Jeff Gaston Email and Phone Number

I develop and execute Talent related strategies which align with our business agenda and support our business leaders in developing relationships and our staff. For example, I developed and executed a new employment model to address seasonality of the business unit resulting in increased bottom line revenue and the creation of a seasonal workforce we have leveraged YoY. Most recently I have led the strategy development, implementation/change management plan, and roll out of testing a cutting edge performance management system within my business unit. The anticipated results are more real time feedback, reduced time spent by business on performance management and testing the removal of performance rating system. I independently manage and deliver all key HR processes in addition to Talent strategy development, business analytics, as well as leading multiple client and Talent priorities for a national professional services practice.I am a business partner and trusted advisor to senior level business leaders and work with leadership to effectively manage and resolve complex employee relations issues which includes minimizing legal and financial risk for organization, while encouraging open dialogue between stakeholders and other relevant parties.Additionally, I lead and facilitate the talent review process to assess an employee’s current performance, value proposition, career trajectory and develop strategic action plans for our practice. I am also responsible for leading all aspects of the year-end compensation process with business leaders including survey completion, analysis and advising on final decisions.

Responsible for managing and delivering upon key HR processes (e.g. on-boarding, deployment, assignment management, global mobility, coaching/career development, employee relations, performance management, promotions, and salary administration) for External AuditCollaborate with leaders to strategically deploy practitioners to clients/leadership roles; utilize in-depth knowledge of their skills/interests to recommend new assignments & development/leadership opportunities.Support roll-out of key HR programs/trainings; execute midyear/annual performance management and compensation processes; manage performance/project/employee relations issues as well as employee concerns.Provide coaching and learning/career development advice to Managers/Senior Managers; make linkages to mentors/networking & leadership/development opportunities, especially for top diverse talent.Conduct long & short term workforce planning; create/implement hiring & succession planning initiatives.Support yearlong new hire and global mobility assimilation process; conduct trainings; participate in on-boarding processes as senior HR leader; coach, mentor, and manage offshore India Talent Delivery Support.

Counsel employers in all areas of employment law, with particular emphasis on wrongful termination, Title VII, Americans with Disabilities Act, Family and Medical Leave Act, and both state and federal wage and hour lawsDevelop and deliver human resource management, employment law seminars and training to member companiesRepresent member companies in EEOC and CCRD civil rights charges of discrimination Draft administrative appeals to the Industrial Claims Appeal Panel

Represented national financial institutions and servicers in a variety of litigated matters before state and federal courts involving real property, security interests, contracts, condemnation, deficiency actions, title claims, foreclosures and mechanic's liensRepresented secured and unsecured creditors in reorganization and liquidation proceedings before the United States Bankruptcy Court for the District of ColoradoMaintained a heavy litigation case load with the primary responsibility drafting complaints, answers, motions, responses, replies, status reports, and other court filings, interviewing and preparing witnesses and taking depositions regarding real estate litigation in both state and federal court with limited supervisionSuccessfully negotiated multiple third party set asides of state foreclosure actions

Interviewed client and witnesses and drafted position statement in opposition to charging parties race discrimination claim resulting in CCRD issuing a no probable cause determination Wrote legal updates published nationally on the Jackson Lewis website-Colorado Bans Workplace Discrimination Based on Sexual Orientation-Growing Number of States Passing Family Military Leave ActsResearched and prepared client memorandum analyzing the applicability of the Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA) to habitually injured ski industry employeePrepared affirmative action plans for submission to the OFCCPConducted case and statutory law research on FLSA and Colorado Wage and Hour laws related to flexible workweek scheduling and advised associate on client compliance

Successfully mediated, with limited supervision, resolutions to several small claims court disputes involving payment for services rendered and dispute over money loanedResolved through mediation a misdemeanor criminal complaint which arose from an altercation between high school students. This resulted in written agreement that established boundaries for their relationships and a process for independently solving future disputes