In this conversation, Jeffrey Scott talks to Mary Vales, Chief People Officer at Schill Grounds Management. She shares her secrets to success in HR, recruiting tips, software support, onboarding processes, and of course the importance of company culture.
She discusses her career journey, the need for great processes in HR, and the challenges of HR in the field of mergers and acquisitions. She shares the significance of hiring practices (do’s and dont’s) in shaping a successful organization.
Mary emphasizes the need for honesty and critical interview skills when recruiting, and when assessing a company to buy.
Link to Summer Growth Summit:
2025 Summer Growth Summit

Takeaways
· Mary Vales is the Chief People Officer at Schill Grounds Management.
· She emphasizes the importance of being close to the business operations in order to suc
· Compliance and onboarding are critical, but just the beginning in HR success.
· Mary’s career journey includes diverse experiences across industries.
· Hiring practices should focus on finding the right fit for the company culture and the job.
· Mergers and acquisitions require careful due diligence and cultural understanding.
· HR professionals should have a continuous improvement mindset.
· Technology plays a significant role in modern HR practices.
· Honesty in recruitment leads to better employee retention.