SPHR · SHRM-SCP · sHRBP

Batina T. Smith

Vice President & Head of HR

Scaling people strategy, culture & HR infrastructure for growth-stage, multi-site industrial workforces — across the U.S. and Mexico.

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Batina T. Smith

PEOPLE STRATEGY. BUSINESS IMPACT.

20+
Years Experience
Leading HR & people strategy
1,800+
Employees Supported
Multi-state U.S. & Mexico operations
$1.5M+
TA Savings Generated
Recruiting build-out & vendor strategy
6
M&A Integrations
People-side integration leadership
Selected impact

People-first leadership.
Business-level results.

Three examples of building the people function to support growth.

01 / TRANSFORMATION

Modernizing the HR experience

Led AMPORTS’ enterprise migration from ADP to UKG, connecting HR operations with better workforce visibility and employee self-service.

23%less HR administrative workload

85% employee self-service adoption

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02 / TALENT STRATEGY

Building recruiting from within

Established internal recruiting capability, redesigned acquisition processes, and renegotiated vendor contracts to support expansion hiring.

$1.5M+talent acquisition savings

A stronger foundation for workforce growth

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03 / INTEGRATION

Keeping people at the center of growth

Led the people side of acquired-business integration, aligning talent, culture, and operations while sustaining employee productivity.

6AMPORTS acquisition integrations

Leadership through organizational change

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About

Trusted in the boardroom.
Effective on the frontline.

I'm a hands-on HR executive with 20+ years building, modernizing, and leading the people function for private equity–backed and high-growth companies with large frontline, industrial, and skilled-trades workforces.

I treat culture as a driver of business performance — connecting engagement, retention, and talent data to operating results. I build HR infrastructure end to end: talent acquisition, learning & development, HR technology (UKG/HRIS), and succession planning, with deep experience leading the people side of M&A integration.

I'm equally effective advising CEOs and executive teams — and earning trust with employees where the work gets done.

Career Path

Professional Experience

Two decades of building, rebooting, and scaling the people function — from first-facility startups to a 1,800-employee, two-country platform.

Vice President & Head of HR

2019 – Present
AMPORTS, Inc. · Jacksonville, Florida
VP & HEAD OF HR · 2023–PRESENT | DIRECTOR OF HR · 2019–2022

Senior-most HR leader for a private equity–backed automotive services and port terminal operations company — owning people strategy for 1,800+ regular and contingent employees across a distributed, operations-driven footprint spanning multi-state U.S. locations and Mexico.

Leadership contributions
  • HR Function Transformation: Rebuilt HR from a primarily administrative function into a strategic partner to executive leadership — adding the structure, processes, and team capability needed to support accelerated multi-site growth.
  • HR Technology Modernization: Led the enterprise migration from ADP to UKG, reducing HR administrative workload by 23% and lifting employee self-service adoption to 85% — improving workforce visibility and decision-quality data.
  • Talent Acquisition Build-Out: Stood up internal recruiting capability and re-engineered acquisition processes — renegotiating vendor contracts and improving placement strategies — generating $1.5M+ in savings while supporting expansion hiring.
  • L&D Build-Out: Built the learning & development capability from the ground up — strategy, programs, tools, and delivery for frontline, supervisory, and leadership audiences across U.S. and Mexico operations.
  • Culture & Engagement: Spearheaded change-management and culture-alignment initiatives that raised employee engagement metrics by 30% through a period of rapid growth and integration.
  • M&A Integration: Led people-side integration of six acquired businesses, aligning talent, culture, and operations while sustaining employee productivity through each post-acquisition transition.
  • Succession & Leadership Pipeline: Implemented a succession-planning framework that built a bench of high-potential leaders and ensured smooth transitions in critical roles.

Human Resources Manager

2013 – 2019
Henry Schein, Inc. · Jacksonville, Florida

Revitalized HR operations for a Fortune 500 distribution company — aligning talent strategy with corporate objectives and delivering measurable gains in engagement, development, and compliance.

Leadership contributions
  • Recruitment & Onboarding: Designed and implemented an end-to-end recruitment and onboarding process, reducing first-year turnover by 11% and accelerating new-hire ramp-up.
  • Culture & Engagement: Founded an employee engagement committee that strengthened workforce morale, community involvement, and a positive site culture.
  • Leadership Development: Created talent assessments and career-development programs, driving a 35% increase in internal promotions and a 27% improvement in employee development scores.
  • Compliance Excellence: Led an OFCCP audit to a zero-infraction result — a compliance milestone for the location.
  • Succession Planning: Partnered with senior leadership to identify high-potential talent and build targeted development plans, maintaining zero leadership turnover during tenure.

Director of Human Resources, Florida

2007 – 2013
Dixon Hughes Goodman, LLP · Greenville, South Carolina
DIRECTOR OF HR, FLORIDA · REGIONAL HR MANAGER, FL & SCWC REGIONS

Directed HR strategy and operations across multiple regions through a period of significant mergers and business expansion — driving talent alignment, operational efficiency, and growth.

Leadership contributions
  • M&A Integration & Cultural Alignment: Managed HR integration for multiple acquisitions, achieving 100% workforce retention and seamless cultural transitions.
  • HR Service Standardization: Developed firm-wide HR policies and launched an HR Service Desk, improving response times by 75% and increasing employee satisfaction.
  • HR Technology & Productivity: Launched a new HRIS and cloud-based scheduling platform, increasing workforce productivity by 37% and streamlining planning operations.
  • Workforce Analytics: Implemented firm-wide electronic exit interviews, using the insights to reduce turnover and improve engagement.
  • Talent Strategy & Succession: Advised Regional Managing Partners on identifying and advancing high-potential talent toward Partner roles, and partnered with leadership on HR strategy for new business units.

Human Resources Manager

2006 – 2007
Jacob Holm Industries, Inc. · Candler, North Carolina

Built the HR and Safety function from the ground up for a global manufacturer's first U.S. facility — scaling the workforce from 2 to 200 employees and establishing foundational HR and safety policies, programs, and practices.

Director of Human Resources

2001 – 2006
MB HAYNES Corporation · Asheville, North Carolina

Established and led the HR department for a multi-trade construction and mechanical services company — supporting workforce growth from 500 to 700 employees and serving as strategic advisor and partner to the executive leadership team.

Career-Wide Impact

Professional Highlights

The throughline across every role: build the function, modernize the systems, and turn people data into operating results.

HR Function Builder

  • Built or rebuilt the HR function at four companies — from a 2-person first U.S. facility to a 1,800-employee, two-country platform.
  • Transformed AMPORTS HR from administrative support into a strategic partner to executive leadership.

HR Technology Modernization

  • ADP → UKG enterprise migration: −23% HR admin workload, 85% self-service adoption.
  • Earlier HRIS + cloud scheduling launch lifted workforce productivity 37%.

Talent Acquisition & Retention

  • $1.5M+ in acquisition savings from internal recruiting build-out and vendor renegotiation.
  • First-year turnover −11%; internal promotions +35% through redesigned hiring and development.

Culture & Engagement

  • Raised engagement metrics 30% through change-management and culture-alignment work during rapid growth.
  • Founded an engagement committee and deployed exit-interview analytics that cut turnover.

M&A & Succession

  • People-side lead for six acquisitions at AMPORTS, plus multiple firm integrations with 100% workforce retention.
  • Succession frameworks that built leadership benches and kept critical-role transitions smooth.

Compliance & Safety

  • Led an OFCCP audit to a zero-infraction result.
  • HR, safety & compliance programs across multi-state industrial and skilled-trades operations.

Core Competencies

People Strategy & Organizational Scaling
Leadership Development & Succession Planning
HR Function Build, Reboot & Transformation
Culture, Engagement & Retention Strategy
HR Technology Modernization (UKG, HRIS)
M&A Integration & Change Management
Talent Acquisition & Workforce Planning
Multi-State U.S. & Mexico Operations
Learning & Development (L&D) Build-Out
HR, Safety & Compliance Programs (OFCCP)
Education & Certifications

Credentials

Senior-level certification across the three major HR bodies, on a business-first academic foundation.

Education & Honors

Capella University
BS, Business — Human Resource Management Specialization
SUMMA CUM LAUDE
Capella Business Leader Award
Capella University & The Wall Street Journal
LEADERSHIP RECOGNITION
DISC, Driving Forces & EQ Facilitator
CBK Coaching
FACILITATOR CERTIFICATION

Certifications & Memberships

01Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)HRCI
02Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)SHRM
03Strategic HR Business Partner (sHRBP)HCI
04Active Member, Chief People GroupCPG
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batinasphr@gmail.com

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