"The Heart of HR" 

Presented by Erin Palacio

The heart is one of the body’s most essential organs - a reflection of one’s health, the very symbol of life.  The heart works ceaselessly, beating 100,000 times a day, 40 million times a year.  It keeps the body supplied with oxygen and nutrients, while clearing away harmful waste matter. Given the heart’s many essential functions, it seems wise to take care of it. 

Think about that for a minute…….does any of that sound like the Human Resources department you work in? 

Human Resources has a big responsibility in any organization.  HR is often the first-place employees come when there is workplace conflict or personal issues.  HR is the first stop for all new employees coming into the company.  HR works through tough conversations.  HR handles any crises that arises (deaths, leaves of absence, accommodations, etc).  Everything that HR does touches employees – what we do on a daily basis in HR affects the livelihood of our employees!  What we do and how we s.e.r.v.e. makes the employees lives better and also adds value to the organization.  The importance of balancing head with heart is imperative when serving employees and serving employees should be at the heart of Human Resources. 

HR is the heart of the company because without it, the company would not live.

Bio

Erin Palacio was born and raised in the Texas Panhandle and is proud to call Amarillo home with her husband Mark and her two daughters (Tori & Teryn).  She stumbled into the world of Human Resources by accident 17 years ago and has never looked back.  She often says that she never intended to go into HR after obtaining her MBA but is grateful and thankful for such a rewarding career in a field that is never dull or boring.   She “got her start” at Amarillo College and then went on to Wayland Baptist University where she earned her undergraduate and graduate degrees.  When she isn’t HR’ing (yes, that is what she calls it!), she is a full time after school taxi driver to her daughters and an avid amateur photographer, cake decorator and a jogger who sometimes runs!  She also volunteers with The Junior League of Amarillo to serve local organizations and Junior Achievement in hopes of helping high school students obtain a better understanding of careers and how the choices they make have impact on their future lives.