Batina T. Smith

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.

• 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.

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

• 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.

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

• 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.

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.

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.