LeonCerna@HRAdvantageGroup.com
JB@HRAdvantageGroup.com
JM@HRAdvantageGroup.com
MH@HRAdvantageGroup.com
HM@HRAdvantageGroup.com
Leon Cerna is a highly-skilled human resources professional with 20 years of experience in strategic management, employee relations, talent acquisitions, and training and development.
Leon’s interest in human resources was sparked by his childhood involvement with his family’s growing business where he learned the key elements of hiring, training, and effective conflict resolution from his parents.
These experiences taught Leon that the keys to creating a workplace that fosters employee engagement are effective management techniques and the ability to communicate a clear vision of future success. Leon instinctively understood these lessons and knew a career in human resources would offer the ideal platform for his developing interest.
Leon has held leadership roles in Fortune 15 and 300 companies and served in the public sector as a Chief HR Executive. He has provided strategic oversight of human resources departments and established foundations of respect, diplomacy, high ethical standards, and collaboration that have promoted the overall success of the organizations.
His exceptional skills have been sought after by a variety of councils, commissions, and committees including most recently the Personnel Merit Commission for the City and County of Broomfield. Leon’s philanthropic interests include mentoring and coaching recent college graduates who are entering the workforce.
Leon received his Bachelor of Science degree in Labor Relations Management from the University of the Pacific in northern California. He has a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation and maintains an Advanced Certificate in Employee Relations Law from the Institute of Applied Management & Law.
Originally from Southern California, Leon now lives in Colorado and outside of work, enjoys spending time with his family, his dog, listening to jazz music, and playing golf where he carries a five handicap.
Jeni is a proven human resources leader with 20 years’ experience leading national HR teams in the development, implementation and direction of compensation, recruiting, employee relations and services, HR management systems and employment law. She is a collaborative team player who recognizes the value of individual contribution in support of overall business strategy and seeks to align HR practices with the mission and goals of the business. Originally from Illinois, she began her career in Chicago serving the hospitality industry with a dual role in human resources and sales. Human resources proved a natural fit as Jeni thrives when opportunity allows her to collaborate and provide solutions for businesses and people. While in Chicago, she served an international law firm for many years where she led the human resources team nationally. The primary elements of her role included support and guidance to management on employee relations, HR best practices firmwide, compensation and performance, policies and business structure, compliance with state and federal labor laws.
Jeni received her Bachelor of Science degree in Communication from Illinois State University in Normal, Illinois and is member of SHRM locally and nationally.
She relocated to the Denver area with her family in 2014. Jeni enjoys hiking her new home state, camping and skiing with family and friends. Her passion is to travel to unique destinations and scuba dive.
Joseph has had a storied career spanning from the world of entertainment, utilities, and most recently, film journalism. In the latter industry, he served as editor-in-chief of the entertainment outlet LRM Online for nearly four years. Thankfully, his work in journalism allowed him to travel with his wife as her Ph.D. program sent her from one end of the country to the next.
In his time as editor-in-chief, Joseph learned the ins and outs of running what is effectively an upstart company with limited resources. While leading LRM Online, he grew the monthly users of the site, established a high bar of quality, and nurtured a pool of talented writers loyal to the LRM Online brand. His experience taught him the value of people and the time and effort required to get the right talent on board and develop their skills to help better the company as a whole.
And it is this aspect of his experience that drew Joseph to recruitment in the first place. In his years working at the website, he grew to realize how important it was not only to hire talented people, but to ensure they were a fit for the site’s culture, values, and overall vision. Without those key elements, it was difficult for workers to contribute meaningfully to the site’s long-term goals. At the end of the day, matching up an employee with the right company is not just a matter of aligning resumes with desired qualifications, but matching individual personalities and goals with company values and long-term objectives.
Joseph received his Bachelor of Arts degree in Screenwriting and a minor in Business from Chapman University in sunny Orange, California.
After traveling the United States over the years and supporting his wife’s successful pursuit of her Ph.D. in Psychology, Joseph finally settled down in beautiful Colorado. He enjoys hiking, reading, writing fantasy novels, and is currently trying his best to love cooking.
Michelle Hale is a driven human resources professional with over 13 years of progressively responsible, diverse experience. She is collaborative, resourceful, and prides herself on the relationships she builds while serving as a trusted advisor. Michelle enjoys that a
career in HR provides a platform to make a lasting positive impact on an organization and its people.
She began her career in Breckenridge working in the hospitality industry before transitioning to the Denver Metro area where she served in local government. Prior to joining HR Advantage Group,
she worked at a global, high growth technology start-up where she
helped to develop and implement all people processes. Michelle brings experience in all HR disciplines including talent acquisition, performance management,
benefits, compensation, learning and development, employee engagement, employment and immigration law, and risk management.
Michelle received her Bachelor of Science in Business Administration from the University of Colorado Boulder and her Master of Science in Organizational Leadership with a specialization
in Human Resource Management from Colorado State University Global. She holds a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) designation, is a SHRM Certified Professional (SHRM-CP), and is a three term board member of the International Public Management
Association for HR (IPMA-HR) Colorado Chapter.
Michelle grew up in Colorado and enjoys spending time with family and friends, exploring the Colorado outdoors, and planning new adventures. She has a passion for travel and has visited over 20 countries across 5 continents.
Halie is a driven and creative professional with 8 years of progressive experience providing and supporting multiple facets of human resources, both in the civilian and military sectors. Her passion for human resources grew early on during her time as a sailor in the U.S. Navy, where she embraced the ideals of camaraderie and unit cohesion while emphasizing the benefits that can be found in individuality.
Throughout her previous work experiences, Halie has learned that in order to deliver the highest level of quality and success, balancing business needs with employee needs is key as well as recognizing that each member has the ability to make a positive contribution when given the opportunity to utilize their strengths. This mindsight has encouraged Halie in the development and implementation of several onboarding programs, training courses, and employee support systems that increased the company’s ability to maintain a successful training environment.
Halie is currently pursuing her Bachelor of Science in Aeronautics from Embry-Riddle Aeronautical University.
After moving from one duty station to the next, Halie is very excited to finally settle into Colorado as her new home and is enjoying the beautiful mountain views with her family, running with her pup, and taking in the artwork that surrounds her.