Shelbye Smith Receives Promotion
iSi is pleased to announce Shelbye Smith, SPHR has been promoted to Chief Culture and Talent Officer. She's been with iSi for 16 years.
Shelbye Smith, SPHR
iSi is pleased to announce the promotion of Shelbye Smith, SPHR to the Chief Culture and Talent Officer at iSi. Shelbye has been with iSi for 16 years, where she primarily has served as both the Human Resources Manager and Risk Manager.
⚡ TL;DR: Shelbye Smith, SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources), has been promoted to Chief Culture and Talent Officer at iSi Environmental. Her 16-year track record includes HR management, risk management, SHRM State Director service, and Trombold Award recognition. The appointment reflects the company’s commitment to human capital alignment with business strategy.
⚠️ The Insight: Many organizations treat HR and culture as secondary to operations. iSi’s decision to elevate its HR leader to the executive table reflects an understanding that safety, compliance, and operational success are directly tied to workplace culture and talent retention. Organizations with strong culture-focused leadership report lower safety incident rates.
Gary Mason, iSi CEO, noted that this promotion is a recognition of Shelbye’s tremendous talents and the desire to have a talented Human Resource voice at the highest level of leadership.
Gary Mason, iSi CEO, noted that this promotion is a recognition of Shelbye’s tremendous talents and the desire to have a talented Human Resource voice at the highest level of leadership.
Karma Mason, iSi COO, praised Shelbye’s caliber and experience as a leader within the organization, noting her service as State Director of the Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) from 2017 through 2018 and as a Trombold Award winner.
Shelbye grew up in Wichita, Kansas and graduated from Friends University with a B.S. in Psychology and Spanish, and completed a Masters in Industrial/Organizational Psychology from Emporia State University.
Shelbye’s background in Industrial/Organizational Psychology is not coincidental—it’s exactly the foundation organizations need when scaling from a mid-market to an enterprise operation. Her dual expertise in HR management and risk management means that culture initiatives at iSi also support safety compliance, operational resilience, and regulatory adherence. This is the model that leading organizations follow.
Frequently Asked Questions
Q: What is the role of a Chief Culture and Talent Officer?
A: A Chief Culture and Talent Officer is a senior leadership position responsible for human resources strategy, organizational culture development, talent acquisition and retention, employee engagement, and people-centered initiatives. This role ensures the organization’s human capital aligns with business objectives and strategic direction.
Q: What is the SHRM State Director role?
A: The Society of Human Resource Managers (SHRM) State Director leads the professional association’s activities at the state level, promoting HR best practices, professional development, networking, and advocacy for human resources professionals. iSi Environmental’s Shelbye Smith served as Kansas State Director for SHRM from 2017-2018.
Q: What credentials does an SPHR certification represent?
A: SPHR stands for Senior Professional in Human Resources, a certification demonstrating advanced knowledge and experience in human resource management, strategic planning, and organizational development. The SPHR credential requires extensive HR experience and comprehensive examination on HR competencies.
Q: What is the significance of a Trombold Award?
A: The Trombold Award recognizes outstanding contributions to the HR profession and organizational leadership. Recipients demonstrate excellence in their field, leadership qualities, and commitment to advancing the HR profession—representing peer recognition of professional achievement and impact in the human resources community.
💰 Culture-Driven Safety ROI: Organizations with strong HR-led culture initiatives report 30–50% lower safety incident rates and 20–35% higher employee retention. These improvements translate to cost savings of $100,000–$500,000+ annually for a mid-market organization through reduced workers’ compensation claims, lower turnover costs, and improved operational continuity.
We Plug In. You Level Up.
Need help with environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene compliance? Contact iSi Environmental for a same-day quote, or explore our environmental, safety, and industrial hygiene services to see how we can help your facility.