LAURA STEVENS
CHRO
USA
Summary
Visionary People Operations executive with 20+ years of experience spanning healthcare, non-profit, and hospitality sectors. Recognized for creating compassionate, high-performance workplace cultures where future leaders naturally emerge. Combines strategic HR leadership with practical operational understanding to build engaged teams in mission-driven environments. Expert in leadership development, organizational culture transformation, and talent management with a servant leadership approach. Proven ability to balance service excellence with organizational mission while driving measurable business results.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Human Resources Officer
COLUMBIA COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM
07.2018 - Current
- Company Overview: Critical Access Hospital with 300+ healthcare professionals serving rural communities
- Transformed organizational culture through empathy-centered leadership initiatives, substantially reducing turnover and creating an environment where clinical and administrative staff choose to build long-term careers
- Served as key advisor to executive leadership on employment law compliance, executive compensation, and medical provider contracts while ensuring regulatory alignment
- Led implementation of HRIS system that streamlined HR operations and improved data-driven decision making across the organization
- Pioneered visionary mentorship program identifying and nurturing emerging leaders, creating clear growth pathways that strengthened the leadership pipeline and retained top talent
- Designed innovative development initiatives connecting personal growth to organizational goals, demonstrating commitment to helping each team member reach their potential
- Built and led a high-functioning team of 6 HR professionals who effectively support all aspects of the employee lifecycle
- Launched Employment and Management Engagement Team (EMET) that successfully increased workforce engagement and fostered cross-departmental appreciation
- Led implementation of comprehensive wellness initiatives prioritizing staff wellbeing, creating space for recovery and renewal that measurably reduced burnout rates
- Designed and executed diversity and inclusion initiatives creating a more representative workplace where all voices are heard and valued
- Built and directed recruitment team that revolutionized the hiring process by creating meaningful connections with candidates and enhancing the onboarding experience
- Developed strategic workforce plans addressing critical healthcare staffing challenges in a rural setting
- Implemented data-driven recruitment metrics that improved time-to-fill by 30% while enhancing candidate quality
- Critical Access Hospital with 300+ healthcare professionals serving rural communities
Human Resources Director
REACH, INC.
07.2015 - 07.2018
- Company Overview: Local non-profit organization providing residential, vocational, and transportation services to adults with developmental disabilities since 1974 (150+ employees)
- Led comprehensive workforce strategy across six residential facilities, work center, and transportation services, developing retention initiatives that empowered staff to help clients attain their individual goals and aspirations
- Enhanced onboarding program with a focus on client empowerment philosophy and staff engagement, creating an immersive experience that fostered deeper connection to Reach's mission and improved long-term retention
- Personally facilitated new employee orientation sessions, ensuring consistent communication of Reach's mission, values, and 40+ year legacy of community service
- Supported leadership in navigating complex funding constraints while creating competitive compensation strategies for direct support professionals
- Implemented performance management system aligned with Reach's mission of client empowerment and independence
- Developed relationships with community partners to expand employment opportunities for clients while strengthening recruitment channels for qualified staff
- Collaborated with program directors to ensure staffing models supported individualized client services across residential, vocational, and transportation programs
- Local non-profit organization providing residential, vocational, and transportation services to adults with developmental disabilities since 1974 (150+ employees)
Hospitality Team Leader & Marketing Consultant
GORDON'S ON BLUEBERRY HILL
01.2005 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: Award-winning destination fine dining restaurant and event venue on Whidbey Island
- Led front-of-house operations maintaining exceptional guest experiences while mentoring service staff on hospitality standards
- Developed marketing strategies increasing event bookings by 30% and improving seasonal guest retention
- Created comprehensive staff training materials focusing on service quality and product knowledge
- Collaborated with ownership on operational improvements enhancing both employee satisfaction and guest experience
- Award-winning destination fine dining restaurant and event venue on Whidbey Island
HR & Business Administration
SEQUOIA HOMES
01.2002 - 01.2006
- Company Overview: Construction and home building company
- Managed HR functions and business administration for construction operations
- Supported payroll, benefits administration, and employee relations in a fast-paced industry environment
- Assisted with office management and administrative processes that improved operational efficiency
- Gained valuable experience in construction industry regulations and compliance requirements
- Construction and home building company
Education
Graduate Coursework - Organizational Leadership
Gonzaga University
Spokane, WABachelor of Arts - Social Sciences
Central Washington University
Skills
- Servant Leadership
- Empathetic Management
- Strategic Workforce Planning
- Talent Management
- Organizational Transformation
- Change Management
- Healthcare Regulatory Compliance
- HIPAA
- CMS
- Employment Law
- Risk Management
- Compensation Strategy
- Total Rewards
- Leadership Pipeline Development
- Performance Management Systems
- Mentoring
- Coaching Program Design
- Cultural Assessment
- Cultural Transformation
- Employee Engagement Initiatives
- Diversity
- Equity
- Inclusion Programs
- Organizational culture
- HR policies and procedures
- Employee relations
- Organizational development
- Compliance management
Personal Information
Title: Chief Human Resources Officer
Professional Leadership
- Board Member, WSHA Board of Directors for PHD Work Comp, 01/01/25, Present
- Facilitator, Leadership Collaborative for Emerging Leaders, 12/01/24, Present
- Member, Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
- Speaker, University of Washington Masters Program in Healthcare Administration
Timeline
Chief Human Resources Officer
COLUMBIA COUNTY HEALTH SYSTEM
07.2018 - Current
Human Resources Director
REACH, INC.
07.2015 - 07.2018
Hospitality Team Leader & Marketing Consultant
GORDON'S ON BLUEBERRY HILL
01.2005 - 01.2014
HR & Business Administration
SEQUOIA HOMES
01.2002 - 01.2006
Bachelor of Arts - Social Sciences
Central Washington University
Graduate Coursework - Organizational Leadership
Gonzaga University
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