Integrity. That’s the trait Kathleen Dillon most admires in others, and it’s the common thread she and her team have woven into herronpalmer.
“You can’t accomplish anything without a foundation of trust and principled behavior.”
As leader of the firm, Kathleen nurtures a culture where honest, forthright communication is the rule.
“We don’t tell anyone what they want to hear simply to keep them happy with us. We tell the truth.”
As a result, herronpalmer clients know to expect transparency and unbiased advice. The firm’s consultants ensure their clients choose solutions that are the right fit—with eyes wide open to the benefits and the risks.
Service providers, too, know herronpalmer will tell it like it is.
“Win or lose, we give every service provider candid, detailed feedback. We want them to evolve for the better—and bring the market forward with them.”
Kathleen values the pragmatism and process that are hallmarks of every herronpalmer engagement.
“We won’t leave you with analysis you can’t or don’t know how to use, and we won’t apply an army to a task that takes a few good soldiers. Our process is flexible yet templated, with a defined beginning, middle, and end. We don’t slip into analysis paralysis, and we don’t believe in cycling just to keep ourselves engaged.”
And how does Kathleen herself engage? Like a bridge from where you are to where you want to be, she’s a connector. Whatever the challenge or problem, she has the HR and benefits insights, experience, and creativity to connect clients with the technology and/or service solution that will meet both business needs and employee expectations. She has over 27 years of experience consulting with clients to align provider solutions to business needs.
Kathleen entered the HR/benefits industry via Towers Perrin (now known as WTW), where she led a cross-functional team in drafting the firm’s first end-to-end implementation methodology, ultimately becoming a Principal in the firm’s outsourcing business. In time, she moved to ExcellerateHRO and then Xerox HR Services, where she led Product Marketing and was a member of the firm’s HR Services Innovation Council. Visit LinkedIn to see the career path she’s traveled. As if it were all a foundation for her current role, Kathleen has:
- Consulted with clients, advocating for their interests in the development and delivery of HR/benefits outsourcing services
- Ensured that design and development of self-service capabilities reflected client and market input
- Collaborated with industry vertical sales and account management teams to align multi-process HRO and benefits capabilities to industry-vertical needs
- Built and managed several sales support organizations, including RFP response teams, for Total Benefits Outsourcing and HR Outsourcing providers
A personal connection to the world of benefits …
“I am a breast cancer survivor, proudly standing with survivor sisters—literal and figurative—among my family, friends, and colleagues.”
When Kathleen received her diagnosis, she was grateful for the infrastructure of support that came from her employer’s benefit programs, not just for medical care coverage, but for peace of mind.
“Rather than worry about how to find or pay for care, I was able to concentrate on the ‘project management’ of meeting with doctors and surgeons, undergoing surgery, healing and recovering, and taking the medications I needed to get and stay well.
Kathleen’s first experience as an employee …
Kathleen’s first job was as secretary at a small law firm in Red Bank, New Jersey. She marveled that lawyers keep a staggering number of books.
“But then I went on to read and own my fair share of books.”
As an undergrad, Kathleen double majored in English and French literature. Ultimately, she earned a PhD in English literature and critical theory. Before entering the HR/benefits industry, she taught literature, composition, and technical writing at the college level.
What does Kathleen want to be when she grows up?
“Why grow up? This is pretty fun!”