Coming up on her 25th anniversary of establishing her career in Human Resources, Sue hopes team members see her as a resource, “I think the traditional sense is something bad is happening, like someone losing their job, and we really want to get away from that stigma. We really want it to be where we’re a partner.”
What led you to Mazzella Companies?
Sue has previous experience in manufacturing as well as healthcare, “I actually started out at a small construction company in Cleveland in accounts payable and then started doing payroll, and then benefits.”
After finishing her degree in Business, with a concentration in Human Resources, Sue shared that found she really loved the legal aspect of Human Resources and was excited when she moved to Mazzella Companies and into a role that was more in the Human Resources function.
How has your role evolved over time?
After 11 years in-service, Sue shared that not only her role, but her department and the company itself, has transformed, “when I started with the Company, there were only three people in Human Resources.”
Sue was brought in for a broader reach within the company, “we were much smaller at a little over 250 team members when I started, and at that time we had just doubled in size, so they really needed a Human Resources presence.”
With the number of team members nearing 900 now across the nation, including almost 200 in Mexico, her role continues to evolve to ensure team member needs are met.
How do you help team members grow within Mazzella Companies?
Sue is not only Mazzella Companies’ Senior Regional Human Resources Manager, but she also manages the company’s education reimbursement program. A catalyst for her managing this program comes from her own experience, “prior to coming to Mazzella Companies I worked at a hospital, and I used their tuition reimbursement program and they paid for much of my education.”
Sue went on to share more about the program at Mazzella Companies, ”we have the same thing here, and I really wish more people would take advantage of it. If someone wanted to get their degree, we offer a pretty generous program offering up to 80% of tuition for an A grade.”
When asked if there were stipulations involved in what path you could take she said, “we have to get authorization prior to starting, but it could be something that could be down the line for you. Maybe you’re not in accounting now, but you want an accounting degree, and we see that’s a career, that would be something we would consider.”
Related: What Education Benefits Does Mazzella Companies Offer?
How do you stay connected with Team Members?
After life’s circumstances moved her home office from Cleveland to her literal home, Sue said that traveling and Zoom meetings have become the new normal, “I started going to different facilities once a month, checking in and talking to people. We’ve got upcoming trips planned, just really getting out. We also do lots of Zoom meetings with the managers to get to know them.”
When a trip can’t be made, Sue shared that her trust in the on-site Human Resources Generalists has been a needed conduit, “the great thing is, we’ve hired people that I really do trust, and I know that they have the same interest, care, and concern for those team members. So, it’s been much easier to give up control because I know I trust those people. The team members are in good hands there.”
How do you manage stress?
In short, Sue says her coworkers are her most impactful source for stress relief. She shared,
“it’s really great now that I have someone else in my position and a Generalist – we talk, we have weekly meetings so we can all talk about situations we’re dealing with. Quite honestly, just to have that trusted person that you can have pick up the phone is great.”
What is the role of Human Resources at Mazzella Companies?
Sue says that while it’s a lot about finding a balance between the company and its team members, it’s more about being a resource to others, especially with newly acquired team members. “It can be a very scary time for those people in those companies that are being acquired. It’s nice to be able to be there, be on site, meet them, and make sure they understand we’re here to bring you into our organization.”
Sue went on to share that being able to bring new and bigger opportunities to new people is most exciting, “a lot of the smaller companies that we acquire don’t have the resources and inventory that we have, so I think once they get over the initial shock, they’re pretty excited about the opportunities we have as a large company.”
Related: How Can I Advance My Career at Mazzella Companies?
What advice would you give someone starting out in Human Resources?
While Sue shared that it can be a hard job at times when things get emotional, that she still thinks it’s a career that is uniquely transferrable, “the one thing that I’ve always really loved about Human Resources is that it doesn’t matter what industry you’re in, it’s an easy transition from one type of company to another.”
Sue went on to share that having the ability to celebrate and share in her team member’s lives is the most fulfilling part of her job, “we like to celebrate the positive things like promotions, people getting married, and having babies.”
Getting Involved
Sue really believes that the key to a successful Human Resources department is getting involved, “helping people, especially when they’re not at the greatest point in their life, or they really need help – we get involved with people to really be able to be there and support people and help them during those times.”
