Michele Herlein is an Executive Vice President and the Chief Administration Officer for Barge Design Solutions, Inc., where she focuses on driving business results through creating a great employee experience using organization design, change management, and strategic HR principles. The past three companies she worked with have increased financial results more than 300% using these principles. She works alongside the Executive Team to make value-based people decisions which continually curate the firm’s culture of collaboration, authenticity, responsibility, excellence, and service. Her passion is creating work environments that allow employees to flourish and contribute their unique gifts and talents. A sought-after advisor to executives across a variety of fields, she has extensive experience in leading large-scale change initiatives, integrating talent management processes, and horizontally and vertically aligning an organization to drive business results. Her recent accomplishments at Barge Design Solutions, Inc., include obtaining Great Place to Work® Certification four years in a row with high levels of participation across the firm, and being recognized by Middle Tennessee Society for Human Resource Management as Human Resources Executive of the Year (2019). Prior to Barge Design Solutions, Inc. Herlein spent eight years at Bridgestone Americas, most recently as Vice President of Talent, Organization, and Culture, where she implemented an integrated talent management system, designed and defined the firm’s values, and led a cultural transformation effort. Before joining Bridgestone, she worked for ten years at Bandag, Inc where she implemented a comprehensive leadership and succession management program and effected change initiatives through learning and development. Herlein has published articles on coaching, mentoring, and change management. She has spoken at the American Academy of Management, Society for Human Resource Management, and the Association for Talent Development. She lives in Mt. Juliet, TN with her husband Doug. They have four children and three grandchildren. Her interests and hobbies include travel, yoga, and learning new things.