Lisa Cooper is the President & CEO of Cooper People Group, whose mission is to enrich the world of work by developing innovative and new-school HR strategies for organizations that have no HR, HR in transition, or HR that is stretched too thin. Over the last 2 years, the lean and mean team at CPG have proudly served nearly 100 organizations across the midwest.
With more than 20 years of strategic HR leadership and consulting experience, Lisa has a particular passion for working with small- to medium-sized businesses, both for-profit and not-for-profit to strengthen their HR strategy, structure, people and processes in this new world of work. Lisa is a Laker for Life (Go GVSU!), a sought-after public speaker and is SHRM-CP, HRCI and Predictive Index certified.
In her spare time, she volunteers on the board with the Grand Rapids Downtown Market and North Kent Connect, is a Board Advisor for First Merchants Bank and co-leads a local HR Unite chapter. Lisa was the 2020 President of the Association for HR Management, was a finalist for the 2022 MISHRM Top HR Professional award, the 2023 MISHRM Lifetime Achievement award and was highlighted as one of Crain’s Grand Rapids Business’ Notable Leaders in Human Resources in 2023. She is also an active member and volunteer with many community organizations including the Economic Club of Grand Rapids, Greater Grand Rapids 100 Women Who Care, YWCA of West Central Michigan, Small Business Association of Michigan, the Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce, Talent First, Power of 100 Women with Michigan Women Forward and a founding member of the Rockstar Woman Movement.
Lisa loves hiking the national parks with her 3 teen daughters (16 down; 47 to go) and scuba
diving in the tropics with hubby of 20 years, Dan. Short Biography – Ideal for in-person introductions Lisa Cooper is the Founder & Chief People Officer with Cooper People Group whose mission is to enrich the world of work by developing innovative people strategies for organizations that have no HR, HR in transition, or HR that is stretched too thin. She has a passion for helping organizations to strengthen their HR strategy, structure, people and processes. Lisa is a graduate from GVSU and is SHRM-CP, HRCI and Predictive Index certified. She serves on several non- and for-profit boards and committees and is an active member of many community organizations including the Grand Rapids Downtown Market, First Merchants Bank and the YWCA. Most recently, Lisa was nominated for the MISHRM Lifetime Achievement award and was highlighted as one of Crain’s Grand Rapids 2023 Business Notable Leaders in Human Resources.