James House Williamson Award
The James House Williamson (JHW) Award honors the influence of a very significant Human Resources professional. It is presented annually to one individual in recognition of substantial contributions to the field of human resource management in Tennessee.
JHW Award Recipients - Past Five Recipients
2025
BRAD FEDERMAN
Chief Executive Officer
Performance Point, LCC, Memphis, Tennessee
2024
DR. MARIO BROWN
Senior Vice President, Chief Talent Officer
First Horizon, Memphis, Tennessee
2023
SCOTT KELLY, PHR, CCP
Vice President Total Rewards
LifePoint Health, Nashville, Tennessee
2022
STEPHANIE HAWKINS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Area Vice President
Gallagher, Nashville, Tennessee
2021
FRANCES FLOWERS, SPHR, SHRM-SCP
Principal Human Resources Consultant
BlueCross BlueShield TN, Chattanooga, Tennessee
Click here for the full list of winners from 2020-Present
AWARD HISTORY
James House Williamson was born in Gallatin, TN on June 1, 1904. He lived there until entering the University of Michigan to study civil engineering. He earned a BS degree in Mechanical Engineering at Stevens Institute of Technology and worked for a number of industrial firms and until joining the faculty of the University of Tennessee in June of 1937 as Coordinator for the Co-Operative Engineering Program. The U.S. Office of Education appointed him responsible for the Engineering Science and Management War Training Program in all states west of the Mississippi soon after the start of World War II. From 1944 to 1945 he coordinated the educational activities of the War Manpower Commission in the State of Tennessee.
Following the war, he returned to UT’s College of Engineering before transferring to the Division of University Extension (now the Division of Continuing Education) in 1947. Under his guidance and dedication, UT’s Extension Centers were established in Knoxville, Nashville, Memphis, Tullahoma, Oak Ridge, and Martin, bringing adult educational opportunities previously unavailable to so many in the state.
During the ensuing years, thousands of adults were able to participate in the evening programs and conferences devoted to industrial and business topics.
Williams served as permanent Secretary for the Tennessee Industrial Personnel Conference (later to evolve into the Tennessee HR Conference/SHRM Joint Conference and then the TN SHRM State Conference) for fifteen years before his death in February 1953. In all of his professional work and especially through his service to industry as Secretary of the Conference, he contributed significantly to the development of sound industrial management and personnel practices in Tennessee and neighboring states. In memory of him and in appreciation for his great service, the industries of Tennessee presented a plaque to the University of Tennessee and established the James House Williamson Award.
Nominations
Nominations are typically submitted by human resources groups or SHRM chapters but may be submitted by any person or organization that takes part in the activities of the SHRM State Conference. All nominations must be submitted through our on-line form along with the supporting documentation.
For nomination criteria or to make a submission, please click here.
