Human Resource Director Magazine (HRD) honors Ollis/Akers/Arney Human Resources Consulting as Innovative HR Team of 2023 for the second consecutive year. The award recognizes firms that are breaking boundaries to move the HR profession forward by implementing progressive and ground-breaking strategies. 

“I truly believe if you do what’s right for your client, everything else falls into place, “ says Karen Shannon, Vice President of Business Consulting/CHRO. “It’s rewarding to see the efforts of our team doing just that, especially when there are so many talented professionals out there.”

Karen Shannon along with human resources consultants Carolyn O’Kelley and Kenya Pearman, and human resources coordinator Wendy Brown, provide full-service business consulting in all areas of HR including recruitment, onboarding, performance, management, compliance initiatives, and training and development for clients throughout the U.S. and their international locations. They also serve as a business partner to drive strategic planning for those situations that are not day-to-day occurrences such as mergers/acquisitions transitions, succession planning or reductions in workforce. 

Shannon says post pandemic “we’ve really seen an increase in the need for this type of consulting. Many companies and organizations are seeing this as an opportunity to expand and change.”

“It’s no longer acceptable to just think about the day-to-day technical processes that have to be done. It is more important than ever for HR professionals to be flexible and adaptable focusing on strategic solutions to move their organizations forward,” continues Shannon. “Companies, non-profit organizations, and public entities are looking to HR professionals and business partners to provide strategic guidance regarding upcoming challenges and opportunities from post-pandemic people attraction, engagement and retention tactics to the risk and rewards associated with AI solutions.”

About the Team

Karen Shannon has served in leadership positions in banking and human resources for 30 years. She received her M.B.A. and B.A. in business administration and economics from Drury University. 

Carolyn O’Kelley has more than 20 years of human resources experience in a variety of industries from higher education to manufacturing to public accounting. She received her B.S. in business management from Missouri Southern State University. 

Kenya Pearman has more than 16 years of human resources director experience in the supply chain/logistics industry. She has a B.S. in political science from Oklahoma State University. 

Wendy Brown has more than 20 years of experience coordinating and project managing in the world of architecture, advertising, accounting, and real estate. She received her Business Management degree from Baptist Bible College and holds her real estate license. 

About Ollis/Akers/Arney Human Resources Consulting 

The stand-alone HR Consulting division was added as another layer of business consulting to Ollis/Akers/Arney Insurance & Business Advisors in response to companies and organizations seeking retainer and on-demand expert guidance in a highly complex field of expertise. Ollis/Akers/Arney provides human resources solutions, business risk assessments and solutions, health and group benefits, and commercial as well as personal lines of insurance. Offices are in Springfield, Branson and Bolivar, Missouri and serve clients nationwide. Ollis/Akers/Arney has been nationally recognized by Independent Insurance Agents & Brokers of America, Inc. as a Best Practices Agency in the United States and as a Top Insurance Workplace from Insurance Business America in 2019, 2020, 2021 and 2022. The agency has also received the Torch Award for Ethics from the Better Business Bureau and Best Places to Work from Best Companies Group and Biz 417.

For more information, contact Tammy Johnson, Director of Marketing and Community Relations at (417) 881-8333 or visit OllisAkersArney.com.