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Easterseals’ Chief Human Resources Officer to Chair Committee Addressing NH’s Firefighter and EMS Shortage

Tina Sharby
Tina Sharby, Chief Human Resources Officer, Easterseals NH

Tina M. Sharby tapped for her experience in recruiting and retention

Manchester, NH – Tina M. Sharby, the chief human resources officer at Easterseals, was recently named chair of an ad hoc committee created by The NH Department of Safety to address challenges in recruiting firefighters and emergency medical service providers statewide.

Sharby, who has three decades of human resources management experience, will lead the 12-member committee, which includes legislators, representatives for firefighters and paramedics, and HR professionals. She received the NH Business Review Excellence in Nonprofit Large Business 2019 Award and serves on several statewide committees including being the founding member and chair of the Diversity Workforce Coalition, a member of the Business and Industry Association Health Care & Workforce Development Committee, and a member of the Economic Vitality NH Committee.  

“I see Tina’s leadership on display every day here at Easterseals,” says Maureen Beauregard, president and CEO of Easterseals NH, VT and Farnum. “I’m proud that we can share Tina’s expertise to address the critical need for first responders in our state.”  

“Adequately staffed communities, properly trained firefighters and emergency medical personnel are essential to the quality of life in New Hampshire,” said Department of Safety Commissioner Robert L. Quinn. “I have confidence that this diverse group of dedicated professionals will come up with helpful solutions and recommendations for this statewide issue.”

In 2021, nearly 200 EMTs and paramedics in NH left the job, more than twice the amount in 2020. The state currently has no centralized database or recruitment efforts. The new committee will analyze the problem, determine the causes, and develop recommendations to reverse the trend.

The Committee held its first meeting on March 16 and will submit recommendations to the commissioner within 90 days.

About Easterseals New Hampshire

For more than 84 years, Easterseals New Hampshire has provided exceptional services to ensure that all people with disabilities and their families have equal opportunities to live, learn, work, and play in their communities. As a leader in social services for individuals with disabilities and other challenges, Easterseals NH employs more than 1,600 individuals and provides essential services and on-the-ground supports to more than 23,000 people each year with 11 core programs throughout the state. Visit easterseals.com/nh.