Operations Manager

MARK C. VAN LAUWE

**** *. **** ****** **** 563-***-****

Davenport, IA 52807 m05r42@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Senior human resources executive with outstanding record of achieving results in fast paced environments. Generalist with significant strength in strategy, compensation, benefits, performance management, recruiting, employee and labor relations. Demonstrated track record of functional leadership with large results-driven organizations such as GE, Deere & Co., and Rolls-Royce. Skilled negotiator, problem solver, communicator who achieves business objectives. Experience with public, private, domestic and multinational companies.

EXPERIENCE

OYSTAR Packaging Technologies - Davenport, IA 04/08 - 05/10

Global manufacturer of hi-speed machinery for the packaging industry.

Employee Relations Director

Reported to the CFO. Responsible for all Human Resources activities for union plant of over 300 employees.

• Rewrote salary employee handbook, first update since 1992.

• Reduced grievances by over 50% by working with supervisors and union members.

• Reduced WC cost by being main point of contact with vendor and Union.

• Redesigned performance management program for salary employees. Provided training to all salary employees and managers.

• Negotiated labor agreement with local union; settlement costs less than 2.5%.

• Negotiated performance evaluation system for hourly represented employees.

Exide Technologies - Manchester, IA 05/05 - 03/08

Global business $2.7 billion serving the complex stored energy systems needs of its customers; one of the world's largest producers, distributors and recyclers of lead-acid batteries.

Manager, Human Resources

Reported to Plant Manager. Responsible for all Human Resources activities for non-union plant of over 400 employees.

• Rewrote and classified all hourly and salary job descriptions.

• Implemented new HRIS systems for all company locations in the United States.

• Installed succession planning for salary positions.

• Reduced WC costs by working with location nurse and local doctors.

• Interviewed and selected new TPP’s for all health care programs and changed benefits to a PPO plan for medical, dental and EAP, lowered vendor cost.

• Trained supervisors and managers on state and federal laws, company policies, compliance, interviewing skills and communications.

We Energies Corporation - Milwaukee, WI 07/02 – 11/04

Largest supplier of energy in Wisconsin; $2.5 billion in sales with 6,000 employees.

Manager, Labor and Employee Relations

Reported to Sr. VP of Employee Relations. Responsible for all Human Resources activities for over 6,000 organized and salary employees. Managed a staff of 19.

• Worked with four national labor unions, six locals. Negotiated two labor agreements involving combination of contracts due to company merger.

• Developed and implemented a redesign of the HR function, maintained head count but redirected employees to HR Service Center.

• Negotiated labor agreements with settlements at less than 3.0% total cost increase.

Rolls-Royce Corporation - Indianapolis, IN 08/99 – 09/01

Global $8 billion dollar power systems provider, designing, manufacturing and supporting a range of products and services for air, sea and land.

HR Manager, Turbine & Compressor Operations

Reported to VP of Operations. Responsible for all Human Resources activities for 3,500 organized hourly employees and 3,500 salary employees. Managed a staff of 4.

• Organized transfer of OBU production structure including SAP, 5 Step, Six Sigma and Kaizan.

• Installed new job classification system – reduced 2700 job classifications to 280.

• Instituted supervisory training for 165 supervisors, resulting in better understanding of Operations goals and people management.

• Only HR employee trained by Roll-Royce in lean manufacturing.

HR Consultant 08/99 – 04/00

Coordinated transfer of all benefits programs from parent company to new freestanding corporation. Designed all new managed health care programs, 401(k) program funds transfer, life insurance, stop/loss insurance.

Ball – Foster Glass Container, LLC. - Muncie, IN 09/92 – 07/99

$2.1 billion domestic glass container manufacturer.

Manager, Benefits and Pensions

Reported to VP of Human Resources. Responsible for all employee benefit programs 10,000 salary and hourly employees in 18 locations.

• Reduced health care costs by $3,000,000 by use of managed care and managed utilization.

• Successfully negotiated health care contracts with five national providers.

• Successfully consolidated 401(k) funds from several companies to one provider.

• Successfully transferred funds and assumed responsibility for all retirees, LTD and PTD employees from prior parent companies.

Manager, Labor Relations and Litigation 09/92 – 08/96

Reported to VP of Human Resources. Responsible for all activities involving labor relations and litigation for 9 locations and 6,000 employees.

• Successfully negotiated national contracts with five unions.

• Company advocate for numerous arbitrations involving contract language, discharge and benefits.

• Successfully presented Company position in numerous EEOC charges concerning discrimination, alleged ADA violations and FMLA charges.

• Co-Chairman for QIP+ program driving quality commitment and empowerment to all employees.

GE Appliances 12/87 - 09/92

Manager, Union/Salary Relations - Bloomington, IN 10/89 – 09/92

Provided leadership in the management of labor relations. Included daily administration of labor agreements, spokesperson during local negotiations, liaison between shop operations and union leadership. Negotiated local contract with largest IBEW local in all of GE.

• Reduced Workers’ Compensation cost by $750,000 in two years.

• Worked extensively with teams for the production area insuring compliance with union contracts and company objectives.

• Installed new hiring, probation and orientation procedures. Retention of newly hired employees increased to over 90%.

Manager, Hourly and Nonexempt Compensation – Louisville, KY 12/87 - 09/89

Responsible for administration of nonexempt and hourly compensation practices related to rates of pay, salary, hiring, recall, layoff and rebalance of workforce.

Additional:

Direct report to Vice-President of Range Manufacturing to provide relation’s support to employees working in Mexico, Great Britain and Holland. Worked with corporate headquarters General Electric to obtain visas, housing, tax shelters and worked with expatriates.

John Deere Harvester Works - East Moline, IL 05/80– 04/87

Supervisor, Wage Employees Compensation 05/80 - 04/87

Supervised programs to administer job classifications for all wage employees, rates of pay, wage employee benefits and negotiated contract provisions involving hiring, recall and layoff.

• Coordinated local bargaining on wages, job classifications, and special pay provisions.

• Handled grievance procedures up to and including arbitration.

• Co-Chairman of Corporate Task Force on wage administration for new manufacturing concepts – J.I.T., T.W.E.S., and P.F.K.

• Conceived and developed new payment system for cellular manufacturing in use in all factories.

• Served on national negotiations teams in 1979, 1981, 1984 and 1987.

Deere & Co., Moline, IL 08/74– 04/80

Held various positions in production supervision, industrial engineering and corporate human resources department. Performed wage compensation audits worldwide.

EDUCATION

BA Economics & Finance, Augustana College

MA Labor & Industrial Relations, St. Francis University

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist 2000

Certified Compensation Professional 2005

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