At Donaldson, people are at the heart of everything, and no department lives this more fully than Human Resources. This quarter, we’re highlighting the trio that anchors this work: Jeanette Stahli, SVP of HR, Yesenia Marquez, HR Manager, and Janet DiGuiseppe, Corporate Accountant/Payroll Specialist. Together, they guide hiring, onboarding, benefits, payroll, employee engagement, and many of the behind-the-scenes processes that shape every team member’s personal experience from day one.
Jeanette Stahli, Senior Vice President of Human Resources
Jeanette’s path into HR is rooted in her lifelong commitment to helping people. Originally from New York with a background in social work, she moved to Maryland in 2003 and soon joined Donaldson as an Office Manager/Executive Assistant. She held this role for four years before transitioning into HR as the company grew. Supporting people through their challenges and successes remains what inspires her most.
Jeanette shared that the most meaningful part of her work is the people- getting to know them, supporting them, and seeing the difference HR can make in their day-to-day experience. She stresses that much of HR’s impact happens quietly behind the scenes, where listening, understanding needs, and problem-solving early are key to smooth operations. A teammate once taught Jeanette the importance of patience and giving people the space to grow rather than rushing to fix everything immediately, wisdom that has stayed with her throughout her career.
Jeanette describes her team’s culture as “teamwork with heart.” She also offered a heartfelt shout-out to Yesenia:
“Yesenia’s dedication, hard work, and commitment to not only our employees but our department as a whole are exceptional. She jumps in wherever she’s needed- always with a smile. Her willingness to go above and beyond and her ability to make everyone feel supported truly make a difference every day.”
Jeanette carries a guiding mantra with her: “Every problem has a human side, and sometimes a listening ear and a simple smile can make all the difference.”
Yesenia Marquez, Human Resources Manager
Yesenia’s story is one of remarkable growth and loyalty. Nearly 19 years ago, she joined Donaldson as a receptionist and has since advanced through roles such as Office Assistant, Office Manager, and Business Manager before eventually stepping into HR. Along the way, she supported HR with tasks like I-9s, audits, and onboarding paperwork, and even discovered a deeper interest in these processes while working a part-time job at Macy’s, where she assisted with onboarding and paperwork. So, when the opportunity to formally join HR opened in 2016, Donaldson leadership encouraged her to take the next step in her career.
“Supporting our team members throughout their employment cycle is incredibly rewarding,” Yesenia explains. “Some employees don’t know where to start with certain questions and being that supportive resource for them truly satisfies me.”
She credits mentors like Jeanette Stahli and Angelique Wheelock with seeing potential she didn’t always see in herself:
“They believed I was ready for the challenge before I did. If it wasn’t for their guidance and encouragement, I might not have believed I could be where I am today.”
For Yesenia, the HR culture is defined by always being there for one another. When one person is overloaded, another steps in to help. She describes the HR department as a place where people truly show up for each other, ensuring employees receive consistent support across the company.
Janet DiGuiseppe, Corporate Accountant/Payroll Specialist
Though Janet sits within Accounting, her work is essential to HR’s success. She manages payroll processing, supports 401(k) administration, maintains accurate compensation data, and played a major role in Donaldson’s transition to Paycom.
Janet’s decades of experience in property management accounting have made her a steady force behind the scenes. She shared that the most rewarding part of her role is the moment payroll goes out smoothly with no issues, no paycheck discrepancies, and everything balancing exactly as it should. “You have to be extremely detail-oriented and committed to good results. Processing payroll, and then not hearing about problems with anyone’s paycheck, that’s success.” She also gave a shout out to Jeanette and Yesenia for their support and collaboration.
Janet thrives on structure and rhythm of her work: deadlines, reconciliations, month-end cycles, and the satisfying feeling of completing processes that directly support every employee. Her calm precision allows HR to deliver consistent, reliable experiences across the company. Behind the numbers, Janet never loses sight of the human side- the people behind the paychecks.
Making sure every employee is paid accurately and on time is one of the most tangible ways the company shows respect for its people.
A Small Team With a Big Impact
Together, Jeanette, Yesenia, and Janet form a small but mighty HR engine that quietly touches every corner of Donaldson. From the first application to the first paycheck, from everyday questions to pivotal career moments to 20th anniversaries, they are there listening, guiding, and making sure people feel supported. Their work may often happen behind the scenes, but its impact is felt every time an employee receives support, clarity, compassion, or simply a smooth start to their workday. As Jeanette sums it up, the HR Department operates with one core purpose: “Teamwork with heart- taking care of the people who take care of Donaldson’s communities.”