Gregory Stephenson, J.D.

Employee & Labor Relations Director

Accomplished legal executive with 20 years of experience in labor and employee relations. Demonstrated aptitude for successfully steering company’s navigation through state, federal, and industry legislation to optimize employee management. Effective communicator with a solid track record of performance in contract negotiations, arbitrations, union disputes, disciplinary hearings, and mediations. Proven talent for developing policy, procedure, and processes that improve employ and labor relations while driving company progress toward objectives.

•Negotiation & Lobbying Tactics

•Business Strategies

•Legislative Expertise

•Employee & Labor Relations

•Government Affairs

•Conflict Resolution

•Process Improvement

•Public Policy

•Regulatory Compliance

Career Experience

Director – Labor & Employee Relations, 92nd Street Y, New York, NY 10/2017 to 08/2019

Advised on all labor and employee relations matters including both day-to-day recommendations and long-term best practices. Provided guidance and counsel in contract interpretation, negotiations, performance management, and grievance and arbitration hearings. Aided senior leadership team in resolving HR issues, contractual provisions, and corporate policy violation.

●Steered collective bargaining agreements including contracts, negotiation, and interpretation.

●Consulted leadership team on impact of labor laws and union contractual obligations on program and operational initiatives.

●Delivered pragmatic, best practice counsel for managing employee relations including motivation, leadership, and performance management.

●Oversaw all aspects of the discipline, grievance, and arbitration processes including finalization of disciplinary charges.

●Compiled witness testimony, factual evidence, and executive summaries to present for review to Associate Executive Director and executive leadership team.

Community Representative, Jamaica Community Partnership, Jamaica, NY 08/2015 to 09/2017

Represented Community Partnership Program (CPP) at public events, conferences, and family meetings. Reported insights gathered from community outreach to Child Safety & Family Team to address needs, strengths, and resources. Identified tangible lessons from workgroup interactions and conferences.

●Facilitated a supportive and comfortable environment for families before and during conferences that encouraged open dialogue.

●Reported on Administration for Children Services (ACS) monthly zone debriefings to program leadership.

●Alerted Conference Workgroup co-lead and Children Services to concerns from community representative reports and conferences.

Manager – City Government Relations, Consolidated Edison Company, New York, NY 05/2012 to 03/2015

Advanced company legislative agenda and protected interests. Negotiated and administered complex legislative provisions. Guided the development and implementation of strategies to meet objectives.

●Built and maintained relationships with NYC councilmembers, legislators, committee members, the office of the mayor, and the NYC City Law Department.

●Monitored local, regional, and national affairs and policies to identify potential impacts to company.

●Prepared documents for public hearings and reviewed processes before administrative and legislative bodies including company position papers, executive briefing books, memoranda, and public testimony.

●Coordinated integrated company positions on legislative issues with federal and state company representatives to protect brand image and meet business objectives.

●Filed state and city regulatory lobbyist and client reports to ensure company’s compliance with lobbying rules and regulations.

●Collaborated with Corporate Communications unit to implement company safety, health, and environmental programs.

●Oversaw the administration of the Company Political Action Committee.

Labor Relations Administrator, Consolidated Edison Company, New York, NY 03/2005 to 05/2012

Counseled line organizations on UWU and IBEW union contract interpretation, disciplinary matters, and grievance handling. Advised senior leadership teams and 25 human resource generalists.

●Contributed to Negotiations Team to identify trends and best practices in labor relations.

●Served as company representative at unemployment hearings with the Department of Labor.

●Managed the labor arbitration process including evidence collection, witness preparation, oral presentations, material exhibits, and brief submissions on appeal.

●Trained over 50 new managers, field supervisors, human resources managers, and external hires annually on labor relations.

●Established consistent application of labor relations among field organization with creation of corporate policies and procedures.

●Interacted with EEO, Law Department, and union business agents to ensure consistent application of corporate labor relations policies and procedures.

Additional experience includes Labor Relations Administrator for MTA in New York.

Education

Juris Doctor

Texas Southern University, Houston, TX

Bachelor of Arts in Criminal Justice

Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Associate of Arts in Political Science

Florida A&M University, Tallahassee, FL

Professional Training & Certifications

Certificate, N.A.A. Federal Sector Arbitration Law & Practice, Federal Mediations & Conciliation Service

Certificate, Program on Negotiation, Harvard Law School

Certificate Program on Contract Administration, Cornell University

Certificate Program on Collective Bargaining, Cornell University

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