Aaron is an HR professional whose career has taken a slightly nontraditional path, but one that has shaped the way he approaches people, work, and leadership. He earned two bachelor’s degrees from Lehigh University, one in Mechanical Engineering and one in Industrial Psychology. He began his career at GE completing the Operations Management Leadership Program and gained experience managing both union and non-union manufacturing employees. He later joined McMaster-Carr Industrial Supply Co., where he spent several years in operations before being selected for a stretch assignment on the Corporate HR team evaluating racial equity across the company. That assignment became a major turning point in his career. It opened his eyes to the impact HR can have on people’s experiences at work and helped him realize that HR was the profession he felt most passionate about.
While in that role, Aaron pursued his Master’s degree in Organizational Dynamics at the University of Pennsylvania, with a focus on Human Capital Management, executive coaching, and DEI. His graduate work helped him better understand how organizations can create more transparent, fair, and supportive workplaces. That experience ultimately helped him move fully into HR and join the Society for Industrial and Applied Mathematics, a nonprofit organization in Philadelphia, as its first HR Manager. In this role, Aaron serves as a HR department of one and supports more than 85 employees across the full employee lifecycle.
Since joining SIAM, Aaron has focused on building HR practices that are more consistent, inclusive, and supportive of both employees and leaders. As the organization’s first dedicated HR professional, he has had the opportunity to build many processes from the ground up, including leading the implementation of SIAM’s first HRIS system, streamlining payroll and timekeeping, strengthening performance management, and creating more structure around core HR functions. His background in engineering and operations still informs how he approaches HR, but his work is ultimately centered on people. He cares deeply about helping employees feel supported, helping leaders make thoughtful decisions, and creating workplaces where people have clearer paths to grow and succeed.
Receiving the SHRM HR Tomorrow Leadership Award is a meaningful personal milestone for Aaron and a major encouragement as he continues growing in his HR career. The fellowship recognizes the path he has taken into HR and the work he hopes to keep doing in the field. Aaron is especially excited for the opportunity to learn from experienced HR leaders, connect with other professionals who care deeply about the future of work, and continue developing the confidence and perspective needed to make a lasting impact. He is grateful for the recognition and energized by the chance to keep growing as an HR leader who helps build workplaces where people feel valued, supported, and able to thrive.
