Jake Koepsel Email & Phone Number

Chicago

Human Resources leadership and direction to facilitate culture change at the official regional planning agency for the seven counties and 284 municipalities of northeastern Illinois. Agency creates comprehensive long-range regional plans with strategies to address transportation, housing, economic development, open space, environment, and other quality-of-life issues. Leadership of initiatives to enhance management processes: repurposed talent acquisition / development and performance management focused on critical competencies; guidance and mentorship to diversity & inclusion working group; collaboration; communications; engagement; employee relations; transformation and enhancement of Human Resources team, function and capacity from administrative and reactive to consultative and professional.

Chicago

Human Resources leadership and direction to drive operational turnaround of major private not-for-profit. Leadership of initiatives to meet challenges to traditional revenue sources in a newly competitive environment; design and implementation of management processes, management development, process improvement and organization restructuring to more effectively deliver services through highly diverse decentralized employee population. Largest community action agency with up to $300 million annual funding with multiple large programs. Successfully positioned organization for rapid infusion of over $100 million of ARRA Stimulus funding with 25% increase in employment and subsequent soft landing re-sizing after grants ended. Ongoing operational turnaround to retain programs and funding in an increasingly difficult economic and legislative environment, as funding sources constantly changed program award criteria and requirements, and to recreate the organization to enable it to succeed in today’s environment and into the future.

Greater Chicago Area

Human Resources consulting and executive coaching.

Greater Chicago Area

Human Resources leadership and direction to support rapid growth through the acquisition and consolidation of six (6) confectionery companies within two years. Corporate start-up; sourcing, integration and development of R&D, IT, finance & accounting, marketing, sales, human resources, safety, quality, manufacturing and distribution functions. Branded and general line confections. Annual sales approached $800 million with 5,000 employees from original platform acquisition of $150 million with 500 employees. Privately held Favorite Brands International acquired by Nabisco in November 1999; Nabisco acquired by Kraft in December 2000.

Greater Chicago Area

Strategic and tactical human resources management to support repositioning the division. Division restructured as business unit to manufacture and market special quality steel bar for the automotive, heavy transportation, forging, metal finishing and fastener markets. Division annual sales $500 million with 2,500 employees. Functional, project and team leadership to introduce non-traditional human resources strategies, design and implement new strategic human resources processes and re-engineer existing processes.

Greater Chicago Area

Key participant in organizational change supporting operational turnaround of division; human resources program management for field sales and service, operations and division headquarters staff in the design, manufacture, sales, marketing and distribution of market-leading office equipment, related products and services.