Michelle Emmons-Belnavis is a human resources professional with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in the industry. She currently serves as Vice President of Human Resources at Services for the Underserved (S:US), which operates social and behavioral health services for persons with developmental disabilities, those who are homeless, and are veterans in the greater New York City region. As VP of HR, Michelle partners with executive leadership and senior managers to identify regulatory, workforce, recruitment, and retention challenges and design and implement solutions that align with the organization’s strategic objectives.

Before joining S:US, Michelle served in executive leadership roles in human resources at well-known healthcare organizations including Montefiore Health System, Albert Einstein Campus and NYC Health + Hospitals, Kings County Hospital providing strategic guidance to the executive leadership teams and working on promoting operational effectiveness and organizational culture transformation. She served as a key stakeholder in executing and bridging the partnership between the Justice Center and Kings County Hospital Behavioral Health Service in providing safe patient care. Michelle also worked at both Mount Sinai and NYU Hospitals Center managing their workers compensation programs and assisting in the design of their benefits plans.

She holds a bachelor’s degree from New York University in organizational behavior and communication minoring in health administration and a master’s degree in industrial labor relations from Baruch College. Trained as a TeamSTEPPS and Just Culture Master Trainer as well as a certified Strategic Human Resources Business Partner and certified SHRM-SCP, Michelle’s work in human resources includes strategic planning, employee engagement, culture transformation, leadership development, labor relations, and workforce planning.

Michelle served as the President for the Greater New York Association of Healthcare Human Resources Administrators for two consecutive terms in 2018 and 2019, and received leadership awards for her ability to elevate AHHRA from a three star to a four-star rating.

Michelle was born in Trinidad and Tobago and lives on Long Island. As an immigrant who has worked with people from different backgrounds throughout the city, she is passionate about empowering New Yorkers who need access to services grow and pursue their dreams!