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Meet a CCHRA Board Member
Our breakfast meetings don't always give us time to meet everyone in the room, so here is an opportunity to meet a CCHRA Board Member and Membership Chair: Jane Skala, Human Resources Assistant at Rogers & Gray Insurance Agency About your business: Rogers & Gray Insurance Agency was founded in 1906 and now ranks as one of the top 100 independent insurance agencies in the United States. Our insurance professionals help clients evaluate risk and develop insurance portfolios for personal insurance, business insurance and employee benefits. We operate 8 offices, are licensed in 48 states and are deeply entrenched in our communities. Your experience as a professional: I have been with Rogers & Gray for 16 years, but in the Human Resources department for only 10 months. I've always had a desire to get into Human Resources and joke that I just took the long way around to get here! I was a Communications major in college with a minor in Psychology, so feel that I am approachable, relate well to employees and make them feel comfortable. Also, when I worked as the agency's Executive Assistant, I gained the foundation of confidentiality that I need for this position. What skill sets do you think your industry needs? Although insurance knowledge is certainly helpful to work here, there are many positions that do not require it such as HR, Finance, IT etc. Also, we have the Rogers & Gray Academy which helps us to "home grow" insurance professionals from the ground up. We have 'grown' a number of employees through this Academy and they are Client Managers here now. Do you have a piece of advice to give to someone entering the HR field? If you're thinking of getting into HR I would say, a little belatedly, just do it! You won't be sorry and you'll never be bored! Do you volunteer for a local organization that you feel is important to our community? For the past four years I have volunteered with the Pan Mass Challenge and I love it. The PMC raises money for cancer research and treatment at the Dana-Farber Cancer Institute through an annual bike-a-thon across Massachusetts. I help at the pizza station at Mass Maritime on the first afternoon of the ride, and 2 weeks prior I help at their warehouse in Needham putting together over 5000 rider registration packets. It is loads of fun and is for such a great cause. This event raises more money than any other athletic fundraising event in the country and generates half of the Jimmy Fund's annual revenue and it is Dana-Farber's single largest contributor.
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