Renee Conklin | Twin Cities Business

Renee Conklin, vice president of global human resources at Protolabs, brings more than 25 years of experience to her role as vice chair of the board of Repowered (formerly Tech Dump). The mission of the St. Paul-based electronics recycling organization includes hiring and training individuals facing barriers to employment. Conklin works closely with Repowered’s HR team, advising on effective, collaborative leadership. She views diversity as a strategic opportunity, not a passing trend. Her career mantra is to hire entry-level people, then coach, train, mentor, and promote them so they can achieve their potential. As Repowered CEO Amanda LaGrange says, Conklin excels at board service because she believes that “leadership is not a title but a responsibility that everyone shares, looking around—not up—for talent.”