Austin Maggard
Hazard,KY
Summary
Dynamic and strategic Human Resources Executive with 15+ years of driving business outcomes through innovative HR strategies that align with organizational goals and cultivate high-performance cultures. Proven success in leading initiatives that resulted in a 30% increase in employee engagement, 20% reduction in turnover, and improved retention and productivity across diverse teams. Expertise in talent management, succession planning, compensation strategy, and employee experience, creating scalable systems that enhance organizational profitability and talent retention. Strong track record of cultural transformation and diversity & inclusion leadership, leveraging data-driven HR insights to optimize performance. Adept at partnering with c-suite executives to execute people strategies that foster sustained growth, innovation, and competitive advantage, while leading HR functions that drive long-term business success.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Hazard, KY
04.2022 - Current
- Directed HR strategy and operations for a 14-hospital system with 6,500+ employees, establishing a high-performance culture and strategic HR initiatives that aligned with organizational vision and values.
- Partnered with C-suite executives to launch a culture transformation initiative, successfully introducing a new culture statement and Disney-inspired traditions training to align employee behaviors with organizational goals, leading to a 30% increase in employee engagement and fostering a values-driven culture.
- Pioneered a company-wide recognition platform, achieving 70% employee engagement within the first two weeks, improving employee retention by 20% and enhancing overall satisfaction through personalized rewards and recognition.
- Established a competitive compensation structure aligned with industry benchmarks, reducing turnover and agency staffing dependency while improving internal pay equity and advancing employee trust.
- Championed labor relations efforts, negotiating Collective Bargaining Agreements for multiple unions, reducing turnover by 20%, and driving operational cost reductions through strategic workforce planning.
- Drove organizational change by modernizing HR policies and processes, ensuring compliance with all healthcare regulations and reducing organizational risk, while optimizing employee experience through streamlined on-boarding and performance management systems.
- Enhanced learning and development programs with the creation of the ARH University and a new administrative fellow program, focusing on building a talent pipeline and preparing the next generation of leaders, in line with Disney's commitment to development and growth.
- Spearheaded employee engagement initiatives, including unique offerings and events, increasing employee satisfaction and creating memorable moments that built a strong sense of belonging.
Assistant Vice President Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Hazard, KY
09.2021 - 04.2022
System Director of Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
Hazard, KY
01.2020 - 09.2021
Regional HR Business Partner
Signature HealthCARE
Lexington, KY
08.2018 - 01.2020
- Served as a strategic HR partner for multiple skilled nursing facilities across the region, driving employee engagement, performance management, and leadership development programs that resulted in improved clinical outcomes and operational performance.
- Led initiatives to reduce turnover by 25%, designing and implementing employee engagement strategies, and strengthening the overall workforce culture, increasing retention among clinical and non-clinical staff.
- Developed and executed a comprehensive talent acquisition strategy to attract top-tier talent for a growing network of skilled nursing facilities, reducing recruitment costs by 15% while improving the quality of hires.
- Partnered with facility leadership to address employee relations challenges, resulting in a 50% reduction in grievances and fostering a positive work environment that improved morale and productivity.
- Launched a leadership development program to build bench strength for leadership roles, increasing the number of internal promotions by 20% and preparing high-potential employees for career advancement.
- Led efforts to modernize HR processes, integrating HR technology platforms for payroll, scheduling, and performance reviews, improving operational efficiency by 30%.
- Played a key role in launching a wellness program, contributing to employee satisfaction and improved health outcomes, directly supporting recruitment and retention goals.
Director of Human Resources
Churchill Downs Incorporated
Lexington, KY
12.2016 - 08.2018
- Provided strategic HR leadership for a division of over 200 technology and customer service employees, supporting operational goals while driving initiatives to enhance workforce productivity, engagement, and retention.
- Led recruitment and talent acquisition processes, including the development of job descriptions, job advertisements, and the screening and interviewing of all applicants to ensure a high-quality talent pipeline that aligned with organizational needs.
- Played an integral role in compensation and benefits, collaborating with senior leadership to refine compensation strategies and ensure that benefits offerings were competitive, equitable, and aligned with industry standards.
- Maintained compliance with employment laws and regulations, managing EEOC charges, handling employee relations inquiries, and preparing responses to ensure adherence to labor laws and mitigate risk.
- Provided leadership in employee relations, including conflict resolution, coaching, mentoring, disciplinary actions, and guidance on FMLA, ADA, and worker's compensation, fostering a positive work environment and ensuring fair and consistent treatment across the division.
- Developed and implemented HR policies and procedures, regularly updating the employee handbook to reflect best practices, legal requirements, and organizational changes, ensuring clarity and alignment across teams.
- Oversaw organizational development and training functions, developing learning programs to enhance employee skills and career development, improving team performance and promoting a culture of continuous learning.
- Created and implemented employee recognition programs, driving engagement and morale by acknowledging top performers and fostering a sense of pride in the work environment.
- Managed all employment-related inquiries, ensuring timely and accurate resolution to employee concerns and fostering an open-door policy to enhance trust and transparency within the organization.
HR Generalist
UK Federal Credit Union
Lexington, KY
11.2015 - 12.2016
- Led the recruitment process for all employees, overseeing pre-employment screening, ensuring affirmative action compliance, and managing EEO-1 and VETS-4212 reporting to meet federal and state compliance requirements.
- Managed FMLA administration and personnel records, ensuring accurate recordkeeping and timely compliance with all applicable laws and regulations.
- Administered benefits enrollment and ongoing benefits programs, providing guidance to employees on benefits offerings and ensuring smooth transitions during open enrollment periods.
- Spearheaded the transition from written applications to an online application system, integrating applicant tracking software (ATS) with the credit union's website employment page. This innovation resulted in a quadrupled application volume and a reduced time-to-hire.
- Designed and implemented training programs, including both online and in-person training modules for staff to utilize the ATS system without direct HR involvement, driving efficiency and reducing training resource dependency.
- Facilitated the strategic switch to a new pre-employment screening vendor, leading to an 80% cost reduction in background checks and a faster time-to-hire process, resulting in significant operational savings.
- Partnered with senior management to review and draft job descriptions across all organizational levels, ensuring alignment with departmental needs and compliance with EEO and OFCCP standards.
- Developed and implemented a highly effective employee referral policy, enhancing recruitment efforts and increasing employee engagement in the hiring process.
- Expanded recruitment efforts by maximizing exposure on underutilized job platforms, resulting in reduced time-to-hire and improved talent acquisition outcomes.
Human Resources Associate (Pre-Employment Screening Coordinator)
University of Kentucky
Lexington, KY
03.2015 - 11.2015
- Led the development and implementation of Administrative Regulation 6:12, a new policy on pre-employment background checks, ensuring compliance across the university for the first time.
- Managed all aspects of pre-employment screening, including background checks, ensuring adherence to university standards and state/federal regulations.
- Worked closely with HR and hiring managers to streamline the background check process, improving efficiency and candidate experience.
- Ensured full regulatory compliance, creating systems for tracking and reporting background check outcomes.
Education
Master of Science - Human Resource Leadership
Sullivan University
Lexington, KY12-2017
Bachelor of Science - Human Resource Leadership And Analytics
Sullivan University
Lexington, KY03-2015
Skills
- Strategic HR Leadership & Alignment with Business Goals
- Organizational Culture & Transformation
- Labor Relations & Collective Bargaining
- Talent Management & Succession Planning
- Employee Engagement & Experience
- Compensation Strategy & Benefits Innovation
- Leadership Development & Executive Coaching
- Learning & Development (L&D)
- Performance Management & Career Development
- Workforce Transformation & Change Management
- HRIS Systems: Workday, ADP, Ultimate Software, SAP, Lawson/Infor
- Compensation benchmarking tools: HFMA, KHA, Mercer, Sullivan Cotter, and Pequity
- Data analytics: Tableau, Excel, Power BI
Certification
• SHRM-CP
• Predictive Index
• FACHE (Pursuing)
• Disney Institute
• Predictive Index
• FACHE (Pursuing)
• Disney Institute
Timeline
Vice President Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
04.2022 - Current
Assistant Vice President Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
09.2021 - 04.2022
System Director of Human Resources
Appalachian Regional Healthcare (ARH)
01.2020 - 09.2021
Regional HR Business Partner
Signature HealthCARE
08.2018 - 01.2020
Director of Human Resources
Churchill Downs Incorporated
12.2016 - 08.2018
HR Generalist
UK Federal Credit Union
11.2015 - 12.2016
Human Resources Associate (Pre-Employment Screening Coordinator)
University of Kentucky
03.2015 - 11.2015
Master of Science - Human Resource Leadership
Sullivan University
Bachelor of Science - Human Resource Leadership And Analytics
Sullivan University