Our Spotlight series provides an opportunity to meet the remarkable individuals at HRchitect. Each month, we highlight a member of our team, allowing you to discover more about their unique contributions and get to know them on a personal level.
This month, we are celebrating Kirsten Fenton, Director of HR and Operations, who marks her 10th anniversary with HRchitect on December 22.
Over the past decade, Kirsten has supported our people through every stage of their HR and Operations needs, always with warmth, clarity, and a genuine desire to help. Kirsten’s approach is rooted in connection. She has a natural ability to make people feel comfortable coming to her, whether they are preparing for a big life moment, navigating a challenge, or simply trying to figure out where something lives in Box. Her calm, steady presence has shaped the employees’ experience more than most people realize.
She has also played a major role in HRchitect’s growth. From implementing key systems such as Insperity and iCIMS to helping the entire organization transition to remote work well before it became the norm, Kirsten has provided structure and stability through every chapter. Most importantly, she has cultivated a culture in which people feel supported and confident asking for help.
Hometown:Â I grew up in Maryland, then lived in different parts of Florida, later moved to Connecticut, and eventually settled in Texas. My childhood was very Maryland, and the values I grew up with there, especially family first, have carried into my work and the way I support our employees.
Favorite restaurant: In Texas, Tex-Mex is king. My family loves Blue Goose, and any time my daughter came home from college, that was our first stop. It has also been a go-to-spot for team lunches over the years. We all just call it “The Goose.” It used to be near the old corporate office, so it became a tradition.
My go-to order: Quesadillas, chips, and salsa. Always.
A song I never get tired of: “Happy” by Pharrell although I am a Swifty through and through.Â
Favorite motto or quote: “Just breathe. Sometimes taking a moment helps you respond thoughtfully instead of reacting in the moment.”
What is your favorite thing to do in your free time? Most of my free time revolves around my kids. My daughter, Taylor, is now a college graduate, and my son, David, is a high school junior who keeps us busy with baseball and band.
My husband also runs Fenton Athletics, a baseball training business with several select teams, so I help with uniforms and behind-the-scenes tasks.
I also serve as Band Booster President, which means coordinating volunteers, managing concessions, decorating the stands, organizing meals, and filling in wherever I’m needed. Between sports, school volunteering, and business, there is not much free time.
When I do relax, I love TikToks, especially the funny ones I send to friends late at night.
What is your title, and what do you do for HRchitect? I support employees throughout their entire experience at HRchitect. For new hires, I make sure they have everything they need for a smooth start, from tools and access to understanding our systems and benefits. Throughout their journey, I help answer questions, navigate policies, and connect them with the right resources or people.
One of the most meaningful parts of my role is supporting employees during important life moments, whether joyful or difficult. I am here to provide clarity, compassion, and guidance so people never feel like they must figure things out alone.
How I found HRchitect: When my family moved to Texas in early 2015, I was looking for something part-time that still allowed me to be present for my kids. I came across a Nextdoor post that Erin wrote. The job description felt like it was built from my résumé.
I started as the part-time Office Manager and, as the team got to know my background, my role grew into HR and operations. A year later, I became HR Manager, and later Director.
What makes working at HRchitect so great? The people. I have had the privilege of working closely with Erin for 10 years, and I still feel supported every day by both her and Matt. Our team has grown tremendously, but the culture of caring for one another has remained constant. I value supporting employees in both everyday moments and major milestones.
What project or initiative have you worked on that you are most proud of? Implementing Insperity was a major improvement for our benefits and payroll.
Rolling out iCIMS transformed our applicant tracking and onboarding experience. It gave us secure document storage, better reporting, and the ability to support marketing, awards submissions, and compliance with real-time employee data. These systems helped streamline many processes and improve consistency among employees.
What I am focused on for 2026: Meeting teammates and partner contacts face-to-face. It is great to finally put names to faces and strengthen those relationships beyond the screen. It makes everyday collaboration even better.
Outside of work travel, what has been your favorite place to spend time? With Kevin now on the team, I have the bandwidth to be more proactive. I want employees to get to know me outside of moments when something is wrong. I plan to join quarterly practice team calls, answer questions before they become issues, and streamline processes, such as policy reviews, through iCIMS and Box. I want to continue improving efficiency, so employees feel supported without extra steps or confusion.