Michelle Howison, M.A.2, SPHR, SHRM-SCP President, Extraordinary Dynamics

Michelle Howison is a results-focused, strategic Organizational Development expert. She approaches the talent management challenges of organizations in a unique, entrepreneurial way by fully understanding and minding to the business needs while balancing the compliance expectations and risk with consistent efficient processes. Michelle is a dynamic and engaging speaker, her audiences always leave with ideas to immediately implement and energized to get things done. Her most requested presentation topics are:

• Developing an Extraordinary Culture
• From “Us and Them” to “We” –  Building Successful Acquisitions
• Companies of Tomorrow: Are you DYNAMIC Enough to Survive?
• Bitter vs. Better – Using Our Life Experiences to Make Us Better

Background and QualificationsPrior to founding Extraordinary Dynamics, Michelle held Human Resources leadership positions in organizations where she acted as a catalyst to build best-in-class practices typically as grassroots efforts. In addition to the projects she has completed with clients of Extraordinary Dynamics, her professional career includes serving the following organizations:

• Director of Human Resources and Organizational Development at NorthStar Memorial Group, a funeral home and cemetery consolidator and management company. Served on the executive leadership team championing the ‘Best Places to Work’ culture while managing the assimilation of multiple varied acquisitions resulting in 300% company growth and spanning 55 locations across multiple states.
• Organizational Development Manager for Houston Methodist Hospital System, a non-profit, Fortune’s “Top 100 Best Places to Work”, hospital system comprised of four geographically dispersed hospitals with over 10,000 employees serving Houston and surrounding communities. As a partner with hospital leadership, formulated and executed strategic plans and various initiatives to improve the leadership competence, employee satisfaction and bottom line results.
• Human Resources Director of Burr Wolff, a multi-state, 175 person, $25 million company in the state and local tax professional services and software industry. As a key member of the corporate leadership team, reported directly to the CEO, championed the development of a people oriented culture and the strategic platform for incredible growth.
• Regional Human Capital Manager of MarchFirst, an Internet consulting services company. As a key member of the regional leadership team, guided the region through the change management process during the integration of a merger between multiple companies.
• Senior Consultant for Training & Development Systems (TDS), worked on a variety of projects for numerous clients: constructed performance management systems and competency based development action plan systems for employees and clients; developed evaluation tools used for measuring employee performance levels and course effectiveness; designed and developed customized 360 degree feedback systems; developed training materials for client courses and internal product workshops including participant guides, field workbooks and facilitator guides; assisted in organizing, designing, developing and implementing large scale training initiatives.

Michelle began her career in Organizational Development and Human Resources in the mid-90s. She holds two Master’s degrees, one in Behavioral Sciences and the other in Industrial / Organizational Psychology.Michelle upholds Senior Professional Human Resources (SPHR) and Society of Human Resources – Senior HR Professional (SHRM-SCP) certifications, as well as Birkman Senior Certification, Instructional System Design (ISD), DeBono Six Thinking Hats, DeBono Lateral Thinking, Whole-Systems Strategic Planning Process, Transformational Coaching, Right Management 360.