The 2025 Carolina HR Summit & Awards drew a record turnout on Monday evening, October 27, filling Booth Playhouse in Uptown Charlotte with more than 240 HR and business leaders from across the Carolinas. Attendance doubled from last year’s inaugural event, marking the Summit’s growing role as a key regional gathering for HR executives, talent strategists, and people leaders.
This year’s theme, Rethinking HR for a Changing World, shaped an evening focused on shared learning and recognition. The program opened with welcome remarks from Ashley Goldberg, President and Partner at Search Solution Group, followed by a keynote from Tracy Dodson, COO of the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, who highlighted Charlotte’s accelerating business growth and the new jobs and workforce opportunities emerging as a result.
Throughout the program, the atmosphere reflected a sense of community and shared purpose. A new wellness segment led by Domonique Williams, Head of HR at Forbo, prompted a moment of reflection among attendees. Williams shared, “Being part of the Carolina HR Summit reaffirmed that wellness is not just a benefit, it is a business strategy. When leaders invest in the health of their people, they unlock the highest potential of their teams and their organizations.”
The panel discussion was moderated by Jennifer Snellgrove, CPO at CPI Security Systems, and featured Allen Latty, Vice President of HR for Commscope; Andrea Frohning, Senior VP and CHRO for Dentsply Sirona; and Scott Howland, CHRO at TTX Company. The panelists shared real stories, thoughtful perspectives, and a few laughs along the way, creating a conversation that was both engaging and genuinely enjoyable for the audience.
The highlight of the evening was the Carolina HR Standout Awards, honoring ten HR professionals for leadership, innovation, and impact across their organizations:
The 2025 honorees were:
- Carma Hooper of Positive Childhood Alliance, North Carolina
- Stephanie Warfield of Okuma America Corp.
- Randy Gartz of Crete United
- LoriAnn Boyer of Wray Ward
- Whitney Westbrook of HAECO
- Kim Stavropulos of WM
- Maryann Trumpfheller of nVent
- Belinda Kyle of Biscuitville Fresh Southern
- Onna O’Meara of Miller Environmental Group
- Tracy White of Meduit
All honorees will be featured in the January 2026 issue of Business North Carolina magazine.
The event was presented in partnership by Search Solution Group, Business North Carolina, and the Charlotte Regional Business Alliance, with additional support from NFP, Charlotte Business Group, Suttmeier Productions, and Cannavo Studios.
One attendee also received the Golden Ticket, awarding a $5,000 credit toward a Priority Search with Search Solution Group. A Priority Search is a blend of contingent and retained search.
The Carolina HR Summit & Awards continues to grow as a central gathering for HR leadership across the region, bringing together the people shaping workplaces and culture throughout the Carolinas.
About Search Solution Group
Search Solution Group is a nationally recognized recruitment and staffing firm headquartered in Charlotte, NC. For more than 20 years, the firm has partnered with organizations nationwide to deliver top talent through executive search, direct hire, and staffing solutions. Search Solution Group specializes in placing professionals across HR, finance, IT, operations, marketing, and other key business functions.
