Director of Human Resources and Labor Relations

Heather N. Tyndall-Best

919-***-**** • adnkqq@r.postjobfree.com

Experience:

Director of Human Resources, January 2019 – present The Florida Education Association, Tallahassee, Florida Serve as the Director of Human Resources for the teacher and education staff professional union in Florida. Advise and support elected officers and the leadership team regarding employment and business best practices including relationships with local union leaders, recruitment and selection practices, organizational structure, internal and external communications, risk management, benefits administration, and workplace culture. Manage relationships between FEA’s leadership team and the internal staff union. Ensure adherence to the collective bargaining agreement between FEA and its staff union. Manage disciplinary and grievance processes. Coordinate internal and external investigations of harassment, discrimination, and retaliation. Revise recruitment and selection processes to generate qualified, diverse candidate pools. Create and deliver management training tools and resources and increase professional and associate staff access to professional development opportunities. Manage the administration of all employee benefits (health, dental, vision, FSA, EAP, disability, AD&D, life, and two retirement plans), including internal and external audits and procurement of health and retirement benefits and services. Oversee and manage large event planning activities for executive cabinet meetings, governance board meetings, delegate assemblies, regional conferences, and training academies. Serve as a member of the collective bargaining team. Oversee administration of employee reimbursements. Supervise associate and professional staff.

Senior Director of Executive Operations, August 2016 – January 2019 The Florida Department of Management Services, Tallahassee, Florida

Serve as a member of the executive leadership team and manage operational needs across nine diverse divisions. Advise and support executive and senior management regarding organizational structure, risk management, allocation of resources, implementation of policies, employee and data security, legal strategies, internal and external communications, human resource management, and all things that impact organizational culture. Serve as a leader in crisis management and oversee high profile matters. Assist with developing and maintaining relationships with key external stakeholders. Create agency responses to internal and external audits and ensure appropriate follow-up. Spearhead the absorption and integration of other agency personnel and functions. Build and implement agency-wide management and employee training plans. Assist with the development and presentation of legislative budget requests. Manage the executive budget and oversee division spend plans, ensuring accurate classification of expenses. Oversee and manage agency-wide travel expenses and public-facing reporting. Work closely with the Office of General Counsel to revise and implement delegations of authority based on statutory authority. Supervise administrative and managerial staff.

Director of Human Resources, March 2015 – August 2016 The Florida Department of Management Services, Tallahassee, Florida

Serve as the Human Resource Officer for a state agency with 800+ fulltime employees. Formulate and implement human resources policies and best practices to assure compliance with state and federal employment laws and collective bargaining agreements. Advise executive leadership regarding best use of personnel resources and workplace trends. Drive employee and agency performance through performance and talent management. Develop and implement employee relations practices and policies that create a positive and healthy work environment that fosters productivity and professional growth. Manage recruitment and selection processes to generate top talent applicant pools. Recommend appropriate levels of disciplinary action to ensure consistency across nine divisions. Design and facilitate training in employment policies in the areas of sexual harassment, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, Title VII, diversity, employee classification, disciplinary action, performance and talent management, discrimination, retaliation, and compensation. Coordinate investigations of complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation; prepare and review final reports and monitor findings and resolutions of investigations. Review and resolve grievances filed by union employees. Ensure compliance with Florida’s public record laws. Supervise and lead Office of Human Resources employees and liaisons and create efficiencies in HR business processes.

Deputy Director of Human Resources, October 2013 – March 2015 The Florida Department of Management Services, Tallahassee, Florida

Manage all aspects of employee and labor relations across diverse agency. Resolve and coordinate compliance with agency policies, collective bargaining agreements, and state and federal EEO laws. Design and implement internal FMLA processing and tracking procedures. Develop and facilitate supervisory training addressing leadership skills, employee performance reviews, disciplinary actions, harassment, discrimination, and other EEO issues. Ensure appropriate employee classification and FLSA compliance. Assist and guide management during hiring decisions, resolution of employee grievances, development of corrective action plans, and issuing disciplinary actions. Conduct investigations into employee complaints of discrimination, harassment, retaliation, and violence in the workplace. Draft communications to employees regarding leave benefits, disciplinary actions, position modifications, ADA accommodations, and other employment inquiries. Revise human resources policies. Manage unemployment compensation claims, including representation of DMS during appeal hearings.

Associate Attorney, August 2009 – October 2013 Sniffen & Spellman, P.A., Tallahassee, Florida

Attorney in an employment and labor defense firm involved in all stages of civil litigation. Emphasis on representing employers, including state agencies, local government entities, colleges and universities, credit unions, school districts, nonprofit agencies, and private companies in employment discrimination actions in judicial and administrative forums. Strong concentration on defending Title VII, FLSA, Whistle-Blower, FMLA, First Amendment, ADA, FCRA, and ADEA claims. Represent employers during mediation and other types of settlement negotiations. Take and defend depositions of parties, material witnesses, and experts. Prepare memoranda of law, motions, and discovery documents. Defend school districts during IDEA and Section 504 administrative and judicial proceedings.

Advise and assist employers regarding all aspects of employee relations including hiring and termination decisions, development of employee policies and procedures, and management of employee complaints and discipline issues. Coordinate and conduct investigations into complaints of discrimination, harassment, and retaliation. Advise and assist executive personnel with organizational planning and strategic planning. Create and revise employee handbooks, including FMLA and FLSA policies, as well as, anti- discrimination, anti-retaliation, and hostile work environment policies. Draft employment agreements, severance agreements, non-compete agreements, and other written communications with employees related to FMLA leave, disability accommodations, discipline issues, and workers’ compensation benefits. Conduct employee and management training regarding harassment, discrimination, and retaliation in the workplace. Conduct audits of hiring, firing, and compensation practices.

Law Clerk, January 2008 – June 2009 Sniffen Law Firm, Tallahassee, Florida

Extensive research and writing for employment, education, and insurance defense. Significant emphasis on Title VII, FCRA, ADA, ADEA, IDEA and the Rehabilitation Act of 1973 discrimination litigation. Research Florida Statutes regarding constitutional and discrimination issues. Draft motions, correspondence, and discovery. Create document timelines for fact-intensive cases.

Education:

National Council for Behavioral Health Mental Health First Aid, certification, June 2018

Florida State University College of Law Tallahassee, Florida Juris Doctor, cum laude, May 2009

University of Mount Olive Mt. Olive, North Carolina Bachelor of Science in Psychology, May 2005

Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice, May 2005

Professional Memberships:

Tallahassee Women Lawyers, Board of Directors July 2019 – June 2021

Florida Association for Women Lawyers, Board of Directors July 2015 – June 2017

Tallahassee Women Lawyers, Board of Directors July 2015 – June 2017; Member February 2010 – present; Appointed Committee Chair, 2011 – 2012 4

Society for Human Resources Professionals, Member March 2015 – April 2017; January 2019 – present

Big Bend Homeless Coalition, Vice President of Board of Directors, January 2013 – December 2013; Chair of the Personnel Committee, October 2010 – December 2013; Chair of the Strategic Planning Committee, January 2013 – December 2013; Board of Directors October 2010 – December 2013

Publications:

“Do You Understand the Fair Labor Standards Act, Exempt v. Non-Exempt Employees,” The 850 Business Magazine (December 2013)

“Don’t Get Caught Up in the Tip Pool Whirlpool,” The Florida Restaurant & Lodging Magazine (June/July 2013)

“Overview of the Equal Pay Act,” The Florida Society of Association Executives’ publication, Source Magazine (July/August 2013)

Speaking Engagements:

Guest Speaker, Florida Technology Council, CIO Mentorship Program, October 2019

Guest Speaker, Tallahassee Active Lifelong Leaders’ Justice Day on the United States Constitution and the Bill of Rights, Leadership Tallahassee, February 2013

Guest Speaker, The Florida State University’s College of Business Human Resource Management Class on the legal impact human resource personnel have on businesses, November 2012

Guest Speaker, Hot Topics in Employment Law, Leadership Tallahassee, Building Better Boards, Spring 2011

Bar & Court Admissions:

The Florida Bar, admitted 2009

U.S. District Court, Northern District of Florida, admitted 2010

U.S. District Court, Middle District of Florida, admitted 2010

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