Allison Kender, chief people officer at Transportation Research Center Inc., has been recognized by Smart Business magazine as an Ohio Smart 50 Awards honoree.
The award celebrates top executives from central Ohio’s smartest companies for their ability to effectively build and lead successful organizations.
“I’m honored and excited to be included among so many talented Ohio leaders as a Smart 50 awardee,” said Kender.
“TRC’s success depends on our world-leading solutions, and at the heart of everything we do is our people. I am grateful to be able to support the passionate and dedicated employees at TRC.”
During 2014, Kender began her career at TRC as an engineer assigned to the Dummy Management Lab in the Vehicle Research and Test Center.
She was later appointed manager of the Biomechanics and Crashworthiness group before directing TRC’s Technical Services group. Kender was named TRC’s Chief People Officer in 2021.
TRC is North America’s most advanced, independent mobility-testing complex. The company’s clients include the world’s leading automotive manufacturers and mobility innovators who come to TRC to test and refine their most advanced technologies.
Thanks to Kender’s efforts, TRC was recently ranked as one of Central Ohio’s Top Workplaces by Columbus CEO magazine.
Kender, who holds a bachelor’s of science from Columbia University and an MBA from The Ohio State University, has also been recognized by the Automotive Women’s Alliance Foundation as the AWAF Emerging Leader.
In addition, Kender helped launch TRC’s Research Consortium for Crashworthiness in Automated Driving Systems, bringing together government agencies, automotive manufacturers, and suppliers to focus on how the internal cabin of an automated vehicle can maintain the safety standards and occupant safety enjoyed by today’s drivers.
TRC prides itself on a people-focused environment that contributes to its business success, said Brett Roubinek, TRC president and CEO and a 2023 Smart 50 Awards honoree. Kender helps maintain that atmosphere by supporting TRC workers at all levels of their employment, Roubinek related.
“Allison is representative of the talented and hard-working administrators that on a daily basis help TRC achieve its goals,” he said. “We congratulate her on this well-earned and well-deserved honor.”