Employee Relations Executive

BRIAN MATTHEW RHODES

*** *. ***** ****, ***********, Pennsylvania 19064

610-***-**** (H) / 215-***-**** (C)

***.***@*****.*** / www.linkedin.com/pub/brian-rhodes/0/505/85/

EXECUTIVE PROFILE

Multi-faceted, multi-skilled executive leader with a distinguished legal career in strategic planning, policy, implementation and budget development for multi-state for profit and not for profit medium to large corporations. Very adept at facilitating growth by developing various levels of organization and building cohesive teams. Collaborate effectively with senior management and board members to align defined objectives to achieve mission critical results. Proven ability to create and execute effective recruiting, training and performance optimization strategies as well as leadership development for junior staff. Business savvy partner with ability to drive cross-functional collaboration and facilitate a cohesive team environment.

ACHIEVEMENTS

Leadership:

Managed multi-functional teams in multi-geographical areas with organizational efficiency and positive financial gains

Lead internal executive champion on numerous projects resulting in key, measurable improvements to the company – such as Outside Counsel Fees Reduction, Outside Counsel Guidelines and Policy, Comprehensive Contingent Workforce Management Manual, Compliance Platform and Policies, and Contract Management System

Budget Management:

Managed personnel budgets of $10 million with under budget efficiency

Managed project budgets with under budget efficiency

Resource Management:

Managed 100s of cases in litigation, including pre-litigation

Assessed budget reserves for liability and legal costs

Settled hundreds of matters at less than half the original demand by Plaintiff.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SEQUEL YOUTH AND FAMILY SERVICES, LLC (Left company due to Change in Control)

Huntsville AL (Worked Remotely from Home at above address)

Chief Legal Officer (Includes Chief Administrative Officer duties) (09.17 – 05.19)

Responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical Legal, Compliance, Risk Management, and Human Resources initiatives for a for-profit multi-state health and human services provider.

•Participated in the definition and development of corporate policies, procedures and programs and provided continuing counsel and guidance on legal matters and on legal implications of all types of matters. Overhauled the Compliance Platform and implemented new Risk Management procedures.

•Served as key lawyer/legal advisor on all major business transactions, including mergers, acquisitions, divestitures and joint ventures. Main legal resource on seven acquisition projects, including two acquisitions that resulted in overall EBITDA gain of $25 million

•Advised and counseled on numerous organic growth projects resulting in 10% organic growth during tenure

•Judged the merits of major court cases filed against or on behalf of the company working with the appropriate executive(s) to define a strategic defense and approval of settlements of disputes where warranted.

•Advised on legal aspects of the company’s financing, including assessing and advising on current and future business structures and legal entities.

•Provided advice and counsel on a broad range of legal topics to include: labor and employment law, contracts, subpoena responses, intellectual property, research compliance and risk management strategies

RESOURCES FOR HUMAN DEVELOPMENT, INC.

Philadelphia PA

General Counsel & Corporate Secretary (03.15 – 09.17)

Responsible for leading corporate strategic and tactical legal initiatives for a multi-state, non-profit health and human services provider.

COURT OF COMMON PLEAS, PHILADELPHIA COUNTY

Philadelphia PA

Arbitrator (03.14 – Present) – Sit on panel of arbitrators to hear and decide matters in dispute. Matters range from slip and fall to products liability to employment disputes. Render decisions for and against parties in dispute after hearing all of the evidence.

ABIONA LAW FIRM

Philadelphia PA

Of Counsel (08.13 – 08.15) – Handled labor and employment law matters involving various issues arising under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, Americans with Disabilities Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Pennsylvania Human Relations Act, New Jersey Law Against Discrimination and other State and Federal claims, up to and including class actions.

TEMPLE UNIVERSITY, FOX SCHOOL OF BUSINESS

Philadelphia PA

Adjunct Professor (08.07 – 05.19) – Taught undergraduate and graduate course on general legal issues important to the hospitality and tourism industry. Received Teaching Excellence of the Year Award in 2012.

SUNOCO, INC. (Left Sunoco pursuant to a buyout after company was acquired by new owners)

Philadelphia PA

Senior Counsel / Supervisor, Litigation (03.09 – 07.13) - Responsible for managing matters in litigation by overseeing activities of outside counsel. Managed a team of Sunoco legal professionals to process hundreds of matters in litigation or in Sunoco’s comprehensive claims process, including EEO, product liability, personal injury, environmental and ADA accessibility matters.

Senior Counsel / Supervisor, EEO Compliance Group and ADR Program (01.07 – 03.09) - Responsible for maintenance of Sunoco’s comprehensive ADR Program and EEO Compliance initiatives, including training, monitoring and enforcement; and verification of legal relationships between company and contractor workforce. Responsible for tracking EEO violation trends in the different Business Units.

Director, Human Resources (09/03 – 01/07) - Responsible for overall strategic planning of Human Resource Department for Sunoco’s Refining and Supply Business Unit, the largest within company. Provided oversight in establishment of objectives, strategies, plans, policies and programs in areas of workforce planning, employee selection and placement, EEO/Diversity, training and development, compensation, benefits, employee relations, labor relations and personnel policy administration. Directed Labor group in all contract negotiations, grievances and arbitrations, and in campaigns for unionization. Managed over 50 HR professionals across the US providing services to more than 3000 employees, including 2000 unionized employees. Developed HR metrics system and an Integrated Master Plan for People to optimize HR services provided to employees. Routinely acted as liaison between Corporate HR Department, Senior Vice President of HR, and the Senior Vice President of Refining and Supply.

Senior Counsel, Labor and Employment (01/01 – 09/03) - Responsible for handling employment and labor matters for the company’s five business units. Managed litigation handled by outside counsel, handled litigation of small matters in-house, conducted arbitrations as company’s lead counsel, and responded to NLRB, EEOC, DOL and state agency charges and proceedings.

EQUAL EMPLOYMENT OPORTUNITY COMMISSION 08/93 – 01/01

Philadelphia PA District Office

Senior Trial Attorney- Analyzed allegations of discriminatory treatment in the workplace under Title VII of the Civil Rights Act, Age Discrimination in Employment Act, Equal Pay Act, and Americans with Disabilities Act. Represented Commission in oral arguments and trials, including as first chair, coordinated interaction with Enforcement Units in three area offices to ensure effective investigations, successfully settled trial-ready cases prior to litigation for full equitable relief including back and front pay.

CENTRAL INTELLIGENCE AGENCY

McLean, Virginia

Analyst (05/88– 08/90) - TOP SECRET clearance; Completed extensive research to produce analysis in the form of current finished intelligence for the President and policy makers; solely responsible for providing biographical information for specific countries’ leaders.

EDUCATION

WEST VIRGINIA UNIVERSITY COLLEGE OF LAW, Morgantown, W. VA. - Juris Doctorate - May 1993

Activities: Black Law Students Association (Vice President); Member- Lugar Trial Association, American Bar Association- Student Division; Volunteer, Haitian Refugee Center Sant Refujie Ayisyin, Incorporated, Miami, Fl., and Kennedy Center Federal Correctional Institute

HAMPTON UNIVERSITY, Hampton, VA. - Baccalaureate of Arts, Political Science- May 1989

Magna Cum Laude

UNIVERSITY OF PENNSYLVANIA, WHARTON SCHOOL OF BUSINESS, Philadelphia PA

Executive Leadership Certificate, 2004

ORGANIZATION

Society of Human Resource Professionals, Member since 2004

American Bar Association, Member since 1995

National Bar Association, Philadelphia Chapter, Member since 2000

Leadership Philadelphia alum, 2002

FBI Community Partner, since 2003

Esquire Group Inc., President, since 2001

PRESENTATIONS

Guest Lecturer- Mediation, Arbitration and other Alternative Dispute Resolution tactics, Drexel University Law School, 2014, 2010 and 2008

Panel Participant- President Obama’s Emerging Energy Agenda, National Bar Association’s Annual Wiley A. Branton Symposium, 2009, 2013

Panel Participant – New Changes to EEO Law under Obama Administration, Montgomery McCracken Law Firm symposium, 2008

Panel Participant- Alternative Dispute Resolution, Philadelphia Bar Institute, Sept. 2008

Guest Lecturer – Modern Law Practice Issues for In-House Counsel, Drexel University, June 2008, 2011

Guest Lecturer – Cornell University, Industrial Labor Relations Department, March 2003 / April 2005/ Oct 2007

Admitted to practice in Pennsylvania, Federal District Court (E.D. Pa and Third Circuit), Application pending with District of Columbia and State of New York.

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