The crème de la crème of human resources gathered in force last night to honor and welcome an impressive group of new Fellows into the highest order of HR: the National Academy of Human Resources.
Thwarted last year by Hurricane Sandy, which paralyzed all possible routes to their annual meeting place at the Yale Club in New York, attendees and inductees came in record numbers — 248 total — to this year’s gala dinner honoring newcomers for both 2012 and 2013 to the group’s elite ranks.
In terms of accomplishments and contributions to the field of HR, the list speaks for itself.
Inducted into the NAHR Class of 2012:
— Michael L. Davis, executive vice president of global human resources for General Mills Inc. In addition to many years with General Mills, where he not only leads HR but has senior-management oversight for the company’s corporate aviation and global health-services group, Davis is a frequent speaker and author on executive and director compensation and benefits issues. He’s also on numerous boards, including WorldatWork Board and the HR Policy Association’s, with special interests and expertise in compensation and benefits, and executive compensation.
— Daniel Marsili, senior vice president of global human resources for Colgate-Palmolive Co. As a member of Colgate’s collaborative senior-leadership team, Marsili plays an integral part in Colgate’s overall success as a premier global employer and admired public company. Since 2005, he and his global team have focused on improving the HR function through technology and elevated leadership dialogue — and, during this period, sales, profits and earnings per share have all increased.
— Larry E. Steward, vice president of human resources for DTE Energy Co., Michigan’s largest utility company with more than $8 billion in annual revenues. Steward oversees HR for 10,000 utility and non-utility employees, is a member of the executive committee, and is responsible for the strategic direction and execution of a multitude of HR functions. Since joining the company in 2001, he and his team have implemented a best-practice talent-planning process and improved the corporate safety record from fourth to top-quartile performance among peer utilities.
— Mara Swan, executive vice president of global strategy and talent for ManpowerGroup, and Human Resource Executive® ‘s HR Executive of the Year for 2012. In her eighth year leading Manpower’s global HR organization, Swan has elevated the function and its importance in the company as the catalyst for accelerating the execution of business strategy. She has also been an instrumental player in Manpower’s recognition globally as Fortune magazine’s World’s Most Admired and the only company in its industry to be named World’s Most Ethical by Ethisphere.
Inducted into the NAHR Class of 2013:
— Marcia J. Avedon, senior vice president of human resources and communications for Ingersoll Rand plc., a $14 billion diversified industrial company operating in more than 50 countries. Avedon has global responsibility for all human resources, government affairs, communications, philanthropy and brand management. She has been instrumental as a member of the company’s executive leadership team in the successful transformation of the company’s portfolio, corporate culture and reputation.
— Kevin F. Hallock, Joseph R. Rich 1980 professor at Cornell University and founding director of the Institute for Compensation Studies in the university’s ILR School. A research associate at the National Bureau of Economic Research, board member of the Society of Certified Professionals at WorldatWork and a distinguished principal research fellow at The Conference Board, he frequently advises firms with respect to pay.
— Daisy Ng, chief human resources officer for Darden Restaurants. A member of the company’s executive team, Ng was also the first person to graduate from Cornell’s Top Seat program, administered in cooperation with the Center for Advanced Human Resources Studies and NAHR. Under Ng’s leadership, Darden is the first full-service restaurant company to be recognized as one of Fortune‘s 100 Best Companies to Work For, an accomplishment that has occurred for three years in a row.
— Marc C. Reed, executive vice president and chief administrative officer for Verizon Communications, a Dow 30 company generating nearly $116 billion in 2012 revenue with more than 185,000 employees worldwide. Honors based on Reed’s work in recruiting, training and leadership development include Business Week/Bloomberg‘s Best Places to Launch a Career, Diversity Inc. Magazine‘s Top 50 Companies for Diversity and the Military Times EGDE‘s Best for Vets.
— Susan M. Suver, senior vice president of human resources and administration for the United States Steel Corp. As a member of the executive-leadership team, Suver plays an influential role in building and championing the business, leadership and cultural transformation at one of the nation’s most enduring companies. She is an experienced change-management professional and an award-winning business communicator, having spent more than 17 years in corporate communications in the manufacturing, mining, electronics and hospitality industries.
— Carole Watkins, chief human resources officer for Cardinal Health. A member of the HR Policy Association, she also serves as current co-chair of the CHRO Board Academy and is a member of the HR50, Personnel Roundtable and Healthcare Business Women’s Association. Under her leadership, Cardinal Health has been recognized by Working Mother‘s 100 Best Companies, CEO Magazine‘s Top Company for Leaders, National Business Group on Health’s Platinum Award for Healthy Life Styles Programs and National Association for Female Executives’ Top Companies for Executive Women.
Going by their brief descriptions alone, it appears the stewardship of the HR profession — as a key player in achieving business strategy and steering business success — is in very good hands going forward.
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