2024 HR Executive Year

Each year we honor those special individuals who have dedicated their working lives and efforts to become outstanding human resource executives in their organizations, industries, and state with the Michigan HR Executive of the Year award. The past  few years have been extremely challenging for HR professionals due to the pandemic and the Great Resignation, and we are happy to recognize them for their hard work and achievements over the course of their career as well as during the pandemic.

Each nomination is evaluated based on the nominee's commitment to the HR profession, successes in his or her past as well as current positions, contributions to the community, impact on the lives of others, and the success of his or her organization.

ASE will formally recognize the award recipients each at its Annual Summit on November 7, 2024. 

Congratulations to the 2023 honorees:

Criteria

Past Honorees*

For Profit Organizations with 1,000 or more Michigan Employees:

Sandy Patel, SHRM-CP, PHR, Head of HR, Americas, Altimetrik  

Jenifer Zbiegien, Vice President Human Resources and Marketing, Aludyne, Inc.

Kathie Patterson, Chief Human Resources Officer, Ally Financial

Diane M. Anthishin, Vice President, HR Operations, DTE Energy
Kris Munroe, HR Director, Roush Enterprises, Inc.

Adam Jeffries, Vice President of Human Resources, North America, Faurecia North America
Scott Pepin, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, Federal-Mogul Powertrain

John J. Quattrone, Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources, General Motors

Kevin Butler, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Delphi Corporation

Nancy Rae, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, Chrysler Group LLC

Larry E. Steward, Vice President, Human Resources, DTE Energy Company

Ann F. Federici, Senior Vice President of Human Resources, AAA Auto Club Group (ACG)

Felicia J. Fields, Group Vice President, Human Resources & Corporate Services, Ford Motor Company

Neil Marchuk, EVP Human Resources, TRW Automotive

Paul F. Walters, Executive Vice President, Administration, Penske Corporation

Daniel R. Foley, Vice President, Human Resources, Masco Corporation

Roger A. Jackson, Senior Vice President, Human Resources, Lear Corporation

Joe W. Laymon, Group Vice President, Corporate Human Resources and Labor Affairs, Ford Motor Company

For Profit Organizations with fewer than 1,000 Michigan Employees:

Jacqueline Hernandez, Vice President of Human Resources, Superior Electric Great Lakes Company 

Deanna Cain, Head of Human Resources, RPT Realty

Sara VanWagoner, Vice President of Corporate Growth Strategies, Edcor

Denise Dorigo Jones, Director, Human Resources, Nemak
Julia Kellogg, PHR, SHRM-CP, Executive Vice President of Human Resources, North American Bancard
Brenda Gallick, Director of Team Success, Billhighway
Meghan Berg, HR Director, Fortis Energy Services, Inc.
Gale L. LaRoche, Vice President, Human Resources and Adminstration, Wayne County Airport Authority
Bryan L. Gilleland, Vice President, Human Resources and Corporate Planning, Frankenmuth Insurance
Mark Jenkins, Vice President of Human Resources, Logicalis
Kari Lawry, Vice President of Human Resources, Atlas Oil Company
Taya Johnston, Human Resources Manager, Plex Systems
Karen F. Andrews, Chief Development Officer, McKinley, Inc.
Christine McDermott, Director, Human Resources, GHAFARI Associates
Jennifer Piscopink, Vice President, Human Resources, Carhartt, Inc.
Elaine Sobieray, Vice President of HR and Administration, Allied Office Interiors, Inc.
Michael "Mac" McAdams, Director of Human Resources, Beaumont Services Company
Laura Gutierrez, Director of Human Resources, The Ritz-Carlton, Dearborn

Health & Human Services Organizations with 500 or more Michigan Employees:

Susan D. Murphy, Chief People Officer, Greenpath Financial Wellness
Justin Walworth, Chief Human Resources Officer, Peckham, Inc.

Laurita Thomas, Associate Vice President for Human Resources, University of Michigan

Elizabeth Wilcox, Associate VP, Human Resources, Kettering University
Greg Ghilardi, Chief Human Resources Officer, MidMichigan Health
Cynthia M. Glass, Vice President of Administrative Service and Human Resources, Henry Ford College
Sharon Butler, Assistant Vice President, Human Resources, Michigan State University

Barbara A. Palmer, Corporate VP, Human Resources and Employee Services, Botsford Hospital

William Peterson, Vice President, Human Resources, McLaren Health Care Corporation

Deloris Hunt, Senior Vice President, Chief HR Officer, Detroit Medical Center

Kathy Oswald, Senior Vice President, Chief HR Officer, Henry Ford Health System
James Lewis, Vice President, Human Resources, NSF International

Mary K. Naber, Senior Vice President and Chief Worklife Services Officer, St. John Health System

Mark A. Kennedy, Chief Human Resources Officer, Mott Community College

Debra Canales, Executive Vice President, Organization and Talent Effectiveness, Trinity Health

Alison Bailey, Senior Vice President - Human Resources, YMCA of Metropolitan Detroit

Health & Human Services Organizations with fewer than 500 Michigan Employees:

Jody Connally, HR Director, Detroit Wayne Integrated Health Network
Chantele Stevenson, Director of Human Resources, Archdiocese of Detroit

Andrew McKinnon, Director, Macomb County Human Resources and Labor Relations, Macomb County

Michelle Hansel, Vice President, Human Resources, Detroit Regional Chamber
Melissa Pena Gallis, Chief Talent Officer, Leader Dogs for the Blind
Danielle Crane, Chief Administrative Officer, GreenPath Financial Wellness
Ron Carr, Human Resources Director, United Way of Southeastern Michigan
Teresa Schwartz, Vice President of Human Resource, JVS
Nancy McKeague, Senior Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer, Michigan Health & Hospital Association
Joan Cliff, Director of Human Resources and Quality, Adult Well-Being
Anathea L. Collar, Vice President, Human Resources, Arbor Hospice
Julie Jones, Director of Human Resources, HAVEN

Mary K. Naber, Senior Vice President and Chief Worklife Services Officer, St. John Health System


*Note: Titles and companies at time of award.