Loretta Rodriguez
Summary
Dynamic HR leader with established expertise at Junior Achievement USA, driving DEIB strategy development and optimizing employee relations management.zational culture. Adept at fostering collaboration and driving performance, leveraging strong analytical skills and effective communication to achieve strategic goals. Resourceful Diversity Officer with a strong background in facilitating inclusive environments. Skilled in developing and implementing diversity initiatives, fostering cultural awareness and promoting comprehensive understanding among diverse groups. Demonstrated strengths include strategic planning, conflict resolution and policy development. Notable impact includes successfully creating programs for enhanced workplace inclusivity and improved relationships across multiple departments.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer
Junior Achievement USA
07.2022 - 05.2025
- Provided strategic guidance to JA Area Presidents and Board Chairs on sensitive employee relations matters, ensuring legal compliance within a complex federated structure.
- Played a key leadership role in managing president transitions and terminations, maintaining organizational stability and trust across the network.
- Recognized by senior leadership for delivering cost-effective legal solutions, saving the organization thousands of dollars through proactive and compliant issue resolution.
- Led a comprehensive DEIB assessment, producing a foundational strategy document that guided JA USA’s DEIB framework, training roadmap, and resource allocation.
- Partnered with McKinsey & Company to bring their Inclusion Incubator to JA USA. The program’s success led to a Train-the-Trainer model, enabling 25 JA Associates to scale this training across the JA Network.
- Collaborated with the JA JEDI Leadership Council to align DEI strategies, foster cross-organizational engagement, and sustain momentum for equity-driven initiatives.
- Worked closely with the HR team to embed DEIB into key functions including talent acquisition, compensation, learning & development, and wellness.
- Introduced the Center for Creative Leadership as a premier solution for leadership development across the JA Network.
- Secured donor and executive support to launch the program, resulting in 45+ senior leaders completing training that enhanced strategic leadership capacity across the organization.
- Played a central role in the CEO retirement transition, partnering with legal counsel, the Board’s Career and Compensation Subcommittee, and senior leadership.
- Ensured seamless leadership succession by coordinating legal agreements, retention strategies, and executive communications.
- Led HR-led fundraising efforts that secured $30,000 in sponsorships for JA’s National Leadership Conference.
- Strengthened external partnerships and helped ensure the financial success of the annual leadership gathering.
- Built and maintained strong team cohesion despite organizational challenges including remote work, paused HRIS implementation, and staff transitions.
- Fostered a culture of adaptability and collaboration through quarterly retreats and open communication, enabling consistent HR performance during a time of change.
Deputy Vice President, Human Resources & Administration
Unidos US (formerly National Council of La Raza)
Washington, DC
04.2012 - 06.2022
- Provided enterprise-wide leadership as the top Human Resources and Administrative executive for a national nonprofit with a workforce of 140+ employees across multiple states.
- Partnered with the Cabinet and Leadership Team to lead strategic human capital planning, aligning talent strategy with organizational goals and positioning UnidosUS as an employer of choice in the nonprofit sector.
- Directed a cross-functional HR team responsible for recruitment and retention, DEI initiatives, executive and market-based compensation, training and professional development, organizational development, performance management, change management, compliance, and employee engagement.
- Oversaw the design and administration of benefits programs, including plan design, vendor negotiation, and total rewards strategy to ensure competitiveness and cost-effectiveness.
- Championed the implementation and optimization of the organization’s HRIS and data analytics capabilities to enhance decision-making and workforce planning.
- Served as the senior advisor on all employee relations matters, ensuring a consistent, legally compliant, and values-driven approach to issue resolution.
- Led organization-wide efforts to foster a high-performance culture through inclusive leadership development, values-based management, and continuous improvement strategies.
- Provided executive oversight of facilities management, safety and security, and front desk operations to ensure a well-functioning and secure workplace.
- Directed facility operations including maintenance, renovations, and vendor relationships; ensured organizational readiness through the development and implementation of a comprehensive Emergency Response Plan.
- Introduced and implemented ALICE Institute Active Shooter Training, enhancing safety protocols and organizational preparedness across all locations.
Director of Human Resources
The SEED Foundation, Inc.
Washington, DC
02.2007 - 04.2012
- Provided strategic HR leadership as the organization’s first Director of Human Resources, establishing the inaugural HR function at headquarters and setting the foundation for scalable, compliant, and mission-aligned people operations.
- Designed and implemented standardized HR policies, procedures, and systems to ensure compliance with federal and state employment laws across multiple jurisdictions, supporting both headquarters and affiliated schools in Washington, DC and Baltimore, MD.
- Modernized payroll operations by transitioning from a manual process to an electronic platform, streamlining workflows and ensuring accuracy and timeliness in alignment with regulatory requirements.
- Served as a trusted senior advisor to the CEO, co-founders, and school leadership on complex employee relations, legal matters, recruitment strategies, and total rewards administration.
- Led the revision and legal review of the organization’s employee handbook, incorporating executive input and aligning policies with evolving employment law and organizational values.
- Played a key leadership role on the national expansion planning team, contributing to strategic HR and operational frameworks for proposed school openings in Ohio and Florida.
- Partnered cross-functionally with legal counsel and executive leadership to resolve high-stakes employment and compliance issues, mitigating risk and ensuring organizational integrity.
Director of Human Resources
The SEED School of Maryland
Baltimore, MD
07.2007 - 10.2011
- Worked three days a week at The SEED School of Maryland to support the opening of the school.
- Built HR department from the ground up as sole HR representative, to effectively meet the needs of the school, faculty, and staff.
- Established best practice and standard operating procedures for all HR functions.
- Together with founding school leaders built the school faculty and staff with approximately 40 new hires per year.
- During service at the school there were no issues that resulted in lawsuits.
Education
Nonprofit Leadership Certificate - Business Administration & Management
Boston College Carroll School of Management
Boston, MassachusettsMaster’s in Business Administration -
University of Phoenix
Baltimore, MDBachelor of Science - Kinesiology & Minor in Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso
El Paso, TexasSkills
- HR strategy and succession planning
- Employee relations management
- Policy compliance and assessment
- Performance management oversight
- HR information systems
- Talent acquisition and retention
- Change management strategies
- Benefits administration and EEO compliance
- Conflict resolution skills
- Training and development programs
- Project management and strategic planning
- Analytical skills and problem solving
- Team leadership and collaboration
- Verbal and written communication
- Relationship building skills
- Diversity training facilitation
- Leadership coaching strategies
- DEIB strategy development
- Policy writing expertise
- Data analytics proficiency
- Effective communication techniques
- Organizational change management practices
- Workforce planning strategies
- Stakeholder engagement techniques
- Inclusive leadership practices
- Cross-cultural collaboration skills
- Employee engagement initiatives
- Unconscious bias awareness training
Affiliations
- Society for Human Resources Management
- University of Texas at El Paso Alumni Association, Board of Directors
- NCLR President’s Council, Member
- Smithsonian Latino Center, Latinos in STEM Advisory Council, Member
- University of Texas at El Paso, Mid-Atlantic Region Coordinator
- The SEED School of Maryland, Baltimore, MD, Mentor
- Maryland State Department of Education, ELL Advisory Committee, Member
Certification
- Predictive Index, Certified
- MS Excel 2000, Certified Levels 2 & 3
- Internal Investigations, Certified
- Peer Panel Resolution Facilitator, Certified
- Open Book Management, Certified
- Positive Performance Management, Certified
References
Professional References Available Upon Request
Phone
cell, 443-326-3251
Professional Development
- American Express Leadership Academy, New York City, NY
- University of California at Los Angeles, Certificate of Completion; Leadership, Education, and Development (LEAD) Program in Business, Los Angeles, CA
- American University, Certificate of Completion; Hispanic Leadership Opportunity Program (HLOP), Washington, DC
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Human Resources & Diversity Officer
Junior Achievement USA
07.2022 - 05.2025
Deputy Vice President, Human Resources & Administration
Unidos US (formerly National Council of La Raza)
04.2012 - 06.2022
Director of Human Resources
The SEED School of Maryland
07.2007 - 10.2011
Director of Human Resources
The SEED Foundation, Inc.
02.2007 - 04.2012
Nonprofit Leadership Certificate - Business Administration & Management
Boston College Carroll School of Management
Master’s in Business Administration -
University of Phoenix
Bachelor of Science - Kinesiology & Minor in Psychology
University of Texas at El Paso