Ellen Martin
Ellen brings over 30 years of human resources and leadership experience to FineLine. As a former senior executive leader of Human Resource, Legal, and Regulatory teams for a Fortune 300 telecommunications company, Ellen not only advised and trained on human resource and legal issues, but navigated through these issues within her own departments. She also draws from her experiences as an attorney with Shughart Thomson & Kilroy (now Polsinelli), a university professor, mediator, nonprofit board leader and an investment representative at American Century.
Her front-line HR experience in the dynamic, every-changing telecommunications industry, earned her the trust of senior business executives including CEOs, General Counsels, COOs, and CIOs, to whom she provided expert counsel and common-sense solutions for business challenges. Whether leading in employment law, human resources (60 HR Business partners, strategic staffing, talent management, HR policy, and merger integration), litigation, regulatory law, external affairs, transactional law, or community relations, Ellen’s roles have all had this in common- she’s a versatile, trusted business partner, focused on strategically advising on practical, results-oriented solutions which support the business or mission while meeting compliance requirements.
In today’s for-profit and nonprofit worlds, change is constant. And culture is key. Ellen’s broad range of leadership experience in the corporate and nonprofit worlds have afforded opportunities to excel guiding through the minefields of mergers, failed, mergers, acquisitions, spin-offs, organizational restructuring and cultural transformations—all while remaining focused on results. Her direct, pragmatic and positive approach, straight-forward communication style and legal and business acumen have allowed her to forge strong relationships with employees, colleagues and clients.
Throughout her career, Ellen has been engaged locally and nationally as an energetic speaker and trainer on employment-related topics and other topics including governance training, conflict resolution and leadership.
Her teaching and nonprofit board leadership experiences allow her to address human resource and business challenges in unique, non corporate settings. As a Rockhurst University adjunct, she’s taught at the graduate and undergraduate level in conflict resolution, change management and leadership. And she’s held nonprofit board leadership roles, including past Chair, Audit Chair and Governance Chair of Catholic Charities Northeast Kansas. Currently, she is Secretary for Avila University’s Executive Committee, Chairs the Academic Learning Committee and on several committees for Cristo Rey High School of Kansas City and Notre Dame de Sion Schools.
Ellen lives in Leawood with her husband Cameron, daughters, Claire and Rachel and pets Maggie and Enzo. They enjoy time away at the Lake and she considers herself fortunate to spend time with her parents who live nearby.
Ellen graduated from Creighton, cum laude with a B.A. in Organizational Communications and received her Juris Doctorate degree from University of Missouri- Kansas City School of Law, where she was an Editor on the Law Review. She earned her Series 6 and 63 securities licenses while working at American Century directly out of college.
Contact Ellen at emartin@fmmlawkc.com or her direct line, 816-479-0382 or cell 913-226-3136.