Isabelle Berry
San Antonio
Summary
Transformational HR leader with a focus on associate relations and strategic business partnerships in large-scale hospitality. Reduced turnover and ensured compliance while fostering a strong company culture. Led investigations and crafted employee relations strategies in collaboration with senior leadership to implement effective HR solutions in complex multi-unit settings.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Director of Operations
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
San Antonio, TX
07.2023 - Current
- Lead associate relations and HR business partner functions for 1,000+ associates, aligning people strategy with business outcomes to enhance workforce engagement.
- Achieved 6.8% reduction in turnover through targeted retention, leadership coaching, and culture initiatives.
- Serve as senior escalation point for complex employee relations issues; led high-risk investigations annually and partnered with legal to mitigate risk.
- Utilize data insights to reduce escalations and enhance associate experience while ensuring compliance with labor laws and policies.
- Coach HR Business partners and leaders and ensure consistency in discipline; reviewed 1,700+ cases to uphold compliance and fairness.
- Champion workforce inclusion and leadership development initiatives, including Project SEARCH and onboarding training for all new leaders.
- Promoted workforce inclusion and leadership development through projects like onboarding training for new leaders.
Employment Manager
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
San Antonio, TX
08.2021 - 07.2023
- Spearheaded large-scale hiring efforts (1,500+ associates), ensuring processes supported compliance, equitable hiring practices, and operational readiness during a complex labor market.
- Partnered with property leadership across 34 departments to align workforce strategies with business needs while ensuring compliance with company policies and employment regulations.
- Reduced turnover and improved associate engagement through strategic hiring initiatives, workforce planning, and strengthened community partnerships.
- Guided leadership in onboarding and training practices to ensure brand standards adherence, compliance requirements, and positive associate experience.
- Collaborated with HR Senior leadership to ensure consistent application of policies, proper documentation practices, and alignment with corporate governance standards.
- Coached and developed HR team members, reinforcing best practices in associate communication, issue resolution, and adherence to HR procedures.
Human Resources Manager
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
San Antonio, TX
07.2019 - 08.2021
- Executed high-volume workforce strategy during COVID-19 reopening, achieving 600 hires in compliance with regulations.
- Directed large-scale hiring events and onboarding processes to uphold HR standards and brand expectations.
- Advised leadership on onboarding performance expectations and policy interpretation to mitigate risks.
- Managed HR administrative operations, ensuring audit-ready documentation and adherence to record retention standards.
- Cultivated community partnerships to enhance diverse talent pipelines and promote equitable hiring practices.
- Strengthened associate experience through transparent communication and resolution of employee relations issues, boosting engagement and retention.
Human Resources Trainer
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
San Antonio, TX
10.2016 - 07.2019
- Managed team of certified trainers to enhance onboarding efficiency and improve employee retention.
- Facilitated approximately 60 new hire orientations and 30 developmental trainings annually.
- Accurately maintained training transcripts for up to 1,400 associates.
- Published monthly training calendars and coordinated internships with leadership, facilitating 60-75 placements annually.
- Supported and mentored departments to achieve resort-wide goals while maintaining 100% sustainability index.
- Provided HR support during pre-opening at Houston Marquis and strikes at San Francisco Union Square Marriott.
Lead Agent - Human Resources Recruiter
Marriott Customer Engagement Center
San Antonio, TX
11.2011 - 10.2016
- Managed full-cycle recruitment for a high-volume contact center, hiring and onboarding 1,400+ external candidates and supporting 700+ internal promotions/transfers.
- Increased applicant flow and diversity pipelines through innovative sourcing strategies, including social media, community partnerships, and targeted outreach to universities, veterans, and workforce programs.
- Led 70+ new hire orientation and benefits sessions, ensuring consistent onboarding experience and policy compliance.
- Organized and facilitated large-scale hiring and engagement events, including job fairs, recognition programs, and internship initiatives.
- Contributed to development of a Talent Management Guide focused on inclusive hiring and retention of individuals with disabilities.
- Delivered top-tier sales and service performance, achieving 103.6% conversion rate and coaching new hires as an on-the-job trainer.
- Supported business transitions (Gaylord Hotels integration) and provided data insights on 600+ properties to inform leadership decisions.
Skills
- HR Business Partnership
- Associate Relations & Investigations
- Regulatory Compliance (Federal/State)
- Compliance management
- Turnover reduction
- Retention strategies
- Workforce planning
- Diversity initiatives
- Leadership coaching
- Conflict Resolution
- French Bilingual
Accomplishments
- SAHLA Pineapple Award – Manager of the Year (2022); recognized for outstanding leadership and operational excellence.
- Leader of the Quarter (2021, 2022, 2024); consistently recognized for high-impact leadership and team performance.
- Guest Speaker: Presented at UTSA Forum, Texas Diversity Leadership Conference, and AHEAD Alliance Symposium on workforce and inclusion strategies.
- Marriott HR Excellence Award: Led recruitment strategy achieving 65% increase in staffing levels.
- Standing Ovation Award: Raised $192K+ for Children’s Miracle Network, demonstrating commitment to community impact and service culture.
- Workforce Solutions Alamo: 2026 Hireability Partner Nominee and Breaking Barrier Nominee
Affiliations
San Antonio hotel and Lodging Associate (SAHLA) - Education committee member
Timeline
Human Resources Director of Operations
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
07.2023 - Current
Employment Manager
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
08.2021 - 07.2023
Human Resources Manager
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
07.2019 - 08.2021
Human Resources Trainer
JW Marriott Hill Country Resort & Spa
10.2016 - 07.2019
Lead Agent - Human Resources Recruiter
Marriott Customer Engagement Center
11.2011 - 10.2016