Kari Lawry

CHRO

As the chief human resources officer at North American Bancard, LLC, Kari Lawry is committed to creating and supporting high-performing workplaces. Believing in an HR impact model that moves on a spectrum from cop to caretaker to catalyst, Kari has been recognized as "HR Executive of the Year" by the American Society of Employers.

Kari came to NAB with 20+ years of progressive HR and operations experience in organizations such as PepsiCo, Citibank, Baxter Healthcare, Pulte Homes, Atlas Oil Company, XPO Logistics, and most recently REDICO LLC in Southfield.

Kari pivoted from her business/economics undergrad path at Michigan State University to pursue a master’s degree in HR and then an MBA. While attending Harvard Business School's Higher Ambition Leadership Institute, she was mentored by Doug Conant (former CEO for Nabisco & Campbell’s Soup), who instilled in her that the mark of a great leader is to be "tender-hearted with the people, but hard-charging on the business."

Kari says she learned the most about leadership from Mark, her husband of 20 years who served as an Airborne Ranger in the U.S. Army and is currently the Assistant Chief of the West Bloomfield Fire Department. While Kari and Mark enjoy thrill seeking together — motorcycles, competitive water skiing, and skydiving to name just a few — they would agree the biggest thrill of their lives has been raising their two amazing children, Deven and Jorden.

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