Deirdre Simmons, daughter of Alma.

Deirdre Simmons — a woman of many roles, advocate, friend, and wife — has embarked on a personal journey with Consulting Alma, LLC dba Alma LLC to be a part of elevating organizations and people through HR services, coaching, learning and development roadmaps, strategic alignment, organizational and gap analysis, and facilitation. This venture was not just a way to utilize her leadership, operations, and human resources abilities, but also a heartfelt tribute to her late mother, Alma Cash.

Guided by her faith, ethics, and a thirst for lifelong learning, she earned a Master of Science Degree from the University of Connecticut School of Business (Operations, Finance, Leadership, and Organizational Development) and is tri-certified in human resources, coaching, and facilitation.

Alma Jean Cash's daughter adopted her mantra of #DoBetter.

As a business leader with a strategic mindset, Deirdre has successfully led and managed HR operations for multiple organizations. Her expertise includes strategic alignment of the full suite of HR functions — onboarding, talent management, Inclusion, Diversity, Equity, Anti-Racist, & Belonging (IDEA & B), gap analysis, compensation benchmarking, strategy, and employee relations. There is a proven track record with the Alma, LLC staff of developing and improving performance management, sourcing and recruiting processes, intentional cultural building, mitigating legal concerns (managing complex conflicts, HR compliance and strategy for change), insightful business development, and an extraordinary capacity to handle crisis management.

We often envision the new, understand and enhance systems, ideate technology implementation solutions, motivate others, and lead the way from chaos to clarity. This team has a bench of talented people with a unique set of skills that allow us to achieve Deirdre's mantra of "getting you where you need to be."

In the classroom & community

As an Adjunct Professor at the University of Connecticut, Deirdre teaches professional communication and public speaking to a diverse student body. Her classroom leadership is particularly noteworthy for its adaptability — guiding students with mental health diagnoses including depression, anxiety, ADHD, glossophobia, situational depression, and trauma. This experience further enhances her ability to create inclusive and supportive environments in both academic and professional settings.

Her speaking engagements extend beyond HR conferences and include STEM events, guest speaking for the American Baptist Churches on missionary work, being selected as a graduation speaker for Streetwise Partners, Blackprint 2.0 Educational Conference Seminar Leader, and one of the year's facilitators for the UConn Summer Institute immersive, a project-based workshop.

The name behind the work

Alma, LLC honors her mother, Alma Cash, whose words of wisdom resonated beyond her natural experiences and work, giving guidance and hope to a multitude of people. Her strength, wisdom, and courage were an investment that shaped everything about how Deirdre leads, listens, and refuses to let a dream stay buried.

Guided by faith. Driven by #DoBetter. Here to get you where you need to be.