Michelle Kovarik Email & Phone Number

Greater St. Louis Area

Greater St. Louis Area

Served as sole onsite practitioner to provide strategic HR support for 160+ employees, focusing on culture enhancement, employee relations, recruitment, and performance management (goals/objectives development).• Earned first ever St. Louis Post Dispatch Top Workplace Award by enhancing corporate culture and employee engagement with community giving, fun employee-led team activities, well-being initiatives and training.• Implemented summer internship program and high potential employee… Show more Served as sole onsite practitioner to provide strategic HR support for 160+ employees, focusing on culture enhancement, employee relations, recruitment, and performance management (goals/objectives development).• Earned first ever St. Louis Post Dispatch Top Workplace Award by enhancing corporate culture and employee engagement with community giving, fun employee-led team activities, well-being initiatives and training.• Implemented summer internship program and high potential employee training program.• Daily coaching of employees and managers related to compensation, performance management, employee relations, wellness, recognition and other.• Earned DDI Training Facilitation Certification and led courses such as “Communicating for Impact” and “Interviewing for Success,” as well as other developmental learning programs.• Recruited quality candidates from online sourcing and college career fairs and managed the entire employment process of new hire through onboarding. Created first onsite College Career Day branding and networking event for local college students.• Elevated the trust and respect of HR function by responding to every employee inquiry within 24-hours of receipt. Also enhanced engagement with HR. Show less

Greater St. Louis Area

Lead HR Generalist support for Corporate Headquarters, including benefits, compensation, recruitment, employee relations, employee wellness, performance management, training and development.• Designed, developed and executed HR policies, programs and solutions that maximized employee engagement/retention and minimized unwanted turnovers.• Developed sourcing and recruitment strategies to identify and attract qualified candidates, taking those candidates through entire process including… Show more Lead HR Generalist support for Corporate Headquarters, including benefits, compensation, recruitment, employee relations, employee wellness, performance management, training and development.• Designed, developed and executed HR policies, programs and solutions that maximized employee engagement/retention and minimized unwanted turnovers.• Developed sourcing and recruitment strategies to identify and attract qualified candidates, taking those candidates through entire process including offer and new hire onboarding.• Shaped workplace culture by creating employee events, coaching and boosting engagement. • Consulted and assisted with HR representatives from affiliate companies in establishing best practices and resolving various HR initiatives.• Partnered with department leaders to address complex employee relations issues, manager performance, and conduct disciplinary conversations.• Assisted in the strategy, design, communication and administration of employee benefit programs. Coordinated open enrolment process.• Assisted in creation of market pay compensation program by writing job descriptions and gathering market data to improve communication of useful decision-making information to managers.• Handled all employee issues after facility closure including separation package administration, benefits administration, change communication, and outplacement. Show less

Provided complete HR support of Learning, Incentives, and Research business units including recruiting, employee relations, compensation, employee development, and performance management.Led HR due diligence efforts and all aspects of HR integration for acquisition of a new company, comparing compensation, benefits, employment policies, and talent. Analyzed culture issues and began developing integration strategies.Implemented in-house, automated performance appraisal system… Show more Provided complete HR support of Learning, Incentives, and Research business units including recruiting, employee relations, compensation, employee development, and performance management.Led HR due diligence efforts and all aspects of HR integration for acquisition of a new company, comparing compensation, benefits, employment policies, and talent. Analyzed culture issues and began developing integration strategies.Implemented in-house, automated performance appraisal system throughout the Maritz Performance Improvement Company. Researched new hire orientation and on-boarding Best Practices and implemented throughout the company.Led complete career path project including job description creation, compensation analysis, communications, and implementation. Collaborated with senior leaders and middle managers, as well as compensation professionals to develop best-in-class process. Show less

Greater St. Louis Area

Taught HR Management course (4-hour/evening). Designed 9-week course lesson plans using various methods.

Strategic Internal and Benefits CommunicationsHR Communications Consulting, responsible for internal (employee) HR communications for one of the firm's largest clients. Managed $1.8 million budget and project team, including team staffing, process development/ implementation, project management, people management, client relationship building, and team leadership.Managed employee research activities including focus groups and employee surveys; used results to improve all aspects… Show more Strategic Internal and Benefits CommunicationsHR Communications Consulting, responsible for internal (employee) HR communications for one of the firm's largest clients. Managed $1.8 million budget and project team, including team staffing, process development/ implementation, project management, people management, client relationship building, and team leadership.Managed employee research activities including focus groups and employee surveys; used results to improve all aspects of employee communications. Provided oversight of employee benefits intranet site redesign; testing results showed a 74 percent improvement in user satisfaction and effectiveness over previous site.Streamlined communication process by maintaining regular interaction with client, labor relations, legal staff, graphic design, and interactive media for intranet development.Applied internal communications principles to client's specific HR communications needs, culture, and employee population, ensuring alignment of key messages with mainstream employee communications campaigns. Show less

Implemented, interpreted, and communicated welfare benefit plans and company-sponsored programs. Managed four welfare vendors, ensuring quality service, tracking eligibility, and adherence to performance measurements.Managed all aspects of benefits annual enrollment process including implementation of internet enrollment.Researched, investigated and resolved difficult case situations arising from changes in plan design, laws, and union negotiations. Cases required extensive plan… Show more Implemented, interpreted, and communicated welfare benefit plans and company-sponsored programs. Managed four welfare vendors, ensuring quality service, tracking eligibility, and adherence to performance measurements.Managed all aspects of benefits annual enrollment process including implementation of internet enrollment.Researched, investigated and resolved difficult case situations arising from changes in plan design, laws, and union negotiations. Cases required extensive plan knowledge, vendor interface, and compliance to legal issues.Ensured plan/program interpretation was consistent and accurate.Implemented complete change of outsourced vendor for COBRA administration resulting in increased customer service, decreased cycle time, and reduced cost to company. Show less

Managed 70 call center representatives in providing quality customer service and delivery of Health and Group Benefit Administration. Served as plan provision and project expert resource for all representatives' questions, problems and escalated participant calls/issues.Ensured all service level guarantees to client were met and exceeded. Team customer service scores consistently in 95% range and 99% of all calls answered in 30 seconds.

Initially served as customer service representative responsible for answering employee/retiree questions.Customer service ranking consistently in the 95% range.Subsequently promoted to Project Leader after 6 months, assuming responsibility for coaching and for managing the representatives' project work.

Bachelor Of Arts; Science And The Arts, Organizational Behavior

Master Of Science, Human Resource Management, Human Resources Management And Services

Coursework: Compensation, HR Law, Training and Development, Financial Analysis, Employee Relations