HR ACHIEVEMENT AWARDS.

• Position: Human resources

HR leaders are usually more accustomed to giving out kudos than receiving them. That's why we're delighted to turn the tables and give some stellar HR professionals the recognition they deserve.

LIFETIME ACHIEVEMENT

FRANCES A. HUME, SPHR, SCP, GPHR

FOUNDER | HUME 'N RESOURCES CONSULTING

Frances Hume has been a leading voice in the human resources profession for four decades. After several years working for corporations, she launched her own consulting business in 1988. She's held leadership roles for SHRM at the national, regional, state and chapter levels since 1979, including on the National SHRM Foundation board of directors.

HOW HAS THE ROLE OF THE HR PROFESSIONAL CHANGED WITHIN ORGANIZATIONS?

In great organizations, HR is the hub of the wheel working from the inside out with each key area of the business (like the spokes of the wheel) attached to the hub. An HR professional must understand all areas of the business and understand what keeps those managers awake at night. And then collaborate with managers to assist in solving these challenges.

... Liking people is not the only qualification for pursuing a career in human resources. It helps, but it is insufficient for success. HR jobs and careers continue to grow in sophistication, and the expectations of employers increase every year. HR professionals must have the ability to contribute to employee development, organization development, employee retention, and a positive, motivating work environment.

WHAT ADVICE DO YOU HAVE FOR SOMEONE CONSIDERING A CAREER IN HUMAN RESOURCES?

Be a life-long learner--get a business education as well as HR and get it early! ... Be curious and courageous enough to discover what you don't know. It's easy to do things we know and that we are comfortable doing. However, you will need to learn about what changes are happening not only in your organization but throughout your industry and profession.

... Be a wise change master. Don't change things just for the sake of change. Manage each change effectively. It's one thing to find great ideas and another to implement them. Great ideas take time and effort to implement, and someone has to manage them. Learn and employ the best practices of project management so you can lead these changes. Know what's available, use all the tools you can find and take a leading role in the implementation of your HR plans.

SMALL COMPANIES

HEIDI HUMPHRIES, SHRM-SCP, PHR

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES | MEDQUEST PHARMACY

HOW HAVE YOU WORKED TO EFFECTIVELY RECRUIT AND RETAIN TOP TALENT?

It's critical for hiring managers to understand what's important to their prospective new hires. I firmly believe that the employer-employee relationship is a value exchange, and both parties need to feel that they're getting what they need from the relationship. The challenge can be that most candidates are more concerned about making a great first impression than being authentic, so it can be hard to get genuine feedback. Our screening process includes multiple touch points, including an HR call to answer questions and address concerns away from the pressures of the formal interview, before an offer is made.

HOW DO YOU VIEW YOUR ROLE WITHIN THE OVERALL MANAGEMENT TEAM AT YOUR COMPANY? I've been fortunate enough to be included as a key part of the management team for several years now.... Many business-related issues and new ideas cross my desk as a kind of check and balance, because I tend to see things through a very different lens than other managers. My goal is always to help others find a way to accomplish whatever it is they want to do, but I feel comfortable and fully supported if I ever need to push back or point out problems that require resolution.

HEATHER H. FISHER

HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER | NEWMARK...