Human Resources Customer Service

OBJECTIVE

Senior Executive Human Resources position utilizing 10+ years of experience

and extensive knowledge of employment/labor law to further improve

operations, reduce turnover, improve customer service, increase ROI on

development programs, lower risks/exposures while improving overall harmony

and profitability of organization.

QUALIFICATIONS

. Union & non-union experience with single & multi-location

organizations (gaming, hospitality, high-tech)

. Expert with employment/labor laws, employee retention strategies

. Expert in union contract interpretation and management within

challenging union environment

. Expert in spearheading investigations/mediations involving sexual,

racial & disability harassment allegations

. Experience with pre-opening/openings hiring more than 2,000 employees

in a low unemployment environment

. Experience in significant downsizing in both union and non-union

environments

. Highly skilled in dealing with extremely diverse employment

environments accommodating multiple languages and cultures while

consistently reducing turnover and improving guest service.

. Experience with formulating and managing HR budget in excess of

$3,000,000.

. Experience in drafting, evaluating, revising HR policies to ensure

congruence with business objectives while remaining in compliance with

the law

. Comprehensive knowledge of current employment & labor laws/trends

EXPERIENCE

Director of Human Resources, 2007 -

present

Hyatt Regency Chicago, Chicago, IL

. Providing HR support for 1,300 associates (union & non-union) in the

Global Hyatt Corporation's largest property

. Established metric benchmarks for HR team measuring success of our

support goals for hotel operations.

. Re-established position of strength for hotel in relationships with

its six (6) unions through open door strategy, strict contract

interpretation and building bonds with employed union team members.

. Leadership role in union contract negotiations for both the individual

property and all Chicago Hyatt Hotels

. Prepared/facilitated joint grievance sessions (step prior to

arbitration), ensuring justification for hotel decisions

. Reorganized and streamlined HR team to ensure unprecedented efficiency

and full support of operations.

. Developed and disseminated two-year tactical plan for HR team

providing roadmap for every functional responsibility in HR (revisions

continue to be followed).

. Introduced fundamental operating procedures and expectations for

entire property (including centralizing associate entrance/exit,

standardizing progressive counseling, increasing complexity of

investigative reports)

. Created and facilitated comprehensive 3-day training program on labor

relations and managing within the contract

. Maintained and managed departmental budget through cost-conscious

forecasting of operational needs.

. Recruited J-1 Interns in Europe in order to further upgrade service

levels

. Develop, review & mentor direct reports in preparation for their

eventual promotions/transfers to other Hyatt properties within the

company.

. Through HR Team's leadership and cultural development of the property:

o Ranked fourteenth (14th) in the top twenty (20) "Best Places to

Work 2009" in Chicago (Crain's Publishing)

o Awarded 2009 Chicago Workplace Excellence Award

. Nominated for Hyatt Hotels' HR Team of the Year in 2008

Director of Human Resources, 2002 -

2007

Morongo Casino Resort & Spa, Cabazon, CA

. Provided HR support for 2,500 employees in all Resort Departments

. Successfully opened new property through considerable planning &

revisions in HR functional areas

. Spearheaded change-management function as the Resort worked through

operational acquisitions, management change and reorganization on

multiple occasions

. Carefully maintained and managed departmental budget

. Conducted pre-opening job fair leading to successful staffing of all

departments

. Interacted with television & newspaper media through pre/post-opening

and controversies

. Ensured through guest service training eventual securing of four (4)

diamond rating

. Developed & implemented employee handbook, progressive discipline

program, attendance policy.

. Streamlined Employee Relations policies while conducting

investigations/mediations/interventions involving sexual, racial,

disability harassment allegations

. Reduced cost of recruitment sourcing, established an efficient

sourcing strategy

. Ensured trend of cost reduction in Workers' Comp & Disability claims

in self-insured environment

. Established new policies & procedures for Workers' Comp and Leave of

Absence administration

. Analyzed training needs through climate surveys, employee relations

trends & turnover information

. Designed training programs (e.g., performance management, harassment,

union avoidance)

Human Resources Generalist (with additional national responsibilities),

2000 -2002

EarthLink, Inc. - Internet Service Provider, Pasadena, CA

. Served as primary HR contact for approximately 1,700 employees

. Program-managed policies ensuring company-wide compliance (supervised

National Compliance Team)

. Prepared position statements for EEOC (Equal Employment Opportunity

Commission) & DFEH (Department of Fair Employment & Housing)

. Facilitated managerial training programs in progressive counseling,

sexual harassment & awareness of HR laws

. Evaluated, approve, process medical leaves (under federal/state law -

FMLA, CFRA and PDL)

Employee Relations Counselor, 1999

-2000

Harrah's Entertainment, Inc. - Rio Suite Hotel & Casino, Las Vegas, NV

. Advised management on progressive discipline, union negotiating issues

& conducted investigations

. Drafted position statements for EEOC & NERC (Nevada Equal Rights

Commission)

Labor/Employment Relations Associate, 1998 -

1999

Kamer & Zucker - Attorneys at Law, Las Vegas, NV

. Drafted position statements for NERC

. Drafted contract language for collective bargaining negotiations

. Wrote articles on employment relations issues (i.e., sexual

harassment)

. Provided general advice to human resources managers

. Researched employment & labor law issues (e.g., Title VII, FMLA & ADA)

Labor/Employment Relations Associate, 1997 -

1998

Gilbert & Sackman - Attorneys at Law, Los Angeles, CA

. Drafted arbitration briefs

. Performed legal research (e.g., NLRA, FLSA, Title VII & FMLA)

EDUCATION/CERTIFICATION

Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR) Certification, May 2002

American University, Washington College of Law

Juris Doctor (JD), Class of 1997

University of California at Santa Barbara

Bachelor of Arts, History & Anthropology, Class of 1992

FURTHER PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS & ACTIVITIES

. Speaker, Webinar - "Coaching for Performance" - Chicagoland Chamber of

Commerce, June, 2010

. Guest Lecturer, Human Resources Fundamental Class - Kendall College,

October, 2007, August, 2009

. Speaker, Human Resources Development & Training - Indian Gaming

Conference, May, 2007 & October, 2006

. Panel Speaker, Southwest Indian Gaming Conference, February 2007

. Chair for Contract Committee, Hotel Employer's Labor Relations

Association, City of Chicago, 2008

. Member, Society for Human Resources Management

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