Lauren Smith, CHRO

Have You Met Our New CHRO?

Meet Lauren Smith, the newest member of Envision's executive management team. Lauren joined us at the beginning of the year in the newly created role of Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO). We are very excited to have her on board.

Lauren's warmth and transparency make her a perfect fit for the Envision family. (She revealed during a recent town hall that she was once an aspiring actress!) Luckily for us, she charted a different career path and brings with her more than 30 years of human resources experience in a variety of sectors: finance, entertainment, engineering & manufacturing, and higher education.

“Envision Unlimited believes that all individuals are capable of achieving great breakthroughs, which resonates deeply with me," Lauren explained when asked why she chose Envision. "My son had physical and learning disabilities as a child, but there were minimal resources to teach me about my son's capabilities. I look forward to using my human resources knowledge to further the mission of Envision Unlimited and ensure quality services are accessible and inclusive for all,” she added.

Most recently, Lauren was the CHRO at Children’s Place Alliance (CPA), where she oversaw talent acquisition, employee relations, compensation design, employee and leadership development operational effectiveness; and diversity, equity, and inclusion. Prior to CPA, she directed the employee relations function at Columbia College Chicago and led HR departments in government and several corporations.

Lauren holds an Education Specialist (EdS) degree from Western Illinois University, a master's degree in organizational management, and a bachelor's degree in business management from the University of Phoenix. She also earned a Master of Jurisprudence in Labor and Employment Law degree from Tulane University Law School and she holds her field’s prestigious Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) certification.

Welcome, Lauren. We're so glad you're here!