Brad Neilley is an accomplished CHRO and the Board Chair for Talent, Culture, and Compensation at TURTLE & HUGES, INC. With a distinguished career in human resources, he has consistently demonstrated his capability to generate value within organizations by specializing in organizational design, strategic planning, and comprehensive talent management. Brad’s extensive operational background and profound business acumen have enabled him to cultivate exceptional business partnerships, earning him prestigious accolades, including the esteemed “President’s Award” from a Johnson & Johnson company.
Brad’s well-documented aptitude for establishing and nurturing robust internal and external business relationships is a testament to his commitment to connecting organizations with top-tier talent. His dedication to fostering a culture of continuous improvement is a driving force behind optimizing human capital, ultimately leading to heightened levels of employee and customer satisfaction.
Brad has also had a lifelong commitment to the community which is expressed in his long-term past or present membership on the Boards of several non-profit organizations, including, President of three homeowner’s associations, a trustee at William Patterson University for over 10 years, and on the Boards of multiple non-profits over his career. In addition, he has a love for music and joined the DC JazzFest as an Advisory Board member.
Below are highlights of the interview:
Can you please provide a brief overview of your professional background and experience in the industry?
Prior to his current role, Brad served as Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) and Head of Facilities at several Fortune 500 companies in a variety of industries, including AvalonBay, the largest multifamily real estate company in the country; ABM Industries, the country’s largest facilities management company; and Johnson & Johnson (J&J), where he held executive-level posts with global responsibilities as well as board positions for three J&J companies. At J&J, he was also the recipient of the Chairman’s and President’s Awards for outstanding achievement in recognition of his contributions to the successful integration and growth of a M&A start-up that reached sales of $1.2 billion in its first year.
Brad’s credentials include an B.A. in Business from William Patterson University, graduate school studies at Harvard Business School, and an M.B.A. (with honors) in International Business from Fairleigh Dickinson University. In addition, he has a post-graduate certificate in strategic management from the Wharton School of Business, University of PA.
Tell us about TURTLE & HUGES, INC. and its mission.
Turtle is a billion-dollar strategic energy solutions leader helping customers with their most challenging design, engineering, and electrification needs. This also includes a pivotal role in the electrification of America, including the mass scale-up of the EV market.
How did you initially get involved in the industry, and what motivated you to pursue a career in this field? For my current role?
I was introduced to the company through my networking, where I immediately formed a strong connection with the executive chairman, who asked me to join the board. Shortly after joining the board, I agreed to lead HR as an interim CHRO and begin a search for my backfill after leading a CEO transition. In my career in HR, I have always enjoyed helping people and also creating value for organizations. Once I joined J&J, it reinforced the value I could bring to a company in this role.
How do you foster a culture of innovation and adaptability within your organization, considering the rapidly changing landscape of the business industry?
Our industry, along with the rest of the world, is experiencing a pace of change unlike anything we have ever seen. The bottom line is that you have to embrace change to stay ahead of the competition.
How do you prioritize customer satisfaction and ensure that the company provides exceptional service to its clients?
Meeting customer and employee expectations sets the bar. Providing an exceptional customer and employee experience are both focus areas that ensure the long-term success of our organization.
What steps do you take to attract and retain top talent in the industry, and how do you encourage professional growth and development within your organization?
In the current environment and “War for Exceptional Talent,” this has become an area of increased importance. We are actively working to manage our brand on social media to position Turtle to be top of mind and an employer of choice. We also listen to the feedback from our employees to make sure we are meeting their current and future career goals as much as possible. This also includes working towards maintaining high levels of employee engagement.
How do you address the increasing importance of digitalization and technology in the sector, and how does it influence the company’s operations and customer experience?
A company’s ability and willingness to embrace technology are no longer options. What will continue to differentiate companies is their ability to leverage and maximize technology to best meet and exceed the needs and expectations of employees and customers in the markets we serve. We have already begun to look at ways to leverage emerging technologies like AI in our business.
As CHRO, Board Member of the company, what is your overall vision for the company’s future and how do you plan to achieve it?
We will continue to be a leader in the industry. My vision is for us to be a nimble learning organization that builds organizational capabilities that evolve with market needs and takes advantage of technology that enables our ability to deliver ongoing results.
What advice would you give to aspiring leaders or individuals looking to join the industry?
Make sure you are a lifelong learner. While you may be the best and even have the most knowledge of anyone in your field or industry today, tomorrow may be different. Change is here to stay, so you have to embrace it. Also, as your career moves forward, be focused and flexible at the same time, since where your career starts may be very different than where it ends up!
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