Life on the HR High Road
It’s a role that extends far beyond enforcing policy or managing employee files. Gulf Coast District Human Resources Manager Kaylie Schoeppner navigates compliance and helps guide leadership decisions to bring a thoughtful, strategic presence to every situation.
“We are the listeners, the motivators, and the quiet supporters who help make the workplace function for everyone,” Schoeppner said. Her work is rooted in empathy and communication, and she describes the position as “a constant balancing act” that sits at the intersection of people and business.
Schoeppner’s path to HR leadership began with hands-on management experience as a teenager at a sandwich shop, eventually advancing to general manager while still in college. After entering an MBA program and selecting Human Resources as her specialty, she dove right in, working third shift as an HR assistant at a chicken processing plant. “I like to say that’s where I really got my grit,” she said.
Schoeppner joined MPW in October 2021 and has spent the last several years helping shape the HR landscape in one of the company’s most dynamic regions.
Under the mentorship of Gulf Coast District Manager Jim Tyznik and HR Director John Feeney, Schoeppner has witnessed and contributed to the evolution of the Gulf Coast District’s HR function. “In nearly four years with the Gulf Coast District, I’ve watched our department mature, adapting to change, driving growth, and focusing on building a culture where people can grow and thrive.”
Recruiting in the East Coast market brings its own set of challenges, including brand visibility. “Since many of the states we recruit in are geographically distant from Corporate, MPW often doesn’t have immediate name recognition in those areas,” she said.
That’s why Schoeppner and her colleagues lean into community-based recruitment. “We go beyond traditional methods by engaging with local online groups, speaking at area schools, and even knocking on the doors of workforce centers to form real connections within the communities.”
Schoeppner enjoys and appreciates the time spent on the road with teammates. “Those hours spent driving between sites have led to some of the most meaningful connections I’ve made in my career,” she said. “That camaraderie and trust we’ve built has directly resulted in stronger collaboration and more effective teamwork once we’re back in the field.”
Once there, Schoeppner values the often-unseen impact of human resources work. “HR often works behind the scenes. Maybe not making the final decisions, but helping shape them before they’re made,” she said. “Sometimes it’s a conversation that shifts a manager’s viewpoint, a reminder to take a more compassionate approach, or offering support to navigate a challenge with grace.”
Schoeppner lives in Charleston, South Carolina, with her husband Luke—a firefighter and EMT—and their miniature dachshund, Bleep, where she enjoys walking outdoors and spending time at the beach.