HR Awards

The Philadelphia region’s premier awards program for Human Resource departments

Now in our 25th year, the HR Department of the Year Awards recognizes the impact that HR professionals deliver to their organizations. Through rigorous review of applications across multiple HR performance categories, as well as the esteemed Department of the Year, our program has consistently raised the bar for HR professionals by putting a spotlight on HR departments’ demonstrations of excellence.

Congratulations to our 2023 Finalists!

Airborne Systems North America of NJ Inc
American Expediting Logistics, LLC
Children’s Crisis Treatment Center
CubeSmart
Food Bank of South Jersey
Harmony Bio Sciences
Medlogix, LLC

Munich RE
Pinnacle Treatment Centers
Radian Group, Inc
rockITdata
SAP America, Inc
SDI, Inc
SEPTA

The Bancorp
The MCS Group, Inc
Turn 14 Distribution, Inc
Tyndale Company, Inc
Urban Affairs Coalition
Wilmot Modular Structures
Wolfington

A Virtual Fireside Chat

Creating a More Inclusive Environment

Join Philadelphia Zoo’s President and Chief Administrative Officer for an Exclusive Fireside Chat about DEI

HR Department of the Year Awards is proud to present a Fireside Chat on Wednesday, October 18th from 12pm-1pm via Zoom. Scott Rosen, President/Founder of the Rosen Group, will sit down with Vikram Dewan, President and CEO of Philadelphia Zoo, and Courtney Johnson, Chief Administrative Officer of Philadelphia Zoo, to discuss their journey to create a more inclusive environment at America’s First Zoo.

Philadelphia Zoo’s HR team was honored with the HR Department of the Year Award for Diversity, Equity and Inclusion in 2022.

This Fireside Chat offers a unique opportunity to engage in a candid conversation with Vik and Courtney where they will discuss how Philadelphia Zoo developed self-awareness and strategic priorities surrounding their commitment to diversity, equity and inclusion, and how that vision has been applied to their engagement with employees, volunteers, the Board of Directors, guests and community partners.

JUST ANNOUNCED! 2023 CEO of The Year Award

Gregory E. Deavens President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence Health Group

The HR Department of the Year Awards is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of our CEO of The Year Award, Gregory E. Deavens, President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence Health Group. Recognizing his inspiring work as CEO for one of our country’s leading health insurers, we will honor Gregory and his achievements at our annual awards event, November 16, 2023. We’re now accepting registrations here.

About Gregory E. Deavens

Gregory E. Deavens assumed the role of President and Chief Executive Officer of Independence Health Group, parent of Independence Blue Cross in January 2021. Under his leadership, Independence has been committed to advancing equitable, whole-person health care. This includes an emphasis on reducing racial and economic health inequities and integrating physical and mental health care. The organization also has focused on partnerships dedicated to reducing the cost of medications for the benefit of members and employer customers.

Mr. Deavens was named to Savoy magazine’s Most Influential Black Executives in Corporate America in 2022, Philadelphia magazine’s Most Influential People in Philadelphia in 2021 and 2022, as well as Modern Healthcare’s 100 Most Influential People in Healthcare in 2021, among other honors.

He joined Independence in 2017 as executive vice president, chief financial officer, and treasurer. Prior to that, Mr. Deavens held senior financial roles at MassMutual, NY Life, Cigna, and GE Capital. He began his career in public accounting with Price Waterhouse, where he specialized in financial services while working in the firm’s New York, London, and St. Louis offices.

2023 Lifetime Achievement Award

William Strahan
Executive Vice President, Human Resources
Comcast Cable

The HR Department of the Year Awards is pleased to announce this year’s recipient of our Lifetime Achievement Award, Bill Strahan, Executive Vice President, Human Resources for Comcast Cable.

Recognizing a career in which Bill has made significant contributions to the HR community and exemplified the best of our noble profession, we will honor Bill and his achievements at our annual awards event, November 16, 2023. We’re now accepting registrations here [link].

ABOUT BILL STRAHAN

Leading the Human Resources function for Comcast Cable, Bill has responsibility for all aspects of Human Resources including talent, compensation, benefits, learning, employee, and labor relations. He has been involved in various aspects of Human Resources work for over 35 years with a career beginning with over a decade of work at Macy’s Department Stores and Riggs National Bank. The second decade of Bill’s work included practicing law in Washington, D.C. in the area of Compensation and Benefits – mostly in the context of mergers and acquisitions and in initial public offerings and being a consultant and manager at Mercer HR Consulting. Bill holds a B.A. in Religion from Villanova University; and a Juris Doctorate from the George Mason University School of Law. He is a Member of the Virginia State Bar. He lives with his wife outside of Philadelphia, PA.