Chris Hart, 35
HR Director, Corporate, Electrical Sales & Talent Acquisition
Atkore
Chris joined Atkore in 2017 as an HR director supporting several of the company’s facilities in its Safety & Infrastructure Business Unit. “My scope gradually increased within that business unit where I took on HR support of our Mechanical & Security businesses in 2019,” he recalled. In October 2020 he was promoted to his current position, where he leads the talent acquisition team, corporate HR team, and support Atkore’s corporate functions as HR business partner.
Chris has also led several enterprise-wide best practice teams (including Diversity, Equity & Inclusion, Leadership Development, Performance Management, Labor Relations, and Strategic Workforce Planning); won Atkore’s annual award for Integrity in 2019, for Respect in 2021, and for Teamwork in 2017 and 2020; and negotiated five collective bargaining agreements with Atkore.
Before arriving at Atkore, Chris was in the commercial plumbing industry. “I started as an HR intern in 2010 and was an HR director when I left in 2017,” he said. “I arrived in the industry because of Atkore. It’s an organization with a great story, incredible leaders, and a collective hunger to be an industry leader. The culture appeals to me and being a part of such an engaging, energetic culture in an industry that is experiencing such exciting change continues to appeal to me.”
Asked about challenges currently facing the industry, Chris noted that he is seeing “unprecedented trends in the availability of labor, and the need to be agile and creative to win the war for talent, while staying true to our internal processes to make sure we hire quality team members. Whether we are hiring specialized professionals or front-line teammates, the world is changing rapidly, and our focus is to be leading edge when it comes to bringing in talent at all levels.”
Looking ahead, Chris said he plans to keep growing personally and professionally, leading HR teams. “I aspire to eventually lead a global HR organization,” he said, noting he will “continue to challenge the status quo and put Atkore in a position to win by confronting the ever-growing complexity of the employment relationship, and ensuring we attract, develop, and retain the right talent.”
What would Chris tell someone just entering the industry? “I would simply let them know that there are so many career options in the electrical industry, and such an opportunity to make an impact,” he said.
When he’s not working, Chris, who was married on New Year’s Eve in 2020, enjoys golf and spending time with friends and family.
Each year tED magazine recognizes 30 of the industry’s best and brightest under the age of 35. Please visit tedmag.com/30Under35 for nomination information and updates about the 2021 program. Questions can be sent to tED Editor Misty Byers at mbyers@naed.org.
Tagged with 2021 30 Under 35, 30 under 35, Atkore, people