North Alabama Society of Human Resource Management (NASHRM), conducting study groups for HR professionals who were preparing for their Certification Exams, and still enjoys mentoring HR professionals.
Karen made the Madison, Alabama community her permanent home in 2010 after traveling and working across the country for the federal government. She enjoys giving back to the community by lending her talents to local non-profit organizations. Her personal interests include crafts, music, and spending time with her retired greyhounds.
Casey Fritz, SHRM-SCP – Senior HR Business Advisor
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Cassandra “Casey” Fritz holds a Masters Degree in Management from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech. She earned the designation of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Senior Certified Professional (SCP) in 2015. She has over 25 years of HR experience in dive
Cassandra “Casey” Fritz holds a Masters Degree in Management from The University of Alabama in Huntsville and a Bachelor of Science Degree in Psychology from Virginia Tech. She earned the designation of Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) Senior Certified Professional (SCP) in 2015. She has over 25 years of HR experience in diverse industries and company sizes, in telecommunications, manufacturing, government contracting, and healthcare.
Casey brings experience in employee relations, life cycle recruiting, training, benefits, government contracts, and the ability to bring engagement and fun to the workplace while ensuring policies are in place and customer satisfaction is a priority. She was recognized as the 2015 Most Valuable Employee by the Huntsville Madison County Chamber of Commerce’s Best Places to Work event. At Rocket City HR Consulting, Casey serves as a Senior Human Resource Business Advisor.
Casey has lived in Huntsville, AL, for 33 years and is proud to have watched this city and community grow to become one of the best places to live and work. In her free time, she enjoys running, cycling, reading, and playing with her cat, Franklin.
Jennifer Durham, SHRM-SCP – HR Business Advisor & Recruiter
Karen Burton, SHRM-SCP, SPHR – Senior HR Business Advisor and Recruiter
Jennifer Durham, SHRM-SCP – HR Business Advisor & Recruiter
Jennifer Durham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University, as well as a Master of Education degree in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College. Jennifer has more than 12 years of experience in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition. She earned a certificate in Human Resources Management in 2015 t
Jennifer Durham holds a Bachelor of Science degree in Psychology from Kennesaw State University, as well as a Master of Education degree in Occupational Therapy from Springfield College. Jennifer has more than 12 years of experience in Human Resources and Talent Acquisition. She earned a certificate in Human Resources Management in 2015 through Kennesaw State University, and has held the designation of Senior Certified Professional through the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM-SCP) since 2016.
Jennifer began her career at WellStar Health System as an HR intern and was subsequently promoted to several different roles including Employment Specialist, Talent Acquisition Consultant, and finally, Talent Acquisition Regional Manager, overseeing recruitment functions for six of the organization’s hospitals. Prior to her leadership role, Jennifer held responsibility for new employee orientation and onboarding, as well as for full-cycle recruitment of clinical, non-clinical, enterprise, I.T., and managerial positions.
Jennifer’s project experience includes the development and implementation of the organization’s applicant tracking system; integrating recruitment functions to support the acquisition of six new hospitals, facilitating organization review of position requests, and conducting various trainings with operational leaders on hiring practices and tools.
Jennifer loves HR for the opportunity to help develop tailored strategies to meet organizational needs. She enjoys developing trusting relationships with her clients and works hard to exceed their expectations.
Jennifer relocated to North Alabama in 2023 with her husband and two sons. When she’s not scouring for top talent, Jennifer enjoys reading, hiking, photography, attending community festivals and events with her family, and cheering for the Auburn tigers!