Mainstay Maritime names Kyla Olsen as Director, Human Resources

Mainstay Maritime has appointed Kyla Olsen as Director, Human Resources, adding an experienced people leader to its executive team as the company continues to expand its workforce capabilities and operational excellence across one of the largest bulk freight shipping networks in the Great Lakes region.

In her new role, Olsen will lead the company's human resources strategy across its diversified maritime operations, with responsibility for talent, culture, leadership development and organisational effectiveness.

Broad HR leadership mandate

As Director, Human Resources, Olsen will oversee a wide range of people functions, including:

• Talent acquisition
• Leadership development
• Employee engagement
• Organisational effectiveness
• Workforce planning
• HR operations
• Culture and compliance
• People transformation initiatives

The appointment strengthens Mainstay Maritime's leadership team as the company continues investing in workforce capability to support business growth and operational performance.

Bringing experience from manufacturing and talent leadership

Olsen joins Mainstay Maritime from VanDeMark Chemical Inc., where she most recently served as Human Resources Director.

Working closely with the company's CEO and private equity stakeholders, she led HR strategy for the chemical manufacturing business. Her responsibilities included workforce transformation, organisational design, leadership development, succession planning, employee engagement, workforce planning, compliance and large-scale organisational transition initiatives.

She also introduced leadership development programmes using 360-degree feedback and Caliper assessments, alongside employee engagement initiatives aimed at strengthening organisational culture and cross-functional collaboration.

Before becoming HR Director, Olsen served as Human Resources Manager at VanDeMark Chemical, where she modernised HR operations by:

• Implementing new recruitment technologies.
• Improving talent acquisition processes.
• Expanding workforce diversity initiatives.
• Securing workforce development grants.
• Introducing KPI-based HR scorecards.
• Strengthening employee relations, compliance, payroll operations and human capital reporting.

More than a decade across multiple industries

Earlier in her career, Olsen held HR leadership and talent acquisition positions at Ivoclar North America, serving as Associate Manager, Talent Acquisition, People & Culture and Senior Talent Recruiter.

During her tenure, she:

• Led enterprise recruitment across North America.
• Implemented UKG Recruiting and Onboarding.
• Supported succession planning and diversity, equity and inclusion initiatives.
• Enhanced candidate experience.
• Partnered with executive leadership on strategic workforce planning.

She also built HR leadership experience with Allpro Parking, where she supported rapid workforce expansion across multiple locations while overseeing payroll, recruitment, onboarding, performance management, compliance and HR integration activities.

Earlier roles at Berardi Immigration Law and PCI further strengthened her experience in recruitment, employee relations, HR operations, compliance, benefits administration and organisational support.

Across more than a decade of progressive HR leadership, Olsen has developed expertise spanning human resources strategy, talent management, organisational development, leadership development, workforce planning, employee engagement, HR technology, change management and culture transformation.

Supporting growth across a major Great Lakes shipping network

According to the company, Olsen's appointment reflects Mainstay Maritime's continued investment in building a people-first organisation capable of supporting operational excellence, leadership development and sustainable long-term growth.

Mainstay Maritime operates one of the largest bulk freight shipping networks in the Great Lakes region through its subsidiaries:

• American Steamship Company
• Andrie
• Grand River Navigation
• Lower Lakes Towing

The company manages a fleet of 28 vessels, including conventional bulk carriers, self-unloading bulk carriers and liquid-product vessels serving customers across the United States and Canada. Operating under the U.S. Jones Act and the Canada Coasting Trade Act, the business plays a key role in transporting raw materials and industrial commodities throughout North America's inland waterways.

With Olsen leading its people strategy, Mainstay Maritime is positioning its HR function to support workforce development, leadership capability and operational performance as demand for skilled talent continues to evolve across the maritime sector.