A few years ago, the people who work at the American Society of Employers (ASE) noticed that no one was honoring local stars in the HR profession, so they decided to do something about it. Now, the Southfield-based human resources and employer services organization honors three HR Executives of the Year every year as part of its annual summit.
During this year's ceremony, which will be held Oct. 29 at the Ritz-Carlton in Dearborn, three HR professionals will receive awards for their outstanding service to the HR profession, said Joe DeSantis, ASE's director of communications. At the event, three ASE employees also will be awarded for their work with the organization, and ASE members will have a chance to hear about the organization's latest efforts and initiatives.
Nominees for the HR Executive of the Year Award are evaluated based on their commitment to the profession, successes in current and past positions, contributions to their communities, their impact on the lives of others, and successes within their organizations.
This year, Neil Marchuk, executive vice president of human resources for Livonia-based TRW Automotive, won the category for firms with 1,000 or more employees. Christine McDermott, director of human resources for Dearborn-based GHAFARI Associates, won the category for employers with less than 1,000 employees. And Mark A. Kennedy, chief human resources officer at Flint-based C.S. Mott Community College, won in the not-for-profit firms category.
“Marchuk, McDermott and Kennedy are shining examples of leadership in the field of human resources,” said Mary Schroeder, ASE's president. “Their professionalism, creativity and commitment to creating great teams that support leading organizations are unique and impressive.”
Here are a few reasons why each of the award winners captured the top honors:
● Marchuk is recognized for establishing a human resources direction and strategy for the $14.7 billion automotive supplier. He also helped TRW Automotive establish an assessment process to help company leaders identify ways to make each of the organization's sites more competitive.
● McDermott, who works for GHAFARI Associates, an architectural and engineering firm, and G-TECH Professional Staffing, the company's professional staffing arm, is being recognized for her efforts in helping the company reach its strategic growth objectives. Over the last year McDermott has helped the company secure a grant for technical training from the state, implemented global recruiting practices, and has established wellness and non-profit initiatives for the company. She also enhanced the company's health benefits to include mammography and orthodontics coverage while reducing overall medical costs.
● Kennedy is being honored for his professionalism and positive impact on the organization, its students, faculty and staff, and surrounding community. He also has created a new human resources intranet and employee newsletter, implemented collaborative problem-solving with C.S. Mott's collective bargaining units, and has created a coaching and development program.
During the ceremony, presidents of each of the organizations with award winners will talk about the award recipients. The award winners also will have the opportunity to address their colleagues at the event.
In addition to honoring the best in the profession, the event also is a great way for HR professionals to network and reunite with others in their profession, DeSantis said.
“HR is a lonely profession for many reasons,” he said. “Therefore, it's really really important for practitioners to get together.”
And with the economy exacting its toll on the local economy, it continues to be a challenging year for those in the HR profession, DeSantis said.
“With the nature of the work even in good times, HR ends up having to perform a lot of the less pleasant tasks that relate to people,” he said. “And obviously we're not in the best times right now.”
The ASE Annual Summit begins at 5:30 p.m. with a cocktail hour, dinner starts at 6:30 p.m., and the awards ceremony begins at 7:30 p.m. Those who want to attend can contact ASE or visit the Web site. Price to attend is $150 or $1,000 for a table of eight. Deadline for registration is Oct. 24. ASE members and non-members are welcome to attend.
Written by Jenny Cromie, certified human resources specialist (CHRS)
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