Cassandra Jones has more than 15 years of experience in Human Resources and Employment strategy. With her Green Belt in Lean Sigma, she brings this approach to problem solving and continuous improvement to KMA, where she will focus on talent acquisition, process improvement, and general HR consulting.
Prior to joining KMA, Cassandra was Human Resources Director, Global Reference Labs and Operations, for IDEXX Laboratories. Before that, she spent nearly 12 years with GlaxoSmithKline, where she held positions as Recruitment Head, North America, Great Britain & Ireland; US HR Services Director; and Human Resources Manager, among others.
Cassandra has an SPHR Certification from HRCI, SHRM-SCP certification from the Society of Human Resources Management, and Lean Management/Six Sigma-Green Belt Certification.
She earned a Masters in Human Resources Management from Webster University in St. Louis and a Bachelor of Science from Missouri State University in Springfield.
Originally from the Midwest, Cassandra moved to Maine two years ago, and she and her husband of 20 years consider this their final move. They and their three children are getting to know Maine through hiking and sightseeing. She loves reading, vintage shopping, home decorating, and re-purposing old items.
Why did you choose to work in HR?
I started in non-profit social work for Big Brothers Big Sisters in St. Louis. We were experiencing high growth and needed support for recruiting and training, so I began to focus on those areas. I discovered I really liked it, and I eventually pursued a Masters in HR.
What do you like best about your work as an HR Professional?
I like the variety that comes with working in Human Resources. There are a lot of different areas where you can apply your expertise. Often there is no established playbook for the problem you are aiming to solve. Starting with a blank slate, it’s up to you and the team to navigate the problem and determine how to solve it successfully . . . and that’s pretty rewarding and exciting.
What is one takeaway from your HR work experience you’d like to share with others?
Over the years, I’ve had the opportunity to participate on and lead many teams, so I can’t really narrow it down to just one takeaway. Each opportunity has been a learning experience, where I’ve collaborated on building models and processes to deliver products and services seamlessly to end users.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I’ve been married for 20 years, and we have three children—high school, middle school, and elementary school age. We are originally from the Midwest and have been in Maine for two years, and consider this our final move. We are all getting to know Maine, which is perfect since we love to hike and sight-see. I love reading, vintage shopping, home decorating, re-purposing old items, and of course, spending time with my family!