Peter D. Kanwit

**** ******** ******* ******

Metairie, LA 70002

504-***-**** home

504-***-**** cell

504-***-**** home fax

abjvex@r.postjobfree.com

Executive Summary

An award-winning human resources executive who possesses the knowledge,

skills and experience to have been a positive change agent in the past and

for the future. Although a true HR generalist, I am especially talented in

the areas of recruiting and conflict resolution. A results-driven

executive, who is a true "achiever" that will take your organization to a

higher level of performance.

Education

Tulane University

MBA, Tulane University Graduate School of Business Administration.

New Orleans, LA

Teaching assistant in human resource management.

University of North Carolina

Chapel Hill, NC

BS, Business Administration

Experience

2007-2009 Bourbon Orleans Hotel New Orleans,

LA

Director of Human Resources

Performing as a full HR generalist for a 200+ room historic French Quarter

hotel, I successfully accomplished the HR transition from Wyndham to

Interstate management. Focused on recruiting executive and mid-management

level talent for the property as I led the rebuilding of the management

staff.

2004-2005 TSAY Corporation/Ohkay Casino-Resort San

Juan Pueblo, NM

Corporate Director of Human Resources

Responsible for HR for 500 employees in a corporation consisting of a 650-

slot casino, 100-room hotel, retail division, and custodial services

division. Conducted a thorough review of the benefits structure and made

recommendations as to how they could be enhanced to obtain more value from

a cost/benefit perspective. Implemented many administrative changes to

upgrade the human resources function.

2000-2004; 1996-1999 Strategic Compensation

Metairie, LA

Owner

Functioned as a full HR generalist for clients as a consultant on an

interim basis. Also analyzed clients' benefits to show them how to increase

the breadth of their employee benefits coverage while decreasing the cost

of those benefits to employers and employees. Major clients included

hotels, resorts, casinos, universities, PMO/HMO's, and credit unions.

2000 Ameristar Casino Hotel

Vicksburg, MS

Director of Human Resources

Performed full HR generalist duties for an 1100-employee casino-hotel.

Resolved a major wage & hour investigation at minimized cost to the casino

and conducted casino-wide "round table" discussions that improved the

employee relations climate. Corrected wage administration shortcomings.

1993-1995 Fairmont Hotels New Orleans,

LA

Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations

Actively involved in renegotiating the union contract to make this $34

million, 700-room property more competitive in the local labor market while

performing full HR generalist responsibilities. Achieved strong

Peter Kanwit

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improvements to the caliber of managerial-level talent through aggressive

recruiting. Introduced change by implementing a new customer service

standards training program throughout this 100-year old hotel.

1993 Sagamore Resort Bolton

Landing, NY

Director of Human Resources

Significantly enhanced the college recruiting effort to staff this resort

for the busy summer period, when the employee level went from 400 to 800.

However, had to return to New Orleans to care for my family after my wife's

injury in New York and subsequent convalescence.

1989-1992 Hilton Hotels Corporation New

Orleans, LA

Director of Human Resources

. Joined (for family reasons) this $70 million, 1600-room property where

I had full HR generalist responsibilities with 1300 employees and

supervised a staff of ten.

. Reduced the employee turnover rate by 20 percentage points through the

implementation of a new hire retention incentive for existing

employees and by providing significant short-term wage increases for

the new hires.

. Revamped the entire wage administration program.

. Provided training of management members from the top down.

. Instituted a "first in the company" program of pre-employment and post-

accident drug testing.

. Established quality teams, implemented the empowerment process, and

introduced valued recognition programs-which resulted in improved

ratings on measures of guest satisfaction.

1988 Peabody Hotels

Memphis, TN

Vice President of Human Resources

Recruited to this privately-owned $100 million, 14-hotel group to start-up

the corporate human resources function. Worked with locations in resolving

issues and implementing new procedures for the 3500 employees. Quelled a

serious employee uprising at one of the properties.

1980-1988 Hyatt Hotels Corporation New

Orleans, LA

Regional Director of Human Resources

. Selected to join this $40 million, 800-employee hotel as director of

personnel. Held full generalist responsibilities at this 1200-room

property for employment, wage and salary administration, employee

relations, training and development, legal matters, and benefits

administration. Directly supervised a staff of six and up to 11

management trainees and numerous interns.

. Reduced unemployment and workers' compensation costs, use of

consultants and attorneys, and annual employee turnover rates (100% to

40%). Handled all EEOC charges-none of which were found to have "just

cause".

. Developed human resources professionals (five of whom became

directors) for other Hyatt hotels. Provided leadership, guidance and

direction for five other Hyatt properties in the region.

. Engaged in a protracted, six-year battle with the Service Employees'

International Union; property negotiating dispute developed into a

nationwide company boycott by the entire AFL-CIO; culminated in a de-

certification of Local 100 by a 4-1 ratio employee vote.

. Chosen from the company-wide pool of human resources professionals to

lead the start-up of the human resources function when Braniff

Airlines was purchased by Jay Pritzker in 1984.

. Selected recipient of the Donald N. Pritzker Award of Excellence in

1983 and received two additional awards (1986 and 1988) in recognition

for my efforts as a team player.

. 1986 Area (Southeast) Director of Human Resources - Promotion -

selected by my peers

. 1983 Regional Director of Human Resources - Promotion

. 1980 Management Operations Review Team Leader - Appointed

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