MEET KATHY MARTIN
Kathy Martin, Human Resource Director at Roanoke College, is set to present at Session 2 of the Botetourt County Chamber of Commerce’s Emerging Leader Series on October 24th. Her presentation is titled “Human Resources Skills.”
“While good leadership is required for success, the ultimate prosperity of an organization is dependent on the people within,” she said. She noted that emerging managers are oftentimes promoted because of their technical competency and not necessarily because of their people management capability. Because of that, human resources skills need to be learned and developed.
It also important to have good knowledge of the federal laws that guide people management so that decisions can be made with reference to the policies and laws. "There are a lot of federal laws that guide people management decisions that new managers are often unaware of that should be taken into consideration."
Participants will learn how to have difficult conversations, ways to motivate employees, the importance of hiring the right people, and how to interview candidates. “Over the course of the day, we’ll engage in discussions about personnel laws, management principles, emotional intelligence, best practices, and policy tips to help equip your people management toolbox,” she said. “We will explore principles of developing a strong workforce, including employee interviewing and selection. We will look at ‘unfortunate hiring decisions’ and options for managing employees who have become toxic or simply don’t possess and can’t learn the skills needed for a job.”
Martin holds an undergraduate degree from Radford University and a graduate degree in human resource development from James Madison University.
In her role as Human Resource Director at Roanoke College, Martin leads a team of human resource professionals and directs the day-to-day activities of the college’s human resource department. She also serves as a deputy Title IX coordinator. She previously held similar roles at the Roanoke Higher Education Center and Roanoke City Public Schools.
