CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After a decade of fast-paced work in New York City, Kelly Turner decided to bring her human resources career experience back home to West Virginia.

Turner, a Charleston native, began work Tuesday as the new director of human resources for Charleston Newspapers.

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Kelly Turner began work Tuesday as the new director of human resources at Charleston Newspapers.

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"What I enjoy most about [HR] is helping people and working with them," Turner said. "I will be seeing some new situations here, but I hope my past experience will give me the ability to just take on new things as they come."

In addition to the new job experience, Turner looks forward to working in downtown Charleston and keeping a regular schedule.

She came to Charleston Newspapers from Target in Charleston, where she managed the store's human resources over the last year, after returning to the state. Though Turner worked in a management position at Target, she had retail hours, which were difficult with a 2-year-old son.

"I think he'll notice that now Mom isn't having to work on weekends or until midnight and then turning around and going back at 7 a.m.," Turner said of her son Jayallen.

Turner graduated from Capital High School in Charleston and went on to study international relations at West Virginia University, graduating in 1995. She then left the state for a position in New York City with the State Department at the United Nations.

After that, Turner worked in human resources for Credit Suisse and the National Basketball Association, before spending seven years working in player development with the NBA.

But after Jayallen was born, Turner started thinking about a career change and her family, including a brother and lots of close cousins, in Charleston.

"The pace of living is more relaxed and clean and quiet. It's a nice break after living in New York over the years," Turner said. "I just wanted to come home."

Reach Kellen Henry at khe...@wvgazette.com or 348-5179.

CHARLESTON, W.Va. -- After a decade of fast-paced work in New York City, Kelly Turner decided to bring her human resources career experience back home to West Virginia.

Turner, a Charleston native, began work Tuesday as the new director of human resources for Charleston Newspapers.

Turner, 34, is eager to begin working with the personnel who publish The Charleston Gazette, Daily Mail and Saturday and Sunday Gazette-Mail.

"What I enjoy most about [HR] is helping people and working with them," Turner said. "I will be seeing some new situations here, but I hope my past experience will give me the ability to just take on new things as they come."

In addition to the new job experience, Turner looks forward to working in downtown Charleston and keeping a regular schedule.

She came to Charleston Newspapers from Target in Charleston, where she managed the store's human resources over the last year, after returning to the state. Though Turner worked in a management position at Target, she had retail hours, which were difficult with a 2-year-old son.

"I think he'll notice that now Mom isn't having to work on weekends or until midnight and then turning around and going back at 7 a.m.," Turner said of her son Jayallen.

Turner graduated from Capital High School in Charleston and went on to study international relations at West Virginia University, graduating in 1995. She then left the state for a position in New York City with the State Department at the United Nations.

After that, Turner worked in human resources for Credit Suisse and the National Basketball Association, before spending seven years working in player development with the NBA.

But after Jayallen was born, Turner started thinking about a career change and her family, including a brother and lots of close cousins, in Charleston.

"The pace of living is more relaxed and clean and quiet. It's a nice break after living in New York over the years," Turner said. "I just wanted to come home."

Reach Kellen Henry at khe...@wvgazette.com or 348-5179.