Human Resources Management

KAREN D. PUGH, J.D.

*** ******** ****** *****: 810-***-****

Flint, MI 48503 *********@*********.***

HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTIVE

Specialist in Employment & Labor Law, Human Resources Management, & Employee Relations

Astute, creative human resources executive, attorney, adviser, and leader with an extensive background of successful collective bargaining, unfair labor practice and representation cases, arbitrations and litigation for complex issues. Proven ability to determine and implement human resources strategies, resolve bottom line issues for leadership, peers, and subordinates. Recognized as a savvy leader with strengths in reengineering business processes, building consensus, recognizing and motivating peers, superb task delegation, and team-building talent. Able to extinguish ‘fires’ and capitalize on interpersonal skills and leadership talent to steer efficiency. Strategic Human Resources Business Partner with experience in all corporate HR functions, exceptional strengths in recruitment, training, and program development. Manager credited with building and leading cutting edge HR initiatives for operations management, labor law and practices, talent acquisition, and compensation.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Labor Litigation & Arbitration

Policies and Procedures

Project Management

Process Implementation

Performance Management

Government Relations

Program Planning/Organization

Change Management & Organizational Restructuring

Collective Bargaining

Employee Confidentiality

Professional Development

Unfair Labor Practice Cases

Benefits Administration

Contract Interpretation

Staffing & Recruitment

HR Regulatory Compliance

Employee Relations/Grievances

Payroll & Compensation

Organizational Leadership

Diversity Implementation/EEO

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Executive Director of Human Resources 2012-Present

WATERFORD SCHOOL DISTRICT, Waterford, MI

Achievements:

Directs the District’s preparation for collective bargaining and serves as the Chief Negotiator in labor bargaining.

Plans, organizes, and represents the District in grievance, mediation, fact-finding, unfair labor practices, and arbitration procedures related to all employee groups and drafted and revised Human Resources Management policies.

Monitors and ensures compliance with the Highly Qualified requirements for District professional staff.

Successfully adheres to EEOC, ADA, Civil Rights, Michigan Teacher’s Tenure Act, and the Fair Labor Standards Act.

Plans, develops, implements, and assesses strategic human resource activities in support of district goals and objectives.

Oversees the District’s regulatory compliance on HR-related matters, recruitment, hiring, diversity, performance management, training, compensation and benefits, information and records management, and employee relations.

Ensures quality-centralized human resource service and support and process improvements via effective management.

Effectively analyzes trends through competitive benchmarking and identification of best practices.

Directs HR functions in accordance with applicable federal and state regulations and District policies and practices.

Interprets and applies employment regulations and implements updates to maintain compliant policies.

Establishes and leads practices and procedures to recruit and retain Highly Qualified, quality workforce and applies recruitment and staffing knowledge of recruitment strategies to full organizational needs for all employment types.

Serves on the District Administrative Leadership Team and District Delegate on state and county labor relations groups.

Executive Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs 2009-2012

FLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, Flint, MI

Achievements:

Oversaw Human Resources operations for the Flint Community School system including hiring and recruitment, employee retention, staff motivation and employee development, and productivity and growth of human capital.

Supervised the preparation phase of collective bargaining with all recognized employee groups.

Monitored the district salary schedules and classifications to ensure satisfaction of common pay equity standards.

Managed and led the Fringe Benefits and Risk Management Teams and provided employee relations supervisor training.

Directed district policies and procedure development and tracked contractual issues.

Developed programs and procedures to effectively communicate organizational policies and practices to multi-level staff.

Assistant Director of Human Resources and Legal Affairs 2008-2009

FLINT COMMUNITY SCHOOLS, Flint, MI

Achievements:

Served as the Chief Negotiator for labor contracts and provided equitable contracts settlement in negotiation proceedings.

Led the administration and implementation of collective bargaining agreements, grievance processing, and arbitration.

Interpreted contracts and directed courses of action for staff and District employees.

Served as the in-house School District attorney and provided legal advice and services regarding employment issues including ADA, FMLA, FERPA, Board policies, District regulations, sexual harassment, and internal investigations.

Coordinated 504 accommodations requests for students and parents.

Served as the Hearing Officer at expulsion hearings and represented the District in pending legal matters before the Michigan Employment Relations Commission, Michigan Civil Rights Commission, Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, and state and federal agencies.

Chaired and supervised the Joint Labor Management employee group meetings and collective bargaining groups.

Contract Attorney 2007-2008

Clients: MCDERMOTT, WILL, & EMERY, GENERAL MOTORS, AND VARIOUS PRIVATE CLIENTS, Detroit, MI

Achievements:

Worked as an Independent Contractor and performed legal services for private sector clients for specified terms in areas of family law, estate planning, litigation, contract drafting, review, and legal research.

Represented private clients in civil litigation matters in Circuit Court in contracts, real estate, and tort matters.

Worked under the direction of McDermott, Will, & Emery law firm and provided litigation support for General Motors Corporation on national class action lawsuits pertaining to product liability.

Associate Attorney, Labor and Employment Law 2006-2007

ROUMELL, LANGE, & CHOLACK, P.L.C., Troy, MI

Achievements:

Represented public and private sector employers in a wide range of labor and employment matters including collective bargaining, arbitration proceedings, administrative hearings, mediation, and litigation.

Drafted personnel policies and advised clients on possible settlements and lawsuit prevention.

Assisted clients on compliance issues and contract administration.

Performed litigation management and coordinated administrative level proceedings.

Provided preventative, proactive legal advice and solutions on recent legal decisions and statutory development to clients.

Provided legal advice and counsel regarding various HR-related topics.

Other Professional Experience

Legislative Assistant Corporation Counsel/Parliamentarian, City of Detroit Law Department, Detroit, MI 2005-2006

Assistant Corporation Counsel, City of Detroit Law Department, Detroit, MI 2003-2005

Contract Attorney, UAW-GM Legal Services Plan 2003

Assistant City Attorney, Flint City Attorney’s Office, Flint, MI 1998-2003

Staff Attorney, UAW-GM Legal Services Plan, Flint, MI 1994-1998

PROFESSIONAL CREDENTIALS

Education Juris Doctor, University of Wisconsin Law School, Madison, WI May 1993

Bachelor of Arts, History, University of Michigan at Ann Arbor, Ann Arbor, MI May 1990

Licenses Admitted to the State Bar of Michigan 1993

Eastern District of Michigan

Affiliations Michigan Association of Personnel Administrators (MASPA) and Michigan Negotiators Association (MNA)

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