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TRC’s Allison Kender Named Recipient of HR Impact Award

EAST LIBERTY, OH – Allison Kender, Chief People Officer at Transportation Research Center Inc. (TRC), has been named a recipient of Columbus Business First’s HR Impact Award, which recognizes human resources professionals who go above and beyond to support their teams, strengthen their organizations, and drive meaningful change. 

“Allison’s people-first approach has had a transformative effect on TRC,” said Brett Roubinek, president and CEO of TRC. “Her leadership ensures our team has the support, recognition, and opportunities needed to continue advancing the future of mobility. We are proud to see her recognized among the region’s most accomplished HR professionals.” 

According to Roubinek, Kender plays an essential role in advancing TRC’s organizational strategy through an unwavering focus on its people. She has been instrumental in ensuring that TRC attracts, retains, and empowers top-tier talent, an essential factor in serving TRC’s diverse clients across industry, academia, and government. 

A key area of her impact has been the expansion of TRC’s contract staffing services, where TRC employees are embedded in client organizations, including federal agencies, to provide engineering and research expertise. Her ability to identify high-caliber candidates and secure long-term placements has strengthened TRC’s reputation for excellence and collaboration. 

Among her most significant achievements is the creation of the TRC Culture Task Force, a cross-functional employee team that annually evaluates and enhances the employee experience. Under her leadership, the task force has implemented wide-ranging policies and programs, including enhanced parental leave, psychological safety training, and a reimagined employee recognition program. 

These initiatives have boosted engagement and retention, contributing to TRC’s recognition as one of Columbus CEO’s Top Workplaces for three consecutive years and earning a Cultural Excellence Award. 

Kender joined TRC in 2014 as a research engineer in the Dummy Management Lab at the Vehicle Research and Test Center.  She was appointed manager of the Biomechanics and Crashworthiness group prior to directing the Technical Services group. In 2018, Kender helped launch TRC’s Research Consortium for Crashworthiness in Automated Driving Systems, which brings together government agencies, automotive manufacturers, and suppliers to address occupant safety in automated vehicles. In 2021, Kender took on the role as Chief People Officer. Prior to working at TRC, Kender held positions with several Fortune 500 companies, including General Mills, Unilever, General Motors and Amgen. She earned her bachelor’s degree in biomedical engineering from Columbia University and her master’s degree in business from The Ohio State University. 

TRC is North America’s most advanced service provider, fulfilling the complex engineering, research, validation, evaluation, and testing needs of the world’s leading smart mobility and transportation stakeholders. ​For over 50 years, industry and governmental agencies alike have relied on TRC Inc. to conduct research into automation, connectivity, alternative fuels (including electrification and hydrogen), safety, efficiency, durability, simulation, and performance across all types of vehicles.​

For more information, visit https://www.trcpg.com