dsc_1018Kyle Badger graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 2011 with a Bachelor’s Degree in Business Management. Over the next five years, he gained a wealth of experience in HR working in the Hospitality and Financial industries. Kyle is currently the HR Generalist for Operations at Rich Products Corporation supporting the United States and Canada region. In this role, he provides consultative and coaching support for operations management and associates. Kyle also provides strategic support for regional managers and conducts workplace investigations.

Kyle was kind enough to continue his story with us on the heels of the DisruptHR Buffalo event on October 5th, 2016 at the amazing venue dig, in Buffalo, New York.

Editor: Tell us about yourself – your career history and how to came to be at your current role

Kyle: I started my first job two weeks after I graduated from SUNY Fredonia in 2011. I was fortunate enough to start an HR internship at a local community bank my senior year in college. They offered me a job in HR at the end of my internship. Working in a smaller company gave me a lot of exposure to all facets of HR and the business, and provided multiple opportunities for me to make value added contributions.

In late 2013 I worked in HR for Rich Products in their corporate, located in Buffalo. Working for a much larger, global organization gave me insight into the role of HR in both large and small companies, and developed me into a well-rounded HR professional.

In August I became an HR Generalist for Operations in the United States and Canada region. I’ve only been in my role for a month, so I’m still in that “transitional” phase. My main responsibilities include supporting the HR strategic initiatives for Operations and providing consultative support to our HR resources who work at our manufacturing facilities.

Editor: What does your company do? 

Kyle: Rich Products is a global food manufacturer and founder of the non-dairy segment of the frozen food industry. Rich Products currently sells over 4000+ products across 100+ different countries, with annual sales over 3.5 billion.

Editor: What made you decide to be a speaker at DisruptHR Buffalo? 

Kyle: I was intrigued by the format and there was a topic I felt passionate speaking about. As a relatively new HR professional, I thought I could provide a unique perspective.

Editor: What will you be speaking about at DisruptHR Buffalo?

Kyle: My topic will focus on the millennial generation and misconceptions about them.

Editor: What are the major learnings that attendees will take from your session? 

Kyle: That ultimately we all want the same things and we’re not so different from each other.

Editor: You only have 5 minutes to present at DisruptHR Buffalo. What unique challenges and opportunities does this format offer?

Kyle: I think only having five minutes really forces you to focus on the main points that your audience should take away from your presentation. It challenges you to be as engaging as possible, since you have to grab your audience’s attention immediately. Since you don’t have enough time to “deep dive” on what you’re talking about, you really have to intrigue and interest your audience enough to make them want to find out more.

Editor: Why does Buffalo need an event like DisruptHR?

Kyle: With HR becoming a much more strategic and macro thinking position, I think having a social, inter-connected platform like DisruptHR will provide a great opportunity for HR professionals to share their thoughts and experiences on the best ways to leverage our knowledge and skills in this evolving business environment.