Upon the merger of BGC San Dieguito with BGC Oceanside, I'm grateful and humbled to be promoted to the position of CHRO for our newly-merged larger organization, Boys & Girls Clubs of Northwest San Diego. I am fortunate to have an outstanding team in providing HR support on a grander scale. We now have 8 Clubhouses, and numerous Specialty Programs for kids ages 2- 18 serving Camp Pendleton, Oceanside, Encinitas, Del Mar, Solana Beach, and Carmel Valley in the San Diego northwest coastal area.

Dynamic speaker/presenter to numerous audiences of more than 1,000 HR professionals, leaders, and job seekers, offering insightful guidance and lessons from business, leadership, and HR perspectives to help them gain self-confidence, lead inspirationally, understand their true business value, and contribute in significant and effective ways. Creator and “Drill Instructor” of the popular "Job Search Boot Camp", using U. S. Marine Corps mission-accomplishment principles for a successful job search approach. Additionally, since 2003 have assisted hundreds of clients in 1-1 job search assessments, identifying of passions, resume development, and overall job search marketing strategies.Member of the Core Leadership Team and one of many presenters for the ReStartSC Career Ministry at Seacoast Church in Charleston, SC from Aug 2013 through March 2018. This ministry combines best practices and experiences of business owners, career coaches, and hiring managers to offer assistance to all individuals in the community, regardless of their career history, level, or religious beliefs.

Using a servant leader approach combined with my extensive experiences in HR, nonprofits, leadership, and legal, I took the burden off of nonprofit leaders as they passionately and tirelessly pursued their missions. I led up the HR Division that provided HR services to nonprofit/social enterprise clients. We covered the full spectrum of HR to include strategic planning, employee engagement, full-cycle recruitment, compliance, benefits administration, payroll, compensation, leadership development, succession planning, and performance reviews. I partnered with executive leadership in creating a true collaboration to achieve their vision. Mission Edge invests in social interest organizations by providing HR/operational services and fiscal sponsorship, a social enterprise planning and acceleration lab, and skills-based volunteers that free these organization to do more good.

As the leader of a team that included a Risk Consultant, an HR Consultant, a Payroll Specialist, and an HR Coordinator/Workers Comp Claims Manager, I focused on developing authentic relationships with 70 different Business Owners to join with them in achieving their goals. I facilitated strategic discussions, while our team assisted the business owner in HR issue resolution, running payroll, and managing risk and liability in Workers Compensation claims. I facilitated over a dozen strategic sessions with business owners in evaluating where their business is now and guiding them in deciding what needs to happen to move towards their long-term visions. BBSI (NASDAQ: BBSI) - founded in 1951 - is a leading provider of business management solutions, combining traits from the human resource outsourcing and professional management consulting industries to create an operational platform that differentiates it from competitors. We help minimize organizational complexity and maximize profitability through defining the strategic direction, gaining operational efficiencies, leveraging the investment in human capital, and maximizing profitability. Aligned with the business owner’s goals and vision, they deliver to small companies the resources, value, and expertise of a large company.

As a Consultant and Coach, I focused on 3 areas: I. Personable, collaborative, and experienced Human Resources/Operations leadership, counsel and advice to business owners and senior organizational leaders, including knowledge of CA employment laws (i.e., sick leave, leaves of absence, Wage & Hour, O/T, Independent Contractor assessment, CFRA, Ban the Box, 2018 Hiring laws, etc.). Being a non-practicing attorney also gives me an edge working through the extensive legal regulations an organization has to deal with in order to be successful. I truly enjoy helping organizations find innovative ways to build high performing teams and achieve their mission. II. Career Coaching, especially to transitioning veterans and civilians uncertain with what to do with their careers. I know personally how difficult and frustrating a job search can be. And I want others to know they are not alone, and they can achieve their dreams. So, my program guides them through (1) self-assessment, (2) career direction, and (3) creating a brand of who they are.III. Coaching non-profit organizations on improving ways to achieve their mission of providing their services- (a) internal focus on HR/Leadership programs & organizational design, and (b) career coaching missions.Specialties include: human resources, strategic leadership, operations, employment laws, career coaching, employee engagement, conflict resolution, communications, compliance, talent management, total compensation & benefits, hiring/terminations, policy interpretation & implementation, anti-harassment, EEO, diversity & inclusion, health & wellness, safety, community relations, employee relations, vision development, vision forming, training, team cohesion, team building, career development, career management, military to civilian transition, job search guidance, recruiting, talent acquisition, 401k plans, Performance Reviews, High Performer Development, Succession Planning, CA employment laws.

As the COO, I was responsible for the oversight of all operational functions, including HR, employee development, IT, finance, strategic planning, processes and policies, marketing and communications. *I introduced concepts such as Fair & Just Culture and One Team, One Score in helping to cultivate a culture of high performance. *I provided guidance on fully revamping the entire performance appraisal process that opened up periodic year-round conversations between staff and their supervisors as well as built a comprehensive benefits package for the team. *I brought a daily personable and approachable presence to staff that encouraged personal ownership of blindspots and challenges, while seeking to grow a supportive and team-based culture that created innovative resolutions to conflict.*I facilitated staff discussions and encouraged all staff’s participation. Topics inlcuded: assessing data in determining Chamber programming, developing a new Customer Relations Database/System, transitioning to a higher value of benefits, recruiting processes, and IT infrastructure. *I deepened staff engagement through an open-door policy, regularly seeking their feedback, discussing pros/cons of ideas, and then acting on them.*I led the lengthy process for creating a year-round periodic performance review process that also sought to reduce managers' admin time and increase staff productivity*I mentored and collaborated with the Senior Vice President of Finance in monitoring financials and drilling down to the root causes of challenges. *I oversaw the Vendor relationships to maintain a smooth support experience for the staff. *I partnered with the Marketing department as I led the Senior Vice President of Marketing in the comprehensive efforts of branding and communicating with the membership and the public.

There are 2 divisions to the consulting services I provided- Leadership Consulting for organizations and Career Coaching for individuals at all levels (from Non-Management to Executive). My approach was very collaborative and combined industry best practices with my own experiences of more than 22 years in leadership and human resources.Working with Executives, Business Owners, and Organizational LeadersMy "true north" was always to collaborate with employers in addressing their biggest issues, whether it's hiring & keeping top talent, strategic planning and execution, resolving leadership conflicts, sorting through basic HR issues, or any of a myriad of challenges faced daily. Organizations usually fail to grow due to their own internal struggles. I brought a very experienced, professional, and practical approach that resulted in an intentional plan towards success that overcame those internal struggles.For Team profiling, I focused in on assessing individual strengths. In partnership with senior leadership, we evaluated and mapped out how each individual team member can best support the team's mission based on their strengths. Individuals don't make an organization succeed- teams do.Career CoachingI also worked with individuals at all levels, whether employed and seeking advancement or needing employment. Published survey after survey reveals that hiring and keeping top talent is a continual challenge for organizations. I worked with job seekers and those seeking career advancement to help them understand the employer's point of view and how to present themselves in a way that brings the right person to the right organization. I don't "do resumes". Instead, I included the resume within the wealth of experienced guidance and side-by-side assistance I offer. Together, we developed an approach to best bring out your accomplishments in a way that tie directly to what employers are needing.

(Default Practice dissolved as of July, 2014.) At a multi-site Atlanta law firm of approximately 30 attorneys and 200 employees, provided strategic direction and guidance to senior leadership, middle management, and frontline staff to assist in accomplishing their particular missions. My leadership style is very collaborative and I intentionally developed relationships and good camaraderie with attorneys and staff alike. Focusing on the needs of the business, I assessed the risks and then collaborated in creating win-win solutions in the areas of Leadership, HR, Facilities, Performance Management, and a multitude of other business operations.

As the HR Director for The Emory Clinic, I led the HR support team with a business perspective in order to best advise leadership on critical issues. These issues included 22 business unit restructures, ongoing leadership development, and performance management of the 2,400 staff to help ensure the right people were properly placed on the right teams in the right roles throughout the 77 clinics in Atlanta and north Georgia. I collaborated with leadership on engaging the workforce in a highly regulated healthcare industry, seeking to create the ideal patient experience, despite the existence of varying levels of “entitlement” throughout the staff. Chief amongst the results were: (1) addressing a clinic's challenge of meeting The Joint Commission's standards of care and the leadership by physicians in that challenge; (2) working side-by-side with the Associate Chief Nursing Officer at the foundational stages of a Care Transformation Council for The Emory Clinic; and(3) elevating the HR support structure to be significantly more strategic and advisory rather than a perceived barrier “Wall of No”.

Adeptly handled the HR responsibilities for more than 1,000 staff that included the HQ/Admin division of Emory Healthcare as well as the Wesley Woods Campus- the geriatric population of the Emory Healthcare system. This included multiple Independent Senior Living sites, a Nursing Home, and the Geriatric Hospital. *Cultivated respectful and supportive relationships with both HR and entity leaders. *Emphasized common sense, practical, and creative solutions while establishing trust with staff and management. *Capably dealt with numerous EEOC complaints and unemployment claims. *Developed and conducted training for leadership and staff, including methods for follow-through. *Mentored junior leadership in their roles, resulting in a high level of engagement and accountability amongst those leaders.

As the company’s first full-time HR professional, solely developed HR infrastructure (including payroll, recruiting, training, counselings, staff motivation, employee relations, safety, compensation, performance appraisal management, etc.) for an ecommerce company of 65 employees that marketed and distributed via the web restaurant supplies for “mom & pop” restaurants across the country. *Seamlessly transitioned payroll from a weekly HR burden to a biweekly smooth operation, increasing HR productivity by 500%. *Created new programs directed towards employee engagement, turnover reduction, and overall cost reduction. *Led complete revision of Performance Appraisal system from an ineffective, anniversary-based approach to a goal-focused, Pay-for-Performance system.

Provided professional, business-minded HR consultation to small businesses in the Hilton Head Island, SC area with no internal HR support, ensuring legal compliance and peace of mind for the owners/managers. Additionally, advised job seeker clients on career development and executive resume drafting. Conducted numerous public presentations as a Certified Identity Theft expert, assisting attendees in ID theft awareness and protection.

As the HR Director for a high-end private golf club with two Championship Tom Fazio-designed golf courses and over 160 employees, I performed all HR advisory and administrative roles, including handling payroll, benefits administration, legal compliance, hiring/disciplining/firing, employee relations, Employee Policy Manual interpretation, staff motivation, training, and employee files maintenance. Chief amongst the results were: (1) Researched, pursued, and received more than $14,000 in federal grant money for professional staff training, to include customer service, computer, and English as a Second Language (ESOL), substantially increasing employee engagement; (2) Re-wrote and updated entirely a 59-page Employee Policy Manual, allowing managers to better lead their teams with a framework of appropriate expectations; and (3) Co-founded an annual Employment Law seminar that served business owners and managers in the local county with engaging, informative expert speakers about relevant and timely issues.

Over 3 tours of duty, I acted in a variety of legal roles as a Marine Corps officer, including litigating as a military prosecutor, defense counsel, and Special Assistant U. S. Attorney, while also addressing consumer law, family law, Navy/U. S. Marine Corps regulations, environmental law, and preparing records for appellate review of courts-martial. Additionally, I served as a Commanding Officer of a headquarters/administrative company of 200 Marines in support of the Marine Corps Security Force Battalion. Of special note, while in command, I oversaw the logistical support for the responding counter-terrorist unit when they defended and secured the Khobar Towers in Bahrain following the devastating bombing of the Navy Barracks in June, 1996. The entire Battalion received a Meritorious Award for its performance following that terrorist attack. I resigned at the rank of Major in 2001 to pursue a fulfilling career in human resources.