Kathy Makowski, SPHR

Kathy Makowski, SPHR has over 30 years of experience in the Human Resources field. In 2019, they began working as the Senior Director of Human Resources at BCT Partners. In this role, they strategically enhance the organization's human resources by planning, implementing, and maintaining policies, programs, and practices that support staffing, employee compensation and benefits, and employee engagement. Kathy also collaborates with management and operations teams in order to develop and implement HR strategies and initiatives that align with the organization's overall business strategy. Additionally, they serve as the keeper of the company culture, playing a vital role in ensuring approach and practice align with the core values of the firm and its actions fulfill its Vision.

In 2019, Kathy also began working as the Manager/Owner of KatWinMak HR Consulting, leveraging their advisory, coaching and project management skills to support organizations with little-to-no dedicated HR departments in meeting 21st century talent management, total rewards, compliance and administrative needs.

From 2012 to 2019, Kathy served as the Director of Human Resources at The Edna McConnell Clark Foundation. In this role, they served as a strategic partner to the senior team of an evolving, fast paced and collaborative multi-state organization during the simultaneous start-up of one entity and wind-down of another. Kathy leveraged their vast HR generalist knowledge and experience to ensure policies, processes and procedures effectively supported changing business objectives, organizational values and legal compliance requirements.

From 2003 to 2012, Kathy worked as the Human Resources Manager at the Doris Duke Charitable Foundation. In this role, they partnered with grantmaking and operating foundations C-suites in multiple locations, each with its own mission, leadership, staff and culture. Kathy provided thought partnership, employee relations guidance and staff communication support during DFF and DDFIA transitions to new organizational missions. Additionally, they managed DDCF telecommunication projects across multiple locations; managed consultant and utility company relationships; and took on $3.5M budget management, increasing director\u2019s capacity.

From 1998 to 2003, Kathy worked as the Director of Human Resources at Hilton Hotels & Resorts. Initially hired as Assistant HR Director, they were promoted to Director within 5 months. Kathy served as an executive team member, and led 3-person HR team for 300+ staff members, including HERE Union Local 69. Kathy supported successful collective bargaining agreement negotiations.

Kathy's Human Resources experience began in 1987 at Marriott International, where they worked as a Human Resources Supervisor and Housekeeping Manager. As Human Resources Supervisor, they supervised staff recruitment & hiring, benefits, orientation, employee relations and training. As Housekeeping Manager, they oversaw 50+ staff members responsible for hotel room and common space cleanliness and maintenance, as well as approximately 10 health club and hotel pool staff requiring customer service and problem solving. Kathy partnered in instituting successful housekeeping general clean and inspection program that rewarded high-performing staff and increased customer cleanliness satisfaction scores.

Kathy Makowski, SPHR has a BA in Communications (Public Relations & Advertising) from Rutgers University-New Brunswick, which they obtained in 2018. Kathy also holds a Certificate in HR at the Crossroads, Executive Leadership Certificate Program from Rutgers University-New Brunswick. In addition, Kathy has obtained several certifications from LinkedIn, Lynda.com, and the HR Certification Institute - HRCI, including Coaching Employees through Difficult Situations, People Analytics, Strategic Thinking, Executive Presence for Women, Communicating with Confidence, and the Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification.