Kara Deschenes

Kara Deschenes has extensive experience in human resources, with a focus on strategic leadership and program implementation. Kara currently serves as the Head of Human Resources at Bamboo Insurance, where they have successfully increased headcount by 25% in six months and reduced overall benefits costs by 10%. Kara is also a Board Member and Chair of the People Operations Committee at Safe Place for Pets, a nonprofit organization that provides care and rehoming services for pets of terminally ill individuals.

Prior to their current roles, Kara worked as an HR Consultant and Founder of Deschenes HR Consulting, LLC, providing support to various organizations in areas such as employee relations, workforce analytics, and coaching of business leaders. Kara also served as the Assistant Director of Human Resources at Colorado College, where they managed HRBP initiatives, employee relations matters, and HRIS implementations. Additionally, Kara has experience as the Senior Director of Human Resources at USA Hockey, where they built the HR organization from the ground up and oversaw employee relations issues.

Before their role at USA Hockey, Kara held the position of Assistant Director of Human Resources at Pasco County Schools, where they led a department of over 65 employees and implemented a performance management evaluation solution impacting thousands of employees. Throughout their career, Kara has demonstrated expertise in change management, talent acquisition, and compliance.

Kara Deschenes holds a Bachelor of Arts (BA) degree in English from the University of Florida. Kara also completed a Master of Business Administration (MBA) from the same institution. In addition to their degrees, they obtained certifications such as the SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) from SHRM in February 2019 and the SHRM Executive Network Membership from the SHRM Executive Network in January 2023.