Kelsey Lakamp Email & Phone Number

Often times in conversations around process challenges, I found leaders would start discussing skills and I quickly learned how intertwined people and process really are. I found myself in conversations around skills and capabilities gaps and as someone who enjoys problem-solving... solving the puzzle of Acquiring the right talent on the 1st try sounded like fun!As the leader of Talent Acquisition and Early Career Programming at Syngenta Seeds in North America, I am responsible for overseeing the Recruitment, Recruitment Ops, and Early Career Programming teams. Our main objective is to create and implement talent strategies that align with our business goals, which will enable us to continue growing as an organization. Additionally, I ensure that my team and their leaders are equipped with the necessary skills and knowledge to succeed in their roles through ongoing development.

I had the privilege of leading a team of highly skilled and qualified black belts and master black belts. The team lead 25+ projects at a time using traditional lean six sigma methodologies and general consulting skills and the scope of work ranged from a very straight forward reduction in defects to more vague requests to help business areas uncover problems. My goal with this group was to ensure we were adding the right value, that meant validating we were solving the right problems for the organization and that we had the tools we needed to do this. I also wanted to ensure we supported the company through programing and I was able to oversee the development and implementation of a new lean leader program to help leaders manage their resources and processes more efficiently and effectively. The program had a successful launch training almost 100 leaders in year 1.

I decided it was time for a new challenge in my career and made a rather large leap into a Black Belt role at my company. Come to fine out it wasn't as big of a leap as I thought... While sitting in training I realized that I was already following most of the methodology in my old role while developing and managing programs and systems, I just didn't know I was! Now, clearly I wasn't doing it to the extent I am now. But it was nice to start out with some great examples of my own to think about during training.To sum up my role in a nutshell: By utilizing Six Sigma, LEAN, Project Management, and Change Management tools I can help various business units understand their business problems and solve them.

I had the pleasure to lead a team that does all the things I’m super passionate about! I learned I have NO plans to leave this awesome company and truly believe in our core company values. In this role I was able to work across numerous divisions, in a role that supported the field and thus our customer directly. the team I lead did (and still does) wear MANY hats and they do it so graciously. They are what I like to call the foundation - the people that keep things up and running for the company's awesome recruiters. This team does: Recruitment Marketing, Recruitment Programs, Recruitment Technology, Sourcing awesome candidates and of course Data. (Can't do anything with out data these days!)

Bloomington/Normal, Illinois Area

Joining COUNTRY Financial was a no brainer (well I had to relocate and so that was a harder decision since that meant my husband had to move – but he rocked it, didn’t question it and said if this is your next step in your career journey – let’s do it!) as I had really started to get interested in employment brand and recruitment marketing (yay, finally using that degree!) and this was my chance to do just that, working for someone I really respected and for a company that gave me warm and fuzzies when I read about their mission, vision, values. Plus I got to stay in recruiting which I have reallllly started to love! Being the senior recruitment marketing specialist, opened me up to constant learning, constant variability in my day to day job and gave me the ability to create new programs for our internal customers and the candidates. While in this role I created 7 new recruitment programs, implemented a sourcing tool and strategy as well as a segmented recruitment marketing strategy, drove down cost/hire, honed my relationship management skills with our vendors and enjoyed every day (disclaimer here: everything is a team effort and I tapped a lot of shoulders to get all this accomplished!).

Greater Chicago Area

After being at Allstate for a while, I opted to go a new way in recruiting and go into more of a behind the scenes role (the introvert in me thanked me profusely) and I wanted to do more of the HR process. So in my new role as a Sr. HR Associate in executive recruiting I was able to help with building a leadership employment value proposition, attracting and advocating for candidates, working with comp and benefits on offers, helping pending new hires with relocation and then supporting in on-boarding executives. I even got out of my comfort zone and started presenting on occasion at new hire orientation. I will forever be grateful for what I learned in my three years at Allstate and the many projects that pushed me to learn more as that lead me to my next role and further down my career path journey!

Greater Chicago Area

I was introduced to Allstate through a coworker who’s spouse was looking for a recruiter. I was ready for a change and recruiting seemed like a pretty natural progression from sales and hey, I would get to help people find a new job! How awesome is that! Making a real impact in someone’s livelihood (plus I was ready to hopefully get a little less rejection from my cold calling – sales is hard work and I have total respect for people who excel in that career path!) For the next few months I recruited the Life and Financial Specialists for Allstate and I loved the company I worked for, the people I worked with and the day to day interactions with candidates.

Greater Chicago Area

To be honest I didn’t know what I wanted to do when I graduated, plus the market had crashed recently and not a lot of places where hiring. Luckily, I was connected to CDW through a professor – a former student of hers worked there and said referrals get auto interviews. I researched the company and I loved their philanthropic work and I needed to work on my interviewing skills so I said sure! In doing more research and prep, I quickly realized I could help people in a sales role so for the next few years I helped small businesses across the US improve their business practices through the use of improved technology solutions, allowing for their employees to be more efficient so they could spend more time helping their customers.

Jacksonville, Il

Kirksville, Mo

• Partnered with football office in their recruitment process and other projects • Created and maintained databases affiliated with current players and future prospects

Bs, Business Admin- Marketing And Management

Activities and Societies: President/Captain Women's Club Volleyball

Education record