As Western Growers’ Human Resources executive Karen oversees the centralized management of all HR practices including: executive goals and objectives, workforce planning, employee health/retirement benefits, recruiting, workforce performance, coaching, progressive discipline, employee handbook, compensation, regulatory compliance, payroll, training and development and succession planning. Karen credits her staff with effective recruiting, supervising the salary levels and the “pay-for-performance” system, employee relations, benefits including 401(k), legal compliance relating to employment law, safety, payroll processing, training and development.
At Western Growers she is responsible for inculcating the (profoundly impactful), “culture-changing” Arbinger principles. This is accomplished through: teaching, the annual performance review process, performance/behavioral management, strategic modeling and a common language amongst employees.
She graduated (cum laude) from Southern Illinois University Carbondale (SIUC) with a Bachelor’s of Science (BS) degree from the College of Education and Human Services in Workforce Education and Development. Additionally, she earned a Master’s of Art degree in management (MAM) from the University of Redlands where the graduate school’s curriculum emphasized management and leadership.
Karen holds the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), Senior Human Resources Professional Certification (SPHR), is certified to teach Achieve Global’s sales and frontline leadership courses and Arbinger’s Core at Work, Developing and Implementing an Outward Mindset and Transforming Conflict.
