10 Nationwide HR leaders
Vice president of human resources, vice president of talent management and development, AVP of HR business partnering and director of HR business partnering are among the roles held by these ten Nationwide HR leaders, all of whom hold their roles today. A reader can learn how HR leaders work at Nationwide from people who have held the role.
Professionals to explore
Angela Bretz (MBA, CDE)
LinkedInExperience: Senior Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner · Nationwide
Angela Bretz has been Senior Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner at Nationwide since June 2023. At Nationwide, Angela Bretz was Senior Vice President, Chief Diversity and Talent Acquisition Officer from 2021 to 2023 and Vice President and Chief Diversity and Inclusion Officer from 2018 to 2021.
Danyelle Stagg, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Human Resources · Nationwide
Danyelle Stagg has been Vice President, Human Resources at Nationwide since February 2025, based in Columbus, Ohio. At Nationwide, Danyelle Stagg was Associate Vice President, Human Resources from 2021 to 2025, Senior Director, HR from 2020 to 2021 and Senior Consultant, Human Resources from 2018 to 2020.
Janelle Wright
LinkedInExperience: Director, Human Resources Business Partner · Nationwide
Janelle Wright has been Director, Human Resources Business Partner at Nationwide since April 2026. At Nationwide, Janelle Wright was Senior Human Resources Business Partner from 2025 to 2026, HR Sr Consultant Team Effectiveness from 2023 to 2025 and Sr. Consultant, P&C Marketing from 2020 to 2023.
Joan Milstead, SPHR, EMBA, MHCS
LinkedInExperience: Senior HRBP Director, Human Resources. IT · Nationwide
Joan Milstead has been Senior HRBP Director, Human Resources. IT at Nationwide since November 2005, responsible for providing Human Resources strategy, collaboration and support to the Executives and client groups in Information Technology and Nationwide Insurance Specialty Product areas. Joan Milstead was HR Manager at Abbott from 2001 to 2005.
Kathy Smith
LinkedInExperience: Vice President, Talent Management and Development · Nationwide
Kathy Smith has been Vice President, Talent Management and Development at Nationwide since May 2017. At Nationwide, Kathy Smith was Associate Vice President, Talent Management and Executive Succession & Development from 2013 to 2017 and Associate Vice President, Human Resources Business Partner from 2005 to 2013, and was Director, Diversity, Inclusion and Work-life at Abbott from 2003 to 2005.
Maggi (Chavez) Barclay, CPC, MLHR
LinkedInExperience: Associate Vice President -Human Resources · Nationwide
Maggi (Chavez) Barclay has been Associate Vice President -Human Resources at Nationwide since March 2026. At Nationwide, Maggi (Chavez) Barclay was Human Resources Director from 2024 to 2026 and Sr. Consultant- Executive & Talent Pipeline Development from 2022 to 2024, and was COE Talent Development Leader (Sr.) at The Marzetti Company from 2021 to 2022.
Megan Walker
LinkedInExperience: VP, Executive and Associate Compensation · Nationwide
Megan Walker has been VP, Executive and Associate Compensation at Nationwide since June 2025. At Nationwide, Megan Walker was Sr. AVP, HR Business Partner from 2017 to 2025, Director, HR Business Partner from 2014 to 2017 and Strategic HR Business Partner from 2011 to 2014.
Safia Beshir Nielsen, PHR, SHRM-CP
LinkedInExperience: AVP, Human Resources Business Partner · Nationwide
Safia Beshir Nielsen has been AVP, Human Resources Business Partner at Nationwide since February 2025, based in Des Moines, Iowa. At Nationwide, Safia Beshir Nielsen was Human Resources Director from 2021 to 2025 and Human Resources Consultant from 2016 to 2021.
Stephen Deane, MBA
LinkedInExperience: Director, Human Resources Business Partner · Nationwide
Stephen Deane has been Director, Human Resources Business Partner at Nationwide since April 2024. At Nationwide, Stephen Deane was Director, HR Technology Optimization from 2020 to 2024, Director, Payroll, Time, and Absence Administration - Associate Solutions from 2018 to 2020 and Manager, Payroll Operations - Associate Solutions from 2016 to 2018.
Choose the right perspective
Pick the person whose HR remit is closest to your question, since partnering with a business area, leading compensation, running talent management and supporting technology teams involve different decisions. Check the start date of each role to see how recent the experience is.
Questions to take into the conversation
- 01What did you focus on first when you took on your current HR role, and what did you learn from it?
- 02How do you balance consistent HR programs with the needs of different business areas?
- 03What has your own work taught you about developing leaders and planning succession?
Reaching Nationwide HR leaders
How can I contact one of these Nationwide HR leaders?
Pick one of the 10 people on this page and choose "Book a paid call", or describe your project to find others. You offer a fee for a 15-minute call or a written answer, Instant Expert finds the person's work email and sends the invitation, and they decide whether to accept. The list covers 1 company: Nationwide, based on profile data retrieved on October 19, 2026. Being listed here doesn't mean someone has agreed to take calls.
How much does it cost to reach Nationwide HR leaders?
You choose the offer, starting at $5 per person. The offer is what the person receives, and Instant Expert's fee is added on top, so a $100 offer costs you $125. The fee is 20% of what you pay. You're charged only when the person books the call or sends the answer.
What if they don't reply?
You pay nothing. Instant Expert sends follow-up reminders, and if the person hasn't booked or answered within 7 days, the request expires and any hold on your card is released. You can invite several of the 10 people on this list at once and cap your total spend, so you pay only for the ones who accept.
Can an AI agent ask one of these Nationwide HR leaders a question?
Yes. An agent with a USDC wallet on Base can ask one question without an Instant Expert account. It names the person, for example by the LinkedIn URL on this page, and pays per ask over x402 (HTTP 402). The person answers in writing or by voice note, and if nobody answers within 7 days, the payment goes back to the wallet automatically. Claude and ChatGPT can do the same through the Instant Expert connector: setup is at /docs/mcp for Claude and /docs/chatgpt for ChatGPT. x402 docs
About this directory
This is a professional research starting point based on business profile data retrieved on . Titles and companies reflect that source snapshot; roles marked former had ended by then. Check the linked profiles for current details. Inclusion does not imply Instant Expert membership or availability.
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