Danette M.

About Danette M.

I believe HR exists to unlock potential for people, organizations, and the communities they serve.Throughout my career, I have focused on making sure the right people are in the right seats and have the tools, structure, and support they need to succeed. When they do not, I look deeper. Do they need a different seat, or do they need better tools to be effective?I care about the ripple effect our work creates. Good jobs sustain families, skilled teams strengthen local economies, and healthy cultures make employees proud to belong.I value balance between work and personal life. I believe diverse teams perform better because they bring broader perspectives, richer problem solving, and deeper understanding. Diversity, equity, and inclusion are not boxes to check. They are the foundation of performance and innovation.I also believe in the power of shared knowledge. Within the HR community, collaboration creates strength. In the Central Florida HR Consortium, we exchange resources, ideas, and lessons learned so that everyone benefits. When HR professionals work together rather than compete for information, our workplaces and communities improve.As AI reshapes the workforce, HR has never been more critical. My goal is to integrate technology with humanity and ensure organizations stay future ready without losing what makes them human.

Experience

1. Director of Human Resources

   Sanford Airport Authority

   Aug 2019 — Present · Sanford, FL, US

   As HR Director for a public agency in a regulated environment, I lead strategic and operational initiatives that support workforce growth, leadership development, and organizational agility. I serve as a trusted business partner to senior leadership and a driver of culture, compliance, and continuous improvement.Key Achievements:• Scaled operations by onboarding 175 new employees within 60 days while maintaining compliance, engagement, and data accuracy.• Built and implemented a comprehensive learning and development program tailored to skill gaps, safety priorities, and succession readiness.• Launched an agency-wide succession planning framework aligned with critical roles and future leadership needs.• Designed and executed a labor market-focused upskilling strategy, preparing internal talent to meet evolving workforce demands.• Developed and rolled out a new pay plan with career pathing, supporting internal mobility, and long-term retention.• Led a full HR digital transformation, achieving 100% paperless operations and increasing real-time access to employee data.• Reduced employee relations issues from 20% to <1% through leadership coaching, PIPs, and strategic culture initiatives.• Directed annual HR programs including Open Enrollment, COLA increases, and vacation sell-back with zero disruption.• Led compensation planning and budget forecasting for annual COLA increases, merit adjustments, and benefits programs—aligning total rewards strategy with fiscal responsibility and organizational goals.• Established a collaborative leadership environment to proactively address staffing, performance, and compliance challenges.

Education

• University of Houston

  Bachelor's of Science, Business Administration and Management, General

  2007