San Marcos, California, United States, September 2025 – Rod Swartwood has stepped into a new role as Chief Human Resources Officer at TERI Inc. (Training, Education & Resource Institute), bringing with him decades of transformative HR leadership experience across consulting, healthcare, and non-profit sectors. In his new role, Swartwood will be responsible for spearheading strategic people initiatives that align with TERI Inc.’s mission of supporting individuals with developmental disabilities through wellness-focused programs and community integration.
Before joining TERI Inc., Rod Swartwood served as a Strategic Advisor at Everest Advisors LLC, where he supported organizations with high-level guidance on human capital transformation, helping them navigate complex business challenges through remote, advisory leadership.
Previously, he held a pivotal role at HR Prime, LLC for nearly 10 years as a Fractional CHRO and VP of Human Resources, where he led full-spectrum HR functions for small to mid-sized organizations. Through his proprietary ASCEND framework—Attract, Select, Culturize, Engage, iNspire, and Develop—he delivered quantifiable results including a 25% boost in employee engagement and a 30% drop in voluntary attrition. He worked with clients like Westpak, Strategic Information Group, Tarsus Pharmaceuticals, FlexAir, and OCTANe, driving end-to-end people operations and data-driven talent strategies.
Prior to that, Swartwood served as VP of Human Resources at Profit Recovery Partners, where for over seven years, he managed HR for a $20M consulting firm. His leadership resulted in a 15% annual performance uptick, $2.4M in recruitment cost savings, and increased internal promotions by 20%. He also championed employee engagement programs that significantly enhanced satisfaction and retention.
In an earlier role, Rod Swartwood was Senior Director, Talent Acquisition and Retention at First American, a Fortune 300 company. During his nearly four-year tenure, he launched a global employment branding initiative that saved $18M and led innovative diversity hiring strategies that increased diverse placements by 30%. He also implemented a modern applicant tracking system that significantly reduced time-to-hire and improved candidate satisfaction.
Alongside his professional roles, Swartwood continues to volunteer with Disabled Sports Eastern Sierra, exemplifying his dedication to inclusive community development.
Rod holds an MBA in Business from California State University San Marcos and completed MA coursework in Occupational Psychology at Murdoch University under a prestigious Rotary Fellowship, further enriching his strategic and human-centered approach to HR.
About TERI Inc.
TERI Inc. (Training, Education & Resource Institute), founded in 1980, is a leading non-profit organization dedicated to enriching the lives of children, adults, and seniors with developmental disabilities. With a strong foundation in wellness and personal development, TERI operates the TERI Campus of Life, a 20-acre community in San Marcos offering arts, fitness, nutrition, social engagement, and education. The campus includes the Bornemann Theatre, Common Grounds Café, and Inspired Resale among other initiatives, fostering meaningful connections and empowerment for individuals and families.
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