Human Resources Manager

Raul Soto Jr., GPHR

• ***** Outer Drive Melvindale, MI 48122 tel.: 313-***-****

Cell 313-***-****) email: **********@*****.***

Proven Human Resource Leader

Business oriented and innovative Human Resources professional with significant domestic and international

experience in labor relations, organizational development, team facilitation, and operational expertise will invest

visionary leadership, problem solving, tenacity, and technical acumen to advance the mission and profitability of

the organization.

Areas of Competence

Strategic Planning Talent Mgmt/Succession Plans Compensation & Benefits

Labor Relations: Multi-site Expatriate Administration Change Initiatives – Six Sigma

Relocation – Domestic/Intl. Due Diligence/Turn Key HRIS Development

Team Facilitation Staffing & Recruiting Diversity Leadership

Risk Assessment & Compliance Project Management Cost/Benefit Analysis

Education Background

MBA, International Business & Human Resources University of Michigan – Ann Arbor 1992

BS, Business Administration – Dual degree – Economics & Computer Science University of Texas – Pan

American (Honors) 1986

Professional Experience

RUSH GRP, LLC

May 2012 to Current Holt, MI

Chief Diversity Officer & Ombudsman for privately held suite of companies consisting of

two (2) Tier1 automotive suppliers, one national transportation/logistics organization and

one electrical scooter firm based in Ann Arbor MI. Multiple sites combined revenues are

slightly under $2billion annual for Detroit-based OEMs. Appointed as corporate

ombudsman in fall 2012 to provide alternate employee communication channel. Joint

ventures with Magna Intl & Faurecia respectively.

Principal responsibilities include internal workforce development & supplier development

– minority, woman and veteran-owned businesses. Overall strategic plan includes

analytics approach for workforce enhancement along with an externally-oriented

mentoring program for suppliers. Oversee standardization of social media &

website/portal framework for all organizations. Personally assist owner and all

organizations’ senior leadership with various initiatives impacting their respective teams.

Facilitate engagement with internal & external stakeholders in such as areas as policy

enhancement, executive performance management and branding/communication issues.

Serve as primary governmental affairs liaison involving principal owner’s activity on US

Department of Commerce’s Manufacturing Council. Serve as corporate HR lead on all HR

policies development.

Performance Highlights:

• Dakkota Integrated Systems, LLC selected as a top 100 job creators in the US by

INC. magazine in 2013 “HirePower” award

o Recognized by both FORD & Chrysler as top diversity supplier program

of the year in 2012 & 2013 respectively

o Enhanced enterprise resource planning system for diversity supplier

development in which an additional six revenue streams were

incorporated, yielding an additional 21% add-on to yearly diversity

spending.

• Principal facilitator of cross-business website redesign and corporate re-branding

effort, which will create a unified framework for employment branding and yield

of greater IT efficiencies. Anticipated completion date of 1st qtr 2014

• United Way Campaign chair – anticipate close to $50,000 overall contributions to

be collected by end of Fall 2013 campaign activities

US Environmental Protection Agency Washington, DC

3/2010 to May 2012

Assoc. Asst. Administrator Outreach, Diversity & Collaboration

Reporting to Administrator – EPA & Asst. Administrator – Office of Administration &

Resource Management (OARM). Senior political appointee at US EPA (18,000 domestic

associates), responsible for providing strategic direction on agency-wide initiatives on a

host of inter-agency and DC/regional office activities.

Performance Highlights

• Facilitated agency’s senior leadership team in the draft & implementation of a 5

year strategic plan on diversity & inclusion for entire agency.

• Facilitated a FY2011 EPA Region 4 $250K dollar funding effort for

environmental curriculum at Historically Black Colleges & Universities

• Represented agency on numerous senior level activities /engagements throughout

the country – speaking engagements, panels & forums

• Developed a comprehensive accountability structure and database for diversity

analytics for senior leadership – Quarterly review of trending and strategic

engagement. Serves as a backdrop for SES leadership discussion.

• Initiated a cross-agency targeted outreach strategy for Native American talent –

involving Dept of Interior, US Park Service, USDA, FEMA & NASA

• Principal HR adviser on budget/structure of an internal multi-year national

university campus, Environmental Justice & Tribal program initiative designed to

promote community leadership, employment and talent sourcing.

• Primary staff liaison on the White House Council for Women & Girls – addressing

a variety of issues impacting females, both domestic and abroad.

Noble International, LTD.

2006 – June 2009 Warren, MI

Director, Human Resources

Reported to Global VP-Human Resources & President – N. American Operations

Principal HR contact for $1.3 billion manufacturing groups’

sites in Canada, US & Mexico. Primary operations involved laser-

welding & roll-forming applications for global automotive industry. Handled

industrial relations (UAW, Teamsters, CTM, CRT Mexico unions),

organizational development; HRIS implementations; Mergers & Acquisitions

due diligence; International/expatriate administration as well as staffing

functions for both field operations along with N American Ops, R & D and

corporate HQ. In January 2009, further added responsibilities dealing with global

benefits and compensation oversight.

Performance Highlights

• Lead project leader - migrated five US sites from previous ADP payroll setup to new

Ultipro system within a 1.5months time & negligible disruptions – typical timelines are six months or longer for

similar. Oversaw general payroll activity for overall organization – interfaced with Corp Finance on Quarterly

reconciliation actions.

• Served as principal Human Resource professional overseeing Mergers & Acquisitions

integration activities (staffing, legal, policies, org structure, etc.) for purchased ArcelorMittal European operations

spanning six EU countries and twelve manufacturing sites along with principal HR role for Asia-Pacific joint-venture

initiatives – New Delhi India, Bangkok Thailand, Wuhan China and Malaysia. Ensured European payroll setup

and administration – streamlined payroll providers by 50% and incurred 50,000 Euros annual savings. Principal HR

leader on transitional service agreement (TSA) for all ongoing HR elements such as contracts, benefits and labor

worker transitions.

• Developed a comprehensive overseas assignment program and four distinct policies

designed to facilitate various forms of operational assignments. Maintained global administration of visas, relocation

and tax assistance for all business units.

• Principal HRIS self-service developer. Established work rules for comprehensive

self-service philosophy. Principal author in development of online merit planning system. Headed N Am Ops internal

SABANES-Oxley policy compliance.

GDX Automotive

2005 – 2006 Farmington Hills, MI

Director, Human Resources

Reported to Chief Financial Officer & Executive VP.

Oversaw North American Manufacturing Operations consisting of eight (8) sites located in

Canada, US & Mexico encompassing 5900 associates. Operations involved rubber sealing

systems and anti-vibration components utilized by FORD, GM, VW, BMW & Nissan.

Responsible for all strategic aspects of labor relations, compensation, pensions, 401K and

assorted benefits for both represented & non-represented facilities. Additionally, headed

European & China JV recruitment and general policies oversight for all (24) twenty-four

global sites.

Performance Highlights

• Provided steadying guidance in closure of a 400 person North Carolina

manufacturing site, while developing overall structure for expansion of green

field Guadalajara Jalisco Mexico-based 600 person facility – over $60million

annual revenue.

• Successfully negotiated long-term labor contracts for two Quebec, CAN

manufacturing sites, resulting in a long-term five year contract, while under

budget.

• Streamlined global car policies, yielding over $45,000 annual cost savings.

Ford Motor Company/Visteon Corporation

Global leader in automotive components with annual sales of $17 billion and

60,000 employees

2002 – 2005 Utica Plant, Shelby Twp., MI

Senior Site Human Relations Manager

Reported to Plant Manager & dotted line to Director – US Labor Affairs for Visteon.

Oversight of all human relations activity for 1800 United Auto Workers (UAW) at the

Utica site manufacturing door panels, instrument panels, bumper/fascias and lamp

assemblies. Other Utica-based activities included direction of salaried personnel (256

total) medical staff, health & safety engineers, labor relations staff and purchased service

security personnel. Additional business responsibilities for UAW Chesterfield 200

person plant located 20 minutes away whose hourly employees were involved in the

manufacture of interior foam products. Responsible for daily and long-term resolution of

plant-wide, potentially high-impact union situations.

Other responsibilities included: Senior HR representative on plant operating committee;

Workers Compensation Program, Job Security/Operational Effectiveness Council, Equal

Applications Committee Co-Chair, Diversity Committee Co-Chair, Safety Process

Review Board operating team member, plant TS16949 & Sarbanes-Oxley HR

representative.

Performance Highlights

• Chief negotiator in development of competitive operating principles allowing for

significant classification consolidation and efficiencies during 2003 local

negotiations. Critical foundation towards eventual FORD Motor Co. award of

new product launches thru 2008.

• Initiated and established Modern Operating Agreement with UAW, first-and-only

within Visteon’s UAW locations.

• Oversaw a 40% reduction in year-over-year grievance payouts in 2003-2004

yielding a cost save of approx. $55,000.

• Negotiated reduced union structure for Chesterfield operation.

• Facilitated flawless “flowback” of over 220 FORD hourly personnel during a

period of special retirement incentive actions.

• Five-year Chair of Visteon Hispanic Network & senior representative on

Visteon’s Executive Diversity council.

• Initiated & maintained proactive multi-level salaried personnel talent review &

development committees within facility.

• Member of Visteon’s senior HR committee responsible for both SCR & MR level

career development.

• Contributing member of Visteon’s senior HR development of performance

management process as well as company-wide merit/incentive compensation

review group.

• Safety metrics improved year-over year during three year period by 180%.

Officially recognized for low lost time case & severity rates at both mfg facilities.

• Workers compensation & rehab activity received recognition for model

structure. Cost savings of over $3 million in workers compensation settlements.

• Received Joint Programs RISE award for educational programs instituted for

Utica workforce.

2001 – 2002 Visteon World HQ, Dearborn, MI

HR Manager – Global Labor Affairs

Responsible for maintenance of worldwide Labor Relations contracts. Assisted with UAW

FORD Nat’l dept activity in addition to benchmarking best practices within global labor

arena.

Performance Highlights

• Principal developer of negotiation approval process established for senior

management review.

• Established a consistent worldwide database consisting of all relevant labor

contract elements per each manufacturing facility.

• Twice selected as mentor to Visteon senior management via Mentor Up!

Program, designed to address a variety of diversity issues throughout the

organization.

1999 – 2001 Visteon Technology Office & Telematics Business Systems, Allen Park, MI

HR Manager

Reported to Senior HR Manager for VTO & indirectly to VP-VTO operations.

Principal HR coordinator for salaried personnel activity for 1600 employees in Visteon’s

multi-site Telematics business organization which encompassed research & development,

current engineering, advanced engineering and technology scouting professionals.

Maintained 900 core personnel within VTO – US & sites located in Europe and Asia/Pacific

technical centers.

Performance Highlights

• Lead HR representative to 160-person Sunnyvale, Calf. Navigation systems team

comprised of scientists, software engineers and audio technical specialists.

• Established a research & development organization in Bristol, UK & Boston,

Mass. focused on voice-recognition technology. Developed & organized all

facets of business – payroll, staffing, financial & compensation structure –

market-based pricing.

• Lead associate in general compensation planning actions over three (3) years.

1996 – 1999 United Technologies, Inc. Dearborn, MI

Manager, Human Resources & Industrial Relations

Reported directly to Director – HR Latin America & dotted line to VP-Ops.

Oversee both salaried & hourly represented personnel for various sites in US & Mexico.

Worked with IBEW, United Steelworkers, CTM & CROC (MX) unions.

Performance Highlights

• Principal divisional labor relations contact for UT Automotive’s Latin American

operations, which encompassed 16 plants and approximately 14,000

manufacturing associates thru-out Mexico. Based out of El Paso, Texas.

• Regional HR Manager for 1,200 person Motor Systems Group (3 manufacturing

plants) based in Brownsville, Texas and Matamoros, Mexico. Stabilized HR

leadership position during organizational transition and integration into UT

Automotive ESA group.

• Led efforts which subsequently yielded tax abatements in the amount of

approximately $1 million for the upgrade of Zanesville, OH electrical wire

harness facility (750 IBEW represented personnel) and job retention in

cooperation with the Ohio Department of Commerce and local port authority.

Varity-Kelsey Hayes

1995 – 1996 Livonia, MI

Group Manager, Human Resources responsible for multinational sites of engineering personnel

throughout twelve (12) US sites, test tracks – US, Sweden; technical centers in Japan & Germany,

Reported directly to Vice President of worldwide engineering & dotted line to Exec VP-Human

Resources.

Performance Highlights

• Oversaw expatriate activities of core product development engineers and successfully recruited

top-flight talent.

• Principal HR oversight/developer of $15.6 million prototype center in Plymouth, MI – anti-lock

brake systems.

• Personally developed & successfully implemented training elements. Led successful QS9000

certification efforts.

1992 – 1995 AlliedSignal, Inc. Southfield, MI

Progressive levels of responsibility within human resources organization. Promoted to

HR Manager within nine months of first assignment. Oversaw four (4) mfg facilities while

responsible for Filters & Spark Plugs division-wide staffing initiatives.

Reported directly to Director – HR & indirectly to President – Filters & Spark Plugs.

Performance Highlights

• Facilitated numerous multi-national teams while a team member of the European

Total Quality recognition event held in Biarittz, France.

• Principal HR facilitator for continuous improvement initiatives at Monterrey,

Mexico plant.

• Designated staffing professional responsible for due diligence & subsequent

acquisition of facility in Treforest, Wales (UK).

• Negotiated (2) AlliedSignal Monterrey, Mexico union contracts, which resulted

in a new salary banding structure for use in manufacturing cell development in

addition to being within budget.

• Implemented a financial shared services organization which was responsible for

35 manufacturing plants in North America. Selected & hired 160 individuals

within accounts payable, accounts receivables, fixed assets, payroll & financial

analysis within a quarter. Led first salary banding & self-managed team efforts

within the Automotive division.

• Active participant on successful negotiating team for 1,500-person Filter Plant –

Greenfield OH. Maintained bargaining proposals and organized written contract

elements.

• As Divisional Staffing Manager, coordinated 4500 person multi-national division

MRR (Management Resource Planning) succession planning and functional

reviews. Yielded critical leadership positions and solidified operational talent

identification via a systematic process.

McAllen Chamber of Commerce

1987 – 1990 McAllen, TX

Director, Economic Development responsible for small business development initiatives

and liaison to industrial development clients on TX-Mexico border region.

Performance Highlights

• Founded an international trade show: McAllen Exhibe, which resulted in over $6

million in realized sales for participants.

• Established first recognized International import-export center sponsored by

the Texas Department of IMPORT/EXPORT.

• Developed an econometric model which ultimately was utilized to assist

industrial prospects with infrastructure scenarios. Extensive travel thru-out

Mexico & US Midwest, East coast.

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

• Human Resource Strategic Business School United Technologies Corp (UTC, Inc.)

• AlliedSignal Human Resource High Potential development program participant

• Participated in United Technologies top 5% potential programs

• Expatriate Administration, Prudential International

• Mining Group Gold, Xerox – certified facilitator

• Total Quality Facilitator Certification, AlliedSignal

• Environmental Health and Safety Risk Assessment

• Green Belt certified – Six Sigma

• FORD/Visteon/UAW joint programs – leadership sessions

• Selected to Leadership Detroit, class of 1995

• Guest lecturer/panelist – 2009 ALFA Global Conference – “Overseas Assignment Development”

• Federal Labor Relations coursework – The Graduate School – Washington DC

MEMBERSHIPS

• Society of Human Resources Management

• Labor and Employment Relations Association

• Hispanic MBA Association

• International Human Resources Association

• Global Blue - U of M

• Consortium for Minority Participation in Graduate Schools

• BORDER Trade Alliance

• Maquiladora & Management Association – RIO Grande Valley

• Advisory Board member -Detroit chapter – National Hispanic MBA Association

• Advisor – Society of Hispanic Professional Engineers (SHPE)

• LANGUAGES:

Fluent Spanish & English;

Intermediate French & Italian

Novice Portuguese

HRIS/Computer Applications Expertise:

• Ultimate Software

o COGNOS Report-writing

o Work rule elements

o Self-service web design

• PeopleSoft – all modules

• Lawson Insight – all modules

• SAP – all modules

• MS Project

• Aldus PageMaker

• Org Plus

• VISIO

• Microsoft Office Suite: MS Excel; WORD; Access; Powerpoint; Publisher

• LOTUS Suites

• GOVTRIP – federal agency format

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