How having a Chief People Officer can help your company grow

Send us Fan MailAshley Freeman - Chief People Officer, what does that role entail? Essentially, the Chief People Officer is in charge of managing the strategy and processes related to building and retaining an exceptional team of professionals. CPOs act as advisors and consultants—but must also be able to roll up their sleeves and execute solutions. Their job is to optimize people-centered activities such as hiring, training, professional development, and performance management to ensure these efforts support the company’s growth and bottom line. This role falls directly in line with the Pull the Chute philosophy which says if you Grow your People, you will Grow your company. My guest today is Ashley Freeman, she is the Chief People Officer for Wil-Ro, a truck body and trailer manufacturing company in Gallatin, TN. Ashley and I recently met at a Gallatin Chamber event. When she told me that she was the CPO for Wil-Ro, and what she did, I became extremely fascinated with her role. She has professional experience in teaching, writing, and managing people. She is dedicated to recruiting and hiring top talent, ultimately fostering personal and professional development with a focus of also growing the company. To be honest, after talking with Ashley at that event I had to ask myself why isn’t every company hiring a CPO?Ashley has a Bachelors of Arts degree in English from Cumberland University, a Masters in English from University of Dayton and a secondary Masters degree in education and teaching. She is certified through RightPath Resources as a practitioner and coach, and she's excited to become an Enneagram coach this fall!