Schumacher Group hires Skip Protko for the newly created chief human resources officer position, and Amos Batiste leaves Acadian's EMS Academy to join Second Harvest Food Bank as development coordinator. Schumacher Group, the third largest emergency medical staffing and management company in the country, has hired Skip Protko as its first chief human resources officer. Protko joins the local company from Shaw, Stone and Webster in Baton Rouge, where he was the former vice president and chief human resources officer in the plant services division. He has more than 28 years of experience in employment recruitment and management, including international work with the Trans Alaskan Pipeline and Irwin Holding Company in Long Beach, Calif. His educational background includes dual BA degrees in sociology and education from Kentucky Wesleyan College and a master's degree in public administration, summa cum laude, from Idaho State University. He is also a Six Sigma Green Belt, a distinguished accomplishment in the field of human resources. Protko's expertise in forecasting talent needs, career development, training and onboarding new employees will help to further align Schumacher's mission and vision. Schumacher Group ranked No. 2 on last year's list of Acadiana's Top 50 Privately Held Companies with with $439 million in 2010 revenues. For information on Schumacher Group, click here or follow it at facebook.com/schumachergroupcareers.
Second Harvest Food Bank of Greater New Orleans and Acadiana, whose mission is to lead the fight against hunger in south Louisiana through food distribution, advocacy, education and disaster response, has hired Amos Batiste as development coordinator for southwest Louisiana. Batiste, who most recently was a sales representative at Acadian Ambulance's National EMS Academy, will lead Second Harvest's fundraising efforts in the western operation service area of Lafayette and Lake Charles. He is responsible for all aspects of fundraising, handling grant writing, special events and corporate sponsorships for the area. Batiste will also assist with volunteer outreach at the Acadiana location. A Lafayette native, Batiste attended UL Lafayette and served in the U.S. armed forces, including the Gulf War. He has more than eight years of experience in the local hotel industry, having served as marketing/sales manager at the Holiday Inn Holidome, director of sales and marketing at the Hampton Inn and Suites and Residence Inn by Marriott, and general manager at Wingate by Wyndham.