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More About Mara

EDUCATION

MASTER OF SCIENCE

Human Resources Management

MILANO GRADUATE SCHOOL OF INT’L AFFAIRS, Management & Urban Policy, THE NEW SCHOOL

New York, NY

BACHELOR OF ARTS

Drama/Communication Arts & Sciences

QUEENS COLLEGE, City University of New York (CUNY)

New York, NY

ASSOCIATIONS & PARTNERSHIPS
  • Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)

  • River Valley Human Resource Association (RVHRA)

  • Granite State Learning & Org Development Roundtable

  • Boston HR Council

  • Cosmetic Executive Women, Inc. (CEW)

CERTIFICATIONS

SENIOR CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL SHRM-SCP

Society for Human Resource Management

LEADERSHIP UPPER VALLEY

Vital Communities, Vermont/New Hampshire, Class of 2011

LOMINGER LEADERSHIP ARCHITECT

Korn/Ferry International

LEAN SIX SIGMA

Green Belt

MENTAL HEALTH FIRST AID

National Council for Mental Wellbeing

AWARDS

2020 Vermont Human Resources Professional of the Year

SHRM VT State Council and the VT Chamber of Commerce

VOLUNTEER WORK

Vermont State Council of SHRM — Montpelier, VT

VERMONT STATE COUNCIL DIRECTOR :: 2023 – Present

STATE CONFERENCE CHAIR :: 2022 – Present

VERMONT STATE COUNCIL DIRECTOR-ELECT :: 2022

DIVERSITY DIRECTOR:: 2021​​

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Vermont Businesses for Social Responsibility (VBSR) — Burlington, VT

​CHAIR of the BOARD OF DIRECTORS :: 2024 – present

VICE BOARD CHAIR :: 2023

BOARD MEMBER :: 2022

NOMINATING COMMITTEE BOARD MEMBER :: 2022 – present

​​​​Change the Story Vermont, Leaders for Equity and Equal Pay (LEEP) - Burlington, VT

EMPLOYER COHORT :: 2019-2021​​

Working Bridges, Granite State United Way - Manchester, NH

EMPLOYER CHAMPION :: 2013-2017​​

​Fashion Institute of Technology (FIT) - New York, NY

GRADUATE PROGRAM Professional Development Committee Member :: 2004–2007

PANELS/SPEAKING ENGAGEMENTS
  • Conference Chair and Host, Vermont State Annual HR Conference 2022, 2023, 2024

  • 2024 Forecast: What Can We Expect from Purpose-Driven Businesses? Panelist, VBSR and UVM SI-MBA 2024

  • Award Ceremony Host, Best Places to Work in Vermont, VermontBiz Magazine 2023

  • Putting Humanity First in the Workplace, Panel Facilitator, VBSR Annual Conference 2023 

  • Building a DEIB Culture for Employee-Owned Companies, Presenter, VEOC 2023

  • The Absolute Imperative of Selecting Great Managers, Presenter, Maine HR Convention 2022

  • The Hennessy Report, Live Podcast Guest Speaker, New England HR Innovation Conference 2022

  • Make the LEEP! Leaders for Equity and Equal Pay Toolkit, Facilitator, SHRM Twin State Conference 2021

  • The Psychology of Interviewing and the Art of Storytelling, Presenter, The University of Vermont 2019

  • How Chroma Coped with Covid: One Organization’s Story of Needing to Ramp Up in a Shut Down, Presenter, VBSR and Boston HR Council 2020

  • Insights into the Learning Organization, Presenter, Granite State OD & Learning Roundtable 2013

  • Winning HR Strategies to Achieve 'BEST' Status, Panelist, SHRM Vermont State Conference 2010

  • Mission Morale: Cultivating a Caring Work Culture, Panelist, New England Library Assoc. Annual Conference 2011

  • Seven Successful Characteristics of a Best Workplace, Presenter, UVM Graduate Lecture in Leadership & Management 2010

IN-HOUSE EXPERIENCE

CHROMA TECHNOLOGY CORP. — Bellows Falls, VT

Award-winning, 100% employee-owned, and Certified B Corp manufacturer of optical filters for the scientific and photonics industries with a global customer base and offices in Germany, China, Japan; annual revenue of $65M and 200 employees.

CPO/HEAD OF PEOPLE and CULTURE

Member of the Executive Leadership Team reporting directly to the CEO. Leads a team of HR specialists, including environment, health and safety. Provides leadership in full breadth and scope of the human resources discipline.  Coaches fellow executives, board members, and managers to develop effective people strategies to propel growth and productivity of the company while strengthening Chroma’s employee-ownership culture and values. In partnership with fellow executives, develops overall strategic plan and sets objectives and goals.

PC CONSTRUCTION COMPANY — Burlington, VT

100% employee-owned general contracting and premier design-build company with an annual revenue volume of +$600 million and over 900 employee-owners in multi-locations along the US east coast.

CHIEF ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER/CHIEF HUMAN RESOURCES OFFICER

C-Level Executive reporting directly to CEO. Led company's annual strategic planning process and providing executive leadership for the company’s people and development-related functions including talent acquisition, total rewards, corporate university, employee relations, compliance, compensation, Employee Stock Ownership Plan (ESOP) administration, succession planning, evaluation, learning, and retention.

SIMON PEARCE INC. — Windsor, VT

Lifestyle brand that designs, manufactures, and distributes hand-crafted glass and hand-thrown pottery products in its own retail stores, website, restaurant, and hundreds of points of wholesale distribution nationwide.

VICE PRESIDENT OF HUMAN RESOURCES & COMMUNICATIONS

Member of Executive Team reporting directly to Founder/CEO. Provide strategic direction to and daily oversight of the

corporate HR department for this 300+ employee multi-channel, matrix business. Develop and head the organization’s internal/external communication strategic planning process and brand voice.

RESOURCE SYSTEMS GROUP (RSG), INC. — White River Junction, VT

A multidisciplinary, employee-owned firm providing consulting services for transportation, natural resources, and technology.

DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES

Led corporate HR supporting short/long-term strategy of 100+ employee professional services firm. Reported to CEO. Member of Operating Team which led successful realignment of company structure in 2012; Member of

Board of Regents, governing body of the RSG Institute; Member of 401k Committee; Served as Ex Officio Board Member of the RSG CEO Search Committee 2012.

FIRMENICH INTERNATIONAL FINE FRAGRANCE CENTER — New York, NY

The largest privately owned company in the perfume and flavor business.

HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER

Oversaw all Human Resources activity for the Fine Fragrance Perfumery Division, which encompassed 90 employees and $100M in annual sales. Reported to the President, Fine Fragrances, North America.

THE ESTÉE LAUDER COMPANIES, INC. — New York, NY

Global manufacturer and marketer of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance and hair care products.

MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES/SALES ADMINISTRATION, FASHION GROUP

HR administration of 500+ field sales staff at 250 accounts worldwide. Employee Relations Advisor to 30 Account Executives/5 Regional Marketing Directors. Reported to the Vice President, Finance.

 

MARA RAE NEUFELD RIVERA, MS, SHRM-SCP

Strategic Planning & Organizational Design | Talent Development | Performance Management | Culture & Change Management | Total Rewards | Talent Acquisition & Succession Planning | HR Operations | DEIB | Mental Health Awareness

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