Lori Florack named 2025 HR Executive of the Year
Rochester, NY – The National Human Resources Association (NHRA) has announced Lori Florack as the recipient of the 2025 Human Resources Executive of the Year Award. This prestigious honor recognizes senior HR leaders who demonstrate exceptional leadership, innovation, and impact within their organizations and communities.
Florack currently serves as executive vice president and chief human resources officer at Excellus BlueCross BlueShield. Her career spans nearly two decades, beginning at Andiamo Partners in New York City, before returning to Rochester in 2010. Since then, she has held numerous leadership roles, including president of Lifetime Benefit Solutions, where she led a transformative business turnaround.
In her current role, Florack is responsible for strategic leadership across culture, talent management, ethics, inclusion and total rewards. She also oversees enterprise systems for HR, Finance, and supply chain management. Her leadership philosophy centers on empowering people to drive business performance and fostering inclusive, mission-driven workplaces.
“This is a personal milestone—but it’s also so much more than that to me. It’s a reflection of the incredible mission-focused organization I have the privilege of working for and the community of people I’ve had the privilege to be inspired by,” shared Florack.
Beyond her corporate achievements, Florack is deeply engaged in her community. She serves on the board of Heritage Christian Services, leads a Brownie Girl Scout Troop, and volunteers on the Human Resources Committee at Discovery Charter School. She also chairs the Excellus BCBS Women’s Leadership Council and sponsors AVID, an employee resource group focused on disability inclusion.
Florack holds a bachelor’s degree from SUNY Fredonia and a master’s degree from Baruch College in Manhattan. She resides in Penfield, NY with her husband and two daughters.
Excellus BlueCross BlueShield, an independent licensee of the Blue Cross Blue Shield Association, is a nonprofit health plan with 1.5 million upstate New York members. The company's mission is to help people live healthier and more secure lives through access to high-quality, affordable health care. Its products and services include cost-saving prescription drug discounts, wellness tracking tools and access to telemedicine. With more than 4,200 employees, the company is committed to attracting and retaining a diverse workforce to foster innovation and better serve its members. It also encourages employees to engage in their communities by providing paid volunteer time off as one of many benefits. To learn more, visit ExcellusBCBS.com.