Self-described "HR Ninja" Kelly Smithee is an introvert who takes active interactions with her employees, volunteers with SHRM, and puts herself out there in her Jazzercise business - all in her sassy pants. Learn how she discovered HR by growing up with a father in HR. Find out how she found a passion in helping other get in shape, and discover the power of pivot tables in Excel. Kelly claims to be the most inappropriate person in the room yet when you get to know her you realize she wants to b...
Sep 13, 2021•46 min•Season 1Ep. 22
Kyle Killingsworth is a business advisor, speaker, and consultant focused on influencing behaviors and driving business results through employees. As a proven strategic human resources consultant with over 25 years of experience in successfully blending human resources strategies with business opportunities allowing a company to leverage their human capital and optimize the organization’s growth and performance. He has led Human Resources and Organization Development professionals in providing s...
Sep 06, 2021•54 min•Season 1Ep. 21
Greg Hawks is an impressive individual. As a Corporate Culture Specialist, he is on a mission to Shape Environments where everyone gets to contribute their best daily! For two decades he has mentored leaders, developed teams, crafted culture, and empowered employees. Motivated to grow high-capacity performers who serve, sell, and lead with excellence, he is relentless in discovering ways for individuals to grow. Listen to episode 20 and learn just how relentless Greg is. Links to items mentioned...
Aug 30, 2021•1 hr 10 min•Season 1Ep. 20
Linda Clark is passionate about helping people grow, learn, and make a difference in their field. With over 20 years of varied operational and HR experience Linda uses her talents to inspire and discover their inner strengths to boldly improve their lives. By listening to episode 19 of OKHR Leads you will also be inspired to make the difference you have been shying away from. Links to items mentioned in this podcast: DistruptHR Linda Clark DistruptHR Tulsa UCO Dare To Lead Oklahoma Skydiving Cen...
Aug 23, 2021•1 hr 3 min•Season 1Ep. 19
Josh Ploch is this quiet, unassuming man sitting there in the background working multiple jobs, volunteering for numerous HR roles, raising three children, hosting a radio show, and more. Listen to one of our more revealing podcasts as we unpack the crazy adventures of Josh and his never-ending activities. Learn what personal rewards saying "yes until it's a no" can reap for you as Josh enlightens us on his processes, style, and philosophies. Links to items mentioned in this podcast: Murphy Busi...
Aug 16, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 18
Episode 16 talks with Natalie Parrish . Natalie is the HR Manager at Overland Corporation but before she landed there she had to cut her HR teeth with the City of Ardmore. Natalie has advanced to a manager who personally loves and appreciates the HR process of taking care of her employees. Always a learner, Natalie is also heavily involved in her personal development as well as volunteering with her local chapter and OKHR. Listen to learn how she manages all this and more. Links to items mention...
Aug 09, 2021•49 min•Season 1Ep. 17
Bruce Waller is amazing. He has written his book called "Life in the Leadership Lane" and started his own podcast all while raising a family and managing his career as VP and Corporate Relocation. Listen as he discusses how he challenges himself to learn more, works his network, and energizes himself to be the best version of himself. Links to items mentioned in this podcast: https://brucewaller.com/life-in-the-leadership-lane/ https://dallas.armstrongrelocation.com/ https://www.dallashr.org/ i ...
Aug 02, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 16
Barbara Abercrombie gets to hit the ground running telling us about her travel through university HR. The experience of training and turning an introvert into a powerhouse trainer. We truly unpack the reason we should all embrace the power of Yes, and reasons to Understand your business. Enjoy Barbara and her effervescent energy and... oh yes... The Tulsa Shock! But truly the best comments ever of realizing, “You can’t make this #&*# up.” Slow down, because, Barbara teaches us, we need to: "...
Jul 26, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 15
OKHR Leads turns the tables on the interview this week and speaks with....Tara Crowley. It should have happened sooner but finally, we get to learn about the one who created this very podcast. From her restaurant owner days to her running 24-hour races, to her raising two boys while having a great HR career, Tara has a great story to tell. Celebrate the win and learn how saying "yes" has changed her life and about being the HR department of yes. Links to items mentioned in this podcast: OMNI: ht...
Jul 19, 2021•55 min•Season 1Ep. 14
Jackie Ramage is a true HR Advocate, from the implementation of her company's EAP program, promoting it to assist her employees, to her participation in TAHRA's Return on Inclusion Summit and her facilitating the EOS Tracking system, Jackie is a busy woman focused on using her HR platform to improve her employees lives. This is not to mention her volunteering efforts outside her day job. Get to know this off-the- charts' extrovert who loves animals and humans alike and has dedicated her life to ...
Jul 12, 2021•50 min•Season 1Ep. 13
No new episode this week. Tara watched fireworks and Rob took a nap. We will be back next week with the lovely Jackie Ramage. As a bonus, we have re-uploaded our bonus episode from two weeks ago as it never made its way to the Apple Podcast. Listen to this one - it's funny. Hope everyone had a great fourth and see you next Monday with a brand new episode. T&R
Jul 06, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 11
Tara and Rob connect with volunteer extraordinaire, Diana Wall. Diana is a recent part-owner of Accel Financial Staffing, where she has been a part of its growth since opening in 1995. Diana winds through amazing stories of driving through Oklahoma City at 7 months pregnant when the Murrah Bombing occurred in 1995 to guiding Sooner HR Society (SHRS) to a national SHRM Pinnacle Award. We talked about holding uncomfortable conversations as an HR professional, and what tip was given on how to deter...
Jun 28, 2021•44 min•Season 1Ep. 12
"OKHR Leads" has hit a milestone. They just released their 10th episode. To celebrate this accomplishment, the wacky host get together to reflect on their favorite moments from each show and what they have learned. It will be hard not to listen to this bonus show and not immediately go back and relisten to some of our past shows. No cute music, no awesome guest, just two friends reflecting on some fun times and great lessons learned. Enjoy.
Jun 24, 2021•38 min•Season 1Ep. 11
"OKHR Leads" brings in the 10th episode with past president of OCHRS, Anna Tsakiris . Anna is a self-described animal lover who also loves humans. She has been in HR at CompSource for over 15 years and has experienced great growth and change with her time there. We discuss her challenges, victories, passion for HR, her animals, and her love of organizational tools. Rob gets mauled by his Yorkie, Tara wears a swan shirt (not seen but so loud you can hear it in the podcast), and Anna talks about b...
Jun 21, 2021•41 min•Season 1Ep. 10
In episode 9, OKHR Leads speaks with the Assistant Director of Business Operations OSU Library at Oklahoma State University, Jessica Cottom . Learn about her early rise through the HR ranks, her drive to help others through development, and her outlook on how HR should treat all with dignity. In an exciting twist, Tara and Rob expose Jessica to the classic film "9-5" while Jessica and Tara introduce Rob to the book "Girl, Wash Your Face." You'll love getting to know this proud Millennial, Mom, a...
Jun 14, 2021•47 min•Season 1Ep. 9
OKHR Leads is very excited to speak with SHRM Senior Vice President of Membership Mike Aitken . Mike has been with SHRM for 18 years and brings his wealth of knowledge and experience to this exciting interview. We discuss leadership, advocacy, recruiting, history, and wine tasting among other varied topics. Mike is a "no drama" leader who stresses supporting people and placing them in stretch assignments to get the most out of folks. You will walk away from this podcast with ideas and a mood to ...
Jun 07, 2021•1 hr•Season 1Ep. 8
Lisa Fleming is the current Vice President of Human Resources at Collison Works . The self-described "Millennial in a Baby Boomer's body" discusses her love of compensation, diversity, and stories of wearing tight pants in the '80s. Lisa is a stop and smell the roses HR professional you will find inspiring, interesting, and just plain funny. Links to items mentions in this podcast you might find interesting: Oklahoma City HR Society Federal Reserve - Oklahoma City Branch Chesapeake Energy Sonic ...
May 31, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 9
Tara and Rob speak with the HR Manager of Henniges Automotive , Chase Massie. Chase tells us the story of how he found HR after learning that his dream of working PR for the Texas Rangers would not come true. How he fought for his first Director of HR role at the young age of 25 and how he was recruited to his current role for the global automotive company where he makes employees cry by giving them a onesie (this is true, you have to listen to learn why). Chase speaks to his passion for HR, Vol...
May 24, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 6
Joy Michelle Killingsworth is an “HR leader among HR Leaders.” Joy has served on several SHRM chapter and state boards for the past 14 years. She has been a conference chair three times. Joy has been such an integral volunteer leader within OKHR that she even has a volunteer leader award named after her. Listen, learn, and be inspired by Joy’s passion for serving, her continued journey for learning, and her love of meeting people. Links to items mentioned in this podcast that might interest you:...
May 17, 2021•51 min•Season 1Ep. 5
In episode 4 of OKHR Leads, Tara and Rob get to know Krystal Brue . Krystal is currently the Department of Business Chair at Cameron University where she helps equip students for their chosen career while advocating to raise the level of HR. We learn from her experience as a board member of OKHR and an officer of her local SHRM chapter SWOKHR . Krystal has a passion for HR, Academia, books, and high adrenaline vacations. We hope you enjoy getting to know Krystal as much as we did. Links to items...
May 10, 2021•1 hr 6 min•Season 1Ep. 4
Mike carved out a little time to spend with Tara and Rob on his 16th wedding anniversary. In episode three we learn Mike's SHRM relationship is longer than his marriage! He also discusses his passion for HR and his beard.
May 03, 2021•1 hr 2 min•Season 1Ep. 3
In episode two Tara speaks with Kristi Spaethe of the People Perspective. Listen as Kristi get personal with what excites her, her love of Brene Brown, and her half-hearted New Year's resolution.
Apr 26, 2021•45 min•Season 1Ep. 2
Listen as Tara and Rob talk with Heidi Hartman, the OKHR District Director and President/CEO of HartmanConsulting. We delve into Heidi's previous experience, current HR philosophies, OKHR's pivot through Covid, and more.
Apr 19, 2021•52 min•Season 1Ep. 1
In the "OKHR Leads" inaugural podcast Tara interviews Rob. Learn his story of how he left a 23-year career in the movie theatre business to find HR as a recruiter. Find out how he took that path to his current role of Learning and Development manager. Discover how he values his friendships and network that he has discovered through OKHR. Oh, and stay to the end for his concerns regarding his tiny hands.
Apr 13, 2021•43 min
