Airport Authority’s Gale LaRoche honored at Detroit Athletic Club

Wayne County Airport Authority Vice President of Human Resources Gale LaRoche of Van Buren Township was named a 2014 Michigan Human Resources Executive of the Year.
She was honored Nov. 5 at the Detroit Athletic Club by the American Society of Employers.
ASE is one the nation’s largest and oldest employer associations with more than 800 member firms in Michigan.
The Wayne County Airport Authority operates Detroit Metropolitan and Willow Run Airports.
ASE honored LaRoche in the “Organizations with fewer than 1,000 Michigan employees” category. LaRoche was one of four Human Resource Executives recognized for being the best within their profession.
“Gale is a committed HR professional and a dedicated member of our Airport Authority senior leadership team,” said Airport Authority CEO Thomas Naughton.
“She is passionate about employee development, and has worked diligently to advance several strategic initiatives designed to promote a performance-minded culture for both airport management and front line employees.”
LaRoche’s accomplishments highlighted at the ceremony included: the successful implementation of an authority-wide integrated learning management system so that learning, performance and succession planning are not separate processes, but tools that support ongoing employee development and the continued success for the Airport Authority.
LaRoche was also recognized for introducing performance-based compensation within the Authority’s collective bargaining agreements and for all at-will employees.
As a result of her efforts, the Airport Authority recently received the Cornerstone OnDemand 2014 Remarkable Achievement Visionary Excellence award.
The Federal Aviation Administration also recognized the personnel training enhancements LaRoche and her team have infused into the Airport Authority and awarded Detroit Metropolitan Airport the FAA 2012 Safety Award for safety, enhancements and operational improvements.
LaRoche is active in her community and maintains leadership roles with several aviation and human resource organizations including vice chair of the Human Resources Steering Group with Airport’s Council International – North America.
She is a member of the State Bar of Michigan and professional member of the Society of Human Resources Management, American Association of Airport Executives, and Women in Aviation.
“Gale also takes time to work with at-risk, adolescent girls at Vista Maria,” said Naughton.
“While we are extremely proud Gale is being recognized by her industry peers, the largest benefit of her work for us is that employees who embrace our organization’s core values and who invest time in skills and leadership development are the employees with the greatest chance for advancement.”
Winners in other categories included: Barbara A. Palmer, Corporate VP of Human Resources and Employee Services, Botsford Hospital; John J. Quattrone, Senior VP, Global Human Resources, General Motors; and Teresa Schwartz, VP Human Resources, JVS.