International Vice-President Nancy Upchurch
Email: vicepresident@iawpboard.org
Nancy was born in San Diego, California and moved to Boise, Idaho, in 1973 after graduating from high school. She immediately went to work for the Idaho Department of Health and Welfare. Nancy was promoted to a technician position in the Personnel Bureau of the Idaho Department of Labor in 1979. Even before Nancy arrived at the Idaho Department of Labor her relationship with IAWP had already started. Mary Upchurch, a very active and long-time member (chapter president, district director, International Communications Chair, FLASH reporter and Editor, Retiree Chair), was her mother-in-law at the time, so Nancy had already attended IAWP functions at the state chapter level. Once at the Department of Labor, Nancy officially joined IAWP. Past International President Harry McKeown once told her "girl, you didn't just join IAWP, you married IAWP." Mary passed away in 1998, but continues to inspire Nancy's involvement and commitment to IAWP.
In 1981, Nancy's daughter Amber Lee was born and attended her first IAWP event, the summer "Campstitute" at the age of 5 months. She continued attending state functions as a child and eventually joined "Teen IAWP" when she was 15. She continued attending International conferences through the age of 21, participating as a FLASH reporter, Teen workshop presenter, and PIP escort. She is now married to Andrew "Andy" Craft and works as a veterinarian in Boise.
In 1995, Roger B. Madsen, director of the Idaho Department of Labor, appointed Nancy as the Human Resource Officer. She continues in that role today assisting the 700+ employees of the department with the whole gamut of human resource services.
With 37 years of state service and 31 years of IAWP membership, Nancy has held many IAWP state, district and international offices and committees including:
· Idaho Chapter secretary/treasurer, president, professional practices chair, conference program chair, awards and chapter activities chair, legislative liaison, newsletter editor, Web site coordinator and subchapter president.
· International Program Chair (1992-1993), Publications/Media Chair (1995-1996), Services to People with Disabilities Chair/Legislative Steering Committee Member (1998-1999), District XIV Representative (2000-2001), Educational Development Committee Chair (2002-2003 and 2004-2005), and Local Arrangements Chair (2006-2007).
She served as a member of the Certified Workforce Specialist Review Committee from 2007-2009, IAPES Foundation from 2002-2006, coordinated the revisions to the Workforce Professional Development Program (4.0 version) from 2003-2005, earned the Workforce Professional Development Program (WPDP) Master designation in 1992, and was awarded a life membership in IAWP in 1990 for a decade of commitment to Idaho IAWP.
Nancy is also an active member of the International Association of Personnel Management for Human Resources, earning her initial IPMA Certified Professional designation in 2004. She also belongs to the Human Resource Association of the Treasure Valley.
In addition to Amber and Andy, her immediate family also includes Michael Faircloth who served as the Nevada IAWP Chapter president in 1985 and is now retired, and her mother, Clara Guerin, who moved up from California in 2008 to live with them.
