VERONA, NY – Turning Stone Enterprises, a diversified business collective managing a broad portfolio that spans hospitality, gaming, entertainment, retail, and recreation, has placed Julie LaForest as their Director, HR Operations. Managing Partner, Pam Noble and Partner, Jeff Wilbanks led and placed the integral HR search.
“Turning Stone Enterprises is a dynamic and complex organization with a strong commitment to operational excellence and employee experience. Julie brings the strategic perspective, operational discipline, and people-first leadership needed to strengthen HR operations across the enterprise. We’re proud to have partnered with Turning Stone on this important placement and excited to see the impact Julie will make,” shared Pam Noble, Managing Partner at The Christopher Group.
Julie LaForest is responsible for leading enterprise-wide HR operations across a complex, multi-unit organization. Reporting to the SVP of People & Culture, she oversees total rewards, HR systems, payroll, workforce management, and employee experience infrastructure. Julie LaForest’s role requires strategic vision, operational excellence, and a people-first approach to align HR functions with business goals. Her key responsibilities include designing competitive total rewards strategies, optimizing HR technology platforms, ensuring legal compliance, and building a high-performing operations team.
Julie LaForest is a seasoned human resources executive who recently joined Turning Stone as Director, HR Operations, bringing over 20 years of experience leading total rewards, HR systems, and compliance functions across large, complex organizations. Most recently, she served as Director of Total Rewards at Delaware North, where she led compensation and benefits strategy for a global workforce of more than 50,000 employees, driving initiatives such as career framework transformation, incentive plan redesign, and enhanced wellness programs. Known for her strategic and operational expertise, Julie has a strong track record in HR transformation, M&A integration, and governance, including close partnership with executive leadership and Boards of Directors to align people strategies with business performance.
About Turning Stone Enterprises
Turning Stone Enterprises is a diversified business collective headquartered in Central New York, managing a broad portfolio that spans hospitality, gaming, entertainment, retail, and recreation. The organization includes award-winning resorts and casinos, destination golf courses, spas, convenience stores, marinas, and a full-service media and production company. With a focus on operational excellence, guest experience, and sustainable growth, Turning Stone Enterprises plays a significant role in the region’s economy, employing thousands and attracting millions of visitors annually. The enterprise continues to expand through innovation, strategic partnerships, and a commitment to delivering best-in-class service across every line of business.
About The Christopher Group
Through its award-winning, customized HR solutions, The Christopher Group (TCG) delivers critical human capital solutions in the area of executive HR search, interim HR leaders, fractional CHROs, and HR advisory and consulting. Since 1998, TCG has served clients across all industries, locations, company sizes, and verticals. Staffed by former HR professionals and highly trained search practitioners who have sat in the job, TCG has been named one of the Fastest-Growing, Best Non-Profit, Diversity, Private Equity, and Top 50 Executive Recruiting Firms by Hunt Scanlon as well as Forbes’ 2019, 2020, 2021 & 2022 list of America’s Best Executive Recruiting Firms.