HR advisor
Northwest Community College
Marli Penner originally joined the HR department at Northwest Community College in a benefits administration role but quickly rose to become an HR advisor. Focusing on employee benefits, disability management, and occupational health and safety, Penner became an OH&S champion, helping to build a culture that prioritizes health and safety across the college’s four locations and 300 employees. Her work has included everything from producing training packages for staff and educating fellow employees on reporting compliance to updating the safety orientation program for new employees. She also led the charge to boost the number of first aid attendants on campus and update the first aid dispatch process.
Penner has also spearheaded a focus on wellness throughout the college, organizing learning events for staff, students and the public on financial, physical and mental health. Through her work in disability management, she has also helped to significantly reduce lost time to injury, strengthen the school’s return-to-work program and spread the word about its employee assistance program, resulting in a 7.4% increase in usage.