SETN SHRM is excited to partner with Lockton for a FREE quarterly breakfast series for members only:

The True Cost of Turnover: Practical Models HR Can Use Today

Sponsored by:

Program Description

This interactive session, presented by Mark A. Cordell, MBA, PHR, SHRM‑SCP, equips HR and business leaders with a practical, data-driven framework to measure, reduce, and strategically manage employee turnover costs.

Participants will learn how to quantify the true financial and operational impact of turnover using clear formulas, real-world case studies, and hands-on exercises. The session introduces the widely referenced $7,500 per-employee replacement cost model, breaks down the primary cost drivers (separation, vacancy, recruiting, and training), and demonstrates how to apply multiple calculation methods across different organizational scenarios.

Beyond the numbers, attendees will gain actionable strategies to reduce turnover through stronger onboarding, leadership effectiveness, communication, culture alignment, and career development. The program positions HR as a strategic, data-driven advisor—empowering leaders to influence budgeting decisions, workforce planning, and long-term organizational performance.

Speaker Bio

   Mark A. Cordell is a dynamic HR leader and workforce strategist who has spent more than 15 years helping organizations strengthen culture, elevate leadership, and build people systems that work. His career spans manufacturing, logistics, education, consulting, and military service, giving him a rare, 360‑degree view of how organizations function and how people thrive. Mark currently serves as an HR professional at Astec Industries, where he drives engagement, communication, and compliance for the Jerome Avenue facility.

As the founder of Culture’s Core LLC, he partners with mission‑driven organizations to design practical, culture‑aligned HR frameworks that reduce risk, improve retention, and empower leaders to make confident, data‑informed decisions. His work blends organizational design, governance, coaching, and compensation strategy into solutions that move companies forward. He also contributes to executive leadership development as an observer and coach for the Executive MBA program at the Haslam College of Business at the University of Tennessee, where he supports senior leaders in strengthening their strategic influence and decision‑making. Mark is currently advancing his expertise through Haslam’s Leadership Coaching certification program.

Beyond his corporate and consulting work, Mark serves as a board member for Life3 Academy in Montgomery, Alabama, helping guide youth development and community empowerment initiatives. He is also a volunteer and instructor for the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga’s Gary W. Rollins College of Business Veterans Entrepreneurship Program. He is a proud graduate of the 2025 cohort where he supports veteran founders as they build and scale their businesses. A Navy veteran and certified HR professional holding both the PHR and SHRM‑SCP credentials, Mark is known for his ability to translate complex workforce challenges into clear, actionable strategies that build trust, strengthen culture, and drive long‑term
organizational success. His leadership philosophy is grounded in clarity, accountability, and the belief that culture is a strategic asset that must be intentionally built and fiercely protected. Mark holds an MBA in Human Resource Management from Capella University and a BS in General Management and HR Management from the University of Tennessee at Chattanooga. Outside of his professional work, he is a devoted husband and father who brings the same commitment to growth, legacy, and service into every part of his life.

Recertification Credits

SHRM 1.5; HRCI 1.5 (pending)

Our mission is to develop and serve the HR professional and advance the profession through education, thought leadership, certification support, community and advocacy to enhance the practice of human resource management and the effectiveness of local professionals in the organizations and communities they serve.

Like us on Facebook and Join us on LinkedIn