KRYSTAL ROSE
Mattoon,IL
Summary
People-centered leader with deep experience aligning strategy, culture, and execution in complex manufacturing environments. Known for challenging assumptions, connecting dots across functions, and building practical frameworks that help people do their best work. I partner closely with executives and frontline teams to develop talent, strengthen leadership pipelines, and translate vision into action.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
People Experience Leader
Hydro-Gear
Sullivan, USA
04.2024 - Current
- Led enterprise-level people experience strategy, talent development, succession planning, and internal communications for manufacturing organization of ~1,200 employees.
- Partner with executive leadership to design and implement succession planning frameworks that build bench strength and ensure continuity for critical roles.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to senior leaders, translating organizational goals into actionable programs and messaging.
- Lead operator, indirect employee, and leadership development initiatives to strengthen skills, engagement, and readiness at all levels of the organization.
- Oversee communications strategy and team, ensuring clarity, consistency, and alignment between business priorities and employee experience.
- Designed systems bridging strategy and execution, ensuring practicality, scalability, and alignment with actual work processes.
Communications
Hydro-Gear
Sullivan, USA
03.2017 - 04.2024
- Built and executed an integrated communications strategy that aligned leaders, employees, and operations across multiple facilities.
- Advised senior leadership on messaging tied to business strategy, operational priorities, and organizational change.
- Led executive communications for the Annual Employee Summit, shaping narratives around wins, challenges, and forward-looking priorities.
- Bridged leadership intent and employee understanding, ensuring messages translated into action.
- Designed and facilitated focus groups with frontline and indirect employees to surface insights, remove barriers, and inform decision-making.
- Developed corporate social investment program, HG Cares, aligning community impact with business values and strategy.
International Business Development
Justrite Manufacturing Company L.L.C.
Mattoon, USA
12.2012 - 03.2017
- Drove international growth through direct engagement with customers, distributors, and end users across global markets.
- Built face-to-face partnerships with international customers to optimize product portfolios using data-driven insights.
- Conducted on-site visits with manufacturing and pharmaceutical end users across Asia, the Middle East, Europe, South America, and the Pacific Rim.
- Identified regulatory and market opportunities to expand product adoption and increase share within existing channels.
- Influenced portfolio growth by aligning customer needs with emerging market opportunities.
Education
Master of Arts - History
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, ILBachelor of Arts - History
Eastern Illinois University
Charleston, ILMaster of Arts - History
Harlaxton University
Grantham, England, UKSkills
- People Experience & Engagement
- Talent & Leadership Development
- Succession Planning
- Strategic Communications
- Recruiting
- Executive Advisement
- Organizational Design
- Change Leadership
- Storytelling & Speechwriting
- Cross-Functional Collaboration
- Program & Project Leadership
- Culture & Values Integration
Selected Themes
- Turning ambiguity into structure without over-engineering
- Building trust across hourly, salaried, and executive audiences
- Designing systems people actually use
- Balancing empathy with accountability
- Helping organizations think long-term while executing well today
Timeline
People Experience Leader
Hydro-Gear
04.2024 - Current
Communications
Hydro-Gear
03.2017 - 04.2024
International Business Development
Justrite Manufacturing Company L.L.C.
12.2012 - 03.2017
Master of Arts - History
Eastern Illinois University
Bachelor of Arts - History
Eastern Illinois University
Master of Arts - History
Harlaxton University