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Starting as a consultant in 2010 and joined full time in 2013, assumed full P&L responsibility for all Human Resources functions within the Company. This includes talent acquisition, training and development, compensation and benefits (total rewards), teammate engagement, safety and company compliance while managing a staff of 7. Lazy Dog is a growing upscale casual multi-state restaurant chain employing more than 3,000 teammates.• In less than 3 years achieved industry leading retention with turnover less than half the industry standards resulting in a saving of more than $1.5M annually• Currently on track to save nearly $2M in workers compensation (half way through policy period) premium costs over those incurred in 2013.• Achieved a better than 90% teammate rating 2 years in a row on the survey question “I would recommend Lazy Dog as a great place to work”. Also currently listed as a Glassdoor Best Place to Work with a rating over 4.0.Leveraged teammate engagement from design and delivery of innovative Leadership workshops resulting in a historical same store sales growth and average check per guest well above the industry average.

MK Associates was established to help those small and medium sized companies navigate their way through the mountain of HR issues facing them today (especially in California). From talent acquisition to unemployment and everything in between, I am using my 20+ years of experience in strategic HR processes/systems to help companies transform the people side of their business into a competitive advantage. While I have been lucky enough to win several awards (Best Place to Work, Best HR Practices, etc.) I am most proud of the partnerships I have built with my "internal" customers and the trust established with team members at all levels. This trust has lead to record improvements in productivity, retention and profitability (in very tough industries) by motivating employees to give the discretionary effort we all have to give when we truly feel connected with our work.

MK Associates was established to help those small and medium sized companies navigate their way through the mountain of HR issues facing them today (especially in California). From talent acquisition to unemployment and everything in between, I am using my 20+ years of experience in strategic HR processes/systems to help companies transform the people side of their business into a competitive advantage. While I have been lucky enough to win several awards (Best Place to Work, Best HR Practices, etc.) I am most proud of the partnerships I have built with my "internal" customers and the trust established with team members at all levels. This trust has lead to record improvements in productivity, retention and profitability (in very tough industries) by motivating employees to give the discretionary effort we all have to give when we truly feel connected with our work.

2009 to 2010Responsible for talent acquisition, placement, orientation and talent/organizational development, labor relations, compensation, benefits, total rewards, unemployment and employee services. Ensure company compliance with current, applicable immigration and labor laws. Total Human Resources/P&L responsibility for developing, delivering and directing all HR functions in the Company. Managed Human Resources staff of 10. BJ's is a growing $500M upscale casual restaurant chain with over 100 locations and 12,000 team members in 13 states.* Established HR as a primary member of the executive team and used our engaged workforce as a competitive advantage* Reduced management turnover (to just 15%) and hourly turnover (to just 65%), both record lows and industry bests. This resulted in an annual savings of over $1,000,000 in replacement costs. Awarded "2009 Best Practices" by industry data experts.* Increased management staffing to 100% while opening 14 locations resulting in superior financial results compared to the industry* Developed new health care enrollment system that increased participation and saved $50,000 in enrollment costs* Designed and delivered Team Member Climate Survey (all levels), Executive Deferred Compensation Plan, innovative program to control health care costs through wellness strategy, new annual appraisal systems for entire company including 360 appraisals for director level and above, state of the industry Performance Management Procedures (coaching and discipline process) and a comprehensive company investigations process resulting in dramatically increased engagement by team members at all levels

2008 to 2009Directed all Human Resources functions for the Company including talent acquisition, total rewards and benefits, talent development, employment legal, union avoidance and change management. Managed Office, Safety and Human Resources staff of 14. Ready Pac is a nearly $1B fresh cut fruit and produce company with over 6,000 team members with 5 plants in 4 states.* Designed and implemented process to mitigate immigration related issues (included temp agencies) resulting in zero immigration related investigations and costs* Reduced workers compensation expense for the enterprise (9 month saving exceeded $100,000) with introduction and management of innovative safety initiative* Used experience and background to mitigate wage and hour exposure in all locations resulting in zero EEOC or DFEH charges* Established and managed a union avoidance plan in all locations resulting in a more engaged workforce* Managed senior leadership change in 3 of 5 plants to protect sales and profits in times of transition

2006 to 2008Developed, delivered and/or managed all aspects of human resources policies, objectives, and initiatives. Responsible for talent acquisition/development, placement, orientation and labor relations, total rewards, benefits, workers' compensation and employee services. Insured company compliance with current, applicable labor laws. Total Human Resources/P&L responsibility. Managed Human Resources staff of 8. Mimi's Café is a $700M casual restaurant company with 135 locations and over 12,000 team members in 22 states.* Designed and delivered company Human Resources Tools (recruitment, appraisals, interview guidelines, background checks, orientation, coaching and discipline, appraisals, terminations, exit interviews, annual employee survey and unemployment) resulting in increased manager confidence, improved team member engagement and dramatic improvements in retention at all levels* Reduced management turnover and hourly turnover to record lows and industry bests in just two years (talent acquisition savings in over $750,000 per year). Awarded "Best Place to Work" 2007 and 2008.* Increased management staffing to 98% while opening 30 locations. This helped fuel same store financial improvement during each of the quarters of my tenure * Implemented new health care system that increased coverage and saved $1,000,000 in less the two years* Established and delivered first ever management e-learning program to company resulting in dramatic improvements in competencies and tracking* Implemented new systems in mitigation process for employee concerns, immigration, wage and hour and HR audit resulting in 50% drop in employee legal claims (savings of over $500,000 in year one)

Total Human Resources/P&L responsibility for all HR functions in the Company -Recruitment and retention - all levels, total compensation, incentives and payroll, benefits (Health, Life, 401k, Stock Options, etc.), company insurances (Workers' Compensation, Property, Directors & Officers, etc.), employee relations, executive/team leader development, unemployment, strategic/succession planning, manage HR staff of 6, Payroll, Human Resources Information Services, HR legal. Office manager for home office. At one time Diedrich Coffee was the second largest specialty coffee company on the world with over 600 locations (domestic and international) and over 4,000 team members in 21 states. * Created company Human Resources department (HR policies, wage systems, incentives, benefits, training manuals) without expense of consultant help* Moved the HR department from processing function to strategic partner (grew company from 14 locations in 1997 to over 500 worldwide in 8 years)* Managed HR side of business through 1 acquisition and 2 mergers lending trust and stability to the growing organization* Helped build senior management team by recruiting 3 CEOs, 2 CFOs, 9 vice presidents and 8 directors ensuring the company had the appropriate infrastructure to support the growth strategy* Saved over $800,000 in health care insurance costs in less than a year* Named Employee of the Year by franchisees* Improved retention 30%, saving the company nearly $500,000 annually in costs

Responsible for total rewards program design, communication and implementation, corporate talent acquisition, substance abuse program design, delivery and management, enterprise labor relations responsibility (coordinated involvement with five labor unions, contract negotiation, grievance solution and benefit issues), coaching and discipline process (Program design and training process), mitigating legal expenses and coordinated unemployment process, designed and managed process to resolve employee conflict. Managed HR staff of 8. Employment responsibility for over 21,000 associates in 580 locations in 8 states. Thrifty Payless sold to Rite Aid in 1997.* Successfully managed employment side of 3 acquisitions; 41 stores (1,200 employees) in 1991, 126 stores (3,800 employees) in 1992 and 500 stores (15,000 employees) in 1995 * Never lost an employment lawsuit and reduced legal expenses each year in position* Designed and delivered innovative store employee incentive process to recognize superior performance and build sales/profits (e.g. Right Now, Caught in the Act, Cashier Olympics) resulting in improved engagement* Implemented position control process for TPI resulting in improved fill rates and labor budget achievement* Lead employee transition in California office closure - 98% re-employment in initial 90 days of unemployment, zero employment litigation * Managed company incentive plans and accruals (all levels) - 25 separate plans over $10 million in total payout.* Successfully defeated 2 organizing campaigns in key locations stopping union efforts in all other locations