Hunt Forest Products

Candy Gerace

Employee Experience Advocate

A Career Shaped by Experience

The experiences that have most shaped my approach to human resources leadership are the relationships built along the way with employees, managers, mentors and peers. HR is ultimately about people and strong workplace cultures are built through trust, consistency and genuine connection.

I have learned the importance of investing in others, mentoring when you have the opportunity and also being willing to receive guidance and perspective in return. Those reciprocal moments of support, learning and encouragement have shaped how I lead and have reinforced my belief that people grow best in cultures where relationships are valued, and trust is intentionally built.

Balancing Organizational Goals with Employee Needs

This is one of the most challenging responsibilities we face as HR professionals, and I am not sure there is ever a perfect balance. The scale often tips in one direction or the other depending on the business need, the people involved and the circumstances at hand. The most important thing we can do is know the business well enough to understand what is required, while also staying grounded in what is fair, respectful and right for employees.

Strategic workforce decisions are not always easy, and HR is often called upon to help navigate difficult choices. I learned a long time ago that instead of simply saying ‘no,’ it is more productive to ask, ‘How can we?’ That question opens the door to creative solutions that support the organization while still honoring the people who make the organization successful.

Attracting, Developing and Retaining Talent

The workplace continues to evolve, and our approach to attracting, developing and retaining talent has to evolve with it. What worked years ago may not be enough today. For example, onboarding is no longer just a first-day event. It should be a more intentional experience that extends over several days, involves management and helps employees feel welcomed and connected from the beginning.

Small touches like welcome gifts or personal introductions matter, but the most important lesson is that employees need to know they are cared about and that their work adds value. When people understand how their role contributes to the success of the company, they are more likely to feel engaged, invested and committed to growing with the organization.

"The most important thing we can do is know the business well enough to understand what is required, while also staying grounded in what is fair, respectful and right for employees."

Leveraging AI to Enhance Workforce Management

AI is clearly one of the emerging trends that will have the greatest impact on the future of human resources and workforce management. Everywhere you turn, whether it is an article, a conference session or a vendor introducing a newly enhanced product, AI is part of the conversation.

It is here, and as leaders, we have a responsibility to lead from the front. That means learning how to use AI thoughtfully, responsibly and practically, while showing our teams that it can help us do our jobs better and more efficiently. AI will not replace the human side of HR, but it can help us work smarter, make better use of data, streamline processes and create more time for the people-centered work that matters most.

Advice for HR professionals

Do not be afraid to ask questions, even when you think everyone else may already know the answer. Some of the most valuable lessons I have learned about the business came from asking questions that may have seemed obvious to others but were important for me to understand. There may be eye rolls, silence, or impatient reactions along the way, but do not let that stop you.

You are there to learn, and the more you understand the business, the more value you can bring—to yourself, to the company and to the people you support. Asking thoughtful questions is one of the best ways HR professionals move from being administrative support to becoming true strategic business partners.