Areas of Expertise
HR Strategy & Executive Partnership
Partners with executive leaders to align people strategy with business priorities, supporting performance, scalability, and long-term growth.
HRIS Systems & Technology Transformation
Leads HRIS enhancements, upgrades, and enterprise-wide transitions that improve workflows, strengthen governance, and support sustainable operations.
Mergers & Acquisitions Integration
Guides organizations through M&A activity with thoughtful workforce integration, structured change management, and a focus on business continuity.
HR Assessments & Organizational Diagnostics
Conducts comprehensive HR assessments to identify risk, operational gaps, and opportunities to strengthen infrastructure and scalability.
Organizational Design & Workforce Planning
Designs structures, roles, and workforce strategies that support growth and align talent with evolving business needs.
Compensation Strategy & Pay Benchmarking
Develops market-informed compensation frameworks that support attraction, retention, and internal equity.
Change Leadership & Transformation Management
Brings clarity and structure to complex transitions, helping teams stay aligned and focused through change.
Scalable HR Infrastructure Development
Builds repeatable processes, frameworks, and governance models that improve consistency and strengthen long-term organizational effectiveness.
BEFORE GROWTH OPERATORS
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City Wide Facility Solutions
- HR Director
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True Dough
- Founder & Owner
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American Woodmark Corporation
- Senior Human Resources Business Partner
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Target
- Human Resources Manager
ALMA MATER
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Concordia University
- MA, Human Resources Management
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Gustavus Adolphus College
- BA, Communication Studies
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Certifications
- MA Human Resources Management, PHR – SHRM
Something You Should Know
I love traveling with my family and exploring new places together, whether it’s a road trip or a beach getaway.
Elizabeth Aarness is a seasoned human resources leader with more than 20 years of experience helping organizations align people strategy with business performance. As Director in the Human Resources Practice at Growth Operators, she partners with executive and operational leaders to build scalable HR solutions that bring clarity, accountability, and measurable results.
Elizabeth brings deep expertise in HR strategy, HRIS and technology transformation, organizational design, compensation, and change leadership. She is known for stepping into complex or fast-moving environments and quickly creating structure, alignment, and momentum. Her ability to balance strategic thinking with disciplined execution enables her to lead large system transitions, enterprise HR initiatives, and organization-wide transformation efforts with confidence.
Clients value Elizabeth for her steady leadership, proactive communication, and ability to turn ambiguity into actionable plans. She has significant experience supporting private equity-backed and growth-stage organizations, helping them strengthen HR foundations that scale with the business. Elizabeth is also recognized for building strong partnerships across leadership teams and helping others grow through mentorship, collaboration, and shared accountability.
STRENGTHS
- Proven ability to analyze problems thoroughly and identify the root causes of issues
- Ability to Identify, assess, and close gaps
- Strong ability to rapidly acquire new skills and adapt to unfamiliar software and job responsibilities
- Change Management
- Coaching & Advising
- Collaborative
- Communication (written & verbal)
What I love most about Growth Operators is the opportunity to collaborate with a team of talented professionals while delivering innovative solutions that empower our clients to achieve their goals and drive meaningful change.
