In the ever-evolving realm of human resources, there are those who have defined the profession’s emergence as a key-driving force of both strategy and success. They are Fellow Canadian Human Resources Professionals; FCHRPs are vanguards and stewards, strategists and anchors, both defining and promoting excellence within their realms of experience.

On April 15, 2011, three such individuals were recognized and awarded with FCRHP status during the final gala luncheon of BC HRMA’s 49th Annual Conference in Vancouver.

Rod Killough, FCHRP

He had a seat at the management table before many of us in HR had thought to ask for one – or in many cases, even entered the workforce.

For the past four decades, Rod Killough has worked to redefine the impact of human resources. For over 30 of those years, he has been on deck with Cominco LTd., first in Trail and for nearly 20 years with Teck Highland Valley Copper Partnership in Logan Lake, BC. His vision has focused on the strategic role that HR can play and he has found welcome reception on all fronts.

Serving as an HR strategic partner long before it became a popular model, his approach, grounded in trust and open communications, helped raise the profile of HR’s potential at Teck HIghland. With a strong focus on encouraging talent management and representing the interests of the employees forward, he quickly became, and has remained, a key player in the organization’s decision-making.

Regarded for his solutions-oriented approach to HR, Rod’s impact took root in the 70s with the development of a compensation evaluation system that measured knowledge and problem solving and brought accountability into jobs. Equitable in all regards, it was accepted by all parties as a both revolutionary and reasoned approach to compensation. It also saved money in overall compensation. Such win-win scenarios have defined Rod Killough’s career.

Most recently, Rod and his team at Teck Highland were finalists in the Innovation category for BC HRMA’s 2010 Award of Excellence for a program many years in the making. Targeting productive employment opportunities for employees disabled either on or off the job, Rod and his team worked together with the United Steelworkers Local 7619 to create a unique Disability Management Program featuring the Modified Work Centre.

Adhering to a three-pronged strategy focusing on prevention, administration and rehabilitation, Rod has long stayed true to his belief that employees are any company’s greatest asset.

As an early champion of the “employee value proposition’” and an ardent supporter of his profession, industry and community alike, Rod has served as both a pioneer and a role model for many. That his contributions and innovations continue to impact today, make him an inspiration and a FCHRP.

Susan McIntyre, FCHRP

As principal of People in Focus Consulting Ltd., since 2004 Susan McIntyre has continued the mission that has defined her career – working in partnership with business leaders to teach them the benefits of solid HR practices.

Integral to the development of our industry standard from its inception and a key contributor to the growth and success of BC HRMA, Susan has championed the big picture and small businesses alike. In doing so, she has revealed in the true impact of individual initiative.

She is renowned for her outstanding dedication to excellence in the human resources community, specifically in the sharing and promotion of innovative HR policies and practices. Moreover, she has been defined by her peers as “a penultimate professional in her community, with local, provincial and national associations and with her clients”.

A passionate advocate of her profession and a strong supporter of BC HRMA, Susan’s selfless contributions to HR have been many. Her personal development and wisdom was a tremendous asset throughout her six years on the BC HRMA Board and as Chair of the Central Interior.

From working in both a provincial and national capacity on the development of the CHRP designation to serving as the BC representative on the National Professional Standards Committee (PSC), her efforts have served us all.

As an educator of HR and co-chair of the TRU Career Mentoring Program at Thompson Rivers University, she has directly impacted the lives of many. As an HR professional actively sought after by businesses of every stripe for her approach and acumen alike, Susan’s success has been forged in the field of experience.

Throughout her career, whether managing attrition at Convergys’ call centres, reshaping organizational structure at Hy-Tech or working with the Northern Shuswap Tribal Council , Susan has remained a tireless proponent of people solutions.

Her efforts continue to shape and build the knowledge base of all those entering our profession.

Kevin Jeffrey, FCHRP

For over 20 years, he has set the pace and defined the scope of HR. He has long served as both a catalyst of change and a bellwether of better people practices. Establishing the Pointbreak Consulting Group in 2004, Kevin Jeffrey has worked with businesses large and small in every business sector, bringing his background of commerce and people practices to bear.

For the past ten years, BC HRMA has been the fortunate benefactor of his innovative energies and experienced insights. During his term as President, his leadership helped turn a deficit into a healthy surplus. He also initiated BC HRMA’s partnership with Workable Solutions BC to connect job seekers with disabilities with employers in BC.
In no small way, he also helped BC HRMA realize its mandate of Vision, Value and Voice.

An earlier initiator of the move towards strategic governance, he advocated a Voice for the Association based on earned trust and credibility as a profession. Kevin saw the importance of evidence-based credibility as key and was a strong proponent of the ResearchVOICE function that has redefined that credibility since its inception.

He broke similar ground in 1998 when he helped bring the BC HRMA Senior Leadership Forum into being. From his strategic support of the BC HRMA metrics initiative to his creative wisdoms as a longstanding member of the PeopleTalk editorial advisory board, he has contributions are both many and ongoing.

Moreover, his energies are not wed to the world of work alone. As past-chair of the United Way Leaders Campaign in Calgary, he remains a member of the Lions Gate Hospital Foundation Committee. He also finds time for family, field and school.

Many people are defined as a driving force – Kevin Jeffreys truly is.

PeopleTalk: Summer 2011