By Gillian Manning
Garri BrownVP of People and CulturePort of New Orleans
When turnover became a notable issue, Garri Brown spearheaded the creation of a systematic hiring guide that standardizes the entire talent acquisition lifecycle—from structured interviewing to intentional manager preparation. Her initiative emphasizes post-hire success through integrated onboarding plans and training road maps designed to ensure long-term retention. Brown also implemented quarterly town halls for employees in partnership with the company's president and CEO. By challenging long-standing systems and implementing new ones, Brown was able to curate a more aligned workforce.
Tina Campbell Chief HR and Administration Officer Citizens First Bank
Tina Campbell navigated a 13-month transition following the acquisition of Citizens First Bank by Seacoast Bank. Her strategy prioritized personal engagement, facilitating 570 individual meetings between associates and acquiring leadership to determine future career placements. This meticulous approach to talent management achieved a 99% retention rate for all current associates throughout the merger. Campbell’s advocacy resulted in over 70% of associates accepting permanent job offers within the new organization. Her dedication throughout this large-scale integration preserved morale and established a clear benchmark for M&A excellence.
Logan CarmichaelChief People and Culture OfficerPittsburgh Water
Under Logan Carmichael’s leadership, there was a 4.81% reduction in turnover between 2022 and 2024. His recruitment strategies catalyzed a 375% increase in applicants from underrepresented groups and a 763% surge in female applicants, successfully narrowing the organizational vacancy gap by 8%. Internally, Carmichael overhauled the benefits package to include mental health days and IVF treatments while expanding the digital training catalog by 223%. His commitment to community equity is further evidenced by educational initiatives that engaged over 1,500 local students in 2024, fostering a diverse and resilient talent pipeline.
Jean CasnerSVP, Chief Human Resources Officerembecta
During embecta’s multi-year separation from its parent company, Jean Casner established the foundational internal systems necessary for the organization of nearly 2,000 global employees to operate independently. She countered the uncertainty of the transition by building a dedicated learning and development function and launching a global engagement survey to benchmark culture. Casner also successfully deployed an integrated global payroll and benefits platform to support a diverse international workforce. These operational transformations led to embecta being certified as a 2024 Great Place to Work, with 67% of surveyed employees indicating it’s a great place to work.
Andrew DawsonChief People Officer and Head of Corporate Affairs BVI
Following a period of aggressive expansion, Andrew Dawson launched the "OneBVI" initiative to unify the company’s culture across four continents. This campaign successfully aligned a diverse workforce with core values of transparency and entrepreneurship, fostering a highly engaged global community. Dawson also evolved the HR operating model by automating administrative tasks, allowing his team to focus on strategic coaching and workforce planning. These improvements culminated in BVI receiving multiple Great Place to Work certifications across its global locations.
Courtney EidelChief Human Resources OfficerCommunity Options
Courtney Eidel utilized data-driven decision-making to tackle the workforce shortages prevalent in the health services sector. By deploying a "Business Intelligence Dashboard," she empowered regional leaders to use real-time employee feedback to improve benefits and address staff concerns. Eidel also integrated a centralized Applicant Tracking System that streamlined hiring and reduced spending on Indeed by more than $300,000 while also increasing hiring. These strategic investments effectively curtailed turnover while enhancing the overall employee experience.
Patricia FrostChief People and Places OfficerSeagate Technology
Patricia Frost has spearheaded the "Activate AI in Your Work" initiative, embedding artificial intelligence fluency into daily workflows and upskilling employees. These initiatives significantly improved engagement and productivity. Employee engagement has risen year-over-year under her leadership, reaching 92% overall in the 2025 fiscal year. At the same time, confidence in AI use at the organization has risen to 88%, and employees have reported saving an average of 2.5 hours per week with generative AI tools.