The Alabama-Tombigbee Regional Commission (ATRC) serves ten counties in southwest Alabama, delivering a wide range of services, including workforce development, aging programs, economic development, and transportation planning. To strengthen internal operations and enhance service delivery, ATRC partnered with Horizon Point Consulting (HPC) in 2022 to improve organizational effectiveness through a comprehensive review and redesign of its people practices.

The engagement began with a full audit of ATRC’s human resources systems, focusing on identifying talent management priorities and evaluating personnel policies. As part of this process, HPC facilitated a session to establish core operating values to guide all people-related practices. HPC then delivered two days of leadership training to supervisors across the organization, introducing foundational leadership principles aimed at enhancing talent recruitment, retention, and development.

Building on this foundational work, HPC developed a robust compensation strategy for ATRC. This included an FLSA compliance review, internal job evaluations, market analysis, and the creation of a structured pay system featuring consistent salary bands and clear compensation guidelines. The performance management system was also redesigned to align with the new compensation model, ensuring that performance evaluations and merit-based pay increases reflect the organization’s values and strategic direction.

To support the long-term success of these efforts, HPC has provided clear communication, detailed documentation, and ongoing training throughout implementation. As part of this work, HPC drafted a comprehensive Employee Handbook based on the HR audit findings and ATRC’s current personnel policies.

This partnership has equipped ATRC with the tools to sustain a values-driven culture, attract and retain talent, and ensure fairness and consistency in people practices.