Workers Compensation Human Resource
Resume:
Katherine S. Connell
Magnolia, TX 77354
763-***-**** (C/H)
********@*****.***
QUALIFICATION SUMMARY
Seasoned human resource generalist with experience in all aspects of employment supervision, hiring, training, staffing, safety, benefits, workers-compensation,
Unemployment and employment law. Excellent record of accomplishments through strong motivational ability, cost-saving techniques, problem solving and team- building skills.
EXPERIENCE HISTORY
HR Manager 1998 to 6/2022
Dan & Jerry’s Greenhouses, Inc. Monticello, MN
Responsibilities
*Manage all company personnel issues to include, benefits, compliance with Federal and
State employment regulatory issues, recruitment, hiring, training, payroll, safety training, new employee orientation, unemployment, workers compensation and all
employee relation issues for 7 locations plus those that are out in the field. We currently have 516 active employees.
*Developed and maintained all policies and procedures relating to employment issues.
*Monitor and make any needed suggestions for Labor Budget for 7 locations.
*Manage staffing levels to compliment seasonal requirements.
*Currently manage the H2A program for all 7 locations. 168 H2A employees to include obtaining housing/transportation in MN, SD, IA, IN
*Manage the functions of the office to include supervising staff.
*Manage all drivers during season to meet requirements of DOT to include routing and dispatching.
*Responsible for obtaining and implementing all insurances to include property/crop
Vehicle, Health, Dental, Life, Long and Short-Term Disability and 401(k) program.
*Hold monthly management meetings and training sessions as needed.
Accomplishments
*Developed and implemented the company’s first Employee Handbook.
*Developed and implemented the companies first AWAIR manual/program for a
multi-cultural work environment.
*Reviewed and managed work comp costs to reduce the mod factor from 1.65 to
a .82, thus resulting in a rebate for the company of several thousands of dollars.
*Successfully passed 9 (Federal and State) DOT inspections.
*Successfully passed an inspection by the Department of Agriculture.
*Trained managers on budget preparation and implementation.
*Successfully passed an audit of Wage and Hour concerning our H2A program
*Developed and Implemented the Incident Response Plan
KATHERINE S. CONNELL RESUME - PAGE 2
HR Manager/ Operations Assistant 1996-1998
Sparta Foods, New Brighton, MN
Responsibilities
*Manage all company personnel issues to include, benefits, compliance with Federal and
State employment regulatory issues, recruitment, hiring, training, payroll, safety training, new employee orientation, unemployment, workers compensation and all
employee relations issues.
*Developed all policy and procedures for employment issues.
*Monitor sanitation budget.
*Manage staffing levels to complement production schedules.
*Assistant to the VP of Operations.
*Manage the functions of the office to include supervising staff.
Accomplishments
*Developed and implemented company’s first safety program to include training in
a multi-cultural environment.
*Reviewed and managed work comp costs to reduce mod factor to .99, thus resulting
in a rebate for the company of several thousands of dollars.
*Implemented a occupational health relationship with local clinic and hospital to
lower workers comp costs and provide accident reduction.
*Developed and implemented a new employee orientation packet to include handbook.
*Successfully passed an investigation by the Department of Justice regarding
discriminatory hiring practices.
*Changed the company’s philosophy on safety equipment, thus installing prior
to an un-announced OSHA inspection, saving the company several thousands of
dollars in OSHA fines.
Claims Manager (Temporary assignment) 1995-1996
Hopkins, MN
Responsibilities
*Assumed the responsibilities for the claims administrator while she prepared for
a promotion and her replacement came on board.
*Court preparation for workers compensation claims.
*Correspondence with attorneys, medical providers, investigators, and injured employees.
*Claims management for the heavier cases involving in-depth investigation.
*Over saw the payments made to providers, injured workers, attorney’s etc.
KATHERINE S. CONNELL RESUME - PAGE 3
HR/Payroll Manager 1995-1995
Olympic Steel, Plymouth, MN
Responsibilities
*Recruiting, hiring, terminating, payroll administration (in-house), benefit administration.
*Training all new employees to personnel manual and safety guidelines.
*Union mediation and negotiations.
*Policy and procedure administration.
*Monthly journals relating to employment expenditures.
*A/R
*Safety manager.
*Work comp coordinator for 2 facilities.
*TQM facilitator.
Accomplishments
*Established a working relationship with DMP, thus decreasing injury exposure.
*Effectively established pre-employment physical testing with DMP.
*Developed and implemented a Drug policy and procedure to include random testing.
*Implemented safety program to include policy and procedures, work environment
studies, and safety inspections.
*Aggressively managed and settled a difficult high exposure work comp claim, with no
further expense or exposure to the company.
Human Resource Coordinator and Assistant to the Nursing Dept. 1990-1995
St. Anthony Health Center, Mpls., MN
Responsibilities
*Managed all benefits.
*Hiring/recruiting for all nursing personnel.
*Staffing for entire nursing department 24 hours per day, 7 days per week.
*Training supervisor for safety and personnel issues.
*Work comp administrator.
*Safety Director.
*Certified to work on the nursing floors as a TMA.
*Charting and resident documentation.
Accomplishments
*Reduced workers comp costs to reflect an $80,000 rebate for the nursing home.
*Developed and implemented a strategy to eliminate the usage of temporary staffing.
*Reduced exposure to unemployment claims, thus saving the company several
thousands of dollars in unemployment costs.
*Developed DMP relationship, thus reducing our injury frequency and cutting costs in
our workers’ compensation.
*Instrumental in developing the safety program.
KATHERINE S. CONNELL RESUME - Page 4
Administrative Assistant to the CEO 1981-1988
St. Mary’s Nursing Home, St. Paul, MN
Responsibilities
*AP/AR
*Inventory control manager.
*New employee orientation
*Staffing/Recruitment
*Work comp coordinator
*Benefit Administrator
*Safety manager
*Assistant to the CEO
Regional Service Supervisor 1975-1981
Embers Restaurant, St. Paul, MN
Responsibilities
*Hiring, terminations, training and staffing.
*Opened out of state restaurants in trainer capacity.
*Assistant manager, night supervisor
*P&L
*Inventory control, purchasing and budgets.
*Handled all employment issues.
Accomplishments
*First female to be promoted to a store management position.
*Assisted in the development of training slides.
*Was chosen as a troubleshooter for out of state restaurants.
EDUCATION
2009-present SHRM member
2003-1985 Various training centers
Several courses and certificates obtained covering the following subject
manner:
-Lockout/Tagout, Principles of Occupational Safety & Health for small
businesses, employer conference, employer labor law, TQM facilitator
training, cumulative trauma disorders, personnel administration, OSHA compliance issues, ADA, FMLA regulations, AWAIR, personnel law,
work comp updates and issues, COBRA rules and regulations, and uniex
systems administrative course.
1981 St. Paul TVI TMA certificate
1976 916 Vo-Tech NA/R certificate
Contact this candidate