Manager Human Resources

Chris Rafter

MARKET HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER - CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST &

CENTRAL VALLEY

Pismo Beach, CA

*****************@*********.*** - 209-***-****

WORK EXPERIENCE

MARKET HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

CALIFORNIA CENTRAL COAST & CENTRAL VALLEY - San Luis Obispo, CA - 2011 to Present

Leader of all HR activities for fourteen Walmart stores with $900 million sales in two California markets,

providing advice and consulting to 140 salaried managers and 3,000 hourly associates, communicating and

driving consistent implementation of HR best practices, executing HR business plans and acquiring key talent.

Provide performance feedback and recommendations regarding talent strengths and development needs,

facilitates performance management processes and initiatives. Champion associate engagement, conduct

investigations. provide associates with resolutions, ensure compliance with federal, state and local law and

company policies.

• Recruited and hired 200+ salaried managers in 2011 - 2015, including 28 store managers.

• Led Associate Engagement strategy, resulting in 2nd highest market score in Walmart US Operations.

• Partnered with operations leaders in performance improvement management of numerous key roles.

• Led HR activities in opening nine stores in Santa Maria, Bakersfield, Visalia, Fresno, Modesto, Patterson,

Turlock and Clovis, CA, managed HR for Tracy, CA and Lompoc, CA Super Center Expansion Projects.

• Improved store team compliance to exceed company standards in Attendance, Associate Relations, Diversity,

Computer-Based Learning and Wage Hour Compliance.

• Lead a multi-site team of 26 Personnel Managers and Training Coordinators.

Strategic human capital partner for seven

HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - Stockton,

CA - 2009 to 2011

STOCKTON, CA, 2009 - 2011

Strategic human capital partner for seven Central Valley Sales Centers, providing strategic solutions and

tactical plans to successfully meet and exceed sales and customer service goals. Influential management

coach providing ethical guidance in union and non-union environments. Data-driven business planning, talent

management and development, Employee Engagement and Diversity champion, partnered with Learning &

Development, Labor Relations and corporate centers of expertise teams in effectively implementing corporate

initiatives. Represented company in Labor Commission hearings and OFCCP audits, championed learning

management, annual performance review process and learning development planning.

• Led Strike Contingency Planning Team in business continuity preparations for all aspects of any labor

stoppage during 2010 Bay Area Teamsters contract negotiations.

HUMAN RESOURCES STRATEGIC BUSINESS PARTNER, NORTHERN CALIFORNIA - 2010 to 2010

2010 Sharing Happiness Week Engagement Champion for West Business Unit, leading planning of employee

appreciation events for over 5,000 employees at 56 business locations.

• Supported Market Team during transition of CCEs' US bottling operations to The Coca Cola Company,

partnering with Market VP in assessing talent for roles in the new organization or for reduction-in-force.

CORPORATE EMPLOYEE RELATIONS MANAGER

BLUE SHIELD OF CALIFORNIA - Lodi, CA - 2006 to 2009

Responsible for developing and maintaining fair and consistent management practices across a complex

organization, delivering HR programs and initiatives in support of HR strategies. Influenced business unit

leaders as the ER Team Transformation Project transformed ER services in support of HR Shared Services

model.

• As Project Manager for Respect in the Workplace, I partnered with Operations, HR Business Partners, Legal

Department, and vendor ELT, leading a multi-site team in delivering employee relations training via a cost-

effective desktop training solution to 3,200 non-supervisory employees.

• Developed training courses and trained management in Conflict Management Skills, Listening Skills for

Effective Communication, and Performance Improvement Process.

• In 2007-08 I trained the HR Connect Representative Team in Employee Relations and investigation skills

and Best Practices, enabling them to guide managers in resolving defined ER issues. As a result of these and

all ER Team activities, by 4Q 2008 ER complaints were reduced by 200% from 1Q 2007.

• Led Woodland & Chico, Ca. office closures and transfer of operations, retained 70% of employees.

AREA HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

MARTIN BROWER COMPANY - Stockton, CA - 2004 to 2006

Served as HR Manager for distribution center supplying 850 McDonald's restaurants, with 40 exempt and

240 union employees, managing activities of the HR Coordinator and Safety Manager. As a key strategic

change leader, I implemented progressive labor relations practices, emphasizing open communication, mutual

respect, team building and accountability while implementing a safety conscious culture.

• Successfully managed introduction of warehouse hourly production standards resulting in a 15% increase in

warehouse productivity in a union labor environment from 2005 to 2006.

• Negotiated three labor contracts with no work stoppages resulting in minimal business disruption, and

positively managed seven arbitrations as well as resolved existing OFCCP Charges with no fines.

• In 2005 Stockton achieved its most profitable year in five years, as workers compensation claims were

reduced by 80% and Employee Engagement Survey results improved by 33% from 2004.

REGIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

MCKESSON CORPORATION - Santa Fe Springs, CA - 2000 to 2004

Provided regional HR business partnership for sales, operations and administrative employees in union and

non-union multi-state distribution centers and call centers. Key responsibilities: change management, coaching

senior leaders, recruitment, workforce planning, employee/labor relations, contract negotiation, conducting HR

audits and investigations, performance assessment, safety, workers' compensation, managed EEO/AAP and

diversity, compensation administration, ADA & FMLA management, supervised HR Coordinators.

• Improved West Sacramento, Ca Distribution Center from 28th to 5th rank on Business Scorecard from

2000-2002 by implementing Positive Employee Relations strategy, resulting in an improvement of $2,000,000

per year in operating income and over 100% reduction in workers' compensation claims.

SENIOR INVESTIGATOR

UNITED STATES EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPPORTUNITY COMMISSION - San Francisco, CA - 1996

to 1999

Investigated discrimination claims and enforced Federal Equal Opportunity law, aided attorneys in discovery.

Completed over 300 investigations, including complex onsite investigations, Commissioner's Charges, class

actions, achieved cause finding or settlement in 23% of cases.

EDUCATION

BA in English

San Diego State University - San Diego, CA

January 2008 to Present

JD

Golden Gate University School of Law - San Francisco, CA

ADDITIONAL INFORMATION

• HR leader with 15 years of experience developing high performing teams and improving employee/labor

relations and engagement.

• Strategic, globally competent cross functional business partner and technological change agent.

• Business-focused tactical expertise in project management in urgent, multi-site environments.

• Proven ability to resolve conflict, diagnose organizational dynamics and recommend effective solutions.

• Certified Trainer with leadership coaching, training and content development expertise.

• Recruiter with track record of hiring diverse results driven professionals who improve operations.

• Positive influencer of team and individual performances, resulting in increased bottom line results.

• JD/SPHR & Licensed Private Investigator w/ expert knowledge of federal, state, employment & labor law.

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