Her Story
About Laura
Laura E. Allen is a dedicated human resources leader with nearly a decade of experience supporting the automotive manufacturing industry. As Human Resources Manager at Tenneco, Laura partners with engineering and manufacturing leaders across multiple facilities, including technical engineering centers and production sites in Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. She specializes in workforce planning, payroll reporting, regulatory compliance, organizational restructuring, and data-driven HR strategies that improve operational effectiveness and employee engagement.
Throughout her career, Laura has developed a strong reputation for delivering strategic human resources programs focused on talent development, leadership growth, and organizational success. Her areas of expertise include succession planning, individual development plans, change management, HR analytics, employee relations, and supporting managers through business transformations. Before joining Tenneco, Laura held progressive HR roles with organizations such as Palmer Holland, Comprehensive Logistics Co., Inc., and Sherwin-Williams, gaining valuable experience in recruiting, training, compliance, process improvement, and workforce management.
Laura earned her Bachelor of Business Administration in Marketing from Bowling Green State University in 2017 and holds a Technical Certificate in Human Resources Management from Lorain County Community College. She is HR-certified and a member of the Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM). Laura attributes her professional growth to the guidance of supportive leaders who encouraged her advancement and development. Through her commitment to Tenneco’s values of Simplify and Tenacious Execution, she continues to create impactful HR solutions, strengthen teams, and help organizations achieve sustainable success.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Laura
01What do you attribute your success to?
Having great managers over the years who guided me and encouraged me to advance, like my HR manager who told me I was ready for an HR manager role.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Look into negative feedback for the best information to grow from. Sometimes the worst feedback can prove to be the best. Also, be patient and wait your time rather than rushing.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
The automotive field is very fast paced. Get comfortable in your own skin first. Do internships to get a good feel for the field before committing.
04What are the biggest challenges or opportunities in your field right now?
Securing operational excellence in all facilities and maintaining P3 (People Performance) by ensuring manpower understands initiatives and changes on the shop floor.
05What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
The values that matter most to me in both my work and personal life are integrity, simplicity, perseverance, and giving back to others. Tenneco's core values, particularly Simplify and Tenacious Execution, strongly resonate with how I approach challenges and opportunities. Beyond my professional life, I am passionate about supporting the American Cancer Society and giving back to children through school supply donations and reading literacy initiatives. These causes are deeply personal to me, as my family has been impacted by cancer, and I overcame my own struggles with reading. Those experiences continue to inspire me to make a meaningful difference in the lives of others.
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