Elevate your HR Career: Tips from the C-Suite Panel

As Convivial Brands Chief Human Resources Officer, Mary Dale is responsible for human capital management, total rewards program development and execution, employee engagement, diversity and inclusion, and leadership development for multiple companies under the Convivial Brands umbrella to include Design Design, Verdant Graphics, Tableau, Style Life, and the High Five Grand Rapids. In this role, she leads human resources initiatives for team members across 41 states. 

 
Before joining Convivial Brands in November 2019, Mary was the Chief Human Resources Officer for Metron Integrated Health System where she was responsible for accelerating Metron’s Human Resource transformation through leadership, differentiated talent models, creating strategies for attracting and retaining top talent, and building a culture of engagement. Under Mary’s leadership, Metron implemented a new talent acquisition strategy, compensation philosophy and structure, total rewards package, employee recognition program, and new HR model. Prior to her work at Metron, Dale was the Chief Operating Officer and Director of Clinical and Human Resources/HIPAA and OSHA Compliance Officer for Orthopedic Associates of Michigan (OAM) in Grand Rapids for over six years. Under Mary’s leadership, OAM was named one of the 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan for over five years and the 101 Best and Brightest in Wellness in Michigan for two years. She also led Metron to win their first ever 101 Best and Brightest Companies to Work for in West Michigan in 2018 and again in 2019. While working at OAM, Mary was also involved in the implementation of the BPCI-Bundled Payments program and the opening of OAM NOW, a walk-in urgent care clinic for the practice. Prior to her work at OAM, Mary was a Senior Account Manager for Kforce Professional Staffing, where she was recognized as one of the top 10% of Account Managers/Recruiters Nation Wide in Monte Carlo. 

Ms. Dale is a frequent speaker at industry events and has spoken at the LEAP Healthcare HR conference, Disrupt HR Grand Rapids conference, MISHRM Annual Conference, How Women Rise Leadership Event, HR Unite, and HCAM (Health Care Association of Michigan) Annual Conference. She serves on various boards to include: The University of Michigan Health West Foundation Board of Directors, MISHRM State Board as the Membership Director, Grand Rapids Council for Ferris State University as their Co-Membership Chair, as an Advisory Board Member for the Communications program at Ferris Big Rapids, and as a founding member of the Grand Rapids International Network (GRIN). Mary previously served as a Board Member on the Ferris State Alumni Relations Board for three terms. Aside from her Board Memberships, Ms. Dale was named to the 2018 40 under 40 Class, was awarded the HR Unite Purpose and Inspire awards in 2021, and was highlighted in Profile Magazine for top HR professionals. 

She holds a Bachelor’s degree from Ferris State University in Communication with a minor in Psychology, DEI Workplace Certification from University of South Florida College of Muma, and is certified by HRCI and SHRM as a Professional in Human Resources (PHR) and Certified Professional in Human Resources (SHRM-CP). 

Subha Barry is a C-suite leader and an Advisor who brings a unique perspective on the alignment of corporate culture to talent strategy and business results. As a transformational change agent, she has a proven record of identifying and accelerating new business creation, driving sales, and increasing profitability.

She is president of Seramount, now part of EAB. Seramount is a strategic professional services firm dedicated to advancing diversity, equity and inclusion in the workplace. Here, she drives the firm’s vision, strategy, and business development.

Prior to Seramount, Subha was SVP and Chief Diversity Officer at Freddie Mac, where she served on the firm’s management committee and led their Foundation. During her 20+ years at Merrill Lynch, Subha was a Managing Director and the company’s first Global Head of Diversity and Inclusion, driving strategy, infrastructure and execution with a lens on both global and local community. 

She has taught Gender Policy at Columbia University and speaks passionately about the ability to drive innovation by embracing diversity and creating a culture of inclusion. She serves on a number of boards aligned with her passions—education, cancer research, and women’s advancement.

 A native of India, Subha holds a BA from Bombay University and an MBA and MS in Accounting from Rice University. She enjoys golfing, reading poetry and rallying for social change. She has two grown children and lives in Naples, Florida and New Hope, PA with her husband.