LISA WHOLEY
Tyngsboro,MA
Summary
Dynamic Human Resources executive with a robust track record of transforming HR functions into strategic business partners. Spearheaded initiatives that supported growth from 400 to over 640 employees by implementing advanced workforce analytics, modernizing HR processes, and enhancing employee engagement through targeted development programs.
Overview
35
35
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief Human Resources Officer
Community Teamwork
11.2015 - Current
- Provide executive leadership for all Human Resources functions for approximately 640 employees.
- Serve as a strategic advisor to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team on workforce strategy, organizational development, succession planning, compensation, employee engagement, leadership development, and organizational effectiveness.
- Transformed Human Resources into a strategic business partner aligned with organizational goals.
- Partner with the CEO, Executive Leadership Team, and Board committees on strategic workforce planning, executive recruitment, organizational design, succession planning, and major organizational initiatives.
- Successfully guided the organization through the COVID-19 pandemic, workforce shortages, federal funding uncertainty, and organizational restructuring.
- Expanded HR department from 4 to 8 professionals, establishing specialized centers of expertise to enhance service delivery.
- Modernized the HR function through implementation and optimization of ADP Workforce Now, ClearCompany, and Payfactors.
- Introduced market-based compensation practices utilizing Payfactors for benchmarking, job architecture, and compensation consistency.
- Created executive HR dashboards delivering monthly workforce analytics to executive leadership, enabling data-driven decision-making on turnover, recruiting, vacancies, and hiring trends.
- Trained more than 100 managers in Blanchard SLII leadership and led organization-wide implementation of the leadership model.
- Designed and launched a comprehensive multi-day onboarding experience to strengthen employee engagement and organizational culture.
Human Resources Director
Aspire Lifestyles
01.2014 - 01.2015
- Led human resources for 250 employees, overseeing a team of three HR professionals to enhance organizational effectiveness.
- Developed comprehensive HR strategies to align with corporate goals.
- Led workforce planning to ensure optimal staffing levels and talent acquisition.
- Developed performance-based compensation programs and negotiated competitive benefits, fostering strong employee relations and collaborating with senior leadership to drive organizational performance.
- Streamlined employee onboarding processes to enhance new hire experiences.
Human Resources Director
Wedge Hotels
01.2011 - 01.2014
- Led human resources for eight multi-state hotel properties, overseeing compensation, payroll, recruiting, employee relations, compliance, and leadership development to support organizational growth.
- Managed talent acquisition processes to attract top-tier candidates across various roles.
- Developed comprehensive HR strategies to enhance employee engagement and retention.
- Oversaw performance management systems to ensure alignment with organizational goals.
Senior Human Resources Specialist
Sodexo at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Managed Human Resources for 200 employees at Harvard teaching hospital, ensuring compliance and fostering a supportive work environment.
- Managed employee relations and conflict resolution initiatives within healthcare settings.
- Collaborated with management to enhance recruitment strategies for diverse talent pools.
- Developed and implemented training programs for staff development and compliance.
Human Resources Director
Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center / Sebastian's Foodservice
01.2004 - 01.2009
- Led HR during rapid organizational growth, facilitating expansion from $15M to $30M in revenue and increasing employee count from 200 to over 700.
- (Fidelity Investments Companies)
- Developed strategic HR initiatives to align with corporate goals.
- Managed talent acquisition processes to attract top-tier candidates.
- Oversaw employee relations programs to foster a positive workplace culture.
Director of Training & Development
Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center / Sebastian's Foodservice
01.1999 - 01.2004
- Developed leadership development, onboarding, and training strategies for 1,500 employees, enhancing employee integration and professional growth.
- (Fidelity Investments Companies)
- Facilitated workshops to enhance employee skills and service quality.
- Developed training programs for staff across hospitality and foodservice sectors.
- Collaborated with management to identify training needs and objectives.
Training Manager
Sager Electronics
01.1997 - 01.1999
- Designed and delivered technical, operational, leadership, and management training programs, collaborating with business leaders to enhance employee performance.
- Developed training programs for new employees at Sager Electronics.
- Facilitated workshops to enhance team skills and product knowledge.
- Collaborated with management to identify training needs across departments.
Regional Training & Development Manager
Sodexo Healthcare
01.1992 - 01.1997
- Led leadership development and operational training initiatives to enhance team capabilities within Mid-Atlantic Healthcare Division.
- Designed training programs to enhance employee skills and knowledge.
- Facilitated workshops to promote team collaboration and communication.
- Assessed training needs through surveys and employee feedback sessions.
Education
SHRM AI + HI Specialty Credential -
SHRM
06-2026
Senior Professional in Human Resources(SPHR) -
HRCI
01-2014
Cornell University Certificate - Total Compensation
Cornell University
01-2014
Master of Arts - Behavior Management
Rivier College
Nashua, NHBachelor of Science - Dietetics
Rivier College
Nashua, NHSkills
- Strategic HR leadership
- HR transformation
- HR business partnership
- Workforce planning
- Talent acquisition
- Succession planning
- Compensation management
- Total rewards
- Employee relations
- Leadership development
- Change management
- Organizational development
- HR technology expertise
- Executive coaching
- Board relations
- Recruitment strategies
Personal Information
Title: Chief Human Resources Officer | Executive HR Transformation Leader
Executive Expertise
- Strategic Human Resources Leadership
- HR Transformation
- Organizational Development
- HR Business Partnership
- Workforce Planning
- Executive Coaching
- Total Rewards
- Compensation Strategy
- Employee Relations
- Talent Acquisition
- Leadership Development
- Change Management
- Succession Planning
- Workforce Analytics
- HR Technology
- Board Relations
- Executive Recruitment
Executive Highlights
- 10 Years as Chief Human Resources Officer leading HR strategy for one of Massachusetts' largest Community Action Agencies.
- Organizational Growth: Supported workforce expansion from 400 to more than 640 employees while maintaining compliance across complex federal, state, and grant-funded programs.
- HR Transformation: Expanded the HR organization from 4 to 8 HR professionals, creating specialized expertise in Employee Relations, HR Business Partnership, Compensation, HRIS, Talent Acquisition, Learning & Development, and Employee Engagement.
- Technology Modernization: Implemented and optimized ADP Workforce Now, ClearCompany, and Payfactors, digitizing HR processes including recruiting, onboarding, performance management, compensation benchmarking, electronic personnel files, and workflow automation.
- Leadership Development: Certified more than 100 managers in Blanchard SLII leadership and led organization-wide implementation of a coaching-based leadership model.
- Employee Engagement: Introduced the Gallup Employee Engagement Survey, partnering with leadership to improve communication, manager effectiveness, and overall employee engagement.
- Data-Driven Leadership: Created executive HR dashboards providing monthly workforce analytics to the CEO and Executive Leadership Team, tracking turnover, vacancies, recruitment activity, time-to-fill, and open positions to support strategic workforce planning.
- Compensation Strategy: Implemented Payfactors to develop market-based salary benchmarking, standardized job architecture, and transparent compensation practices.
- AI & Innovation: Earned the SHRM AI + HI Specialty Credential, demonstrating expertise in responsible AI adoption and emerging HR technologies.
Timeline
Chief Human Resources Officer
Community Teamwork
11.2015 - Current
Human Resources Director
Aspire Lifestyles
01.2014 - 01.2015
Human Resources Director
Wedge Hotels
01.2011 - 01.2014
Senior Human Resources Specialist
Sodexo at Beth Israel Deaconess Medical Center
01.2009 - 01.2011
Human Resources Director
Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center / Sebastian's Foodservice
01.2004 - 01.2009
Director of Training & Development
Seaport Hotel & World Trade Center / Sebastian's Foodservice
01.1999 - 01.2004
Training Manager
Sager Electronics
01.1997 - 01.1999
Regional Training & Development Manager
Sodexo Healthcare
01.1992 - 01.1997
SHRM AI + HI Specialty Credential -
SHRM
Senior Professional in Human Resources(SPHR) -
HRCI
Cornell University Certificate - Total Compensation
Cornell University
Master of Arts - Behavior Management
Rivier College
Bachelor of Science - Dietetics
Rivier College