Leora Kirk is an experienced Human Resources professional who has worked with both for-profit and non-profit organizations. Her experience includes recruitment, staff management, employee relations, conflict resolution, and policy development.
Prior to joining KMA, Leora was Senior Human Resources Generalist for Schlotterbeck & Foss where she was responsible for employee relations, policy writing, performance issues, recruiting, compensation analysis, and disciplinary action, among other duties.
Before that, she worked as HR Generalist for Catholic Charities of Maine, where she performed employee benefit eligibility, auditing, and utilization reviews, as well as maintained Worker’s Compensation and OSHA reporting for employees.
“Human Resources is a helping profession. You get to help people . . . and that’s something that really appeals to me,” says Leora. “Sure, there’s an administrative aspect to it, but it’s not just about filling out paper work and understanding rules. At its core, it’s about people.”
Leora is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management (Certified Professional – CP), holds a current Professional in Human Resources (PHR) certification, and has a BA in Psychology from the University of Southern Maine. She served in the Israeli Defense Force from 2000 to 2002 where she studied aspects of Industrial Psychology and Military Organizational Behavior among new recruits.
She resides in Durham with her husband and 1-year old, where she enjoys a quiet Maine lifestyle. One of her passions is cake decorating for special events, friends, colleagues, and family.
Why did you choose to work in HR?
I have always been interested in what used to be known as “Industrial Psychology,” a field of study that originated in the old days of mills and factories to help employers better understand how people behave in work settings and why they might make certain choices. As a member of the Israeli Defense Force, I had a fantastic opportunity to interact with new recruits and study their behaviors and why they made certain choices. Naturally, this interest in human behavior carried over to my interest in Human Resources.
What do you like best about your work as an HR Professional?
Human Resources is a helping profession. You get to help people . . . and that’s something that really appeals to me. Sure, there’s an administrative aspect to it, but it’s not just about filling out paper work and understanding rules. At its core, it’s about people.
What is one takeaway from your HR work experience you’d like to share with others?
It’s hard for me to single out one event. I feel like I’m always learning and adapting. Coming from Israel to the United States and a whole different culture really reinforced the notion of continuously experiencing new things, growing, and adjusting. I look at life as a series of moments. There is a lesson in every person you meet, every situation, and every action. I try to take advantage of everything life has to teach.
Tell us a little about yourself.
I am married and have a 1-year old. We live in Durham where we enjoy the quiet Maine lifestyle, for which we are grateful. One of my passions is cake decorating, which I do for special events, friends, colleagues, and family members. I find it to be lots of fun and a creative outlet!