Heather Cushing Drennan
Vice President of People & Culture @Birge & Held
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WORK HISTORY
Vice President of People & Culture @Birge & Held
IN, US
Built the People & Culture department, overseeing Human Resources, Talent Development (TD, L&D), Corporate Communications, and IT. Through a singular people-first vision, these teams are focused on three key objectives: improving employee retention, boosting employee engagement, and mitigating legal and security risks.Human Resources Team, which includes: • Talent acquisition and hiring,• Employee relations inclusive of workplace policies, resolving disputes, and fostering a positive work environment,• Compliance, ensuring adherence to labor laws and regulations,• All compensation and benefits, designing competitive packages to attract and retain talent, establishing pay bands, managing payroll, and implementing a self-funded insurance model.IT Services, which facilitates: • Strategic guidance of IT Team comprised of internal and external IT resources including one internal director and contracted third-party IT company,• Management of all IT and cybersecurity needs for 130 residential properties and 700 employees, • 24/7 monitoring of all technology equipment owned by B&H and its communities, • Connectivity of all internal systems for heightened security management and seamless onboarding offboarding processes.Corporate Communications, which guides: • Comprehensive corporate communications strategy, • Fully developed Intranet site, Welcome Home, connecting all departments and teams into one company hub, • Searchable SOP resources, with relevant job aids and training built in partnership with Talent Development and the Software Solutions Team.
EDUCATION
Illinois State University
MBA, Master of Business
Illinois State University
BA, C&I
ABOUT HEATHER CUSHING DRENNAN
As a visionary executive in People & Culture, I bring over two decades of experience designing and leading transformative talent strategies that elevate organizations from the inside out. Currently serving as Vice President of People & Culture at Birge & Held, I’ve built and scaled departments across HR, Talent Development, Corporate Communications, and IT—unifying them under a singular, people-first vision that drives retention, engagement, and operational excellence.My career has been defined by creating high-impact learning portfolios, developing future-ready leaders, and architecting award-winning programs like REACH and The Leadership Hub. I specialize in aligning culture with business strategy, coaching executives, and building scalable systems that empower teams at every level—from frontline to C-suite.Recognized for USA Today Top Workplace and as a Training Magazine Emerging Leader, I’m passionate about shaping inclusive, high-performing cultures where people thrive and businesses grow.Let’s connect if you’re passionate about leadership, culture, and building workplaces where people matter.
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