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The guys talk to Weslie Porter, Director of People Analytics for the State of Utah, and he drops some amazing stats that have the ability to change how you view HR. Wes gives some amazing insights into motivation, dissent, and the actual role of human resources. From artillery specialists in the Army to private sector employees just onboarded, how do you gather data and build excellence? Find out in this episode.
Learn More:
Learn more about Weslie Porter at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslie-porter-mpa-20504612b/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Find all the books referred to in the podcast at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Learn more about our sponsor at: https://www.megastarhr.com/
The guys recommend supporting The Thrive Life Project at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Wes Porter Bio:
Weslie M. Porter has more than 20 years of experience in public administration and currently serves as the Director of People Analytics for the State of Utah within the Department of Human Resource Management. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Utah Army National Guard, where he has held key leadership assignments including Battalion Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Brigade HR Officer, Battery Commander, and multinational and interagency Liaison Officer, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. In addition to his military career, Wes spent 10 years in higher education as Director of Business and Trades, instructor, and program developer, creating programs that advanced workforce readiness and strengthened community partnerships. His expertise spans human resources, organizational culture, leadership development, and workforce analytics, leading initiatives that improve employee engagement and organizational effectiveness across state agencies. Wes co-founded multiple nonprofits, serves as Board Chair for a local charter school, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from Southern Utah University. He and his wife, Emily, are raising six children in rural Utah.
Learn More:
Learn more about Weslie Porter at: https://www.linkedin.com/in/weslie-porter-mpa-20504612b/
Learn more about Tony "Two Weeks' Notice" Benjamin at: https://www.thegrangellc.com/
Learn more about Steven "Big Deal Smith" at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/
Find all the books referred to in the podcast at: https://thehiringtreebook.com/hr-life-podcast
Learn more about our sponsor at: https://www.megastarhr.com/
The guys recommend supporting The Thrive Life Project at: https://www.thrivelifeproject.org/
Wes Porter Bio:
Weslie M. Porter has more than 20 years of experience in public administration and currently serves as the Director of People Analytics for the State of Utah within the Department of Human Resource Management. He is a Lieutenant Colonel in the Utah Army National Guard, where he has held key leadership assignments including Battalion Commander, Battalion Operations Officer, Brigade HR Officer, Battery Commander, and multinational and interagency Liaison Officer, with deployments to Iraq, Afghanistan, and the Middle East. In addition to his military career, Wes spent 10 years in higher education as Director of Business and Trades, instructor, and program developer, creating programs that advanced workforce readiness and strengthened community partnerships. His expertise spans human resources, organizational culture, leadership development, and workforce analytics, leading initiatives that improve employee engagement and organizational effectiveness across state agencies. Wes co-founded multiple nonprofits, serves as Board Chair for a local charter school, and holds a bachelor’s degree in Criminal Justice and a Master of Public Administration from Southern Utah University. He and his wife, Emily, are raising six children in rural Utah.
Creators and Guests
Host
Steven "Bid Deal" Smith
Steve will be the first to tell you that recruiting is marketing. He earned his Bachelor of Science in Finance at Brigham Young University and started his career in recruiting in Feb 2005. In 2008, he took a risk during a recession to help start a new company with Ryan Kohler, called ApplicantPro, a full suite HR platform for small to mid-sized businesses. In March 2025, ApplicantPro became iSolved Talent Acquisition, now serving 177,000 clients and close to 9800 employees. Before the merger, ApplicantPro made the Inc 5000 list 12 years in a row, Top Places to work in Utah 3 years in a row, and Steve was named the Small Business Utah HR Achievement Award winner in May 2024. iSolved was also named an Indeed Platinum Partner in 2023, 2024, and 2025 and is one of only ten ATS platforms in the country to obtain that designation. SHRM-CP & PHR certified, Steve currently volunteers on the Utah SHRM State Council as the immediate past State Executive Director. His book, The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction, was released in early 2023, and has helped thousands of organizations across the country rethink their approach to hiring. If you need help understanding the principles and role of SEO, marketing, and AI when it comes to attracting job seekers, Steve provides a solid framework for hiring effectively.
Host
Tony "Two Weeks Notice" Benjamin
I am a unique HR leader with more than 20 years’ experience working for some of Utah’s oldest, fastest growing, and most well-known companies. My experience includes Superior Drilling Products, Air Medical Resource Group, Control4, Ovivo USA and Deseret Book. I am a regionally recognized authority on building successful cultures and am an alumni speaker at DisruptHR SLC and DisruptHR St. George. I have earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix, a Bachelor’s degree from Utah State University, and am a certified Professional of Human Resources (PHR). I'm married to a woman out of my league, have three brilliant kids I doesn’t deserve and, although I travel a lot, live in Vernal, Utah.
What is The HR Life Podcast?
The HR Life Podcast is a show about the work-life experience of those of us in Human Resources and business leadership. This long-form podcast is a conversation, casual, and not always the corporate line. Hosts and guests touch on everything from serious or even controversial topics to the absurdity of modern American business practices. Your hosts are Tony Benjamin, owner and founder of The Grange Strategic HR Consulting, and Steven J. Smith, Author of The Hiring Tree: Laws of Applicant Attraction and all-around important guy. Guests include the best minds in the HR world. Join the show weekly.