Ryan Gruber, Sphr, Clrp Email & Phone Number

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Serves in a confidential capacity on all issues related to collective bargaining. Prepares employer proposals, briefs board members on negotiating positions, and serves as lead negotiator in contract discussions with the bargaining unit.Partners with Executive Director on matters of classification and compensation, ensuring that compensation strategies are in line with agency targets and able to recruit and retain key employees.Led efforts to create the agency's first wellness program, promoting physical activity through a PTO-based incentive structure. Secured $5,000 in outside funds to create a wellness room on site with fitness equipment for employee use.Manages all CDA human resources programs. Led efforts with union to change health insurance vendors on two separate occasions in the last five years, resulting in better coverage for employees and costs to the employer in 2018 that are now lower than in 2013.Advises department directors on issues regarding FMLA and ADA issues, including facilitation of the ADA interactive process and ensuring that agency needs are met through any offer of reasonable accommodation.Heads communications and branding efforts, including website redesign and rewriting all website content to be more accessible and welcoming to target audiences.

Sioux Falls, South Dakota Area

Spearheaded process to rewrite and negotiate bargaining agreement between musicians and management, using persuasive skills to secure benefits such as sick leave and short-term disability coverage for colleagues that were not previously provided to musicians.As a member of the Board of Directors, interacted with influential community members to build positive relationships and assist with fundraising efforts.Represented the symphony at dozens of community-based events each year, speaking to large crowds in a variety of settings, from concert halls to fundraisers, nursing homes to public schools.Performed hundreds of concerts in incredibly varied environments throughout South Dakota, working closely with multicultural audiences of all ages and income backgrounds including a special focus on South Dakota’s Native American population.

Kansas City, Missouri Area

Valencia, Spain

Miami/Fort Lauderdale Area

Served as primary media contact for a high-paced legislative office, routinely engaging in persuasive and audience-specific communication with internal and external stakeholders to advance the legislator’s policy objectives.Built and nurtured a coalition of diverse stakeholders to enact Wisconsin's first set of comprehensive changes to Smart Growth law, reducing compliance costs for local governments while retaining the integrity of the initial law.Resolved complex matters with state agencies on behalf of aggrieved constituents, diffusing constituent anger and frustration by emphasizing areas of agreement and effectively solving problems.Worked with constituents, legislators, lobbyists, and the media in an environment frequently requiring high levels of discretion and confidentiality.Coordinated and reviewed the workload of other staff and all interns, ensuring that matters were handled appropriately and that messaging to constituents, legislators, and media was clear and consistent.

Bachelor'S Degree, Political Science And Government

Fulbright Fellowship, Music Performance

Music Performance, General