In honor of HR Professionals Day, we’re celebrating the incredible human resources team at our local utility company, whose dedication and hard work ensure our organization runs smoothly and efficiently. From recruiting top talent to fostering a positive workplace culture, the HR team plays a vital role in supporting every department. Their commitment to employee well-being, professional development and a welcoming environment help build the foundation for Conway Corp’s success.
We sat down with each of these incredible team members to get a glimpse into their roles, their motivation, and what makes the HR team at Conway Corp truly special.
Jim – Human Resources Director
Jim leads the HR team with a focus on fostering a collaborative and inclusive work environment. His leadership style is centered on empathy and communication.
“Working in HR was never planned,” he said. “A friend of mine told me about a job opening up in Human Resources where he worked. My first question was ‘what is Human Resources?’ However, once I started in this field, I never looked back! The reward of helping others and the never boring, complex problem solving we are tasked with in our work has kept me hooked. Every day, we have the opportunity to make a meaningful impact on the lives or our employees and grow our supportive culture.”
Rachel – Human Resources Specialist
Rachel’s passion lies in finding the best candidates to join the Conway Corporation team. From interviews to onboarding, she’s involved every step of the way, ensuring a smooth transition for new employees.
“Serving our employees is something I truly enjoy. Part of my position involves coordinating the recruitment function within HR, which gives me the opportunity to connect with new employees and guide them through our hiring and onboarding processes. Starting a new job often brings feelings of excitement and nervousness. My goal is to create a welcoming atmosphere to help alleviate any nerves of our new employees and ensure a smooth transition for them. I particularly enjoy spending time with our new employees on their first day, walking them through important information, and answering any questions they may have. It’s important to me that they feel informed and comfortable with our processes, and that they know where to find support when needed. Being a part of their onboarding journey is fulfilling, and I take pride in helping new team members as they begin their careers with us. I have great respect and admiration for my colleagues and the dedication they bring to their roles each day, and I feel fortunate to contribute to such a collaborative and supportive team.“
DeAnna – Human Resources Specialist
DeAnna ensures that once employed, our employees receive competitive benefits and compensation, making her a go-to for all things related to pay, insurance and retirement planning. She’s always ready to answer questions and provide guidance.
“I have been blessed to be a part of Conway Corp’s Human Resources for 15 years,” she said. “From the very beginning, I’ve embraced the philosophy that every employee is MY customer. My goal is to hopefully simplify their lives so they, in turn, can perform their jobs to the best of their abilities and serve the citizens of Conway. I’m an observer, so I notice when individuals sometimes struggle to understand certain topics, benefits or their importance. In those moments, I aim to educate and clarify, so they leave with a clearer understanding. I hope to help our employees find and be the best version of themselves that they can be.”
Alicia – Training & Development Coordinator
Alicia’s role is all about helping employees grow and develop professionally. She creates programs that equip our staff with the skills they need to succeed, while also focusing on their personal growth.
“For me and my role as Training Coordinator, being in a position to support each employee is deeply important to me. The larger projects that I have focused on since I was hired are centered around employee professional growth and compliance training. It is paramount to HR that employees’ voices are heard and that the trainings assigned and/or offered are of interest and relevance. Twice per year, HR sends out a training interest survey to all employees. The responses greatly influence future training opportunities. For example, the September 2023 training needs survey revealed the most interest in the following five areas: benefits, stress management, conflict resolution, team development and effective leadership. As a result, we’ve brought in subject matter experts like Kerry Molder, an experienced broker who spoke about understanding and navigating our benefits and Lance White, a licensed professional counselor who led us through stress management techniques. We assigned conflict resolution and team building training and have developed an Effective Leadership series that began in February 2024. To date,18 managers have graduated and 22 managers are currently attending. We plan to invite each manager and supervisor to Effective Leadership training in the coming months and will offer it other employees who are interested in strengthening their own leadership skills in the future. Additionally, compliance training, such as anti-harassment, is assigned at various intervals with the intention that employees are mindful of creating safe and healthy work environments for all. I thoroughly enjoy getting to know the wonderful employees at Conway Corp. My job is rewarding and deeply fulfilling knowing that the training that I provide not only provides support to our employees but also impacts our customers and the great city of Conway.”
Yolonda – Human Resources Technician
Yolonda’s role in HR focuses on protecting sensitive information within the company. She is attentive to everyone’s right to privacy and whether she is updating information, addressing concerns or simply being a trusted confidante, her door is always open.
“ I take the responsibility of protecting sensitive information and providing accurate recording keeping very seriously,” she said. “It helps to promote trust and build relationships with the people we serve. It helps to keep us in compliance with current laws and regulations and places us in a better position to make accurate and strategic decisions regarding HR related matters and decisions related to the entire company and its business functions.”
A Team That Cares
Each member of the HR team at Conway Corp brings their unique strengths to the table, but what unites them is their unwavering dedication to the company’s mission: taking care of people. Whether it’s through recruitment, benefits, training or employee relations, Rachel, Jim, DeAnna, Alicia and Yolonda ensure that every employee feels valued and supported.
“At the end of the day, we’re here to make sure everyone can do their best work,” DeAnna said. “When employees are taken care of, the entire company thrives.”
Thanks to this exceptional team, Conway Corp continues to be a workplace where employees feel empowered, appreciated and ready to contribute to a brighter future.
