Jen Peterson
People Focused Business Partner
Rapid City,SD
Work Preference
Summary
I’m a Human Resources Business Partner who believes leadership is the heartbeat of an engaged culture. When leaders show up with humility, empathy, and a genuine desire to serve their teams, everything shifts — communication gets clearer, trust gets stronger, and people feel connected to the work they do. I’ve had the privilege of seeing this firsthand, and it guides how I support the business.
I partner closely with business leaders to strengthen engagement and encourage them to grow into the kind of people others want to follow. I focus on practical, human‑centered leadership skills — listening well, communicating with intention, navigating tough moments with confidence, and creating team environments where people feel supported and energized.
I’m SHRM‑CP certified and passionate about building workplaces where people feel valued, inspired, and part of something meaningful. Helping leaders bring out the best in their teams motivates me every day.
If servant‑minded leadership and building engaged, thriving teams matter to you, I would love to connect!
Overview
2025
2025
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Regional Human Resources Business Partner
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
01.2025 - 01.2025
- Acted as a change leader across a 1,000-employee region, partnering with leaders to strengthen culture, improve engagement, and guide teams through organizational growth and transition.
- Partnered with business leaders to strengthen engagement, improve communication, and build trust-centered team cultures.
- Coached managers on practical leadership skills including intentional communication, active listening, and navigating difficult conversations.
- Led culture-building initiatives that improved team connection, morale, and retention across multiple locations.
- Supported organizational growth through workforce planning and change management efforts.
- Led engagement survey action planning, helping leaders identify themes, build action plans, and improve team connection and morale.
- Supported learning and development programs that enhanced leadership capability, communication, and team effectiveness.
- Served as a trusted advisor to operational leaders across fire protection, suppression, alarms, monitoring, and security service lines.
- Full-service fire protection and life-safety company specializing in extinguishers, suppression systems, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, access control, and security services.
Human Resource Manager – Sprinkler Division
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
01.2024 - 01.2024
- Supported the Sprinkler Division through multiple acquisitions, ensuring smooth integration of new teams into Pye-Barker’s culture, systems, and leadership expectations.
- Guided leaders through change management, communication planning, and employee engagement during periods of rapid organizational transition.
- Strengthened leadership capability through coaching, development conversations, and alignment with company values.
- Partnered with operations, service, and installation teams to support workforce planning and talent needs across fire sprinkler projects.
- Full-service fire protection and life-safety company specializing in extinguishers, suppression systems, fire sprinklers, fire alarms, access control, and security services.
Human Resource Manager
Rapid Fire Protection – A Pye Barker Company
11.2016 - 12.2023
- Led HR operations for a rapidly growing fire protection organization, supporting expansion from 138 operating in 5 states to 500+ employees operating in 8 states.
- Partnered with leadership to prepare the organization for acquisition, aligning people processes, communication, and culture to support a smooth transition into Pye-Barker.
- Built strong relationships with field technicians, installers, and office teams across fire suppression, alarms, and special hazard environments, ensuring HR support aligned with operational needs.
- Partnered with business leaders to strengthen engagement, improve communication, and build trust-centered team cultures.
- Coached managers on practical leadership skills including intentional communication, active listening, and navigating difficult conversations.
- Supported culture-building initiatives that improved team connection, morale, and retention across multiple locations.
- Supported organizational growth through workforce planning, onboarding, and change management efforts.
- Collaborated with safety and operations teams to support employee relations, performance management, and workforce readiness in a high-compliance, safety-critical industry.
- Managed benefits administration and workers’ compensation programs, partnering closely with safety and operational leaders to support injured employees and coordinate safe, timely return-to-work plans.
- Developed, updated, and maintained the employee handbook, ensuring alignment with organizational values, legal requirements, and industry standards.
- Led HR compliance, including regulatory requirements, documentation, audits, and adherence to state and federal employment laws.
- Oversaw the payroll team, ensuring accuracy, compliance, and strong communication during periods of rapid expansion.
- Managed prevailing wage compliance with the payroll specialist, ensuring accurate wage determinations, certified payroll reporting, and adherence to contract and regulatory requirements.
- Fire suppression services and system installation for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. Rapid Fire Protection was acquired by Pye Barker Fire & Safety in July of 2021.
Payroll Specialist
Rapid Fire Protection – A Pye Barker Company
02.2015 - 11.2016
- Managed payroll processing with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality. Ensuring timely pay and compliance with company policies.
- Lead the transition from paper timecards to an electronic timekeeping system that improved accuracy, efficiency, and compliance.
- Fire suppression services and system installation for commercial, industrial, and residential buildings. Rapid Fire Protection was acquired by Pye Barker Fire & Safety in July of 2021.
Human Resources Generalist
Moyle Petroleum
2004 - 02.2015
- Provided full-cycle HR support to the HR Director including recruitment, onboarding, employee relations, compliance, and training.
- Managed benefits administration and workers’ compensation processes, partnering with the HR Director and operational supervisors to support injured employees and coordinate safe return-to-work plans.
- Built strong relationships with leaders and employees to support team developments.
- Contributed to a positive, people-first culture through consistent support, communication, and relationship-building.
- Regional based company for Common Cents Gas Station and Convenience Stores.
Payroll Specialist
Moyle Petroleum
1999 - 2004
- Managed payroll processing for 500 employees at multiple locations throughout a 4 State Region with a high degree of accuracy and confidentiality. Ensuring timely pay and compliance with company policies.
- Transitioned payroll systems from ADP to Paychex, ensuring accurate data migration, employee record integrity, and smooth adoption across multiple locations.
- Resolved payroll discrepancies and employee questions with professionalism and care.
- Maintained confidentiality in payroll records, timekeeping data, and compliance documentation.
- Regional based company for Common Cents Gas Station and Convenience Stores.
Receptionist / Administrative Assistant
Moyle Petroleum
01.1998 - 1999
- Served as the first point of contact for employees, customers, and vendors, providing warm, professional service.
- Assisted with onboarding paperwork, personnel files, and early HR administrative tasks.
- Demonstrated reliability and strong communication skills that led to promotion into payroll and later HR.
- Regional based company for Common Cents Gas Station and Convenience Stores.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources Management
Black Hills State University
Spearfish, SDSkills
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Employee engagement
- Employee retention
- Performance management
- Succession planning
- Change management
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Human resources operations
- Training and development
- Payroll processing
- Benefits and compensation management
Certification
- SHRM-CP - SHRM Certified Professional
Quote
Great companies don't hire skilled people and motivate them, they hire already motivated people and inspire them.
- Simon Sinek
Accomplishments
Leave people and places better than when I found them.
Additional Information
KPI = Key Performance Indicators?
I am a believer in a simplified strategic Leadership KPI:
- Keep people interested
- Keep people informed
- Keep people involved
- Keep people inspired
Timeline
Regional Human Resources Business Partner
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
01.2025 - 01.2025
Human Resource Manager – Sprinkler Division
Pye-Barker Fire & Safety
01.2024 - 01.2024
Human Resource Manager
Rapid Fire Protection – A Pye Barker Company
11.2016 - 12.2023
Payroll Specialist
Rapid Fire Protection – A Pye Barker Company
02.2015 - 11.2016
Receptionist / Administrative Assistant
Moyle Petroleum
01.1998 - 1999
Human Resources Generalist
Moyle Petroleum
2004 - 02.2015
Payroll Specialist
Moyle Petroleum
1999 - 2004
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources Management
Black Hills State University