Denise Starcher considers every opportunity as a chance to learn something new and as the Vice President and Chief Human Resource Officer at Menasha Corporation, she finds these opportunities tied to her team. “We embrace the possibility of failing – to learn, adapt and be better than before,” she said. “We strive to empower others and learn from them – to encourage those we mentor to surpass us.”
Starcher finds the growth of others inspiring and the primary reason why the Menasha Corporation has experienced unprecedented growth, marking one of the most dynamic periods in the company’s 175 years in business. Menasha Corporation is a leading corrugated and plastic packaging manufacturer, contract services resource and supply chain solutions provider.
In addition to COVID, inflation and supply chain issues presented additional challenges over the last three years. During that time, and under Starcher’s leadership, the company doubled down on implementing new recruiting strategies, spurring growth through acquisition and investing in capacity to deliver for customers. Starcher has also led her team to create several new employee development programs to modernize production management processes.
“Denise and her team identify areas of improvement, align HR initiatives with business goals and continue to ensure the ‘People First’ philosophy becomes more than just a catchphrase,” said her colleagues. “She understands that being a true business partner requires not only understanding the specific needs of each business unit but also having the agility to provide centralized support where it matters most.”
One of Starcher’s stand-out accomplishments has been her leadership in the HR transformation journey as well as leading the company’s COVID-19 Preparedness Task Force. “Her commitment to employee safety, both physical and mental, underscored her dedication to the well-being of the workforce,” said her colleagues.
For Starcher, her approach is to maintain a People Centric environment. “I am strongly determined to not only do what is right for the organization, but also what is aligned with my values. I share my vision, ask for feedback and allow all diversity of thought and backgrounds in matters that are important and critical to our growth as an organization.”
This involves amplifying the voices, stories and ideas of her team so that they are all represented and heard on strategic initiatives. “Strategies that reignite me are tied to the team around me,” said Starcher. “Employees desire purpose, skill-building opportunities, broad-based experiences, visibility to career growth and empathetic leadership.”
For her commitment to empowering others, Starcher has been named a Titan.
