Helena O’Connor has approached her career with an entrepreneur’s flair for growth and systems development that has defined her work in human resources improvement. Helena has lived in four different countries, started her own wine business abroad, and has now settled in the United States in North Carolina.
Before becoming a consultant, she worked for nine years as the human resource manager at Weaver Street Market Co-op. During her tenure, the co-op grew to three locations and a full-service restaurant, employing over 200 people. Her expertise encompasses all aspects of human resource management including employee recruitment, employee satisfaction surveys, Open Book Management and financial literacy training, human resource audits, and managing change and developing human resource structures for expanding businesses. Having served as the worker-owner representative to the Weaver Street Market Co-op board of directors, Helena brings a special understanding of policy governance and board relations to all her work.
Helena enjoys working with food co-ops because they uphold high standards for staff treatment and compensation. “I believe fervently in the partnership between employees and management. I have a passion for co-ops. It’s a model that provides benefit to so many stakeholders—the community, workers, management, producers and consumers.”
Helena’s services include:
- Employee satisfaction and policy—compliance surveys
- Human resources advice and support including performance issues
- HR systems development
- Open Book Management, financial literacy and change management training
“Helena was great to work with on our staff survey. She gave an excellent presentation to help us understand and use the results. Our management team felt cared for and supported by Helena throughout it all. We couldn’t have asked for anything better.”
—Patti Waters, General Management Team, Franklin Community Co-op
