Amy-Alexis Udom: Member Spotlight (September 2017)
September 3, 2017
John G. Holly: Member Spotlight (November 2017)
November 1, 2017
“Sometimes we have the opportunity to make a difference. In the field of Human Resources, we call ourselves gatekeepers. Sometimes that means taking a stance that may be unpopular, or even career-limiting.”
-Traron Moore, Ph.D., Human Resources Director, Comcast
Members and friends, meet Dr. Traron Moore. His career-path begins at Morehouse College in Atlanta, GA where he entered as a Chemistry, Chemical Engineering, Mathematics major (…yes, you read that correctly; a triple-major). It takes a sharp left-turn after an internship with NASA at the close of his sophomore year in college and coming to the realization that he didn’t enjoy the work that he was doing, and lands him back home in Tuskegee, Alabama where he transfers to Tuskegee University and his sister helps him to get a summer job interning at a hotel that summer while he ‘figures things out’. The path then takes a right-turn as he begins his internship at the hotel in the Human Resources Department. What was supposed to be a week-long internship experience ended up being extended to 2-weeks, then 3-weeks, and ultimately the whole summer and an HR star is born! By the time the internship experience came to an end at the close of the summer, Traron was responsible for managing the non-exempt hiring process, employee orientations, you know, all of the tactical ‘busy work’ most HR Managers don’t like to do, but Traron had a knack for it. It was fun. It was new. It was exciting, and it sparked Traron’s continued interest in the field.
That spark would eventually grow into the flame that would thrust him through some challenging growth opportunities preparing him for things to come; like going from an HR newbie to managing the human resources function at the hotel after his manager left the organization unexpectedly. While continuing to have his metal tested in the field in various organizations in both the for- and not-for-profit sector, Traron continued pursuing his education, finishing his bachelors, picking up his MBA, Ph.D. and his SPHR Certification. He became the first Human Resources Manager for the Atlanta Community Food Bank and went on to work with companies such as the Atlanta Journal Constitution, Concessions International, and Home Depot where he had both domestic and international human resources responsibilities. Traron is currently at Comcast where he currently works as a Human Resources Director responsible for 5,600 employees in over 200 locations across 10 states. In his role, Traron has generalist responsibilities and responsibility for several other areas including diversity & inclusion, talent management, and change management.
Traron recalls one of the defining moments of his career,
I had been working with one organization for about a year when I witnessed discrimination towards a colleague applying for an executive role. Initially she was not going to apply because she in fact knew that her chances of getting the role were slim due to her gender and race, despite her 30-year tenure and track-record with the company. The lesson that I learned is that sometimes we have the opportunity to make a difference. In the field of Human Resources, we call ourselves gatekeepers. Sometimes that means taking a stance that may be unpopular, or even career-limiting. I confronted the key decision-makers about their discriminatory behavior and challenged the status quo. My speaking-up also helped the head of the department to better understand the group dynamics of the people that she was working with and be more tuned-in to the nocuous decisions that were being made within her team. Most importantly, I helped the person who was most qualified for the position get a position that she would not have been considered for simply because of her color and gender.
Traron is no stranger to exploring tough questions. He has taken on one of the leadership roles in one of NAAAHR’s newest affinity groups The Triumvirate of HR Men.
This is one of the things that NAAAHR does really well; connecting a broad spectrum of human resources professionals and engaging them in conversation around topics that help them to move the needle or decide why it should stay where it is in their organizations. You have newer and more senior professionals all in the same room within a handshake of each other. That is a wonderful thing.We’re really looking to impact the HR scene with some of the topics that we broach, beginning with the October Chapter Meeting and the issue of convicted felons re-entering the workplace. This is a huge topic where opinions vary so widely and there is no right or wrong answer so I know it’s going to be a lively conversation.
I didn’t even get into how Traron loves to travel when is not wearing his HR hat. He has been to Brazil alone 7 times and plans to go at least 2 more times before the year’s end! …BUT before he heads out, he’ll be at this month’s Chapter Meeting on Wednesday, October 11th. Have you been to Brazil too? Then come out and say hello to Traron! Maybe you can swap Carnival pictures. It’s okay! Everything in HR is confidential. But seriously, you won’t want to miss the feature screening of the film RELEASED, and a special guest panel moderated by another one of our HR Triumvirate of Men leaders, Dr. Shelton Goode. Click here for the list of upcoming events where you can meet like-minded professionals in various industries. Click here for more information on the October Chapter Meeting and to register now. Remember: Advance Registration=Cost Savings, so don’t delay…
