Human Resources Manager

DENNIS W. GARDNER

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

La Crosse, WI 54601

319-***-**** (cell& home)

*******.**@*******.***

QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY: An experienced senior business professional with the knowledge of

ethical and proper office/business practices in a manufacturing or public sector environment. I recognize the

requirement of confidentiality and trust in a business atmosphere along with coaching and counseling of

employees when needed. I truly understands what is needed to grow a business or organization while making

the right decisions. I am a dedicated team player that creates and encourages a team environment through;

training, education and development of any organization and the staff. I support employee empowerment

concepts through their contributions in problem solving and continuous improvement.

POSITION OPPORTUNITY: I am seeking a full time or part time position within an organization that may

need and challenge my work experience and skills in Operations/Administration/Human Resources, preferably

in a Manufacturing, Customer Service, HR Consulting, Operations or Financial Planning positions. I am also

open to temporary contract employment opportunities.

EMPLOYMENT HISTORY:

August 2016-Current: Part time appliance sales and veterans recruiting for Home Depot, Onalaska, WI.

Home Depot is a well known nationwide “Do It Yourself” home improvement business. I usually spend 20

hours per week in the appliance sales area, kitchen and bath and plumbing areas, assisting customers with

purchases for their home improvement projects. Additionally, I visit local veterans resource locations to recruit

veterans, veterans spouses and qualified dependents. Assist them in completing employment applications on

line for Home Depot.

November 2011 – January 2016: Manager of Human Resources and Administration for SANMINA-SCI

Corp., Turtle Lake, WI Manufacturing Operations. Sanmina-SCI is a Fortune 500 company, contract

manufacturer, producing aluminum engine blocks for Kawasaki ATVs, Honda ATV engine components and

plastic composite Otter Box cell phone slip covers. Until my recent retirement notification, I was responsible

for the Human Resource and Administration functions of this manufacturing facility. My team grew the

business from 310 total salary and hourly employees in August 2013 to 595 salary and hourly employees in

May 2014, enabling this plant to operate from a 3.2% net operating margin to 8.9% net operating margin, by

applying Theory of Constraints (TOC) concepts and bringing in the labor needed to meet growing customer

demands.

January 2007-July 2013: Owner of Gardner Resources, LLC ., We performed contract services which were

generally Human Resources related for various small companies and business unit that were in need of short

term HR services. These services may be to cover short/long term periods, due to FMLA or general leaves of

absence, new plant start ups, job description or Employee Handbook creation, create an Affirmative Action Plan

or present health care, dental, life insurances or other benefit changes to the employee base. Listed below are

companies we supported and a brief description of duties and roles. Some dates may overlap due to multiple

contracts operating at the same time.

• November 2011- August 2013, SAMINA-SCI, Turtle Lake, WI., Initially contracted to assist

their staffing production schedule increase for the OtterBox program and new HRIS program

implementation. Their previous HR person had left unexpectedly, just after the business

committing to the increased schedule. We performed a very rigorous ramp up plan to increase

the workforce for the shop floor by 85% by recruitment, interviewing, on boarding of new

employees, supervisory staff training and education and benefits administration. Completed this

ramp up 4 months ahead of schedule. Became a SANMINA employee in August 2013.

August 2011- April 2013, Behrens Manufacturing Company, Winona, MN. Provided HR

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and Safety role support to cover HR position due to unplanned retirement of prior HR/Safety

professional. Duties included: Recruitment, Safety awareness program, benefits administration,

employee coaching and counseling, performance management. Although we were successful,

this was not a good fit for us and our contract was not renewed. In March 2015, we were asked to

return to hire another HR/Safety person for them, we declined for reasons of slow payment and

many safety policy differences with CEO.

September 2009-July 2011, Gundersen Health Systems, Whitehall, WI. Through GHS, we

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assisted their affiliate Hospital, Clinic and Nursing Home to cover their HR Director position, for

90 days, for FMLA vacancy. This turned into 22 months, until HR professional was able to

return. Duties were, recruitment of PAs, NPs, RNs, LPNs, CNAs, OTs, PTs and administrative

staff along with benefits administration, new employee orientation, coaching and counseling,

discipline, performance improvement plans and terminations.

GMT (General Machine and Tooling) Corp., Waverly, IA. Provided additional HR Generalist

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support developing and Affirmative Action Plan and assisted in new plant start up for their new

Nashua, IA facility. Duties included, recruitment, interviews, hiring, new employee orientations

hourly work force. Updated all job descriptions for both exempt and nonexempt employees.

February 2003 to September 29, 2007: Manager of Human Resources and Administration (payroll,

accounting and purchasing) for UNVERFERTH Manufacturing Company in Shell Rock, Iowa, On October 1,

2007, I accepted an early retirement offer from Unverferth Manufacturing. I re-entered the working world,

through contract employment opportunities, by creating Gardner Resources, LLC in January 2007. The early

retirement world was not for me. UNVERFERTH is a world class manufacturer of grain handling and sprayer

equipment for the agricultural markets in North America and Europe. Taking the Human Resources functions

of 135 employees in 2003 to more than 310 employees in 2007. This is a union free, 300+ employee

environment with solid commitments to their customers and employees. While having 3 direct salary reports

and 3 hourly team members my department was responsible for the day to day HR and Safety assignments. We

performed all recruitment, interviews, hiring, plant discipline, benefits administration, coaching and counseling

and terminations.

The following is a summary of my employment with Bridgestone/Firestone Group, USA. I

was assigned to some of their subsidiary/joint venture companies and at some of their parent

named locations:

August 1985 to February 2003; Starting as an H/R Generalist/Safety Coordinator and progressing up to a

Division Human Resources Manager level within the Bridgestone Group/Firestone Companies, and related

subsidiaries. Bridgestone/Firestone Corporation is the parent company for the Chemical, Rubber, Tires and

Consumer Products divisions of Bridgestone Group, USA. I operated in some locations with only 1.5 to as

many as 12 direct reports. The following is a summary of those locations and positions I held, other than

TRACO and initially, Unverferth Manufacturing Company, listed above. (Most current listed first).

1. June 1999 to February 2003; Manager of Human Resources and Administration for TRACO

Inc., A Bridgestone Company, manufacturing vinyl windows, doors and sun rooms for both the

new construction and replacement markets. There were 275+ employees, including seasonal

workers at this Red Oak, Iowa location. This facility was 1 of the 3 union free manufacturing

facilities in the 11 Bridgestone manufacturing plants in the United States. Having 3 direct reports,

we were responsible for the following; Benefits Administration, HRIS system for 275+

employees at this location, Recruiting, Interviews, background checks/confirmations, Employee

Progressive Disciplinary Program, Plant Security, Terminations, Employee referrals to EAP,

Payroll, Workers Compensation, AAP, HIPAA Compliance Officer.

2. July 1992 to May 1999; Human Resources Group/ Division Supervisor for Firestone Rubber

Tire Manufacturing Company in Des Moines, Iowa. A United Rubber Workers facility and later

a United Steelworkers facility.

3. May 1990 to June 1992; Manager of Manufacturing, DTR, an Ohio joint venture company

with Firestone and Tokai Rubber Company of Japan. We produced OEM auto parts for Honda,

Toyota, General Motors, Ford, NUMI and Mazda. Those parts being, engine mounts, body

mounts, fuel injection hoses, and other anti-vibration devices. Oversee, direct and manage all

production and operational targets. At that time, this was, a United Rubber Workers facility.

4. June 1988 to May 1990; Human Resources Generalist for Firestone Tire Company in Akron,

Ohio. A United Rubber Workers facility.

5. August 1985 to May 1988; Manager of Administration (included H/R and Purchasing) for

Heartland Lysine, in Eddyville, Iowa. While using fermentation, purification and drying methods

in production of L-Lysine, HCL, a feed additive for poultry and hog agricultural markets. This

was a joint venture of Bridgestone Chemical, Ajinomoto Pharmaceutical and a French company,

Orsan, USA. This was also a union free facility.

October 1979 July 1985: John Deere Manufacturing, Ottumwa, IA. This is a haying and forage harvesting

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manufacturing operations. Beginning as a Production Scheduler for 3 welding departments on 2 shift, I

scheduled welding operations to meet assembly line demands. In 1982, promoted to plant Industrial Relations

Representative, with duties of recruitment for all plant open positions. Laid off in 1985. Recalled in December

1985, but declined, due to new employment.

EDUCATIONAL INFORMATION: San Diego State University, undergrad studies while in US Navy .,

University of Iowa 1983-1985 (Undergrad not completed), Business Finance major, Iowa State University,

Goldratt Institute, 1997, TOC Certification, Creighton University, Omaha, NE, Mini MBA Program, (Business

in Brief) 2002 Certification, 2002 Safety Seminar @ University of MN. Member of SHRM 2002-Current.

MILITARY INFORMATION: United States Navy, FMF Hospital Corpsman, U.S Naval Hospital, San

Diego, CA., U.S Navy, Field Medical School, Camp Delmar, CA., First Battalion, Fourth Marines, Third

Marine Division, Honorable Discharge with Combat Unit Citation Award.

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