After a nearly 30-year career in the corporate world, I've started my own business, Tracie Sponenberg LLC! Providing Fractional Chief People Officer Consulting,Keynote Speaking and Advisory services.

The University of Innovative Distribution is a concentrated educational program focused on the unique needs of the wholesale distribution industry. Since its inception in 1994, UID has become known worldwide for excellence in education. UID is sponsored by the Association Education Alliance (AEA) a consortium of 40+ distribution professional associations, in cooperation with the Department of Technology Leadership and Innovation of Purdue University.

Harriet is an AI solution that actually puts people first. In my experience leading HR at companies like The Granite Group, I've seen how technology can and should serve a primary purpose: enabling meaningful human connections.Harriet is an AI solution that handles the day-to-day HR tasks through the channels your people already use – Slack, WhatsApp, SMS, you name it. They are there 24/7, whether your team is on the factory floor at 3 AM or working remotely across time zones.What makes Harriet different?They seamlessly integrate with your existing tools, making HR accessible where your people already are. They manage routine questions and tasks, freeing your HR team to focus on what truly matters – building relationships, developing talent, and creating an engaging workplace culture.Most importantly, Harriet helps deliver what I've always advocated for: an HR function that drives real business value. By reducing administrative overhead, your HR team can focus on strategic initiatives that boost engagement, retention, and ultimately, your bottom line.Remember, HR tools should never replace human connection – they should enhance it. That's exactly what Harriet does.Think you're ready to transform your HR function? Reach out to me and I’ll make a connection to the incredible Harriet team!

The fastest-growing division of the ASA, Women in Industry empowers women across the PHCp & PVF fields to grow, learn and connect through educational opportunities, including our flagship annual conference, Elevate.

I'm thrilled to have joined Fractional People People (I actually joined a few months ago but am just adding it now!) FPP "was created for those who are already established, or pursuing, the journey of HR fractional/consulting solopreneurship. We're each other's teammates in this career; learning together, sharing the challenges, celebrating the wins and supporting each other."

DISRUPT is an information exchange designed to energize, inform and empower executives, business leaders and people in the HR field.

TroopHR is a national HR network created to empower People professionals to drive change and maximize their impact as leaders. At Troop, People leaders connect with their peers, engage with industry thought leaders, and learn from master practitioners across the business community.

The Best and Brightest Companies to Work For® program identifies and honors organizations that display a commitment to excellence in their human resource practices and employee enrichment. Organizations are assessed based on categories such as communication, work-life balance, employee education, diversity, recognition, retention and more. All participating companies receive two robust feedback reports, resources and valuable benefits throughout the year. The Best and Brightest is a powerful community of the nation’s elite leaders who share ideas, practices, and have proven they are employers of choice. Advisory Board Member for Best And Brightest Programs, Boston.

Lead the People team for a multi-state, 50+ location, fast-growing, family-run wholesale distributor of plumbing, heating, cooling, water and energy supplies, along with 16 retail-facing Ultimate Bath Store locations. Member of executive team, focused on leading with trust - always completely focused on our people first, and partnering to develop and implement company-wide strategic goals. Overhauled company's HR Technology stack, transforming into paperless HR and allowing our team and managers to focus on what really matters - our people. Created new leadership development, wellness, onboarding and orientation programs. Supported the company's already strong culture through new engagement initiatives and programs, including letting the world know, through branding opportunities - that we are an incredible place to work. Though we don't have ping pong tables or free beer, we do have a supportive, welcoming team-oriented culture that fosters growth and opportunities for development. Our team is obsessed with co-creating a unique employee experience with each of our individual team members, and visiting with them as often as possible!

CPOHQ: the #1 place for Chief People Officers to learn from each other.

Innovating the People Business! Michelle Strasburger and I co-founded this project to focus on rebooting HR - changing the way HR is viewed by others, and by itself. Through our blog, podcasts and videos we'll be sharing our experiences and talking with innovators inside and outside of HR, who are helping to Reboot HR!

As of March 2023, I am no longer a member of Chief. Prior to March 2023, I was a Founding Member of the Boston chapter of Chief, a private network built to drive more women into positions of power and keep them there.

Served as subject matter expert on HR and leadership topics, interacting regularly with the media. Interviewed by publications including The Wall Street Journal, US News & World Report, USA Today, NPR. Employee Benefits news, and various other local and national outlets. As of 2020, I am no longer volunteering with SHRM.

Adjunct faculty for the School of Business. Taught the SHRM certification module on campus to HR Professionals to prepare for the SHRM-SCP and SHRM-CP exams.

Founded in 1982, Emerson Ecologics is a values-focused private equity-owned company, with a strong and evolving culture, with locations in Colonial Heights, VA; Riverside, CA and the Corporate office in downtown Manchester, NH. Led the HR team of this fast-growing company in all HR functions including talent acquisition, compensation and benefits, organizational development, performance management and associate relations. Launched cultural redevelopment process, reducing employee turnover by more than 60%; Created two employee-led committees to increase engagement and foster attachment to our evolving culture and created company’s first volunteering program. Member of Strategic Leadership Team; partnered with CEO and CFO and other key executives on strategic planning initiatives, leveraging current and future talent to drive growth and expansion. Created and implemented multi-year Leadership Development program for key company leaders. Overhauled company's HR Technology platform, resulting in more than 50% cost savings and more than double the system functionality. Created new recruitment processes including job requisition, position approval and job description and advertising processes and significantly improved communication by overhauling HR and company communication processes. Led HR and Facilities departments.

Led Human Resources and Administration functions for large, award-winning regional Law Firm. Coaching, training, counseling and performance management for more than 35 direct reports. Advisor to Firm President and Management Committee on issues relating to Human Resources and Administration. Consultant to more than 60 attorneys. Responsible for HR, Facilities and all Administrative departments.

Managed all aspects of Human Resources of an award-winning daily newspaper, commercial printer and publishing company located in Concord, NH. As the only HR Professional in Newspapers of New England, Inc. (parent company of Newspapers of New Hampshire, Inc.), served as corporate Human Resources counsel for four other newspapers and the corporate office (over 500 employees.) Coached and advised Senior Management on all Human Resources issues. Strategic business planning with Publisher, General Manager, Corporate CFO and Corporate President. Redesigned compensation plans and created new merit-based performance review system. Designed and implemented new multi-phase orientation and training program. Produced and implemented database system to monitor employee attendance and interface with payroll system.

Responsible for maintaining staffing of a 24-hour facility in Shrewsbury, MA and providing employee relations for 1200 employees. Recruited applicants from local colleges, high schools and community agencies. Participated in strategic planning sessions with Human Resources department members from across the Northeast Region. Managed the District Advertising and Recruiting Budgets and created recruitment advertisements. Interviewed applicants, made employment decisions and conducted orientation programs for new employees. Redesigned and managed database of approximately 5000 past and present employees. Designed and implemented computerized system of employee referral awards and attendance bonuses. Trained new Human Resources employees in interviewing, conducting orientations and company procedures. Conducted skills training sessions at local schools and community agencies.