Dennis Padgett knows he's in a coveted position for these troubled economic times.
In the next few months, he'll be hiring 200 people for a new research and development facility.
His employer, Cobb-Vantress Inc., a poultry breeder based in Siloam Springs, Ark., is building a $19 million pedigree breeding complex in Deer Lodge, Tenn. Last year, the company opened a $14 million state-of-the-art hatchery in that state.
Despite the economic downturn, "We're doing fairly well," says Padgett, GPHR, director of world human resources at Cobb-Vantress.
While some industries have been hit harder by the recession than others, Padgett says the role he plays gives his employer a leg up. The expansion has, in turn, enabled it to create jobs and offer welcome news to citizens of struggling localities where new facilities are located.
He encourages innovation among 1,400 employees in eight states—and 2,500 employees globally—and nurtures relationships with universities and even high schools to ensure that a healthy crop of students pursue agriculture careers to fill future jobs in hatcheries and research labs.
"I report to the president, so HR is definitely involved in our strategic planning—and part of that planning process is determining what human capital we are going to need," Padgett says.
Open dialogue among executive-level leaders promotes growth: "It's all about moving our company forward," he says.
In this election year, the nation's high unemployment rate remains a hot debate. However, while politicians wrangle over how to create jobs, HR professionals are doing their part to put more Americans to work.
They are:
