Since joining Xenium in September, what has stuck out to you the most about the team?
When I first started my work life, I grew up professionally in an environment where I could take risks, make mistakes & learn from them, and really drive my own learning and development. Over the years, I’ve worked in a variety of businesses and schools where a culture of accountability did not exist. For me, being at Xenium brings to mind the “glory days” of my past HR experience, and the level of professionalism and expertise is even greater here. The camaraderie, the sharing of ideas and the commitment to excellence are all features that match what I need in a workplace. The team here embodies this spirit—the values of the organization live and breathe through the work that each person does for our clients.
Your title is “Human Resource Business Partner,” what does a typical day look like for you?
Holy smokes, I don’t think I know the half of what “busy” is yet! Most recently, a typical day involved following up via phone or in person with new PEO clients (for enrollment paperwork or other forms and process set-up), doing some work on a job description project, getting introduced to a client that will be transitioning to me, and talking on the phone providing HR advising. I’m also re-vamping a few of our core training modules together with Suzi, so I stuff free minutes full of training revisions, too. I like keeping busy!
Since you are fairly new to Xenium, you probably do not have a ton of stories, but have you had one of those “wow” moments where you knew you were with the right company?
Can you name a specific time where you really felt like you helped someone?
I believe that “helping” is what we truly do every day! Something specific: I created a separation agreement, attended the employee meeting to help facilitate the departure, and the meeting went well—dignity and respect was upheld by all parties, and communication was clear. It felt like a real win-win for the employee & employer. Although it takes all parties’ willingness to make a potentially-awkward meeting good, I felt like my presence and facilitation helped.
What sort of activities do you do when you are not at Xenium?
I enjoy running, hiking and being outdoors; my husband and I have a huge yard with some mature walnut and cherry trees, so we “like” raking leaves, having BBQs with friends and spending time working on the house together. My family is close-in, too, so I love to catch a nephew’s soccer game or celebrate birthdays and holidays with them. When I’m on my own, I like to read, write and be creative–baking, painting, making cards, cleaning house and doing other artsy projects.
What keeps you going on a daily basis?
For whatever reason, I got the early-bird gene; I do my best work and I feel sharpest first thing in the morning. So, besides my alarm clock and a whole lot of caffeine, my constitution keeps me energetic and passionate about helping people. I’ve always been a very conscientious, half-glass-full kind of person and I try to find what I can learn from or enjoy about an experience. Don’t get me wrong, I have my down days, but I truly believe that the positive energy and intention that I put out there changes my environment for the better. Maybe it’s a little kooky to have a personal mission statement, but mine has been the super-simple statement: “Do good things.” It keeps me focused.
What is one thing you want to do/learn in the next 12 months?
On a personal level, I want to brush up my Spanish skills and travel a bit more, internationally as funds allow.
Professionally, I plan on learning both the HR and business challenges that my clients face. I think the more one knows about the industry and resource issues (financial/human capital/opportunity capacity) that are specific to various clients, the better one can serve from an HR support standpoint. I would like to be involved in the strategic growth planning of Xenium in shaping the company’s future. Lastly, I plan on studying for my SPHR certification.