HR Collaborative makes promotions, new hires

A full-service human resources firm has made some staffing changes.

Grand Rapids-based HR Collaborative said Thursday, June 30, it recently appointed Mike Parnacott as vice president of business development and hired Kalena Meeker to lead its marketing efforts for their downtown office in Grand Rapids. It also made various other new hires and promotions.

As VP of business development, Parnacott is responsible for leading HR Collaborative’s overall growth and development, overseeing the sales and marketing strategy and a future expansion into the southeast Michigan market.

Prior to joining HR Collaborative, Parnacott spent nearly two decades leading teams of various sizes in the hospitality and technology sectors. He said his passion for building relationships with small to mid-size organizations was formed early in his decade-long career with Sysco Foods, where he served in various sales leadership roles.

“I look forward to collaborating with our community and my teammates to provide custom people and talent solutions for businesses throughout West Michigan and beyond,” Parnacott said.

Meeker has nearly a decade of experience in marketing and communications, including six years as a marketing expert with other West Michigan organizations and nonprofits.

Meeker will lead and develop internal and external communications for HR Collaborative’s growing community of talent and clients.

“Collaborating and serving people (have) been at the core of my entire career,” Meeker said. “Early on, I discovered empathy-based marketing allows you to see through the eyes of another and enables a better understanding of the challenges an organization is facing.”

HR Collaborative hired an additional four employees and promoted the following to new roles:

  • Victoria Brown was hired as director of talent placement of HR staffing services.
  • Camille Thomas-Heinicke was hired as lead accountant of people operations.
  • Jenna Houskamp was hired as a people and marketing intern of business development services.
  • Trent Kooistra was hired as a human resources intern to support all functions of people operations.
  • Nancy Johnson was promoted to chief people officer of people operations.
  • Tara Kiely was promoted to VP of client services of people operations.
  • Danielle Dorulla was promoted to talent placement administrator of HR staffing services.
  • Michelle Sullivan was promoted to director of talent acquisition of recruiting services.
  • Lisa Struck was promoted to director of experts on retainer of people operations.
  • Greg Collette was promoted to technology manager of people operations.

Beth Kelly, president and owner of HR Collaborative, said she is pleased to announce the new hires.

“HR Collaborative is in the unique position to offer vital human resource management talents to the companies who need it most,” she said. “Our clients keep calling, and we stand ready to match them with the right talent and solve their people problems.”

Due to its rapid growth, the firm is looking to hire a new people strategist to lead its sales efforts in southeast Michigan. Those interested in the role can contact HR Collaborative at solutions@hrcollaborative.com.