Mary Anne Elizabeth Fraley-Mchaar
Mary Anne Fraley-Mchaar is an HR Generalist II and HR Business Partner in the automotive manufacturing industry, currently supporting a large, complex workforce at ZF Group. Based in Greenville, South Carolina, she works inside a large automotive transmission manufacturing facility, beginning her day at 5:00 a.m. and typically working through 3:00 or 4:00 p.m. to ensure coverage across all shifts. She currently supports three product lines and maintenance operations, two of which are in launch phase, requiring significant workforce growth, leadership alignment, and organizational change management in a fast paced Industry 4.0 environment.
Her role extends far beyond traditional HR administration. Mary Anne mentors, guides, and coaches leaders at every level, including employees, supervisors, managers, and senior leadership, maintaining a daily presence on the production floor rather than operating solely from an office. She partners closely with her management teams on turnover reduction strategies across key production lines and applies her Industrial and Organizational Psychology training in real time, helping leaders communicate policy rationale, reinforce consistency and accountability, and navigate complex employee relations matters. Her visible, relationship driven approach has strengthened trust, improved morale, and elevated employee engagement across her areas of responsibility.
Mary Anne holds a Master’s degree in Strategic Human Resource Management and a Bachelor’s degree in Behavioral Science. She has completed all doctoral coursework toward a PhD in Industrial and Organizational Psychology at Capella University and is currently advancing through the dissertation and research phase, pending IRB approval. Upon completion, she will graduate with a 4.0 GPA. Her research focuses on digital transformation in automotive manufacturing, specifically how leadership behaviors and organizational decisions shape hourly employees’ experiences during technology adoption and change. Committed to bridging rigorous research with hands on HR practice, she believes sustainable performance is built on relationships, trust, and ensuring every employee sees a clear path forward.
• President's List - Winter 2024
• Learners
CITI Program
• Bellevue University - MHRM
• Bellevue University - BS, Behavioral Sciences
• Capella University
• November Employee of the Month
• Mental Health Awareness
• David Sheldrick Wildlife Foundation
What do you attribute your success to?
I attribute my success to dependability and being someone people can count on no matter what. I strive to be that one person you know, no matter what, you can go to - someone you can talk to. It may not always be the perfect situation - you may be in a discipline issue or a learning issue of trying to find a way to address situations and you don't know how to - but for myself, I'm that one person they can depend on for the truth, whether it's a good truth or a bad truth. They're gonna get that answer from me. I've also been fortunate to have incredible mentors who support me at every step. My psychology professor Deborah Vogel Welch is helping me through my dissertation journey, and my current HR director Michael Morris supports me at every step of my way, cheers me on for my degree, listens to my ideas, and no matter what, no matter how I feel, he makes sure that I realize I'm important. Having that support system and being dependable myself has been fundamental to everything I've achieved.
What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
Mary Anne Would like to recognize as an incredible source of support and inspiration her Psychology professor Deborah Vogel Welch and HR director Michael Morris as key supporters. She emphasized dependability as a core value, expressing their commitment to being a reliable source of truth and support in various situations.
What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
First, build the relationships. It's not always about policies - sometimes, to make people understand why there's a policy, they have to have the relationship first. Second, be prepared for change. In all industries, whether it's HR, whether it is automotive, whatever you want to look at, there's new technology coming. I know for myself, I look at Industry 4.0, it's one of my passions, it's even what I'm writing my dissertation on. Be prepared for that digital change, and make your life easier. Begin to research and don't be afraid of AI. It's not taking away from our skills - all we are doing is giving direction. And if it makes my job 50% easier because I'm not having to type 50,000 words, embrace it, because it's only going to help us grow and advance in our careers.
What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Dependability is the most important value to me - being that one person you know, no matter what, you can go to. I want to be someone people can talk to, whether it's about a discipline issue or a learning issue when they're trying to find a way to address situations and don't know how. For myself, I'm that one person they can depend on for the truth, whether it's a good truth or a bad truth - they're gonna get that answer from me. Beyond dependability, I value creativity and education deeply. I'm also an artist - I've been painting since I was a little girl and I'm 50 now. I have a small graphic design business, and for me, enjoyment is creativity and education. I cannot say it enough - I think learning is probably one of the most beautiful things in the world, but I also have to have that self-time to reflect and take care of myself as well. That's where my art comes in, whether it's oil painting, graphic designing, or making a tumbler - that's where I get satisfaction. I also love to travel and have lived in several different countries including Uganda, Kenya, Morocco, as well as California, Texas, and South Carolina, which has given me pretty good experiences across the board.