About Us

With wide-ranging and deep expertise, our team is ready and available to help you navigate even the most complex human resources issues with custom human resource services.

Our Guiding Principles

At Cooper People Group, we are driven to enrich the world of work because we believe that everyone deserves to do their best work with the best people.

people first

make work fun

Here's how we can

Meet the Team

Lisa Cooper, PHR, SHRM-CP

Lisa Cooper is the Chief People Officer with Cooper People Group whose mission is to enrich the world of work by developing innovative HR strategies, HR structures, HR processes and HR people. Lisa is a Laker for Life (Go GVSU!) and with more than 20 years of HR leadership and consulting experience in West Michigan, she has worn nearly every hat in HR from entry-level Generalist through Consultant and Vice President and has a particular passion for small, entrepreneurial businesses, both for-profit and not-for-profit. Lisa enjoys public speaking, is a past-President for the Association for HR Management (a local SHRM chapter) and currently chairs the Governance Committees at both the Grand Rapids Downtown Market and North Kent Connect.

Fun fact: Besides a love for great HR, Lisa loves her 3 teen daughters, her COVID rescue puppy,  bacon, and scuba diving with hubby of 17 years, Dan. 

Specialities

Strategic Planning, Future Workforce Development, EOS, Employee Engagement, HR Compliance, Small Business, Leadership Development

Certifications
PHR, SHRM-CP

Claire Larabel, MA - Organizational Learning & Performance

Claire has spent her career working in internally and externally focused roles at both large and small organizations! She has a passion for finding the right people, enabling people to succeed by providing the right training and support, and helping organizations through change. Claire has a Bachelor’s degree from Calvin College in Business with a concentration in Human Resources and a Master’s degree from Western Michigan University in Organizational Learning and Performance.

Fun fact: I pitched a no-hitter in high school and didn’t know it until the next day when it was in the school morning announcements!

Specialities
Talent Acquisition, Employment Branding, Recruiter Training, Onboarding, Training Programs, Leader Development, Performance Management, EOS Tools
Certifications
MA – Organizational Learning & Performance

John Reinke, SPHR, SHRM-SCP

John has spent nearly three decades in the HR space in various roles from recruitment, to training, to generalist work, to the executive table. John has a passion for building strategic partnerships and collaboration among people and teams. Because John has sat in many different HR seats, he understands many perspectives and can relate to all levels of an organization. John works to build solutions for the betterment of an organization and its people.

John is a past-President of the Association for Human Resource Management (AHRM) in Grand Rapids.

John has a BBA in Marketing and also a Masters Degree in Human Resource Development from Western Michigan University.

Fun facts: Failed miserably at fully retiring. Have a love for travel that takes me all over the world. Enjoy three grown children and two miniature dachshunds named Apple and Cider.

Specialities
HR Audits, HR Systems, HR Operations, HR Compliance & Handbooks
Certifications
SPHR, SHRM-SCP

Cindy Angerer, SPHR, CCP

Cindy began her professional career in HR over 25 years ago and never looked back. Throughout her career she has worked for and consulted with, Fortune 100 companies, non-profits, start-ups, and family-owned businesses. Cindy is passionate about creating environments where both employees and organizations thrive, especially in growing small to medium sized businesses. Striving for that sweet spot where employees are having fun and accomplishing great things. An HR geek, Cindy enjoyed teaching classes preparing HR professionals for certification.

Cindy has a BA in Psychology and a MS degree in Industrial Relations (that certainly dates me) from Iowa State University in Ames Iowa. Cindy volunteers with the United Way of Holland Community Investment Committee and is on the Board of Directors for the Land Conservancy of West Michigan.

Fun facts: I love being outdoors, paddleboarding, hiking, kayaking, golfing, if it’s outside, I’m game. My husband Dave and I travel often to visit our three children who are scattered about the country.

Specialities
HR Strategy, Talent Acquisition, Compensation and Benefits, Coaching and Organizational Development, Employment Law, Performance Management, Engagement and Retention and Project Management
Certifications
SPHR, SHRM-SCP, CCP

Shaina Lane, M.ED., SHRM-CP, CPCC

Shaina is an HR professional with a diverse background and skill set. Starting her career in healthcare and working her way through the ranks of management, she found a passion for developing people and creating positive people environments. This naturally led her to a career in HR, where she has settled in for the long haul. She has experience in healthcare, academic medicine, higher education, software development, and manufacturing industries. She has worked with professionals in the non-profit and financial sectors as well. Shaina has a Master’s degree in Higher Education Administration, holds the SHRM-CP credential, and has several coaching certifications (Gallup, CPCC, and e2grow).

When she isn’t working, she enjoys dancing salsa, riding motorcycles, and paddling around the lake. She is also an amateur triathlete, boasting one full Ironman finish!

Specialities
HR Operations/Process Design/Lean Methodology, Employee Engagement & Culture Development, Leadership Development, Performance Management
Certifications
M.ED., SHRM-CP, CPCC

Kara Skotzke, SHRM-CP, CPSP

With nine years of progressive HR experience, working with mid-size international companies, Kara joins us with a broad skillset having generalized throughout her career. With experience in everything from workers compensation, performance management, employee relations and terminations, immigration/relocation, recruiting and onboarding, compliance and benefits administration, Kara looks forward to helping the CPG clients with their HR needs!
Specialities
Recruiting, Onboarding, Benefits Administration, Leave Management, Safety, Workers Compensation, Employee Relations, Immigration, 401(k) Administration, Compliance
Certifications
SHRM-CP, CPSP

Keep Up With Our Team

At Cooper People Group, we exist to enrich the world of work and make a difference in the success of our client companies by assessing, aligning, and achieving results with innovative people practices. With decades of HR leadership and business expertise, it’s our pleasure to provide practical, pivotal, and proven people solutions critical to business sustainability and success. You’ll be served by a team of experienced professionals with expertise in human resources, culture, recruitment, performance management, compliance and talent development.
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