Geoff is the Global Chief People Officer of DataCore Software based in Fort Lauderdale, FL. He has 20+ years of experience in the field of Human Resources working across a variety of industries. Geoff is married to his wife Stacey of 20 years and they have two boys, Tyson (14) and Nick (13).

Favorite Quote: “Success is no accident. It is hard work, perseverance, learning, studying, sacrifice and most of all, love of what you are doing or learning to do.” — Pele, Brazilian soccer player

Fun Fact: I went to three different high schools.

How do you unwind after a long day of work? After a long day at work, I really enjoy going on walks with my family.

What challenges have you faced in your career, and how did you overcome them? Over my 20+ years in HR, I’ve worked across a very diverse set up industries, from software and data centers to rental cars and mining. So, while HR is transferrable across any industry, learning the ins and outs of a new industry and how a company operates and makes money has been the most difficult, but most rewarding part of my career.

What has been the most monumental moment of your career thus far? When I moved to South Florida in January 2020 to take the CPO role with DataCore no one had any inclination that in just a couple of months we’d be in the middle of a global pandemic and recession. With that said, the company’s mindset was our people first, ensuring that our employees and their families were safe and that we would communicate to them in the most effective and transparent manner. Today, I feel that we accomplished both and I’m very proud of that.

What’s the best piece of advice you’ve ever gotten? When a board member asks you a question, just answer the question. Don’t go on a tangent talking about things that don’t relate to the original question or you’ll get yourself down a rabbit hole that will be hard to climb out of.

What qualities make for an outstanding HR professional? A business mindset, patience, and a skilled communicator.

How have you adapted your HR skills to COVID? COVID has put a higher focus on empathy and communication as employee’s lives have been turned upside down dealing with uncertainty, personal and professional anxiety, and overall well-being.

What are some misconceptions about HR and how do you combat them? That HR is an administrative policing function, when in reality, if done properly, HR plays a critical role in the success of the business.

What do you like most about working in HR? I love understanding the strategy of the company and building out people programs to solve business short-falls.