Project Manager Human Resources

STEPHEN E. HEISE, SPHR

** ******* ****** ***/***-8612

Westerly, RI 02891 *****.*****@*****.***

Executive Management – Human Resources

PROFILE

Results-driven senior leadership experience as a Change Agent, Project Manager and Team Leader in corporate & multi-location human resources, internal consulting, strategic planning and organizational development. Recognized for exceptional training, coaching and mentoring of cross-cultural management and professional workforces in world-class entertainment, health and consumer-facing market spaces.

Proficient as a multi-project manager in facilitating cultural development, staffing strategies, resource allocation, compensation planning, executive relationship building and tracking key performance metrics.

Effective hiring, training, mentoring, supervision, deployment and development of top-notch talent at field levels in all operating policies and procedures.

Extended motivation of teams to achieve peak performance, streamline corporate growth, maintain top quality standards and meet aggressive business objectives.

Solid expertise in negotiating and administering complex contracts and agreements with top management and key decision-makers; fully familiar with employee and labor relations, wage studies, union/non-union negotiations and positive conflict resolution.

Creative implementation and execution of successful internal training resources, benefits administration, and succession plans; formation of incentive programs and facilitation of M&A integrations.

Fully familiar with federal and state labor legislation, including AA, ADA, EEOC, FMLA and Worker’s Compensation, as well as related software packages.

Extensive exposure to cross-cultural dynamics and multinational business practices in Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America and North America; wide expertise in Disney Institute strategies and processes.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

Large-Scale HR Operations ● People Management ● Relationship Building ● Performance Metrics ● Compensation Planning ● HRIS Assets ● Change Management ● Management Coaching/Mentoring ● Risk Management ● Compensation & Benefits ● Process Improvements ● Staff Training & Development ● Policies & Procedures ● Enterprise Solutions ● M&A Integration ● Operational Streamlining ● Policy Development ● Talent Management ● Union Relations ● Workplace Integrity ● Disney Institute ● International Business

EMPLOYMENT & ACCOMPLISHMENTS

Foxwoods Resort Casino and MGM Grand at Foxwoods, Mashantucket, CT 2006 – 2012

Vice President – Human Resources

In charge of building and managing a 50-person HR team and $10 million budget in supporting 10,000 gaming and government employees at the largest casino in North America. Utilized expertise in designing, launching and updating mission-critical personnel and training programs in recruiting, hiring, operating policies, benefits, compensation, staff professionalism and leadership recruitment.

Received the “Corporate Leader Award” in 2011 from the Connecticut Alliance for Business Opportunities.

Set up and maintained a “Foxwoods Five Star Service” training program to optimize customer service; also instituted a 5-part Leadership Training series, “The Making of a Five Star Leader.”

Launched a staffing plan that attracted 20,000 applicants and yielded 2,000 new hires for the new MGM Grand in 2008.

Established an online applicant self-service system with HR Logix, eliminating paper applications.

Saved $9 million by cost-shifting medical expenses to employees and reducing corporate paid portion over 3 years.

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Reduced staff turnover from 20% to 14% through leadership training, recognition programs and higher staff engagement.

Implemented pre-shift meetings and templates to enhance interdepartmental communications.

Designed, implemented and updated a monthly HR matrix report on key metrics, such as hires, promotions, turnover, leaves, grievances and other areas.

Won union elections against the United Food and Commercial Workers (UFCW), International Brotherhood of Operations Engineers (IBOE) and United Auto Workers (UAW).

Personally negotiated the first UAW Dealers contract under Tribal law and first contract with the IBOE – Local #30, as well as a labor agreement to cover employees of the Tribe’s fire department with the IAFF.

Tropicana Casino and Resort, Atlantic City, NJ 2005 – 2006

Vice President – Human Resources

Responsible for managing a group of 22 HR professionals, $1 million labor budget and $2 expense budget for this leading US entertainment complex prior to corporate shutdown and sale. Coordinated 190 employees in security, investigations, fire safety and wardrobe departments with a $9 million budget.

Conceived and delivered a new multi-topic management development program, “Leadership Tropicana Style,” for over 500 leaders.

Decreased turnover from 36% to 32% through a series of HR initiatives, such as leadership promotion and elimination of low performers.

Redesigned the training room to reflect the history, culture and service standards of Aztar Corporation and Tropicana Casino and Resort.

Shifted from a Pay-for-Longevity system in 2005 to support a Pay-for-Performance platform in 2006.

Established and paid out the first-ever Quarterly Customer Service bonus program in 2006.

Enhanced the employee recognition program to a monthly basis, including 8 “Employee of the Month,” 1 “New Employee,” 1 “Supervisor,” meritorious awards and retiring employees.

Wyndham International Inc., Dallas, TX 2004 – 2005

Regional Vice President – Human Resources

Oversaw 4 Area HR Directors and 60 staff in supporting over 6,000 employees and servicing over 5 million guests each year through over 40 regional locations with this multinational hospitality leader.

Designed and implemented a monthly HR Pulse report on various metrics, along with different training and operational programs.

Implemented the SHRM Learning system training via eLearning to develop the HR bench strength.

Launched High-Performing Work Teams OD Intervention and delivered it to 7 properties.

Coordinated the displacement and relocation of 585 employees after Hurricane Katrina.

Guided the reduction-in-force until the sale of the property, including the closing of a 500-person corporate office.

Selected to present at the National Society for Human Resource Management conference in 2005.

Mercy Health System of Oklahoma, Oklahoma City, OK 2002 – 2003

Vice President – Human Resources

In charge of all HR functions at a 400-bed acute care hospital and 8 clinics with 3,000 employees and 1,000 physicians. Motivated and supervised 22 professionals with a $1.5 million budget. Also led collateral teams at the 78-bed Oklahoma Heart Hospital and 250-bed hospital with a total of 1,400 workers and 250 physicians.

Revamped the recruiting & orientation process that clearly communicated the history of the group’s faith-based mission.

Focused on leadership development and increased staff retention by 3%.

Effectively planned and administered a 150-person RIF.

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BelmontCorp, a GE company, Houston, TX 1999 – 2001

Vice President – Human Resources

Responsible for leading an 8-person group in all personnel operations at Belmont Village Assisted Living senior apartment facilities during a period of rapid growth. Managed EEOC, worker’s compensation, benefits, payroll and unemployment issues.

Played a key role in opening up and staffing 6 new communities throughout the US.

Implemented a new retention bonus initiative for both front-line and management employees.

Improved the interview-to-hire ratio from 18-1 to 4-1 with a 1-stop on-boarding process.

Walt Disney World Company, Lake Buena Vista, FL 1992 – 1999

Business Manager – Professional Programs/Disney Institute

Created innovative training resources and supervised trainers in delivering unique benchmarking seminars on a variety of critical leadership topics for this world-class training solution provider. Rapidly grew the training team from 4 to 40 professionals with a $1.7 million labor budget and $2.1 million expense budget. Held full P&L accountability.

Ranked at the 95th percentile of all 4,000 leaders after 360-dgree feedback companywide; also rated as a “Partner in Excellence” at Walt Disney World for Top 3% quality performance.

Recognized among the Top 10 of 150 presenters at the National Society for Human Resource Management conference from 1996-1998.

Greatly expanded the corporate benchmarking seminar business from $2 million to $15 million annually with more program content, new formats and penetration of international market segments.

Coordinated the recruitment and development of a highly-rated facilitator pool to meet market demand.

Promoted to this position through levels of increasing impact and influence, such as Manager of Compensation and Senior Professional Staffing Representative, because of excellent job performance and skills in people management.

EDUCATION

University of Maryland, College Park, MD

M.B.A. Degree

Rider University, Lawrenceville, NJ

B.S. Degree in Commerce; graduated Cum Laude.

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING & ACTIVITIES

- Hold current key gaming licenses in the states of New Jersey and Connecticut.

- Proficient in Myers-Briggs, DiSC and related personnel programs; fully familiar with MS Office Suite, People Soft HRIS, MS Project, Org Plus and related applications.

- Current Board Member of the Connecticut Red Cross, Granite Theatre of Westerly and United Way of Southeastern Connecticut Campaign Cabinet.

- Former Board of Directors member of numerous organizations, such as Boy Scouts of America – SE Connecticut, American Conference on Diversity – Atlantic County, Southern NJ Development Council and many others.

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