I am an authentic and pragmatic business leader with a unique HR background. My work history has afforded me many opportunities to learn beyond traditional HR and to develop an entreprenuerial spirit with a keen eye for business and long-term business strategy. I thrive in a leadership environment tied closely to values and process. I enjoy finding new solutions to age-old problems - moving past the "box of band-aids" to instead finding the root cause and working with discipline to long-term, sustainable improvement.I value:Truth and Knowledge - I am always seeking the right answer, the whole truth, and knowledge for the sake of truth telling.Growth and Learning - I have a passion for learning and teaching and strive for continuous personal growth and improvement.Service and Excellence - I believe in serving others, volunteering to help, doing what you can with what you have, never settling for mediocre, and posessing an uncompromising demand for doing your best.Independence and Agency - Ownership and accountability, The ability to go your own way and be your own person, and culitivating self over "should."I am a certified senior HR professional with 15 years of experience coming from the Energy, Media, and Hospitality industries before gaining uncommon and exclusive experience in the infant Cannabis industry beginning in 2015. Realizing that many HR headaches are originate from inexperienced managers, I created Blue Raven Training, LLC to offer HR and Leadership Management consulting services tailored to First Time Managers. My time as an entreprenuer allowed me to build an extensive business network in Denver and within the SHRM community. I served as Director in the Mile High SHRM chapter and also as President for the local organization, Creative Connections.Now I return to the workforce after maternity leave in a pandemic. I have relocated, but am open to remote or in-person opportunities. Start-ups and passion projects are also my jam...I am excited to get back to work!
Blue Raven Training Llc
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Hr Consultant; Speaker; And Leadership ConsultantBlue Raven Training Llc 2018 - PresentI am a senior, certified HR professional with progressive experience in the full-cycle of HR issues. I lead passionately and believe that HR is not simply employed to organize the humans in the business, but to be a compassionate resource to those humans working for the business. Subscribing whole-heartedly to Simon Sinek's influence, I believe that when it matters most, "Leaders choose to eat last."I currently specialize in leadership and manager training/development, helping businesses working to reach 100-300 employees and are presently in their growth stages. My experience as an HR leader in the rising cannabis industry lends me to be uniquely qualified to help new license holders, current license holders worried about losing top talent to out-of-state businesses, and any business looking to add more leadership potential and depth to their organization. • Policy creation and implementation • Employment law and records compliance • Employee handbook • Termination and exits • Reduction in Force (RIF) and Downsizing/Layoffs, M&A activities and due dilligence • Documentation and Record Keeping • HR metrics and reporting • Leadership development curriculum development and customization • Training Management Program development and tracking • Corporate Communications and Employee Relations • HRIS design, implementation, training, administration • Orientation and onboarding • Employee investigations, EEOC, ADA compliance • Training and employee development • Talent Management, Performance Management • Job descriptions and FLSA classifications • Benefit Administration and Design • Benefit Negotiation and Broker relationsAs a systems-thinker, I learn quickly and can observe your organization's inner workings to diagnose a plan-of-action. Contact me today to discuss how I can help! Some of my previous clients : Sensi Magazine, The Farm, SixChairBlue, & Emerge Professional
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Director - Emerging Leaders + College Relations (Volunteer Bod Position)Mile High Shrm May 2019 - Sep 2021Superior, Colorado, UsThe Emerging Leaders Committee is a subcommittee within Mile High SHRM’s membership group. This team is committed to working with and supporting those leaders new to the professional workplace and those experienced but transitioned into the Human Resource Management space. This support is designed to create connections and provide resources that will assist members in beginning and growing a successful career within the various facets that encompass the Human Resource umbrella. The group is to be a vehicle that fosters personal and professional growth. -
President - Creative Connections (Volunteer Position)Creative Connections 5280 Nov 2019 - Mar 2020The largest MeetUp group for Creative and Business Professionals to connect - specifically focusing on Denver creative professionals Creative Connections brings people together in the Denver Metro Area. Visit us at www.meetup.com/creative-connections
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Freelance Operations AssociateResultsresourcing, Llc Jan 2018 - Jun 2018New York, New York, UsFreelance support services for specialized freelance staffing platform. I provide HR/recruiting support, social media and business development content and templates, as well as client and customer communication and correspondence to support Operations. -
AdvisorInspyre School Oct 2017 - Oct 2017INSPYRE School will be the first professionally-focused, hands-on trade school in cannabis with industry certification. I have recently partnered with the school to focus on workforce development and KSA's specific to the cannabis industry. I can't wait to see how they legitimize the industry further through best-practices and industry-wide standards.
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Director Of Human ResourcesThe Farm Jun 2016 - Jul 2017As the Human Resources Director at Skinny Pineapple, I oversaw implementation and coordination of employee services, policies, programs, and development throughout the quickly growing and changing organization in the new and developing Cannabis industry. The Director role included management and oversight of the employee benefits program, coordination and management of the recruiting, hiring and badging process, and management of employee relations and leadership development initiatives. The Director of HR also oversees the HR Coordinator function, supervising and directing all benefit administration activities and recruiting activities. By design, my HR Department was proud to be deeply intertwined with the Compliance and Education department so that employees throughout the organization felt supported and educated in their career progression and growth from “seed-to-sale.” Key results:*Overhauled performance management system and developed holistic “Seed-to-Sale” competency based performance review system that aligned employee performance with the organization’s mission and values.*Developed a Leadership Development program through a “CORE Manager’s Group” meeting 1x per month to learn and develop as leaders, both formally and informally.*Coached, trained, and focused Directors and Middle Managers on various techniques to develop and encourage growth in front line staff and first-time managers.*Coordinated process documentation, captured in formal SOPs.*Implemented employee engagement surveys and productivity measures for managers to keep a pulse on commitment of front line staff.*Negotiated benefit plan move mid-plan year to a partially self-funded model in the large-group market.*Navigated employees through the addition of new HDHP and HSA plans.*Defended EEOC charges after workplace investigations and HR interventions.
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Hr ManagerThe Farm Oct 2015 - Jun 2016I was promoted from the HR Manager role - focusing on middle managers and front-line employee relations - to the Director of Human Resources in June 2016. The Director role oversees all Human Resources activities at Skinny Pineapple and is a member of the leadership team.
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Hr Specialist, Process Systems DivisionCameron, A Schlumberger Company Dec 2014 - Aug 2015Houston, Tx, UsMy position as HR specialist at Cameron started at the beginning of the oil price drop in 2014 and dealt primarily with employee relations, investigations, and reductions in force. I managed HR and Employee Relations for the Northern Region of the Process Systems division. My customer base was located across 6 branch locations in the western US to a total of about 300 employees in my client group. Key Results:• Managed seven RIF cycles since December of 2015 to include plant closure and WARN notices. • Oversaw any major disciplinary investigations to include written documentation, terminations, criminal prosecution and legal monetary collection for various employee and manager offenses. • Participated in SAP project to overhaul HRIS system and forms for all HRBPs across the organization. • Started the “One Step Further” initiative organization wide.• Supervised the Office Management function and oversaw office activities for remote Denver office. -
Contract RecruiterXcel Energy Apr 2014 - Oct 2014Minneapolis, Minnesota, UsMy position as a contracting recruiter for Xcel Energy allowed me the opportunity to learn about staffing and talent acquisition in a large company setting. Xcel is also a regulated utility with unique staffing challenges to include OFCCP compliance, bargaining unit hiring and benefits, and nuclear power generation plant hiring. In my short time at Xcel I learned about a vast variety of energy sector jobs. My time was split into corporate recruiting and nuclear recruiting where I sourced and recruited top talent at all levels and positions for the organization. Key Results:• Learned and executed the compensation analysis process in order to execute offers.• Developed key partnerships with diversity organizations that target both minority candidates and veteran candidates for employment.• Learned the documentation process within the candidate tracking system in order to be OFCCP compliant. -
Office Manager/Hr GeneralistRepower Systems Se Dec 2009 - Feb 2014Hamburg, DeMy position at Senvion was a dual role where 80% of my time was spent on HR activities and 20% of my time was spent on Office Management and administrative duties, including the supervision of the Office Services Coordinator. In the HR role, I was the field-to-headquarters liaison and managed the employee relations between field personnel and the corporate office. I was responsible for the full-cycle recruiting and onboarding process, departure process, and all benefit administration, records compliance, and employee communication for the US subsidiary. My position was also the primary program manager for various HR programs and initiatives throughout the year and served as a team member for HR Strategic initiatives. In the Office Manager role, I was responsible for management of the corporate travel program, corporate fleet and vehicle program, and marketing and PR initiatives. Key Results:● Created and implemented the company’s hiring process. This process included a full-cycle approach from position requisition through the candidate selection and interview stage to the pre-employment process and on-boarding steps.● Developed and implemented new employee orientation and training program. Administered training program schedules, vendors, and database records for all field personnel.● Authored employee handbook and quarterly employee newsletters.● Developed employee engagement programs to include an Employee Wellness Program, Tuition Reimbursement Program, and an Employee Assistance Program.● Managed two HRIS/Payroll system implementations from the design stage through setup completion and employee training stages.● Managed creation, standardization, and consistent adherence to departmental job descriptions. Created performance management program to include a yearly job description update process. -
Office AssistantLocal Insight Media Jun 2007 - Oct 2009My position at Local Insight Media directly managed HR and Corporate Communication department projects and assisted with various program implementations that required employee training and facilitation in an office of about 60 employees. I was responsible for managing workspace and visitor hoteling workspace, budget for the administration department, and maintaining and ordering supplies for the Denver corporate office. I worked directly with customers answering questions and communicating with customers, employees, and partners through community website forum.
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Front Desk - Csu Visitor'S Center And Office Of Conference ServicesColorado State University Aug 2005 - May 2007Fort Collins, Co, UsFront desk assistance for the guests to the university's Visitor's Center. Also assisted the Office of Conference Services by assisting with materials and scheduling. -
Group LeaderYmca Of The Pikes Peak Region May 2000 - Aug 2006Colorado Springs, UsWorked various before and after school programs and summer camps. This included all of the Tri-Lakes YMCA sites and included specialty camps, day camps, and general Before and After School programs.
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr Skills
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr Education Details
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Colorado State UniversityBusiness Administration; Organizational Managment -
Colorado State UniversityBusiness Administration
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Frequently Asked Questions about Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr
What company does Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr work for?
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr works for Blue Raven Training Llc
What is Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr's role at the current company?
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr's current role is Senior, certified HR and People Operations Professional.
What schools did Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr attend?
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr attended Colorado State University, Colorado State University, Msec.
What skills is Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr known for?
Sara (Dennis) Howard, Sphr has skills like Human Resources, Microsoft Office, Leadership, Customer Service, Microsoft Excel, Recruiting, Process Improvement, Strategic Planning, Management, Project Management, Powerpoint, Public Speaking.
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