Joanna Leach
About Joanna Leach
Joanna Leach serves as the Chief People Officer at Fortra, a position she has held since 2020. With a strong background in human resources, she previously worked in various roles at Fortra, Boulay, and Spok, and has received recognition as a Women in Business Honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal in 2022.
Current Role as Chief People Officer
Joanna Leach currently serves as the Chief People Officer at Fortra, a position she has held since 2020. In this role, she is responsible for overseeing the company's human resources strategies and initiatives. Her leadership focuses on enhancing employee engagement, talent acquisition, and organizational development. Based in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Joanna continues to shape the workplace culture at Fortra, ensuring alignment with the company's goals and values.
Previous Experience at Fortra
Before her current role, Joanna Leach worked at Fortra as the Vice President of Human Resources from 2015 to 2020. During her five years in this position, she contributed to the development and implementation of HR policies and practices that supported the company's growth. Her tenure at Fortra was marked by a focus on strategic HR management and employee relations.
Educational Background
Joanna Leach earned her Master of Arts in HR and Change Leadership from the University of St. Thomas, where she studied from 2006 to 2012. Prior to that, she completed her Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Communication at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire from 1998 to 2002. Her educational background provides a strong foundation for her career in human resources and organizational development.
Career History in Human Resources
Joanna Leach has extensive experience in human resources, having held various positions across multiple organizations. She began her career as a Human Resources Assistant at Hubbard Broadcasting, Inc. from 2002 to 2004. She then worked at Boulay as a Senior Human Resources Representative and later as a Human Resources Representative from 2004 to 2007. After that, she served as a Human Resources Manager at Spok from 2007 to 2009 and then as Human Resources Director from 2009 to 2015. This diverse experience has equipped her with a comprehensive understanding of HR practices.
Recognition and Honors
In 2022, Joanna Leach was recognized as a Women in Business Honoree by the Minneapolis/St. Paul Business Journal. This honor highlights her contributions to the field of human resources and her impact on the business community. The recognition reflects her commitment to advancing workplace culture and supporting the professional development of others.