Monthly Breakfast Series: Inclusion In the Work Place with Leon Cerna

Leon Cerna, SPHR, SHRM-SCP, ACC | President and Consultant

Leon Cerna is a highly-skilled human resources professional with over 20 years of experience in strategic management, employee relations, talent acquisitions, and training and development.

Leon’s interest in human resources was sparked by his childhood involvement with his family’s growing business where he learned the key elements of hiring, training, and effective conflict resolution from his parents. These experiences taught Leon that the keys to creating a workplace that fosters employee engagement are effective management techniques and the ability to communicate a clear vision of future success. Leon instinctively understood these lessons and knew a career in human resources would offer the ideal platform for his developing interest.

Leon has a remarkable blend of both private and public sector experience. He has held leadership roles in Fortune 15 and 300 companies and served in the public sector as a Chief HR Executive working in Education in a Title 1 District and within county government. He has provided strategic oversight of human resources departments and established foundations of respect, diplomacy, high ethical standards, and collaboration that have promoted the overall success of the organizations.

His exceptional skills have been sought after by a variety of councils, commissions, and committees including most recently the Personnel Merit Commission for the City and County of Broomfield, University of Colorado – Boulder, a Colorado SHRM Conference Speaker 2017 and 2019 and the Colorado Nonprofit Association Speaker. He and his team provide executive coaching, human resources consulting and training services across all fundamental areas of Human Resources. Clients have included organizations such as Adams County, City of Greeley, Commerce City, City of Northglenn, Boulder Valley School District, San Francisco Unified School District; several non-profits from the Denver Foundation, Colorado Housing and Finance Authority to Colorado Center on Law & Policy; and many private sector business from FirstBank to small business throughout the Denver Metro area and beyond. He has provided strategic oversight of human resources departments and established foundations of respect imbedded with DEI efforts, diplomacy, high ethical standards, and collaboration that have promoted the overall success of the organizations he serves.

Leon received his Bachelor of Science degree in Labor Relations Management from the University of the Pacific in northern California. He has a Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) designation, a Society in Human Resources Management – Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) designation and an Associate Certified Coach designation from the International Coaching Certification. He has most recently completed training to deliver Emergenetics for teams and individuals.

Originally from Southern California, Leon now lives in Colorado and outside of work, enjoys spending time with his family, listening to jazz music, and playing golf where he carries a three handicap.