2022 HR Professional of the Year

Please join the HR Florida State Council in recognizing Lori Walsh as the 2022 HR Florida Professional of the Year. The HR Florida Professional of the Year serves as role models for the HR profession by setting the standard for others to follow and applies their expertise to enhance organizational effectiveness.

Lori Walsh has created a Best Places to Work Environment for a positive employee experience.  She conducted an Employee Engagement Survey to identify the most important elements needed to improve her company culture. She addressed these issues with a comprehensive overhaul of the wages, benefits and incentives to provide competitive time off and rewards for exceptional performance in effort to retain the best talent needed to fuel the company’s growth plan. These gains were exceptional and well above normal industry improvements. Lori spearheaded the creation of a new hire & compassion video and a cultural and diversity awareness training program. She launched the company’s learning management system and hosted weekly educational huddles.

Lori faced the organization’s acquisition of two companies, and successfully blended these teams into the one organization, improving the wages, benefits, and work experience for new team members. Lori merged the new members with a rewards program, a tuition reimbursement program, an employee onboarding process, a front-line supervisor training program, change management training and a mental health and support program. Through her leadership, her team was able to leverage the company’s remote workplace strategy to recruit and hire almost 1,000 new employees.   

Lori has created an executive coaching program, a short-term and long-term bonus structure and plan, selected an HR system, revised and updated all HR policies and hosted a quarterly all hands meeting. She also developed and delivered unconscious bias training and held monthly leadership meetings.

Lori raises the credibility, importance, and respect of HR with her leadership, vision and implementation of innovative, inclusive practices such as free mental health and financial literacy programs that allow team members equitable opportunities in the workplace. Lori also participates in the local Out of the Darkness Community Walks raising money and awareness for the American Foundation for Suicide Prevention.

Throughout her career, Lori has been an advocate, positive role model, and influential leader proudly representing the HR profession. Lori incorporates professional responsibility into every aspect of her job and the plans she puts into place. She is recognized by the HR community she serves and represents daily as this year’s Florida HR Professional of the Year!