
Location: Corporate Headquarters – Jacksonville
Time with RYAM: Nearly 5 years
At RYAM, compensation is more than numbers—it’s about people. Just ask Glenda Parrish, our Senior Manager of Compensation, who’s spent nearly five years helping with shaping pay practices that are fair, competitive, and aligned with our values. We sat down with Glenda to learn what her days look like, how she juggles strategic priorities, and what drives her forward.
What inspired your move into compensation?
I’ve always been drawn to the space where people, data, and strategy intersect. Compensation brings all of that together—compliance, planning, collaboration, and continuous learning. It’s incredibly rewarding to ensure people feel valued through fair and thoughtful pay.
What does a typical day look like?
I usually start around 7:30 a.m. by reviewing urgent messages and syncing up with our Compensation Analyst. Then I’m on Workday reviewing reports, addressing HR Business Partner questions, or preparing for leadership conversations.
During peak cycles—like merit reviews or incentive payouts—it’s all hands-on deck. I coordinate closely with Finance, Payroll, and external consultants to ensure everything is accurate, compliant, and ready to go.
What are your top daily priorities?
- Keeping our programs aligned with RYAM’s goals and regulations
- Supporting executive and company-wide compensation planning
- Working with HRIS to make sure Workday supports it all seamlessly
How do you split your time between strategy and execution?
About 60–70% is strategic—things like executive comp planning, analyzing market trends, and optimizing our tools. The rest is tactical, making sure the engine runs smoothly, and questions get answered.
Who do you collaborate with most?
I regularly partner with HRBPs, Recruitment, HRIS, Finance, and Legal. I also work closely with senior leaders and our international HR teams to ensure global consistency.
What tools keep you grounded?
Workday is essential—for comp, talent, and HRIS. I use dashboards for headcount and salary trends. Excel supports modeling and scenario planning, and we use Global Shares for long-term incentives.
How do you stay ahead of industry changes?
I stay active in organizations like WorldatWork and NASPP, review data from survey vendors, and monitor SEC and IRS updates. Our consultants are also a helpful sounding board.
What’s something people don’t realize about your role?
It’s not just crunching numbers. There’s system design, compliance, sensitive conversations, and aligning pay with strategy. It’s part tech, part people, part storytelling.
You also lead RYAM’s global recognition program, what does that involve?
I manage the President’s Award, Years of Service, and SPOT Awards. I partner with HR across regions and oversee the full process in Workday. Helping leaders recognize their teams in meaningful ways is one of the most fulfilling parts of my role.
What do you love most about your work?
I love helping people feel seen and rewarded—whether through fair compensation or a timely thank-you. I also value mentoring others and learning through collaboration.
Any advice for someone interested in this field?
Be curious. Understand how compensation connects to business goals. You don’t have to be a data expert, but you should use data to tell a story. Keep learning—it’s a constantly evolving space.
What would make your day more efficient?
More automation and real-time data sharing would streamline processes. But the best part of my day is still connecting with others—swapping ideas, mentoring, and growing together.


L-R: Patsy Pigeon, Wendy Reade, Glenda Parrish, and Diane Desrochers.
L-R: Diane Desrochers, Glenda Parrish, and Wendy Reade.