Mara is an executive people and culture leader and human resources strategist with a deep passion for helping organizations build best workplace cultures. Mara currently serves as Head of People and Culture at Chroma Technology Corp., a global, high-tech manufacturer of optics for the scientific and biomedical industries. Headquartered in Bellows Falls, VT, Chroma is 100% employee-owned, a Certified B Corporation, awarded the Deane C. Davis Outstanding Business of the Year, Vermont Business Growth Award, and recognized over several years as a Best Places to Work in Vermont and Best for Workers by B Labs. Mara also currently serves as Board Chair of VBSR, as well as the Vermont State Council Director of SHRM. She holds an MS in Human Resources Management from the New School University, a BA in Communications from Queens College, City University of New York, and is a graduate of Leadership Upper Valley. Mara is a Senior Certified Professional (SCP) through SHRM and was named Vermont’s Human Resources Professional of the Year in 2020.