Kara Horner Comer

About Kara Horner Comer

Strategic and Tactical HR leader with extensive knowledge and experience in strategic management, talent management, talent acquisition, total rewards, workforce planning, and employee relations. Demonstrated ability to drive change initiatives to a diverse employee population. Thorough experience with training and development across all levels of an organization. Resourceful, detail-oriented leader and culture champion that can effectively add value to the organization through People and Culture.

Experience

1. Director of Talent and Culture

   Keswick Hall

   Sep 2021 — Present · Charlottesville, VA, US

   Plan, lead, direct, develop, and coordinate the policies, activities, and staff of the Human Resource (HR) department, ensuring legal compliance and implementation of the organization’s mission and talent strategy.Effectively reduced turnover from 2022 to 2023 by 23%.Built and stabilized high performing Talent Support team during hotel re-opening.Established more efficient processes and SOP’s as it relates to recruitment, onboarding, and employees’ relations.Implemented new employee orientation twice per month and leadership orientation quarterly to ensure new employees and managers understand expectations and have the tools and resources to be successful.Transitioned benefits enrollment from a paper process to online at no cost reducing errors in benefits enrollment and billing.Moved applicant tracking from ICIMS to ADP for recruitment and onboarding, which has resulted in less manual data entry and a reduction of errors, as well as creating a more positive and user-friendly onboarding experience for our new hires.Creation of salary structure and ranges for all positions to ensure employees are paid equitably and competitively.Introduced employee discount program, employee recognition programs and events which help organization remain competitive and attract and retain employees.Talent Consultant for management and supervisors on all employee relational issues and investigations.Administers Talent programs including, but not limited to, compensation, benefits, and leave; disciplinary matters; disputes and investigations; performance and talent management; productivity, recognition, and morale; occupational health and safety; and training and development.Conducts research and analysis of organizational trends.Collaborates with senior leadership to understand the organization’s goals and strategy related to staffing, recruiting, and retention.

Education

• Villanova University

  Master of Science - MS, Human Resources Development

  2017 — 2019

• Arizona State University

  BA, Communication

  2001 — 2005