In an article published in HR Daily Advisor, Matern Professional Engineering HR Manager Stephen Pearson, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, is featured for cultivating a strong culture of collaboration for over 10 years at Matern. The Q&A interview delves into his 20-plus years of experience in the technical and engineering sectors. His extensive HR generalist experience spans both private and public sectors, giving him a deep expertise in everything from corporate policy and recruitment to employee relations, legal compliance, benefits, compensation, and performance coaching.
“My favorite part of what I do is bringing people into the firm who can grow and flourish,” Pearson notes. “One thing I have definitely learned is that we all are companies made of people. People have different personalities and backgrounds. It helps to always 'know your audience.' Sometimes, you need to say the same thing in various ways so that it gets appropriately processed by different people."
His advice for people interested in the HR profession is to start in a generalist role to gain a comprehensive understanding of all facets of a company. Avoiding job hopping will create more career stability, and young employees should embrace self-growth and stepping out of their comfort zone to expand their skillset.
When asked what he was most proud of, Pearson shares, "My particular combination of education, certifications, and experience in the technical/engineering field is unique, and I am proud to contribute this to the company." HR Daily Advisor notes that Pearson is “the force behind their (Matern’s) highly effective Lunch & Learn programs, designed to continuously elevate the workforce, and he’s helped transform their summer internship program into an immersive, real-world engineering experience.”