Melissa Cole Email & Phone Number

Lombard, Illinois, Us

Responsible for HR oversight of the Portland area TriMet paratransit contract, consisting of two driver locations and a call center location.

Niles, Il, Us

In my collaborative role with department heads, I have significantly enhanced employee management practices and organizational productivity. My dedication to ensuring adherence to state and federal laws, while aligning strategic goals with executive teams, has fortified our workplace foundation. Through targeted coaching sessions and training workshops, I've facilitated leadership development, honing vital communication and managerial skills. Additionally, my role in conducting sensitive and confidential investigations into employee grievances has reinforced a disciplined, fair, and uniform process across the organization.My strategic initiatives have resulted in a 47% reduction in staff turnover, driven by effective employee engagement strategies such as recognition programs and cost-neutral events. I successfully mentored one HR professional and one administrative associate, facilitating their career advancement from HR Representative to HR Generalist due to their demonstrated growth and capability. By eliminating unnecessary costs through optimizing existing tools and securing significant annual savings, I enhanced operational efficiency. These efforts have not only slashed turnover rates but also fostered a more engaging and productive workplace culture, ultimately boosting organizational performance.

Dayton, Ohio, Us

In my role, I've built strategic partnerships across HR to align management and employee services with organizational goals while respecting union constraints. My involvement in benefits administration has been comprehensive, covering everything from open enrollment and presentations to billing reconciliation and integrating these processes into our HRIS system. I've taken the lead on crucial compensation functions such as wage surveys, job evaluations, and salary structure development, ensuring these elements support our strategic HR framework.One of my significant achievements was managing a critical HRIS upgrade project seamlessly after the sudden departure of the HRIS Analyst. I spearheaded the programming of new wage and benefit details, successfully transitioning to a new production environment two days ahead of schedule, despite the challenges of limited training and a tight timeline. By maintaining the integrity of our HRIS and collaborating effectively with HR, payroll, and IT departments, and our vendor, I have strengthened internal and vendor relationships and ensured our compensation programs and HRIS support our organizational objectives efficiently.

Cincinnati, Ohio, Us

In my role overseeing the entire employee lifecycle from onboarding through to exit, I have effectively managed HR processes and directly supervised an administrative associate. This included delivering specialized training on the communication of concerns, the application of progressive disciplinary measures, and adherence to FMLA and ADA regulations to supervisors and senior personnel, ensuring compliance and enhancing management capabilities within the organization.I spearheaded a transformative approach to recruitment, achieving significant cost savings by leading our full spectrum recruiting efforts, from entry-level to executive roles. I saved the company over $100,000 in external recruitment fees within six months by replacing agency outsourcing with a robust passive candidate recruitment strategy, utilizing strategic sourcing, and engaging candidates through effective networking, significantly boosting our operational efficiency.

Lombard, Illinois, Us

As a seasoned HR manager, I've led a dynamic team across two locations, ensuring the effective execution of critical HR functions including employee relations, labor relations, training, performance management, recruitment, legal compliance, leave administration, and ADA accommodations. My role involved developing and implementing HR policies and procedures that adhere strictly to federal, state, and local regulations, ensuring our practices meet the highest standards of compliance and efficacy.One of my key achievements was overseeing the recruitment and onboarding processes for paratransit operators under a significant $25M MetroAccess contract, managing logistics for 265 vehicles and more than 600 employees across two counties in the Washington DC metropolitan area. This role required maintaining continuous staffing for around-the-clock operations, successfully keeping workforce levels within 3% of the 600-employee requirement, thereby always ensuring operational continuity and high service standards.

Lombard, Illinois, Us

Collaborated closely with the Director of HR in the development and execution of innovative human resource policies and procedures, streamlining operations across sixty-seven union and non-union Transit locations in fourteen states, positively impacting around 5,000 employees. My strategic approach delivered comprehensive HR solutions and essential training, aligning closely with organizational goals and enhancing operational efficiency.My commitment to effective conflict resolution and legal compliance was demonstrated through my guidance to General Managers on managing employee relations and navigating complex legal frameworks like FMLA and ADA. I successfully mediated an EEOC dispute, ensuring no cost to the organization, by implementing targeted anti-harassment and discrimination training for employees at the involved location. This not only resolved the immediate issue but also strengthened our workplace culture against future legal challenges.

Lombard, Illinois, Us

As a proactive member of the HR team, I spearheaded the sourcing, implementation, and management of crucial programs that enhanced our operational efficiency and compliance. These initiatives included an Employee Hotline, computer-based training modules, applicant tracking systems, and FMLA tracking tools. My efforts in fostering robust relationships with key clients, employees, and stakeholders have been instrumental in enhancing our HR functions and supporting our workforce effectively across Ohio, Missouri, and Texas, particularly in managing FMLA and ADA accommodations for 600 employees.My role also involved leading thorough investigations into employee disputes, thereby mitigating legal risks and devising effective resolution strategies. This responsibility requires a keen understanding of employment law and a commitment to maintaining a fair and compliant workplace. Through these initiatives, I have not only ensured seamless execution of human resources solutions but also upheld the integrity of our employment practices, contributing significantly to our organizational success.

Lombard, Illinois, Us

As the coordinator of our corporate compliance program, I led the implementation of stringent measures to uphold our code of business conduct and ensure compliance across training and Consent Decrees. My role included educating over 86,000 employees across multiple international business units, including the USA, Canada, UK, Ireland, and Scotland, on ethics and regulatory requirements. This comprehensive training helped in embedding a culture of integrity and adherence to legal standards throughout the organization.My responsibilities also entailed the oversight of the Employee Ethics and Compliance Hotline, a critical tool for supporting ethical practices and identifying potential areas of concern. By analyzing detailed reports from the hotline and HR compliance data, I identified trends and informed the HR and Legal teams of critical areas that required immediate remedial actions or mitigation strategies. This proactive approach not only safeguarded our company against potential legal risks but also reinforced our commitment to ethical business practices.

Bachelor Of Science (B.S.), Human Resources Management

Associate Of Applied Science (A.A.S.), Paralegal Technology