.floatimg-left-hort { float:left; } .floatimg-left-caption-hort { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:300px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatimg-left-vert { float:left; margin-top:10px; margin-right:15px; width:200px;} .floatimg-left-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; font-size: 12px; width:200px;} .floatimg-right-hort { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px;} .floatimg-right-caption-hort { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 300px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimg-right-vert { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px;} .floatimg-right-caption-vert { float:left; margin-right:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; font-size: 12px; } .floatimgright-sidebar { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 200px; border-top-style: double; border-top-color: black; border-bottom-style: double; border-bottom-color: black;} .floatimgright-sidebar p { line-height: 115%; text-indent: 10px; } .floatimgright-sidebar h4 { font-variant:small-caps; } .pullquote { float:right; margin-top:10px; margin-left:10px; margin-bottom:10px; width: 150px; background: url(http://www.dmbusinessdaily.com/DAILY/editorial/extras/closequote.gif) no-repeat bottom right !important ; line-height: 150%; font-size: 125%; border-top: 1px solid; border-bottom: 1px solid;} .floatvidleft { float:left; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} .floatvidright { float:right; margin-bottom:10px; width:325px; margin-right:10px; clear:left;} Holly Clifton is the type of employee every manager would love to have, and the kind of leader who has the drive to get things done for her community, say people who have worked closely with her.

Clifton, who was named global talent development manager for Pioneer Hi-Bred International Inc. in June 2009, is “well on her way to changing the face of talent development in Pioneer,” wrote her supervisor, Christine Bobst, Pioneer’s human resources director for talent management. Leading a six-person team, Clifton is responsible for employee and leadership development for the advanced plant genetics company. She joined Pioneer three years ago.

When she was just 19, Clifton began working for GuideOne Mutual Insurance Co. as an executive assistant while attending night classes at Simpson College. In 2003, she graduated magna cum laude from Simpson with a bachelor’s degree in business management. Over the next four years, she worked her way up to become a senior project specialist with GuideOne while also earning a master of business administration degree from Drake University.

Working her way through both college and graduate school “helped me to understand what being an adult learner is all about,” Clifton said. “And it has also made me appreciate my education.”

Among her volunteer activities, Clifton has served as a pre-race volunteer for the Susan G. Komen Race for the Cure, coordinated book drives for ChildServe and served meals to the homeless for the Salvation Army Breakfast Program. She is also a member of the Pioneer Women’s Network. In 2008, she was among four Pioneer employees to receive the DuPont Volunteer Recognition Award.

“Holly is also someone with a big heart who understands and believes in giving back to the community,” wrote Jan Beckstrom, a GuideOne executive vice president who has followed her career.

Clifton said she believes strongly in helping people in the community who are less fortunate than herself. “That’s kind of my theme, if you will,” she said.

She resides in Norwalk with her husband, Matt, and their 8-month-old daughter, Maris.