Lori Hella named associate VP of Human Resources department


Lori Hella was appointed Central Michigan University's Vice President of Human Resources Wednesday.

Hella, former director of benefits and wellness at CMU, has held the interim associate Vice President of Human Resources position since June 1, 2010. A national search was held for the position before Hella edged out finalist Mark Ankenbauer, former associate Vice President for Human Resources at Wayne State University.

According to an email from University Communications, Hella started the permanent position on April 25 and will receive an annual salary of $126,500.

Hella has worked in CMU's human resources departments since 1996, and previously worked human resources roles with Saint Mary's Health Services and marketing firm Talent Tree Personnel. Along with serving as the former director of benefits and wellness, she has also served as personnel generalist, compensation and benefit analyst and assistant director of compensation and benefits.

Hella said she is excited to have been appointed for the position, and it will help the future of the department's organization to no longer have an interim vice president.

"I think it’s nice for the department, because I’ve had the interim position for almost two years, and when you’re in that interim status, there’s just a little bit of uncertainty of whether there will be additional organization changes to the department," Hella said.

Hella said her experience with human resources since 1996 will help, should the department run into problems they have seen in years past.

"I think (prior experience) is going to be very helpful, because familiarity with the history of CMU gives me a solid foundation of why we’ve done things the way we have in the past," Hella said. "If situations come up with something we’ve dealt with in the past, it will certainly help for those similar situations in the future."

Vice President of Finance and Administrative Services David Burdette said the search committee for the position, which consisted of six university employees, received more than 40 applications for the job before narrowing the search down to three candidates, who were invited to campus.

"The search committee received 40 applications, screened those, and, of those 40, we invited five potential candidates to a Skype interview," Burdette said. "Of those five, we invited three to visit campus. Of the two finalists, Lori was by far the most superior."

Burdette said Hella's background experience in CMU's human resources department made her a qualified candidate for the position.

"She’s a great team player, and she cares deeply about CMU and the university’s employees," Burdette said.

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