Ian Kessler Email & Phone Number

Wilmington, Nc, Us

Resigned from Elme to spend time with family. Focused on professional development, performing some consulting engagements and now seeking new employment opportunity.

Bethesda, Maryland, Us

Elme Communities, formerly known as WashREIT, exited the commercial market and is transforming in to a multifamily owner/operator REIT, including expansion to additional markets in the Southeast, presently Atlanta. Utilizing my strategic and tactical multifamily experience, I partnered with leadership in a consulting capacity, working with both external consultants and internal teams to build out our operating model and create a comprehensive HR program constructed for the multifamily industry.This included increasing the corporate staff by 40%, redesigning the employee benefits program, building an HR team and creating a model to transition communities to internalized management from third party and train them. Successfully transitioned first three communities in the fall of 2022 and exited company.

Washington, Dc, Us

Privately-held multidisciplinary real estate firm, providing integrated real estate services to the Washington metropolitan area. In complement to its development, construction, sales and financial divisions, the firm owns and / or manages a portfolio in excess of 10,000 units of residential real estate.• Lead human resources, benefits and payroll operations for over 650 employees including subsidiaries and affiliated organizations, such as District Electrical Services and WCS Construction.• Migrated payroll to new platform, including implementation of HRIS and employees self-service.• Benchmarked employee benefit offering to industry and market; completely overhauled benefit programs to offer improved, competitive and cost-effective programs to employees.• Implemented comprehensive wellness program, integrated with benefits, to drive behavioral health and wellness changes across employee population. Recognized as one of area’s healthiest employers.

Newton, Massachusetts, Us

At the time, privately-held real estate investment and property management company. Owned and managed a portfolio of apartment communities in the Eastern US, at one time 45,000 units with continual dispositions. Company sold.• Managed results-oriented team responsible for providing human resources, benefits, payroll and training solutions. Initially supported 800 employees (down to 200 at departure) in 70 locations (down to 20+) on the East Coast. • Developed and conducted training programs across portfolio for all levels of staff, encompassing performance coaching, harassment and diversity awareness, wage and hour compliance and other compliance topics. • Overhauled benefit programs, including broker change, implementation of new benefits providers, redesign of health offerings, merger and consolidation of 401(k) plans and launch of benefits programs for spin-off company.• Implemented Kronos automated timekeeping system, replacing traditional time clocks and integrating with payroll, resulted in reduced payroll errors and enhanced reporting. Developed and conducted training for all staff.• Successfully mediated and/or resolved discrimination charges against company.• Introduced social media recruitment techniques and redesigned Careers portal on company website; created company profile on LinkedIn and Facebook to enhance visibility for recruitment efforts.• Reduced turnover through improved candidate selection processes, enhanced on-boarding and manager training.

Us

At the time, one of the largest publicly traded wholesale subprime mortgage companies. Acquired by C-BASS, a private company jointly owned by Radian and MGIC, both publicly held private mortgage insurance companies. Company ceased operations in Oct 2007 and filed bankruptcy.• Led human resources team providing strategic, consultative and tactical services to national employee base, including recruitment, training, employee relations, compensation and strategic planning.• Conducted in-depth assessment of HR department - staff, roles and processes - resulting in consolidation of roles, process maps for improved efficiencies and leaner and more effective team.• Coordinated development and management of week-long account management on-boarding and training program; proven effective by increased sales by new employees and lower turnover. • Managed and directed large scale reorganization and consolidation efforts, resulting in elimination of close to 800 positions over 9 months. Developed communications, produced severance letters, coordinated logistics and ensured compliance with applicable local and federal laws.

Rockville, Md, Us

At the time, privately-owned developer and manager of resort communities, golf courses and retail centers. Managed HR for acquired businesses engaged in real estate, vacation rentals and mortgage banking. Businesses sold upon owner’s death.• Provided diversified human resources support to managers and employees, including business strategy, compensation planning, recruitment and performance management and coaching.• Led integration efforts of newly acquired real estate brokerage, vacation rentals and mortgage businesses.• Participated in monthly business review meetings with President, CFO and other business leaders.

Ca

At the time, a Canadian-based, leading North American technology company providing electronic solutions to financial and health insurance markets, the Canadian healthcare and government sectors; included in the S&P/TSX Composite Index. Company sold. Formerly called BCE Emergis.• Led a team of HR managers that provided consultative support to leaders across all lines of businesses.• Partnered with and advised senior leaders in US and Canada on strategic human resource and business issues impacting a high growth company involved in multiple acquisitions.• Directed benefits management, policy and procedure development, talent management, compliance, and facilities operations for multi-site US operations.• Collaborated in cross-functional project teams to optimize sales compensation, M&A activities, change management initiatives and streamlining and reorganization activities.• Led successful HR due diligence and integration for four acquisitions and three dispositions, effectively collaborating with senior leaders of other functional areas.• Directed a distributed team in a successful integration of compensation and performance management programs, employee benefit plans and policies and procedures for multiple US entities following Emergis’ acquisition into US.

Herndon, Va, Us

At the time, a leading provider of application software and solutions to project businesses and professional services firms, serving over 8,000 organizations worldwide. Joined a consulting team responsible for sales demonstration and implementation of a newly developed HRIS module of their enterprise application.• Conducted product demos and advised, implemented, trained, and consulted on business process services to clients using the Human Resources modules of Deltek’s Costpoint enterprise software.

Washington, Dc, Us

National trade association of the US investment company industry; members are mutual fund companies.• Managed recruitment, HRIS implementation, federal/state compliance issues, policy and procedure memos and manuals, compensation planning, and employee relations issues. • Partnered with Mercer to conduct, produce and distribute profitable compensation survey for members companies. • Developed ICI’s first employee handbook, updated performance management program and process, implemented formal compensation program with salary grades and effectively sourced and recruited new staff members.

Us

At the time, the oldest and one of the largest regional banks in the mid-Atlantic area, based in Washington, DC. • Recruited high volume of candidates for positions in branch management and the finance divisions in DC Metro area. • Revised and updated employment department procedural manual.

Gaithersburg, Maryland, Us

At the time, a recently IPO'd start-up biotechnology firm with less than 100 employees and no products on market. Laid off when initial drug Respigam was was not approved by FDA and company retrenched. Sold to AstraZeneca for $15.6 billion in 2007.• Established initial human resources department following company’s IPO. • Developed policies, procedures, and employee handbook; administered benefit programs, managed performance review program, implemented compensation program, counseled supervisors and employees, and conducted nationwide high-volume recruitment effort for specialized scientists.

United States, Us

At the time, one of the 10 largest general contractors in the country and member of Forbes 100 largest private companies list. Worked for OMNI Construction, merit shop subsidiary, which merged with George Hyman Construction, union subsidiary to from Clark Construction, under Clark Enterprises.• Managed employee benefit plan administration, recruitment, HRIS, and employee relations. Developed policies and procedures; and conducted employee orientation and exit processing.• Managed biweekly corporate payroll and weekly field labor payroll and provided human resources and benefits management services to a subsidiary labor company prior to integration into parent.

Master Of Business Administration - Mba, Information Management Systems

Bachelor Of Science - Bs, Human Resources Management

Bachelor Of Arts - Ba, Sociology