Past HR Excellence Award Winners
Celebrate winners of SHRM-Atlanta's HR Excellence Awards
SHRM-Atlanta's HR Excellence Awards celebrate the leaders, teams, and organizations that are shaping the future of work through innovation, leadership, and a commitment to people-first practices. Recognizing achievements across a variety of categories, the program honors those who are driving meaningful impact within their organizations and throughout the Atlanta business community.
Previous recipients join a distinguished group of professionals and organizations recognized for their outstanding contributions to the workplace.. Through bold ideas, transformative leadership, and a passion for creating exceptional workplace experiences, they have elevated their organizations, inspired their peers, and demonstrated the powerful role HR plays in business success. Their accomplishments serve as a reminder that when people thrive, organizations thrive.
2024
CHRO of the Year
Jill Wilson
Carter's
Most People-Focused CEO
Ryan Droege
Relay Payments
Dr. Archana Arcot
Unifi
Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
Ryan Crain
CHEP / Brambles
Best Learning & Development and Talent Management Strategy
Preethi Abijith
Unifi
Rising HR Star
Betty Tang
PulteGroup
2022
CHRO of the Year
Virginia Means
United Distributors
Most People-Focused CEO
Candice Saunders
WellStar Health Systems
Best Total Rewards Strategy
Danny Abad
WellStar Health Systems
Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
Akshay Loomba
Unifi Aviation
Most Innovative Use of Technology
Neha Sharma
Unifi Aviation
Best Learning & Development and Talent Management Strategy
Whitney Bennett
CallRail
Leading Transformational Change/Culture
Patrice Graves
NCR
Rising HR Star
Elora Arnette
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
2021
Most People-Focused CEO
Craig MenearÂ
The Home Depot
CHRO of the Year
Crystal Williams
FLEETCOR
Best Total Rewards Strategy
Patrick Henley
Cobb County-Marietta Water Authority
Best Learning and Development Strategy
Alissa Twombly
Hi-Rez Studios
Most Innovative Use of Technology
Almeta Collins
The Task Force for Global Health
Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
Karen Viera
Church's Chicken
Leading Transformational Change/Culture
Holly Boyles
Gypsum Management & Supply Inc.
Rising HR Star
Holly Bail
Grayshift
2020
CHRO of the Year
Vicki Cansler
Piedmont Healthcare
Most People-Focused CEO
Ed Bastian
Delta Airlines
Best Total Rewards Strategy
Cody Partin
Cox Enterprises
Best Learning and Development Strategy
Kelly Johnson
Georgia Department of Community Health
Leading Transformational Change/Culture
Adriana Avella
The Home Depot
Most Innovative Use of Technology
Lorie Hutcheson
Shepard Center
Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
Karen Bennett
Cox Communications
Rising HR Star
Jackie Fisher
Juneau Construction Company
2019
CHRO of the Year
Mary Beth Allen
Emory Healthcare
Most People-Focused CEO
Dan Cathy
Chick-fil-A
Best Learning & Development and Talent Management Strategy
Wanda Hayes
Emory University
Leading Transformational Change/Culture
H.R. "Shashi" Shashikant
Novelis
Most Innovative Use of Technology
David Jones
WellStar Health Systems
Most Effective Recruitment Strategy
Camye Mackey
Atlanta Hawks & State Farm Arena
Rising HR Star
Bradford Wilkins
Altisource