Employee Experience Specialist, City of Missoula, Montana
Carissa an Employee Experience Specialist with a local government entity. Her background spans HR, administrative work, customer service, and accounting—but at the heart of her career, it has always been about people. She is passionate about creating a positive, engaging workplace where employees feel valued, supported, and inspired to grow.
Throughout Carissa’s career, she’s been focused on building engagement and retention strategies. She’s served as the project manager for a Human Capital Management (HCM) system implementation, designed and launched two onboarding systems, and is currently leading initiatives aimed at improving employee retention.
Carissa is passionate about driving the organization toward a better tomorrow. She cares deeply about the work she does and holds herself accountable every step of the way. She believes leadership is rooted in compassion and adaptability. Challenges are inevitable—but she believes the ability to respond with empathy is what truly makes a difference.
Receiving the SHRM Foundation Award is a tremendous honor. It represents not only personal recognition but also a shared commitment to building inclusive, people-centered workplaces. It is Carissa’s greatest hope to contribute to a better and more inclusive future.
