Opportunity and Position Specifications
CONTACT
Mara Rae Rivera
Owner and Principal Consultant
Mara Rae Consulting
802.299.7900
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
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Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
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River Valley Human Resource Association (RVHRA)
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Granite State Learning & Org Development Roundtable
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Boston HR Council
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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
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
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Conference Chair and Host, Vermont State Annual HR Conference 2022, 2023, 2024
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2024 Forecast: What Can We Expect from Purpose-Driven Businesses? Panelist, VBSR and UVM SI-MBA 2024
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Award Ceremony Host, Best Places to Work in Vermont, VermontBiz Magazine 2023
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Putting Humanity First in the Workplace, Panel Facilitator, VBSR Annual Conference 2023
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Building a DEIB Culture for Employee-Owned Companies, Presenter, VEOC 2023
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The Absolute Imperative of Selecting Great Managers, Presenter, Maine HR Convention 2022
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The Hennessy Report, Live Podcast Guest Speaker, New England HR Innovation Conference 2022
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Make the LEEP! Leaders for Equity and Equal Pay Toolkit, Facilitator, SHRM Twin State Conference 2021
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The Psychology of Interviewing and the Art of Storytelling, Presenter, The University of Vermont 2019
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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
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Insights into the Learning Organization, Presenter, Granite State OD & Learning Roundtable 2013
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Winning HR Strategies to Achieve 'BEST' Status, Panelist, SHRM Vermont State Conference 2010
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Mission Morale: Cultivating a Caring Work Culture, Panelist, New England Library Assoc. Annual Conference 2011
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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