Mary Tarnef is a Experienced HR Professional | Specializing in Employee Lifecycle Management and Optimizing the Employee Experience at Barnes & Noble Education, Inc.. She possess expertise in recruiting, talent acquisition, human resources, onboarding, employee relations and 17 more skills. Colleagues describe her as "I had the privilege of working closely with Mary during my tenure as COO, Digital Student Solutions at Barnes & Noble Education. She brought not only deep expertise but also genuine care for our people, and that made all the difference. Mary took the lead on some of our most critical HR initiatives for DSS—most notably, implementing a career pathing system that provided every employee with a clear vision for their growth and future. She also streamlined our hiring process, helping us bring on talented individuals who were not only great at their jobs but also a perfect fit for our culture. What truly sets Mary apart, though, is her approach to handling the tough situations. Whether navigating sensitive employee matters or negotiating solutions that balanced company needs with individual concerns, Mary approached everything with empathy, integrity, and a focus on doing what was right. Her door was always open, and her ability to listen and offer support was invaluable to both employees and leadership. I’ve seen firsthand how Mary has helped people thrive by creating a workplace where they feel heard, valued, and supported. Her contributions have had a lasting impact, and I can’t recommend her highly enough for any organization that values its people as its greatest asset." and "Mary worked on my team as a Talent Acquisition Coordinator during a time of incredible growth for BN.com. During this time, she was constantly juggling priorities and voluntarily stepped up to manage new projects. The Talent Acquisition team and candidates alike benefited from her ability to communicate, keen attention to every detail and creative problem solving ability. Most importantly, everyone recognized Mary’s infectious positive attitude! Mary was truly the critical element that brought the team together and drove our success. I can’t recommend her highly enough."