A team of many talents

Whether based upon a misconception or a bad experience, human resources often gets a bad rap.

At OOIDA, the human resources department handles the typical recruiting, hiring, training etc., but might not always take a typical approach.

“We want to make sure we are serving the employees the best we can,” said Kelly Soifua, department manager.

The human resources team at OOIDA combines decades of Association knowledge along with new ideas and experience from outside entities, which they feel complement each other perfectly.

Nikki Johnson, the department’s recruiter, has been at OOIDA for over three decades (1990), while generalist Kelly Banes began her tenure at OOIDA more than two decades ago (2003). Soifua joined the OOIDA team in 2022. Eden Shirk, learning and development specialist, has been with the Association since September 2025.

“It’s like we have the best of both worlds,” Soifua said. “They know the history and relationships to give us a better insight, while Eden and I come in with experience from different places.”

Trying to reach a wide range of employees’ interests is a challenge, but one the team happily accepts.

“Getting departments to socialize with one another through events has brought that family feel back,” Johnson said.

Engaged employees who want to work at OOIDA also benefit the Association’s members and the service they receive, Banes said.

“We’ll meet with each other for hours and look at things that have been done in the past while coming up with fresh ideas,” Shirk said. “We’ve noticed that if certain events are replicated, people aren’t as inclined to go. We’re trying to keep it novel and fresh.”

Trivia, painting and a bingo night are among those newer ideas.

“When I got here, I noticed people during different functions saying, ‘I don’t even know who that person is,’ or ‘I’ve never met these people,’” Soifua said. “We began to talk about ways to break down the barriers. You spend too much time at work not to enjoy it.”

While the brainstorming is ongoing, popular favorites – aka the “Treat Wagon” – aren’t going anywhere, HR confirmed.

“I love seeing everyone get up out of their cubicles,” Johnson said. “It’s my favorite, I just love making people’s day.”

Outside of the day-to-day in HR, Johnson is also heavily involved with OOIDA’s Truckers for Troops program, which includes sending care packages to military personnel stationed overseas. 

The HR team also reaches out to the Grain Valley, Mo., community through annual events, job fairs and the local chamber of commerce.

Additionally, many local businesses take part in OOIDA’s annual employee health fair.

Flexibility makes many of the things human resources does possible.

“Employee relation issues don’t schedule out,” Soifua said. “It’s when things pop up that it gets really busy in here. Like a lot of departments in the company, things are always changing.”

A welcoming, enjoyable environment that treats employees well was the consensus from HR as to why they chose to begin and remain at OOIDA.

“The friends and family I’ve made over the years,” Johnson said. “It wasn’t a planned career choice, but it has become a career.”

Banes said, “It’s always just been a comfortable place.”

“I love these gals, I think they’re great,” Shirk said. “Getting to come to work with them is fantastic. This building has been very life-giving.”

“Your job is your job, but it’s the people that make you want to come back,” Soifua said.

The goal of the human resources department remains to ensure every employee at OOIDA feels the same way about their job. LL