Mandy Blackford

Mandy Blackford has extensive work experience in various leadership roles within the human resources field. Mandy began their career in 1998 as an Operations Manager for ResortCom International, LLC, where they were responsible for recruitment, employee relations, marketing, and budgeting. From 2005 to 2006, they served as the Human Resources Manager for Grande Colonial, overseeing recruitment, employee relations, compliance, and training. Mandy then worked as a Membership Liaison for the San Diego Employers Association from 2007 to 2010, providing strategic consulting on compliance, training, and business development. Mandy later joined Employers Group as the Regional Client Services Manager for San Diego, where they focused on compliance, training, and project management. In 2013, they transitioned to a leadership role at Ballast Point Brewing and Spirits as Vice President of Workforce and Business Solutions, overseeing human resources activities and other areas such as payroll, benefits, IT, and safety. Mandy's most recent role was at Cutwater Spirits, where they held the position of Vice President of People & Business Solutions. In this role, they played a vital part in establishing and driving the growth of the distillery, provided visionary leadership in HR and talent strategy, and supported the rapid expansion of the organization.

Mandy Blackford attended Brandman University and obtained a Bachelor of Arts degree in Organizational Leadership in 2012. In addition to their degree, they also obtained the Senior Professional in Human Resources® (SPHR®) Certification from the HR Certification Institute in May 2010, and the Professional in Human Resources - California® (PHRca®) Certification from the same institute in December 2012.