The Des Moines Business Record has named Monica Friedman as the 2022 Dentons Davis Brown HR Professional of the Year. Friedman is the executive vice president and chief human resources officer at LCS, the nation’s second-largest senior living operator. The award highlights an outstanding HR professional from Central Iowa for their professional accomplishments and community engagement.

“Monica is a remarkable leader, and we congratulate her on this outstanding recognition,” said Joel Nelson, LCS president and CEO. “Monica’s leadership and experience has impacted every level of our organization. She has challenged our organization, driven results, and made LCS a nationally ranked best place to work. I can’t imagine where LCS would be as an organization without her.”

Friedman has led expanded training and development programs at LCS, launched the company’s first Diversity, Equity, and Inclusion program, reorganized the employee benefits department and programs, and provided HR leadership for 30,000+ employees nationwide. She is also dedicated to mentorship both inside LCS and in the community with a specific emphasis on female executives and human resources professionals.

Under Friedman, LCS employee engagement scores have improved each consecutive year, the company has been named on Iowa’s Top Workplace list each year, and LCS has received national recognition as a USA Top Workplace.

“I am pleased that this honor recognizes the important role that the HR function plays in the success of organizations,” says Friedman. “I have been blessed to be a part of the Human Resources community in Des Moines for nearly 30 years, and my HR colleagues have played an important part in my journey. Each of us have the unique opportunity every day to drive programs and create relationships that help our employees develop and grow. I am thankful for the opportunity to have an impact on others as they find meaning and purpose in their careers.”

Among her community leadership roles, Friedman is the chair of the MercyOne Des Moines Medical Center board and serves on the boards for the LCS Foundation and the Center for Health Administration and Aging Services Excellence at the University of Wisconsin-Eau Claire. She is a past United Way board member and past chair of the Red Cross Iowa Region board.

Monica is a 2006 graduate of the Greater Des Moines Leadership Institute Community Leadership Program. The Des Moines Business Record has included her among their Forty under 40 and Women of Influence honorees. She has a bachelor’s degree in industrial relations human resources with highest distinction from The University of Iowa along with SPHR and SHRM-SCP designations. 

Friedman will receive the award during the Business Record’s Jobs Outlook online panel discussion on Oct. 13, at 11:30 a.m.