Stephanie S. Guin, 37

GUIN

Staying ahead of the HR curve
Executive Vice President- Human Resources
Faith Technologies Inc.
Lenexa, Kan.

Stephanie Guin has more than 14 years' experience working in human resources, which she says helps drive profitability by energizing a company's most valuable assets—its people. Before coming to Faith Technologies, she worked in higher education and health care, where she gained expertise in recruiting, employee relations and organizational development. Faith Technologies first hired Guin to merge two firms with different cultures, policies and operating systems into one. She achieved the task in less than 12 months. A few years later, she replaced the former head of human resources and redesigned the firm's People Business Unit to better serve its 15 locations and 1,900 employees. She helped the company save $2 million on its health care plan while meeting Affordable Care Act compliance and improving wellness outcomes. "Doing just 'best practices' doesn't suffice anymore," Guin says. "Unless you can stay ahead of the competition and anticipate the needs of your people and your customers, you will be left behind."

Kimball Hales, 38

HALES

Integrating construction and design
Managing Director
Hufft Projects
Kansas City, Mo.

Kimball Hales has master's degrees in both architecture and construction management and has devoted his career to bridging the divide between design and construction. As managing director, Hales has helped transform Hufft Projects from a five-person design firm to a 30-person multidisciplinary company. Hales says the integration among trades, technology and designers is leading to higher-quality projects produced more efficiently, thus avoiding some of the pitfalls of traditional design and construction. He has been involved in projects ranging from residential remodels to aerospace research facilities. "Technology is changing the industry, bringing great advances in materials and design tools, but there is also an increased level of complexity," Hales says. "Not all of the systems are proven, and it is difficult to stay on top of the latest advances."

Bryce Hall, 38

HALL

Designing tomorrow's residences
Associate Principal
KEPHART community :: planning :: architecture
Denver

Bryce Hall is a residential-design specialist educated at the University of Colorado. He got his professional start at Denver's Barker Rinker Seacat Architects and later honed his skills as project design lead at Nestor + Gaffney Architecture in Santa Ana, Calif. After moving back to Denver, Hall joined KEPHART, where he leads a small group of architects on the firm's drawing standards committee. He was recently asked to join KEPHART's leadership team as one of its youngest members. Once a month, Hall provides meals and puts together hygiene-care packages for Sacred Heart House and the New Genesis Men's Shelter. He has raised thousands of dollars and donated his time to organizations that help change children's lives. "Today's young professionals are often newly married, starting families and buying a first home," Hall says. "Finding a way to devote time to personal pursuits while excelling in the workplace is key."