EP 6 - Handbooks, Cops, and Taking Minutes With Priscilla Wadman
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In this Episode we talk to Priscilla Wadman about her story and how she got into HR, her view of the state of the art, and what it means to really support employees. Priscilla gives a fantastic roadmap to building an HR career.
With a distinguished career in human resources, Priscilla Wadman is driven by a commitment to operational excellence, employee advocacy, and organizational integrity. She specializes in building inclusive, legally compliant, and strategically aligned HR practices that elevate both people and performance. Currently at AW Services, she leads a team that provides full-spectrum HR services to more than 2,500 employees across over 30 charter schools and companies spanning industries such as education, steel manufacturing, and construction. She brings deep expertise in employee relations, workplace investigations, regulatory compliance, and strategic talent development. Throughout her career, Priscilla has earned a reputation for balancing business needs with human impact, guiding leaders through complex HR challenges, minimizing legal risk, and fostering cohesive, values-driven teams. Her leadership style is collaborative and solution-oriented, grounded in service, mentorship, and continuous improvement. In addition to her operational work, she has taught HR professionals as a PHR/SPHR instructor, consulted on employee benefits strategies, and led key initiatives in policy development, workplace culture, and compliance. She remains active in the HR profession through board service, speaking engagements, and advisory roles. Outside of her professional life, Priscilla is most proud of her family. Married for over 20 years, she is the proud mother of two sons and treasures the time they spend together. She is deeply grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and growth her career has offered and looks forward to what lies ahead.
In this Episode we talk to Priscilla Wadman about her story and how she got into HR, her view of the state of the art, and what it means to really support employees. Priscilla gives a fantastic roadmap to building an HR career.
With a distinguished career in human resources, Priscilla Wadman is driven by a commitment to operational excellence, employee advocacy, and organizational integrity. She specializes in building inclusive, legally compliant, and strategically aligned HR practices that elevate both people and performance. Currently at AW Services, she leads a team that provides full-spectrum HR services to more than 2,500 employees across over 30 charter schools and companies spanning industries such as education, steel manufacturing, and construction. She brings deep expertise in employee relations, workplace investigations, regulatory compliance, and strategic talent development. Throughout her career, Priscilla has earned a reputation for balancing business needs with human impact, guiding leaders through complex HR challenges, minimizing legal risk, and fostering cohesive, values-driven teams. Her leadership style is collaborative and solution-oriented, grounded in service, mentorship, and continuous improvement. In addition to her operational work, she has taught HR professionals as a PHR/SPHR instructor, consulted on employee benefits strategies, and led key initiatives in policy development, workplace culture, and compliance. She remains active in the HR profession through board service, speaking engagements, and advisory roles. Outside of her professional life, Priscilla is most proud of her family. Married for over 20 years, she is the proud mother of two sons and treasures the time they spend together. She is deeply grateful for the opportunities, challenges, and growth her career has offered and looks forward to what lies ahead.
You can learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
You can learn more about Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Creators and Guests
Host
Steven "Bid Deal" Smith
Steve will be the first to tell you that recruiting is marketing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance at Brigham Young University and started his career in recruiting in Feb 2005. In 2008, he took a risk during a recession to help start a new company with Ryan Kohler, called ApplicantPro, a full suite HR platform for small to mid-sized businesses. In March 2025, ApplicantPro became iSolved Talent Acquisition, now serving 177,000 clients and close to 9800 employees. Before the merger, ApplicantPro made the Inc 5000 list 12 years in a row, Top Places to work in Utah 3 years in a row, and Steve was named the Small Business Utah HR Achievement Award winner in May 2024. iSolved was also named an Indeed Platinum Partner in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and is one of only ten ATS platforms in the country to obtain that designation. SHRM-CP & PHR certified, Steve currently volunteers on the Utah SHRM State Council as the immediate past State Executive Director. His book, The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction, was released in early 2023, and has helped thousands of organizations across the country rethink their approach to hiring. If you need help understanding the principles and role of SEO, marketing, and AI when it comes to attracting job seekers, Steve provides a solid framework for hiring effectively.
Host
Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin
I am a unique HR leader with more than 20 years’ experience working for some of Utah’s oldest, fastest growing, and most well-known companies. My experience includes Superior Drilling Products, Air Medical Resource Group, Control4, Ovivo USA and Deseret Book. I am a regionally recognized authority on building successful cultures and am an alumni speaker at DisruptHR SLC and DisruptHR St. George. I have earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, and am a certified Professional of Human Resources (PHR). I'm married to a woman out of my league, have three brilliant kids I doesn’t deserve and, although I travel a lot, live in Vernal, Utah.
