Kara Deschenes
About Kara Deschenes
Kara Deschenes serves as the Head of Human Resources at Bamboo Insurance, where she has worked since 2022. She also holds a position as Board Member and Chair of the People Operations Committee at Safe Place for Pets and is the founder of Deschenes HR Consulting, LLC.
Work at Bamboo Insurance
Kara Deschenes has served as the Head of Human Resources at Bamboo Insurance since 2022. In this role, she has developed a consistent talent acquisition process and implemented a performance management platform along with a feedback loop process. Deschenes has also administered progressive employee relations programming and performed a compensation study and review. Under her leadership, Bamboo Insurance increased its headcount by 25% within six months and reduced organizational benefits costs by 10%. She leverages HRIS implementations and functional HRBP support to align HR and operational objectives.
Current Roles and Board Memberships
In addition to her position at Bamboo Insurance, Kara Deschenes is a Board Member and the Chair of the People Operations Committee at Safe Place for Pets, a nonprofit organization focused on pet placement. She has held this role since 2022. Furthermore, she is the founder of Deschenes HR Consulting, LLC, where she has been providing HR consulting services since 2021.
Previous Experience in Human Resources
Kara Deschenes has extensive experience in human resources prior to her current roles. She worked as the Senior Director of Human Resources at USA Hockey from 2018 to 2019. Additionally, she served as the Assistant Director of Human Resources and Deputy Title IX Coordinator at Colorado College from 2019 to 2021. Her earlier experience includes six years as the Assistant Director of Human Resources at Pasco County Schools from 2012 to 2018. Throughout her career, she has focused on change management and employee relations.
Education and Expertise
Kara Deschenes holds a Bachelor of Arts in English and a Master of Business Administration from the University of Florida. Her educational background supports her expertise in human resources, particularly in areas such as talent acquisition, performance management, and employee relations. She utilizes data-driven and analytical HR practices to drive organizational change and improvement.