HRLF Announces New Board Members

Human Resources Leadership Forum Announces New Board Members

Evan Pierce, Sandra Hood, and Rich Horlbeck add depth to HRLF leadership

Human Resources Leadership Forum (HRLF) is excited to announce the addition of three HR leaders to its board. Evan Pierce, Sandra Hood, and Rich Horlbeck will complete an 11-member board that oversees governance of HRLF and ensures the success of its future endeavors. The added experience of these three individuals in the HR field brings valuable insights and decades of proficiency to its board and decision-making processes.

Serving as Vice President of People and Culture at the Boston Celtics since 2021, Evan Pierce previously worked in people-centered roles at companies such as Apple and Hewlett Packard Enterprise. Pierce has more than 15 years of experience in strategic planning, business partnership, talent acquisition, and more.

“I have been a member of HRLF since 2023 and am honored to take on the role of board member,” said Pierce. “This organization and its membership have fostered a two-way exchange of HR knowledge in which I have received far more than I have given. I am excited to continue to learn from this wonderful organization.”

With more than 20 years of experience as a human resources leader, Sandra Hood joins the HRLF board and serves as the Director of People and Culture at AlphaSimplex. There, Hood supports and develops the talent and culture of the firm while overseeing recruitment, onboarding, and retention of its workforce. Before joining AlphaSimplex, Sandra worked in South Africa and at Microsoft, deepening her knowledge of the HR field.

“One of the best things about HRLF is its ability to expand both my own network and the network of others,” said Hood. “Having a community of HR leaders all coming together to discuss best practices and key findings is such a special resource, and I’m proud to further my involvement of the organization.”

Vice President of Global Total Rewards and HR Operations at Karyopharm Therapeutics, Rich Horlbeck brings more than 25 years of experience in human resources to the HRLF board. Horlbeck’s knowledge of employee development, talent acquisition, and creating positive work environments has empowered him at Karyopharm, and in previous roles at biotech-centric companies like EQRx, Valo Health, and Foundation Medicine.

“I have loved seeing HRLF help people and organizations grow through bringing together people of all different HR backgrounds who are willing to share their experience,” said Horlbeck. “Learning from others is a big part of professional development, and I am honored to be on the board of this community.”

Founded in 1980, the Human Resources Leadership Forum is a membership organization that has grown to more than 290 members from an array of industries and practices. Educating, connecting and developing HR professionals, HRLF provides a variety of programming about the latest trends and the best practices for workplace leaders across New England. “We’re excited to welcome these three accomplished individuals to our board,” said Emma Woodthorpe, President of HRLF. “Their industry knowledge and insights about HR will continue to make HRLF a powerful resource for developing, educating and building community for HR leaders.”

In the coming months, HRLF will host events centered around educating HR professionals and expanding their knowledge of the field. With member socials and virtual events, HRLF is keeping in dedicated to the continued growth and professional development of its members as companies large and small grapple with shifting workplace dynamics. With its growing base of members, HRLF provides a creative and collaborative community of senior professionals who help each other.

Additional information on and photos of the Board of Directors can be found here:  https://www.hrlf.org/page/board