Best became the CHRO upon close of the Exelon-Constellation merger in March 2012. She is responsible for developing, organizing, implementing, directing and evaluating Exelon’s HR function and performance. She participates in the development and implementation of Exelon’s plans and programs as a strategic member of the executive team. Best leads, Compensation, Benefits, Employee Relations, Diversity & Inclusion, Talent Management, Recruiting and Organizational Effectiveness, along with Utility, Generation, and Business Services Human Resource functions. Exelon has been recognized externally for its commitment to pay equality, birth and adoption leave policies, and by Diversity Inc.
Professional History
Prior to this role, Best was the vice president of human resources for Exelon Generation, which includes the nuclear fleet, power operations, and power trading. She was responsible for setting the human resources strategy and service delivery for 9,500 employees as a member of the senior leadership team. This included employee relations, compensation, talent development and retention, recruitment, pipeline development, demographic analysis, and knowledge transfer and retention. She has worked as a lead on prior merger, integration and new business activities. She also was involved with the Nuclear Energy Institute working groups and the Clean and Safe Energy Coalition’s minority business steering committee.
Previously, Best was the director of human resources for Exelon Business Services Company and led the HR function to support the finance, IT, supply and legal groups. She also was the director of leadership development for Exelon. In that position, she was responsible for executive development for the company’s top leadership positions, as well as design and delivery of programmatic leadership training across the company. She was also accountable for the design and governance of talent management processes that are implemented in all Exelon operating business units.
Best has worked in varying human resources capacities at Exelon’s Quad Cities Station, Dresden Station, nuclear headquarters, and corporate offices. Prior to Exelon, she worked at Sara Lee Corporation and Ravenswood Hospital while pursuing her master’s degree.
Civic & Board Involvement
Best is on the board of trustees of The Field Museum and the boards of directors for Skills for Chicagoland Future; and WITS (Working in the Schools), a partnership between companies and Chicago Public Schools. She served on the board of directors for the Girl Scouts of Greater Chicago and Northwest Indiana and HRMAC (Human Resources Association of Chicago).
Education
She received her B.A. degree from the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign and her M.S.I.R from Loyola University Chicago. Best attended the Strategic Human Resource Management Executive Education Program at Harvard University, and Leading Women Executives leadership program. Best is a fellow of the CEO Perspectives leadership program in partnership with the Kellogg School of Management and Chicago Booth School of Business.