Wayne Luce Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois

In 2007, I was promoted to oversee HR for the newly created Amstel Rail, a merger of 3 of our businesses (Griffin Wheel, American Steel Foundries, and Brenco Bearings). With a dual focus on our North American (18 locations with 4,500 employees) and our global facilities (10 locations with 4,700 employees), I lead the strategic development and implementation of programs that embody our Employee Shared Ownership Program (ESOP) culture. Some areas of impact and growth include:-- Integral member of executive leadership team charged with merging 3 separate companies and creating a new shared service function including human resources, environmental, safety, payroll, and benefits.-- Standardized Griffin Wheel’s employee development program across all locations.-- Partnered with Korn Ferry to develop and implement a robust talent development program recently adopted in all 6 of the parent company’s businesses. -- Earned recognition for key contributions to plant turnaround via a collective bargaining strategy and new union contracts that improved the cost model by $18M over 3 years. -- Spearheaded leadership development programs that promote innovation and strategic business alliances.-- Propelled environmental health and workplace safety performance to best-in-class levels and improved rankings tenfold.

As VP of HR for Griffin Wheel Company, I oversaw the function serving 4 manufacturing locations in the U.S. and Canada and our Chicago corporate offices. I managed and led a 20-member team providing the full range of HR, safety, and environmental health support to both union and non-union locations.Major outcomes during this time included:-- Championed employee development, succession planning, and performance management through development and introduction of robust programs.-- Achieved $2M in annual savings and collective bargaining agreement language revisions by negotiating with labor leaders after reactivating Winnipeg plant operations.-- Successfully defended Kansas City and Bessemer plants against unionization attempts.

I transferred to an HR manager role within Griffin Pipe Products in the U.S. and ascended to a director-level role and finally VP of HR, Reporting directly to the president as VP, I led human capital, labor relations, workplace safety, and environmental strategies impacting 900 employees in 3 unionized iron ductile pipe foundries. Overseeing a 17-member HR team, we built and implemented programs that cultivated an environment of excellence and growth while controlling costs. Areas of impact included:-- Slashed number of medical insurance plans for current and retired employees from 16 to 3, generating cost savings through effective negotiations with labor representatives.-- Transformed workplace culture and union leader relationships through introduction of an enterprise-wide Value of the Person program that celebrated employee contributions and improved employee relations.-- Reduced company expenses by replacing defined benefit program with a defined contribution program. -- Promoted a culture of safety and reduced number of workplace incidents by launching annual safety audits and a comprehensive safety training program.-- Introduced behavior-based interviewing, talent development, and succession programs across all locations, improving capacity for sourcing, hiring, developing, and retaining exceptional employees.

After leading the HR function within St. Amant Centre and managing employee relations for St. Boniface General Hospital, I joined Griffin Wheel Company’s HR department at its 220-employee Winnipeg plant. Here I represented management as grievances progressed, interpreted the collective bargaining agreement, and participated in contract negotiations. I also managed and implemented employee relations, learning and development, and benefits and compensation programs.

Diploma, Personnel Management | Industrial Relations

Master Of Business Administration (Mba)