Her Story
About Ruth Ann
I've been working in Human Resources for about 15 years now, and my journey here wasn't exactly straightforward. Before HR, I dabbled in purchasing at a manufacturing plant, worked as a biller coder for an attorney, and even spent time as a bank teller. The shift to HR came after I worked with an attorney, and my mom suggested I look into human resources since I was really good at talking with people and already had my bachelor's degree in psychology. I went back to school to Ashland University to obtain my master's degree in business with an emphasis in human resources, starting my first HR position in 2011 while going to school. I graduated in December 2012, and it was great because I was able to take what I learned and just go back and apply it to my job. My main area of expertise right now is recruiting. In my current role, I'm working on starting an apprenticeship program with the state and trying to incorporate one of the area schools so we can help our community and get young people employed as soon as they get out of school, especially those going into technical fields instead of college, because college isn't for everybody. One of my most notable achievements was when I was in a role in Indiana and we had to hire individuals that did not speak English. They were from Burma and spoke Burmese. We presented to leadership about tapping into this community, and we had to change our hiring standards and translate our processes to Burmese language. We probably hired over 200 people, and they were good workers. It was a big challenge getting leadership to say okay, making sure translations were correct, finding an interpreter for orientation and the shop floor, and understanding their culture. I'm very focused on handbooks because the company handbook is basically what we live by. If you don't have a handbook, you don't have anything to base any policies or procedures. I've worked for attorneys and done title work, so I know that if it's not in black and white, it's open for interpretation. When it's open for interpretation, it could be meant one way but taken a totally different way by an employee.
Her Interview
Ten minutes with Ruth Ann
01What do you attribute your success to?
God! He has given me so many various employments to be able to wrap up into one life! Without God I am nothing. He has paved the way for not only me but my family and friends. I am blessed to be in my dream position right now. I have had a good mentor who taught me Human Resources. She was like a second mother to me. We had such a good relationship she came to my graduation for my Master's degree. I learned a lot from her. I know that it was because God put her in my life to shape who I have become in my career today.
02What’s the best career advice you’ve ever received?
I wouldn't say it was advice exactly, but it was a role model. When I took on my first role, my supervisor was the HR manager, and she wasn't educated like I was, so there were things I saw in her that I didn't want to do because I could see that was wrong. But there were other things she did really well. She taught me how to talk to people appropriately, professionally, and not talk down to people. You know, they may not know the things that you know, so you educate them, but not do it in a demeaning factor. She didn't really give me advice, but it was just her image to try and follow, that role model to try and follow. She led by example.
03What advice would you give to young women entering your industry?
Don't let somebody who says, well, "we've never done that before", determine which route you go. Just because you haven't done it before doesn't mean that it can't be done.
04What values are most important to you in your work and personal life?
Your handbook is basically what we live by, and if you don't have a handbook, you don't have anything to base anything off of. I've worked for attorneys, and I know what they look for when they have a case going on. If it's not in black and white, it's open for interpretation. When it's open for interpretation, you can mean it this way but it's taken this way. Until it's in black and white, that's it. Whether I was in the billing department or doing title work for attorneys, if somebody's name was not on that deed for title work, then that means that person did not sign off on it, so that means they still have an interest in that property. It's the same concept. If you did not specify that we're going pay them this way, then that means they can be paid any other way. I'm a face-to-face person, so as much as I possibly can, I try doing meetings face-to-face with people. There's just something to be said about seeing somebody's emotions, their body language, things of that nature when you are communicating with them.
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