Laura McLand, MBA, PHR, SHRM-CP

Laura McLand serves as Vice President of Human Resources at Sun Holdings, one of the largest franchise organizations in the United States, overseeing a workforce of 30,000 employees across more than 1,250 locations in over 30 states. As a member of the executive leadership team, she directs the full scope of the HR function, including recruiting, payroll, benefits, learning and development, talent management, succession planning, employee relations, and HRIS integration. With 25 years of broad human resources experience, nine of which have been concentrated in the hospitality sector, she has built a reputation for constructing scalable, people-centered systems that align workforce strategy with business growth. Her leadership has played a key role in Sun Holdings earning national recognition as one of America's Greatest Workplaces, as ranked by Newsweek.

Laura's path into HR leadership began unconventionally, starting as an executive assistant to a CEO who encouraged her to take on payroll responsibilities. Determined to grow professionally, she pursued additional coursework at night through Cornell University while balancing her expanding responsibilities, a commitment that propelled her into an HR manager role and eventually into executive leadership. Prior to joining Sun Holdings, she held senior HR posts at organizations including Beacon Oral Specialists, R1 RCM, and Eatzi's Market and Bakery, where she led talent acquisition, HRIS system transitions, employee engagement programs, and compliance initiatives for multi-unit, multi-state organizations. She also spent time as President of her own consulting firm, HR Fusion, advising small and mid-sized businesses on recruiting, compliance, and employee retention strategies.

Laura holds a Bachelor of Arts in University Studies with concentrations in Human Resources Development and Organizational Leadership, as well as an MBA focused on Strategic Human Resources Leadership and the Hospitality Industry, both from Texas Tech University. She maintains active credentials as a SHRM Certified Professional and a Professional in Human Resources, and has been a longstanding member of both SHRM and the HR Certification Institute. Beyond her corporate role, she dedicates her time to philanthropic causes, serving on the boards of the NTX Community Food Pantry and Heroic Inner Kids, where she applies her HR expertise to support community employment initiatives and nonprofit governance. Her contributions have been publicly recognized through honors such as the Women of Inspiration Authentic Leader Award and her selection as a Global Ambassador for the Women of Inspiration network.