“Overall, the human resources (position) has gained a lot of respect in the corporate world,” said Joy Page, director of administration at Poulsbo-based Boxlight, CineLight and ActiveLight, and a 15-year HR industry veteran.

Many companies rely on their human resources department to recruit, train, and help retain qualified employees. Local HR professionals share their experiences in the field:

Barbara Griffin, HR director with Port Madison Enterprises, is a 12-year HR professional who has worked for the company since 2003. She says the biggest challenge currently is whether the county can accommodate the company's growing staffing needs. Port Madison Enterprises has 700 employees hired for Clearwater Casino, Kiana Lodge and other operations, and plans to hire more as it builds a hotel. Five years ago, before the casino was opened, there were fewer than 300 employees, so the workforce has more than doubled.

“We have several positions open and ongoing recruitment,” Griffin said. “Part of it is because it's a military community and students going back to school.”

Attendance is a critical aspect so employees get a variety of incentives for good attendance, including gift certificates and cash bonuses. The company uses creative ways to recruit, including through an employee referral program and online job sites such as monster.com. In-house training programs are offered for many positions, and the training is paid.

Griffin says aspects that attract potential employees include the company's commitment to community service, the various employee programs and incentives, and the customer service - many guests end up being employees because the like their experience during a visit. The benefits package is also an attraction. “This is a time when many companies are reducing their contributions (to benefits like health care plans). We have been very fortunate to be able to increase our contributions,” she said.

As the company looks to grow its business in 2006, Griffin says they are looking at how to better retain the current workforce, attract qualified individuals, and continue to find creative hiring avenues.

Joy Page, director of administration for Boxlight, ActiveLight and CineLight in Poulsbo: The three companies, owned by the same entity, have about 100 employees, mostly working in sales. “We do receive a lot of interest in any position we post but we have the most difficult time in hiring accounting personnel,” she said.

Page said one of the reasons candidates get attracted to the companies is because of the business' high regard in the community. “I think that comes from our employees who speak highly of us in the community,” she said, adding that many employees come from referrals by former or current staff.

The company provides a casual work environment with many fun activities, and has built a loyal employee base, Page said. It also offers a benefits package, and has not cut back on health benefits like many companies have been forced to do due to increasing costs.

Page says the role of the human resource manager has changed through the years, and sees herself as the “first voice and face of what the company is about… customer service both internally to employees and externally to candidates.”

Annette Williams, Kitsap Bank HR director: Kitsap Bank has 249 employees with an overall average tenure of six years, and 53 employees with tenure ranging from 10 to 32 years of service. Most higher-level positions are promoted within the company, so the jobs that are usually open are entry level.

“We are often confronted with candidates who have good skills and experience, but would have to come into our company at an entry level, which is not their desire,” Williams said. “Additionally, you have to find the candidate who not only meets the qualifications for the position, but also believes in and fosters our values, vision and corporate culture.”

The bank looks for candidates who are professional and career-minded, along with having “strong customer service skills, an excellent work ethic, and a desire to grow along with our company.”

Williams said candidates are attracted to Kitsap Bank, among other things, because they are impressed with service received as customers, and by the comprehensive benefits program.

“With the continued growth of our company, an employee has many opportunities to increase their knowledge and skills,” she said.

Williams said the HR professional's role goes beyond the hiring and into assisting the company in achieving its business goals and objectives.

“To be a strategic partner, you must not only understand human resources, but you must understand the business you support,” she said. “It is our job to advise our managers on how our involvement with their business can impact the bottom line. We, in essence, have to earn our 'seat at the table.'”.