STEVEN D. BLANKENSHIP

**** ******* ****** **** #***

Knoxville, TN 37912

770-***-****

acfvob@r.postjobfree.com

HIGHLIGHTS OF QUALIFICATIONS

Senior-level HR manager with broad experience in all aspects of human

resources.

Extensive experience in working for international organizations.

Excellent verbal and written communication skills, including Japanese

language skills.

Effective communicator with all levels of employees.

Familiar with Lean Manufacturing, Toyota Production System, Kaizen, 5-

S

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY

EXEDY AMERICA CORPORATION Mascot, TN

Automotive Supplier 2013 to

present

Human Resources Director

. Overall responsibility of all aspects of human resources.

. Directly involved in disciplinary actions to ensure correct

interpretation of company policies, and consistency of their

application.

. Conducted union avoidance training for management team members.

. Headed investigations into employee complaints.

. Worked with benefits broker to obtain a 2% reduction of healthcare

benefit costs.

JEFFERSON SOUTHERN CORPORATION Rockmart, GA

Tier One Automotive Supplier 2001 to 2013

Senior Manager - Administration

Senior Manager - Human Resources

. Oversight and review of the activities of the accounting, human

resources/general affairs, purchasing and sales departments.

. Created and implemented company-wide policies and procedures.

. Implemented policies relating to business ethics and corporate

governance.

. As Ethics Compliance Officer, spearheaded investigations of complaints

of violations of policies and procedures.

. Directly responsible for all recruitment, hiring and disciplinary

proceedings.

. Established wage and salary structures which were reviewed annually to

ensure competitiveness.

. Worked with senior production management to develop annual manpower

plans.

. Developed and oversaw performance management systems.

. Responsible for all associate relations and union avoidance

activities, including management training.

. Developed annual cost targets and was responsible for corporate

property and liability insurance, workers compensation insurance and

all corporate benefit plans.

. Negotiated contracts with external vendors and was responsible for

overseeing the performance of security, housekeeping, uniform, vehicle

maintenance and vending services.

. Developed annual departmental budgets and annual corporate donations

strategy.

. Established annual training strategies and worked with internal

departments and external providers to ensure the delivery of training

programs.

ISMAC, INC. Calhoun, GA

Tier One Construction Equipment Supplier

1996 to 2001

Business Manager

. Responsible for all aspects of human resources, general affairs and

customer relations.

. Created company handbook and policies and procedures manual.

. Established hourly and salaried wage scales.

. Undertook staffing of all hourly and salaried associates.

. Negotiated annual contracts for corporate property and liability

insurance.

. Established a 401(k) plan, and handled all matters pertaining to

associate benefits.

. Recorded and reported all accidents and injuries, handled workers

compensation claims and filed OSHA reports.

. Responsible for all communications with associates and spearheaded

union avoidance activities.

. Following training at Toyota assisted in the implementation of a

kanban production system.

. Worked with production and quality departments to ensure that customer

requirements were met.

ITOCHU INTERNATIONAL New York, NY

International Trading Company 1988 to

1995

Assistant Personnel Director

. Directly responsible for all recruitment and hiring activities for the

company's New York headquarters, and undertook recruitment activities

for several subsidiary companies.

. Established the company's first on-campus recruiting activities and

recruited college graduates for the U.S. operation and for the

Japanese parent company.

. Worked with an outside consultant to develop a performance

management/bonus system, then conducted training on the system at all

U.S. and Canadian branch locations.

. Implemented a new company orientation program and training programs on

harassment, business ethics, management skills, and working with

Japanese/Americans, which were subsequently delivered to all U.S.

branch locations.

. Undertook all immigration matters for U.S. offices including

acquisition of visas, and renewals/extensions of travel documents.

. Responsible for employee relations activities at the New York and U.S.

branch offices.

. Assisted Japanese staff members in enrolling in academic programs at

U.S. universities.

DIAMOND-STAR MOTORS Normal, IL

Mitsubishi/Chrysler Automotive OEM 1986 to

1988

TRAINING SPECIALIST, GENERAL AFFAIRS STAFF

. Negotiated and directly oversaw all aspects of a $6 million housing

contract for Japanese guest technicians.

. Designed layout of plant production and administrative offices,

negotiated purchasing contracts and oversaw the installation of

furniture and equipment.

. Worked with Illinois State University on the development of

orientation programs for all new hires, and delivered the Japanese

language component of these programs.

. Conducted new hire orientation programs for over 1000 newly-hired

associates.

. Negotiated contracts with uniform and vending services, and oversaw

the installation of the company cafeteria.

. Represented the company at meetings with the mayor, city council and

chamber of commerce.

. Worked with immigration attorneys to ensure the timely issuance of

passports, visas and other travel documents.

OFFICE OF THE MAYOR Takaoka and Nagoya, Japan

Translator, Editor, Writer

NAGOYA UNIVERSITY

Lecturer- English Department

SUGIYAMA WOMEN'S COLLEGE

Assistant Professor - English Department

EDUCATION

YALE UNIVERSITY New Haven, CT

Master of Arts, East Asian Studies

UNIVERSITY OF WISCONSIN Madison, WI

Bachelor of Arts, East Asian Studies

SKILLS

. Excellent verbal and written communication skills.

. Good knowledge of Japanese, with some reading and writing skills

. Good computer skills with Microsoft Office - Word, Excel, PowerPoint

and ADP payroll for Windows

Contact this candidate