KSI announces human resources director’s retirement, new hire

KSI recently announced the retirement of Human Resources Director Barbara Wilson effective Jan. 10. Wilson has performed exceptionally in her position with KSI since 2015. She helped ferry KSI through some of its most challenging years from an HR perspective, including dealing with staff benefits preservation during the COVID-19 shutdown, as well as necessary startup and staff reconstruction efforts as KSI reopened during the pandemic.

Wilson managed all hiring, onboarding, training coordination, compliance issues and benefits for the more than 100 members of the KSI team. She initiated a number of enhancements to KSI’s employee benefits, including access to community and personal resources through the Employee Assistance Program, legal assistance access and sound retirement investment options, in addition to managing affordable healthcare options for employees needing them.

Wilson said she regarded her nine years working with KSI’s staff and interacting with the organization’s participants as something very special. “My time here has been filled with lots of rewarding experiences working with staff and getting to know the participants,” said Wilson.

In her new life chapter, she plans to get back into music, and spend time with family and friends.

Roger Arnell has been hired as KSI’s new director of human resources to replace Wilson. Arnell comes with a career spanning more than 20 years of global human resource management that includes a focus on the medical device and pharmaceutical industries. He most recently was human resources vice president for medical device company ConvaTec, and subsequently was principal consultant and owner of Arnell Consulting. His experience entailed functional reorganization of HR departments, cost reduction, effective team building and management, and enhanced employee engagement.

Arnell earned a bachelor’s degree from Delaware State University and a master’s degree in human resources management from Wilmington University. He recently earned his senior certified professional designation from the Society for Human Resource Management. The SHRM certification documents his expertise in strategic and policy-making elements of HR management. It also highlights his commitment to HR excellence and keeping current with the latest HR trends, practices and legal requirements affecting the workplace.

KSI wishes Barbara Wilson the best in her life and endeavors moving forward, and welcomes Roger Arnell as part of the KSI team.

KSI is a not-for-profit agency providing vocational training, employment, community integration, transportation, day habilitation, life enrichment, and nutritional services to individuals with disabilities throughout Kent and Sussex counties.

Learn more about KSI by contacting Alicia Hollis at 302-422-4014, Ext. 3015 or hollisa@ksiinc.org.