D. ROSS WACHOWSKI
Lowville, New York 13367
315-***-**** (Cell)
315-***-**** (Work)
**********@***.***
WORK EXPERIENCE:
OTIS TECHNOLOGY INCORPORATED - Lyons Falls New York 2009 to
Present
Otis is a family owned company that makes high end gun
accessories primarily for the military. The company has doubled
in size over the past four years and tripled in the past six.
The challenge at Otis as it transitions into a small/mid-sized
company is to establish and execute a growth strategy, form a
current and future state organization structure, develop a
scalable infrastructure in IT, HR, Finance and R&D, focus on
talent management and maintain a high level of employee
engagement in a very dynamic work environment.
Director of Human Resources - Head of HR reporting to the
President and CEO. All areas of the organization are expanding
at a very fast pace. A new R&D facility is being commissioned. A
new level of Senior Management is being established. Otis
University is being launched. Lean Manufacturing principles are
being implemented. A new growth strategy is being developed.
Accomplishments:
. Developed an HR Strategy that aligned with the Business
Strategy
. Established an annual Employee Satisfaction Survey
. Established a Total Rewards program that aligned with the
business model
. Implemented a Behavioral Based Targeted Selection
recruiting process
. Worked with business partners to develop both current state
and future state organization models that supported Otis'
Growth Strategy
. Staffed a level of senior managers including a CFO,
Marketing Director, Director of R&D, Director of
Operations, National Sales Director and their supporting
staffs
. Implemented a Talent Management process that includes
talent mapping and succession planning
. Established a new, more rigorous Merit Review process
. Implemented a Change Management process
. Established a Fish Team to enhance employee engagement
. Established Skip Level and All-Hands meetings
. Established an Employee Involvement Team
. Launched a Talent Development program through the
implementation of DDI's Leadership and Workforce
development training programs
. Brought Otis University to life.
HERO GROUP INCORPORATED - Albany New York 2007 to 2008
HERO is a 2 billion dollar family owned company headquartered in
Switzerland. Their major products include baby food, jams,
jellies, preserves, fruits and decorations. In the US, HERO
acquired Signature Brands, the US market leader in decorations
with products such as Betty Crocker, Pumpkin Master, and Paas;
and Beech-Nut which is the number 2 baby food manufacturer in
the US. HERO's strategy was to create a presence in the US
through organic growth and additional acquisitions.
Director of Human Resources - The head of HR for North American
operations. This was a 300 million dollar operation with 3
manufacturing locations, a National sales team, and a
headquarters staff. Operations are both union and union free,
and the position had 5 direct reports.
Accomplishments:
. Assisted in merging 2 companies by creating a human
resources infrastructure that supports both organic growth,
and growth through acquisition
. Created the North American Headquarters in Albany, New
York. Along with the CEO and CFO, staffed the entire HQ
organization
. Developed and staffed a Hero Business Entity in Canada
. Created a new Company by developing one common set of
policies and procedures for North America. Developed one
common wage and benefits design for North America.
Developed a common performance appraisal and talent
management process. Centralized all payroll processes
. Redesigned the manufacturing organization for the flagship
facility, and developed a transition plan that will support
the decommissioning of the Canajoharie and Fort Plain
Facilities, and the commissioning of a new 150 Million
dollar state-of-the-art baby food manufacturing facility in
Amsterdam, New York
. Developed and implemented a Union/Management strategy based
on a business partnership
. Combined the sales groups from Signature Brands and Beech-
Nut
. Developed company-wide communication and employee
recognition plans
. Developed a Change Management Plan, and lead the change
management process for our SAP transition.
PEPPERIDGE FARM (A Campbell's Soup Company) - Norwalk Connecticut
2005 to 2007
Pepperidge Farm is part of the 8.7 billion dollar Campbell's
Soup Company that produces and sells cookies, crackers, bread
and frozen foods.
Human Resources Director of Supply Chain Operations - The number 2 HR
professional in the Pepperidge Farm organization responsible for
8 manufacturing operations, the supply chain organization and
the engineering function. This includes a client base of over
3,300 union free employees and a total HR staff of over 40
professionals.
Accomplishments:
. Upgraded HR and manufacturing talent by identifying and
defining key competencies and profiling all management
positions; identifying skill gaps of every professional and
initiated development plans to address gaps; developed
talent maps and succession plans for all manager level
employees; and exited employees and upgraded talent where
necessary
. Acted as process leader for the rest of the HR group by
driving implementation of all key projects and programs
. Implemented a behavior based process for interviewing and
selecting candidates based on key competencies. Developed a
consistent process for interviewing, selecting, training
and evaluating newly hired hourly employees
. Implemented a certification process that places hourly
talent in key positions based on skill and ability rather
than seniority
. Developed a road map and process for achieving world class
hourly employee relations in this union free environment
. Helped develop a Frontline Leadership Training program for
all Campbell's Soup Company supervisors
. HR process leader for driving cost savings throughout the
organization
. Assisted in revising health benefits programs to promote
wellness, healthcare consumerism and tight medical
management
. Assisted in developing an Employee Value Proposition which
serves as a guiding principal to enhance employee
engagement and new employee recruitment
. Lead the Gallup Employee Engagement process for Pepperidge
Farm
. Also involved in integrating Lean Manufacturing principals
into manufacturing.
CNH (Case New Holland) - Grand Island Nebraska 2000 to 2005
CNH's Grand Island operation is 40 years old and now exclusively
manufactures rotary combines. The operation consists of 3
facilities and 1 million square feet. It employed approximately
550 nonunion employees before its transition. The Grand Island
Facility is ISO 9000 certified.
In November of 1999 New Holland and Case Corporation merged to
form CNH. As part of this merger, a major manufacturing
footprint was initiated. Part of this footprint involved
converting the Grand Island operation into CNH's Rotary Combine
Center of Excellence. This meant moving the hay and forage
operations out of Grand Island, completely relaying-out the
facility, commissioning two other manufacturing locations in the
Grand Island area and hiring over 450 new hourly employees and
60 salaried. This transformation made the Grand Island operation
the largest rotary combine manufacturing site in the world and
CNH's flagship manufacturing operation.
Human Resources Manager - Department Head of the Human Resources
function. Responsible for all generalist duties including
workforce redesign, employee relations, AAP, recruiting, wage
and benefits administration, organizational effectiveness and
training. Responsible for a staff of four.
Accomplishments: Assisted in integrating the Case and New
Holland wage and benefit programs at Grand Island. Participated
in merging all major HR policies and procedures. Prepared the
workforce for the footprint transition which included:
. Decommissioned the hay and forage product lines, and moved
them to Belleville, PA
. Decommissioned the machine shop and moved it to New
Holland, PA
. Designed and staffed a new organization that supported the
transition from hay and forage equipment to the launch of
three new families of combines
. Changed the operation from its vertical design to a flat
assembly operation
. Provided training expertise for the employees at
Belleville
. Laid off the majority of the workforce during the plant
relay-out for up to 9 months and temporarily reassigned
other employees to Belgium, Brazil, New Holland, PA and
Belleville, PA
. Reassigned and retrained all shop hourly employees
. Increased production volume from 2 to 18 combines per day
. Continually interfaced with platform team leaders located
in Belgium, Italy and the United States. Managed the
distinct differences in culture between former Case, New
Holland and our international leadership
. Recognized as developing the best Positive Employee
Relations program in the company during Grand Island's ER
audits
. Also recognized as company best practices are Grand
Island's Cell Teams, training and certification programs,
employee participation programs, new employee hiring plan,
new employee orientation program and new employee training
program
. Engaged key affected members of the workforce to develop a
cost effective 24/7 work schedule for the Laser and Press
Brake Cells
. Assisted in developing and implementing a two-tier wage and
benefits package
. Assisted in revising and implementing a layoff supplement
program
. Worked with a team to revise a Gainshare Bonus program.
DOAN College - Grand Island, NE (Part time as a second job)
2004
Part Time Instructor - Taught a core graduate level class in
regulatory compliance.
WORLD KITCHEN, INCORPORATED (formerly Corning) - Charleroi, PA 1997
to 2000
World Kitchen's Charleroi Facility manufactures PYREX Glass.
This 120-year-old facility sits on 23 acres and encompasses 25
buildings. The Charleroi Facility employed between 450 to 600,
who are represented by the USWA, Local 53G. In April of 1998
Corning, Inc. sold World Kitchen to a division of KKR.
Human Resources Manager - Department Head of the human resources
function. Responsible for all generalist duties including union
relations, workforce redesign, AAP compliance, recruiting,
safety/health and environmental, wage and benefits
administration, training and development, workforce scheduling,
employee incentives/recognition, ISO 9000, and employee
communications. Managed a staff of 7.
Accomplishments:
. Assisted in integrating KKR's compensation, benefits and HR
systems into World Kitchen
. Lead Auditor for the HR and Safety portions of the
corporate High Performance Work Systems Audit Team
. Assisted in launching a major 6-Sigma initiative. Major
contributor in negotiating a 1-year CBA
. Implemented a major layoff of 260 employees, and a
subsequent workforce restructure in the 1st quarter of 1999
. Negotiated work practice concessions, in return for
facility capital investments. Implemented a major hiring
initiative in the 4th quarter of 1999
. Hiring process recognized as a company best practice at the
HPWS Audit
. Negotiated an agency workforce agreement with the Union
Local
. Implemented a 2nd major workforce restructure in the same
year
. Assisted in delivering the facility's best-demonstrated
safety performance
. Automated ISO document control with "Quality Workbench"
software
. Managed numerous grievances, UFLP charges, EEOC and PHRC
charges, unemployment compensation hearings, and one
arbitration
. Restructured the performance recognition system
. Instrumental in negotiating a 2nd CBA in 2000.
RJR NABISCO, INCORPORATED 1990 to 1997
1993 to 1997 Senior Safety Engineer - A headquarters position in
Parsippany, New Jersey. Overall responsibility for providing
technical support for the safety and health functions for 14
manufacturing locations, 10 distribution centers, and 120 sales
and warehouse locations nationwide of the Nabisco Biscuit
Company (NBC)
Accomplishments:
. The Nabisco Biscuit Division realized significant safety
improvements and worker's compensation cost reductions for
4 consecutive years
. Negotiated 12 OSHA settlements nationwide
. Sat on the corporate ADA and FMLA steering committees
. Assisted in rewriting Nabisco Biscuit Company's Safety
Manual
. Assisted in rewriting NBC's safety audit program
. Assisted in hiring, training and developing all new safety
professionals.
1990 to 1993 Assistant Human Resources Manager, Niagara Falls New York
Facility
NBC's Niagara Falls Facility was an 83-year-old facility that made
Shredded Wheat and Triscuits. It employed between 200 and 350,
who are represented by the BC&T, IAM, and F&O Unions. In 1988
RJR Nabisco was purchased by KKR. In 1992 NBC sold Shredded
Wheat to Post, but retained the Niagara Falls Facility. As a
result, a major facility restructure was implemented.
Accomplishments:
. Assisted in negotiating 3 CBA's
. Assisted in arbitration preparation
. Successfully defended an UFLP charge
. Worked as the interim Personnel Manager for 9 months until
a successor was identified. During this 9 month period,
acted as the HR lead person during the decommissioning of
the Shredded Wheat product line, and the addition of a new
Triscuit line
. Managed all aspects associated with reducing a workforce by
nearly 50%. This included successfully managing 26
grievances through the 5th step with no arbitrations
. The facility realized record safety and workers
compensation cost performance for the last 2 years of my
tenure
MAYER CHINA, Beaver Falls, Pennsylvania 1988 to 1990
Human Resources Manager - Human Resources staff of 1 responsible for
all generalist duties. Specifically, labor relations, wage and
benefits administration, safety and health, recruiting,
staffing, development and training.
Accomplishments:
. Assisted in negotiating 1 CBA, and an agreement over the
effects of a plant closing
. Trained all supervisors in Zenger-Miller Frontline
Leadership
. Implemented a 50% workforce reduction
. Replaced a negotiated piece-rate pay system with an
incentive system based on IE standards. Redesigned the
grievance procedure to accommodate any disputes arising out
of the new incentive system
. Managed a "department wild-cat work stoppage". Implemented
a plant closing
EDUCATION:
MA Industrial and Labor Relations, Indiana University of Pennsylvania,
August 1988 - 3.89 GPA
Oxford University, England, Summer 1987 - Comparative Studies in Labor
Relations
BS Business Administration - Major in Human Resources Management,
Indiana University of Pennsylvania, May 1986. Minor and Concentration in
Labor Economics
OTHER ACCOMPLISHMENTS:
Zenger Miller Frontline Leadership certified trainer 1989
certified in Labor Relations, Cornell University 1991
certified in Project Management 1994
certification in Ergonomics-Harvard University 1994
Associate Safety Professional 1995
4M Certified in Industrial Engineering-MTM 1996
Six Sigma Green Belt certified 1998
certified DDI trainer 2006
Contributing author for a book on subjects that include "Redefining HR
Creating and Adding Value in Today's Company", "Setting Successful Goals
for the HR Team" and "Trends in Health Care Benefits" - Winter 2006.
OTHER ACTIVITIES:
North Country Chapter of SHRM President Elect 2010-Present
Citec Board of Directors 2010-Present
Lewis County Hospital Foundation Board Member 2010-Present
Employers' Health Care Board of Directors 2000-2005
Grand Island YMCA Board of Directors 2000-2005
Hall County Airport Air Service Taskforce 2003-2005
Grand Island Rotary Club 2000-2005
Doan College Advisory Board Member 2003-2005