Whalen announces retirement, Nelson to take reins at Employers Council

The leader of Utah’s Employers Council has announced plans to retire at the end of May, ending 23 years at the organization, including the past 15 as president.

Monica Whalen will be succeeded by staff attorney Ryan D. Nelson.

The council, a nonprofit corporation, serves the human resource and employment law needs of the business community, helping employers manage all aspects of the employment relationship.

Whalen started as a staff attorney in 1994 and became president in 2002. Throughout her tenure, her passion has been to help employers better manage employee relations and resolve workplace problems in ways that minimize potential legal liability.

“It has been an honor, and I’m enormously proud of the work we have done together,” Whalen said. “We made tremendous progress over the past 15 years, and my passion for our mission is surpassed only by my respect for the council’s superior team of professionals who are fiercely committed to serving our member companies.”

Whalen also serves on the board of directors for the Ronald McDonald House Charities of the Intermountain Area and Get Healthy Utah. Under her leadership, Employers Council was recognized as one of Utah’s Best Places to Work by the Utah Department of Workforce services.

Nelson will begin his role as Utah president effective April 1, while Whalen will remain active in an advisory position as president emeritus until her retirement May 31.

“I’m honored and grateful for this opportunity to lead this exceptional organization of dedicated and talented individuals,” Nelson said. “A big part of my focus will be to accelerate our ability to bring innovative solutions and useful services to an expanding number of Utah employers. This is a terrific opportunity that any leader would welcome.”

Nelson joined the Utah office in 2015 after spending the previous five years in the Mountain States Employers Council’s (MSEC) Colorado Springs office. He earned a BA in Portuguese from Brigham Young University and a law degree from the University of Florida College of Law.

Prior to joining MSEC, he worked for law firms in Florida and Colorado.  He is licensed to practice law in Florida, Colorado and Utah.

“Ryan is an outstanding visionary, and has the dedication to our mission and commitment to our members’ success that will help him lead this organization toward an exciting future,” Whalen said. “He has my full support and confidence.”

Employers Council in late 2015 merged with the MSEC in Denver, forming the nation’s largest employers association. The combined organizations serve 3,800 employer members, which have over 220,000 employees.