Team Member Profile: Mike Zahniser

December 8, 2022
Published by master

While our clients may not see the behind-the-scenes staff at Pacific Lifestyle Homes, a leading home builder in Vancouver WA, these members of our company are just as important as those you deal with directly. They help our front-of-house staff get their jobs done in a positive environment that creates a better experience for everyone. One such person who has recently joined our team is Mike Zahniser, Human Resources Manager.

As a human resources (HR) manager, Mike’s job revolves around providing leadership for all HR functions, which includes employee relations, regulatory compliance, policy administration, talent acquisition, employee retention, as well as health and wellness benefits. As he explains, he is “a strategic partner and advisor to the leadership team to champion our team culture and support an effective and welcoming workplace.”

Before joining us, Mike gained experience working in human resources with some great companies, ranging from a  501(c)(3) serving children and adults with disabilities to an organization serving traffic control needs for construction companies in more than five states. He’s held titles such as Chief Operations Officer and Chief Compliance Officer, among others, and has received professional recognition as “Accomplished and Under Forty” by the Vancouver Business Journal. We’re excited to have his extensive experience to ensure Pacific Lifestyle Homes is always a positive and supportive place to work.

As for his day-to-day role, Mike explains that, “As an HR Manager, I lead and support the routine functions of the HR department, including hiring, interviewing, payroll, benefits, leaves, company policy and practices, along with IT support. Overall, it’s easier to say, I focus on the Human Experience.”

It’s that attention to the overall experience that makes him so good at what he does, but also gives him satisfaction in the work he does. “I love serving and supporting people to succeed in their everyday life. Creating a better workplace creates a better world and I believe that all starts with the human experience.”

A native of the Vancouver, WA, area, Mike attended Portland State University for bachelor and post-bachelor degrees. He also has other education certificates, as well as industry accreditations, and certifications. “I strongly believe that my confidence comes from my continued education and learning. The more you know, the more confident you can be in your decisions.”

Mike works hard and puts in a lot of time and effort to help him do the best job possible, but he still finds time to enjoy life. He and his wife Kelly have three boys (12, 12, and 14 years old), who certainly keep them busy carpooling the boys and their friends to various sporting activities, especially on weekends. Before the chauffeur job starts, though, he and his wife are known to get up extremely early to watch F1 races. When there are no races or sporting events, they enjoy spending time outdoors in the water, hiking, and hitting the slopes, but they also enjoy just spending time with family and friends.

Mike understands the benefits of finding balance in the human experience and that is found in his work and his home life. As a home builder in Vancouver WA, we want to create a positive experience for our clients and for every member of our team. We’re happy to have Mike taking on such an important and supportive role to help us achieve this goal.

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This post was written by master