Terry Smith is a senior leader in Human Resources and change management, specializing in strategic and operational execution. For over 30 years in the field, he has led HR in manufacturing, educational services, medical devices, and many other industries.
His consulting focus has been on partnering with businesses to build foundational HR capabilities that support the needs of the business. By delivering scalable systems, programs, and best practices, Terry’s methods and processes help staff succeed and find value in their work, while driving the overall success of the enterprise.
Terry is a graduate of Willamette University and the University of Oregon and has served as an adjunct professor in the School of Business Administration at Portland State University. Terry is a certified facilitator and coach through Korn Ferry, The Leadership Circle, Organizational Systems International, and Achieve Global.
Representative assignments include:
Terry has held senior HR and OD leadership roles in diverse sectors, including educational technology, biotech, manufacturing, and consumer goods. At NWEA, he led Talent Management and Organizational Development for a 750-person workforce, overseeing initiatives that improved employee engagement, enhanced management capability, and supported strategic talent planning. He designed and implemented performance management systems, launched 360-degree feedback processes for executives, and managed the recruitment of over 100 critical roles annually. His work there contributed to a measurable improvement in employee net promoter scores and overall organizational effectiveness.
At Phylos Bioscience, Terry provided high-level executive coaching and was instrumental in the company’s operational maturity. He developed the organization’s first salary structure and led the COVID-19 business resiliency planning and return-to-work strategies. While at PCC Structurals, a $2B division of a Fortune 500 company, he introduced enterprise-wide succession planning, implemented a corporate ATS system that improved hiring outcomes, and created competency models that increased internal promotions and reduced turnover. At Yakima Products, he led the full relocation of staff and facilities and built foundational HR systems and processes during a time of leadership transition. His career reflects a consistent ability to align people strategies with business goals and to lead organizations through growth, change, and transformation.
I believe in helping leaders become more effective by becoming more of who they already are. Leadership growth begins with clarity and alignment—within oneself, and across the systems we influence.