Kevin Gallagher is the regional director of human resources at JM Family Enterprises and the new president of the board for the Ronald McDonald House.
COMPANY MAN
With JM for 20 years, Gallagher started with the company in its finance division as an auditor. He then moved into the human resource manager slot in Miami and was promoted to his current position five years later.
“I got tapped on the shoulder by the VP and told that we needed an HR department and that I was the guy. It fit my personality more so than finance and accounting.”
WHAT DOES HE DO?
Primary responsibilities include planning, design, administration and coordinating benefits.
EVER WORK ANYWHERE ELSE?
For one year, Gallagher was employed at SunAmerica Financial.
EDUCATION
Gallagher graduated from Florida State University with bachelor’s degrees in finance, archaeology and social sciences.
ANY FANTASIES TO BE LIKE INDIANA JONES?
“I was just interested in it [archaeology]. It was more just for the fun of it. I would have experimented with it; working outside was something I preferred. I didn’t want to be cooped up behind a desk. While studying that discipline I realized there were so few opportunities, even at the Ph.D level. Taking advantage of those opportunities could have sent me anywhere and I’m pretty much a home body.”
WHAT MAKES YOUR JOB SATISFYING?
“When you can have an effect on someone’s life and career through guidance. In HR we deal with career paths and life events. It’s rewarding to see someone succeed.”
WHAT’S CHALLENGING ABOUT IT?
“Controlling health care costs. It is one of our largest budget items and consumes the majority of my time. We self-administer our own plan.”
HOMETOWN
Memphis.
COMMUNITY INVOLVEMENT
Outside of Ronald McDonald, Gallagher also chairs the Center for Human Resource Management at FSU’s College of Business and is on the board of the American Cancer Society and the JM Associated Federal Credit Union.
NAME GAME
Married for 21 years to his wife Karen, Gallagher has two children, a daughter named Kyle and a son named Kris. The couple wanted to continue the alliteration of first names beginning with the letter ‘K.’
THE IMPETUS BEHIND THE CAUSE
“My fifteen minutes of fame was being interviewed on ESPN by an analyst doing a special on disability golf clinics because my daughter has a disability and was at a golf clinic. The Ronald McDonald House has such a positive effect on how my family is dealing with this serious situation. That’s why I volunteer my time with the enthusiasm that I do.”
A FEW OF MY FAVORITE THINGS
Gallagher enjoys swinging a golf club, dining at Bistro Aix or following the latest stats on FSU athletics. For entertainment at home, he channel surfs for re-runs of “Wild, Wild West,” pops in a video of “Gone with the Wind” or delves in the classic novel, “Of Mice and Men.”
—by Monica Chamness