Jason Kranack Featured by HR DIVE

Phononic CHRO, Jason Kranack, was recently interviewed by Ryan Golden of HR Dive. HR Dive provides news and analysis for human resource executives covering topics like recruiting, HR management, employee learning & development, and more. HR Dive provides business journalism and in-depth insight into the most impactful news and trends shaping human resources today.

From the Article:

North Carolina-based electronics manufacturer Phononic focuses on finding talent with baseline competencies such as critical thinking, utilizing good judgment and having empathy, according to CHRO Jason Kranack.

Beyond those soft skills, innovation is also top of mind. “We want people who are sort of fearless about innovation,” Kranack said. “You really need to have boundaryless thinking.”

Kranack gave the example of a group of employees who found an alternative use for one of Phononic’s cooling products, which had been marketed to convenience stores as a way to keep impulse items, like frozen ice cream bars, temperature controlled. The employees determined that the product might also have healthcare applications, such as keeping certain medications cool.

Training can fill in for more technical skills, but this too is dependent on having the right culture. Kranack said Phononic’s product development process has helped cultivate an organizational environment characterized by shared learning. Employees take turns sending one another readings and baseline statistics on topics such as environmental, social and governance, or ESG, factors.

Read the full article here: In need of skilled talent, ‘clean tech’ employers prioritize purpose