Not all paths to a destination are smooth and unchanging – especially career paths. Charmaine began her career as scrub nurse after studying at a technical college and quickly realized it wasn’t her passion. Her family’s military history then led her to an Air Force recruiter, followed by basic training in San Antonio, Texas and six years of traveling Europe and the United States serving her country, “it was the biggest honor.”
After leaving the military, Charmaine found herself in a temporary position that would eventually lead her to her current position, “After the Air Force I took a job as a temp in a Human Resources department, which ended up being a full-time position. I loved the space, the people, the engagement, being able to affect somebody’s life and help them. I’ve been in it since then.”
What led you to work at Mazzella Companies?
A past relationship with Kristy Andrews, Chief Human Resources Officer, served as a catalyst, “I have been working in Human Resources for 40 plus years and I actually worked with Kristy Andrews in the past and she contacted me about opportunities with Mazzella and telling me about how Mazzella was growing their Human Resources side of the business and that she needed somebody like me.”
After doing her homework on the company itself, Charmaine was fascinated adding, “I saw how engaged Tony Mazzella was in this company and the culture. The next thing I knew, I was interviewing with the HR team and then Tony Mazzella and now I’m sitting here at Mazzella.”
How do you stay connected with Team Members?
Charmaine keeps staying connected a priority saying, “my teammates and team members in the field know they can call me 24/7. I never shut my phone off.” Charmaine’s dedication to connectivity is all about setting precedents, “we need to be that independent person that unconditionally our team members can reach out to. Life happens, right? It doesn’t just happen Monday to Friday.”
Charmaine went on to share that being new means counting on a connection with her teammates while she forges her way, “I am at some of my manager’s mercy to teach me what Mazzella Companies is about. So, I need them as much as they need me.”
Being new and bringing in new people adds to the demand to bond, reiterating that in the world of Human Resources, you need to be available, “the goal is to get out in the field and visit the locations. It doesn’t matter if there’s one or two people working there or 30 – everybody is important.”
She went on to share that dialog doesn’t always have to be formal, “even if there’s nothing going on, I call my teammates just to chat. There’s no process or plan for it – just open communication.”
How do you manage stress?
As a lover of the outdoors, Charmaine detailed that she enjoys spending time traversing her hometown’s trailways with her adult children and friends, “we like to hike and bike. I think family and friends are so important. I don’t have any grandchildren, but we have four huskies, and they hang out and hike with us.”
What is the role of Human Resources at Mazzella Companies?
What used to only be onboarding paperwork, job descriptions, and hiring has since evolved and even blossomed, “it’s changed over the years. We affect every part of somebody’s being in their life, whether we’re recruiting, onboarding, training, continuing development, and lifelong learning – being there for the good times and the bad times in their lives.”
More than being involved in a team member’s life, it’s bridging the gap between them and leadership saying it’s important to, “be an independent voice because we are the voice of everybody. We’re the voice of the team members and the company.”
How do you stay on top of all the operations of multiple locations with your peers?
Charmaine said that staying structured is key, “I have binders that I use for the different businesses as a check off system, I try to never end the day without responding to an email that needs to be responded to, or a call that needs to be responded to. Even if I don’t have the answer – I let somebody know I am working on it.”
Keeping organized and staying on top of messages has become increasingly important with the rollout of a new Human Resources system that will provide team members with a new service hub. “We are jumping into the deep end with a new platform that’s a one stop shop for all team members. They can go in there and see their paychecks, their tax statements, and benefits. At some point next year, we’re going to be able to do open enrollment online. There’s really a ton of work and we have to get it right on the first try. We can’t make mistakes, so it’s a very in-depth process, but very exciting.”
What advice would you give someone starting out in Human Resources?
With 40 years of wisdom and experience under her belt, Charmaine confidently answered, “I would tell somebody that it’s the best, rewarding job you can ever do. Don’t let it overwhelm you. Take chances and don’t be afraid. Especially someone that’s starting new in their career. It’s literally the best time to take a chance. So, if you love people, it’s very rewarding. Love it and grow with it.”
We’re All Team Members
As a Human Resources manager, Charmaine believes her and her group serve as the voice of the team members, personally, as well as the company, “I know we used to call people employees, but we really all are team members, all part of the same team, and we need to look at it that way and we need to make sure people feel that. It’s about treating people with respect and dignity, being that human person that cares for people.”
