Paula L. Webber
Director of People
Paula L. Webber, PhD, serves as Director of People at Mainspring Recovery, where she brings deep human resources expertise grounded in healthcare and education settings, with a focus on building people-centered organizations where employees are empowered to do their best work. Driven by a belief that strong people operations are the foundation of any mission-driven organization, Paula leads with both strategic vision and a genuine commitment to the humans behind the work.
With a PhD in American Studies focused on multidisciplinary studies of people and their unique authentic experiences, Paula brings a broad and distinctive perspective to HR leadership. Her academic foundation in human authenticity, the human experience, equity, and systems change informs her approach to fostering genuine connection. Her areas of expertise span recruitment and talent acquisition, onboarding, performance development, employee relations, and regulatory compliance — all applied through a people-first lens that centers dignity, equity, and belonging in every aspect of HR practice.
At Mainspring, Paula leads the People function with a focus on building systems and structures that equip and support staff, so they are best positioned to deliver exceptional care to the clients they serve. This focus spans the full employee lifecycle, from recruitment and onboarding through performance development, employee relations, and compliance, ensuring that every team member has the tools, clarity, and support they need to contribute to Mainspring’s mission. Through intentional systems design and collaborative leadership, Paula works to create a workplace culture where every employee can thrive.
Paula’s work is rooted in a lifelong dedication to showing up for the most vulnerable, having served communities across hospitals, community health clinics, and the foster care system. She is committed to removing barriers because every person deserves to be met with dignity, especially those who are often overlooked — a value that aligns deeply with Mainspring’s mission and vision. Looking ahead, Paula remains focused on strengthening Mainspring’s people operations to ensure the organization continues to attract, develop, and retain the compassionate professionals who make lasting recovery possible.