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Hay named HR director
During a 25-year career in human resources Tom Hay has adapted to a variety of company cultures.
As a human resources generalist for a Fortune 500 Raleigh-based energy company, Hay has worked in two nuclear power plants and in the North Carolina mountains alongside line and service crews, nuclear engineers and plant maintenance workers, departmental directors and vice presidents.
Most recently, Hay served nine years as the human resources manager for the Japanese-owned Hitachi plant where he adjusted to a hi-volume manufacturing business and a regimented, tightlipped management culture.
Now Hay, a Raleigh native, is changing gears again as Furman's director of human resources (formerly personnel department).
“The biggest difference here is a culture exists where employees find a high level of satisfaction in performing their work ,” he says. “They are doing what they want to do. With this comes a peace of mind, happiness and a good attitude.”
He has also observed a difference in the decision-making process.
"Things are done here more through a democratic process versus an autocratic top-down management style,” he says. "There are more things done through committee."
Regardless of the setting, (nuclear plant floor, manufacturing line, or classroom) Hay says there is a common thread woven though all human resources work.
“It's about meeting people, building relationships, trust and credibility, ” says Hay.
Since arriving early last month, Hay, who has a quick smile and a self-depreciating sense of humor, has been making the rounds and good first impressions. In so doing, he explains that change in the department's name is a reflection of the office's changing role.
“We do much more than recruit and hire employees,” he says. “We are concerned about a person's well being and maintaining an environment where employees can have high levels of morale and productivity . Human Resources should be a strategic partner in helping the organization reach its goals.”
It's also a profession that Hay chose after graduating from N.C. State in 1980 with a B.A. in English. With the economy mired in recession, Hay landed a job as a wage and benefits administrator for Carolina Power and Light (now called Progress Energy), a Raleigh-based utility company that provides electricity to Eastern North Carolina and Pee Dee regions of South Carolina . In this entry-level job Hay authored job descriptions and helped classify jobs.
Less than two years later, he was promoted to personnel specialist and transferred to the company's Robinson Nuclear Power Plant in Hartsville, S.C. Hay knew then that he had found his chosen profession.
“It just seems to suit me,” says Hay. “It comes naturally. I get energized by interacting with a diverse group of people.”
Hay also worked as a human resource representative at Brunswick Nuclear Power Plant near Wilmington, N.C. and as Director of Personnel Relations in Carolina Power and Light's western North Carolina territory before joining Hitachi in 1996.
The Japanese owned manufacturing giant had opened a large facility in Greenville four years before and was adding more product lines and employees. The facility, which produces color picture tubes, employed 800 when Hay was hired. By 2000 employment had grown to 1,500.
At the end of 2004, Hay left Hitachi and worked again in the Asheville area for an automotive group before joining Furman May 1. Although Hay will do some “tweaking” in places, he doesn't plan to make any sweeping changes in Human Resources.
“I think we have a great staff and I have enjoyed getting to know everyone (Lynn Lawless, Giselle Williams, Mary Williams and Antoinette Harrell). “We can do some cross-training in areas and streamlining of certain work processes . I will be trying to build on the credibility level which is high.”
Hay and his wife of 19 years ( Terrilyn ) have three sons Thomas, 15, Stewart, 13, and Lewis, 8.