CCA’s New Human Resources Chief
Correct Perspectives sits down with Brian Collins
This summer, former CCA chief human resources officer Bill Rusak announced his plans to retire. And, in September, Brian Collins was named as his successor.
Collins joined the company in 2006 as vice president, Operations (Business Unit I), providing leadership, support and oversight to 19 facilities. His tenure saw the development and ramp-up of some of CCA’s most enterprising and innovative projects, including Adams County Correctional Center in Natchez, Miss., and La Palma Correctional Center in Eloy, Ariz.
In his new role as executive vice president and chief human resources officer, Collins is responsible for CCA’s global Human Resources strategy, operations and administration. With a work force of nearly 17,500 – and growing – Collins has his work cut out for him. But with 25 years of experience with Wal-Mart Stores, Inc., the nation’s largest employer – coupled with his natural curiosity and savvy – he’s confident in maintaining CCA’s reputation as an employer of choice.
Correct Perspectives: You joined CCA three years ago. What did you do before then?
Brian Collins: I spent 10 years with Wal-Mart and 15 years with Sam’s Club – four of which were spent in Human Resources. I served in Operations for 21 of those years.
CP: What did you know about corrections before joining CCA?
BC: When I heard it was prisons, I never even thought I would be part of it, to be honest. I had never been in one and never wanted to be in one. But I was intrigued about how my background would fit.
CP: How did CCA help change your ideas about corrections?
BC: What really sold me was the culture of the company. I felt very comfortable, so comfortable that it almost felt like I was part of the company already. I developed a deep understanding of who – and what – CCA is. Plus, The CCA Way really fit me.
CP: What have been some of the most memorable learning curves?
BC: Admittedly, it was unnerving – scary even – to come from a company that I knew and was well-rounded in. I felt like I went from being able to change the needle on every aspect of the business at Sam’s Club to starting from scratch. The vice presidents of Operations and managing directors made it pleasant as I tried to understand and learn this business day in and day out. The wardens also really embraced me. In my opinion, there’s a corrections fraternity. While I may never truly belong to it since I’ve never worked on the front line, CCA leaders at all levels allowed me to ask questions and learn this business in a very acceptable fashion.
CP: What lessons from your previous human resources leadership have prepared you for this role?
BC: I’ve always said there are two things I’ve learned in developing my leadership style. For starters, some people do it right and some people do it wrong. Either way, you learn not to repeat mistakes and to embrace what works. Secondly, in HR at any company, we’re all dealing with people. Their wants and needs are varied and complex. That’s part of what makes the work so exciting and challenging.
CP: What are some of the biggest personnel trends or issues of importance to employees these days?
BC: Wages. People want to ensure they can make ends meet, especially in a downward economy. Next are benefits, which is another issue of global importance. Employees want to take care of the health of their families in a way that’s not too costly.
We’re also now contending with three generations in the workplace. For example, Generations X and Y just don’t have the same values as the baby boomers. There’s a different mind set and thought process with our young and upcoming professionals. We have to figure out how to work with that group. The work environment is changing. We have to ask ourselves: How do you find the right people and how can we satisfy them so they stay here long enough to cultivate a career?
CP: What changes are in store for Human Resources?
BC: We may be positioning ourselves for major changes in 2010. Next year, we’ll see processes and plans we’ve been building come to fruition. I’m looking forward to that. I have a list of ideas that I hope will help us in the future.