Teal Gaylord

Transformational HR Servant Leader with more than 17 years' experience leading human resource strategy. Proven ability to integrate HR infrastructure and systems with talent management and organizational effectiveness strategies that support business objectives. Multi-site and global HR project management experience.

Expertise in building HR infrastructure within domestic and international greenfield projects. History of success in leading recruiting strategies, designing performance management and compensation systems. Expertise in workers' compensation, safety leadership, LEAN implementations, and leveraging benefit design as a retention tool.

Ability to manage in constrained environments and meet budget requirements.

Director Human Resources - Mack Trucks

(2024-06)

Lead site of over 2,500 UAW unionized employees and 400 white collar employees. Management of Human Resources, Safety and Training functions with a department of 12 Direct reports and over 40 employees. Provide direction to Production Leadership in policy and CBA interpretation. Bargain policy changes and MOU's. Lead transformation of Human Resource Department to a HRBP model providing support and partnership to lines of business.

• Design, develop and implement site recruiting, onboarding, and hiring strategy. Saving the organization over $800,000. In hard and soft savings.
• Reduced HR budget by $900,000 in first 18 months, while adding value-add HR, Safety and Training interventions.
• Responsible for reporting safety metrics in monthly and implementing strategies to reduce lost time and recordables.
• Negotiate and manage reduction-of-force of over 150 employees and recall of same over a 6 month period.

Senior Manager Human Resources - General Dynamics

(2021-05 - 2022-05)

Site Human Resource Leader responsible for a represented work force of more than 380 hourly and 50 professional employees. Oversight of 3 manufacturing locations and a team of 3 and focused on optimizing the GD-OTS Wilkes-Barre organization. Challenge includes establishing and integrating best practices while identifying legacy systems and processes that require change. Laid off due to consolidation.

• Achieve hourly recruiting targets in 2021 by leading the development and implementation of strategic marketing and recruiting strategy based on dynamic manufacturing manning needs.
• Design "Team Leader" program consisting of targeted selection process and strategic development strategy to support employees in this pivotal manufacturing role.
• Implement new employee 30-60-90 Day Score Card to enhance employee engagement and quickly evaluate performance and fit.
• Lead all Union communication and MOU strategies with the United Steel Workers.

Director Human Resources - Instant Brands

(2022-07 - 2024-03)

Site HR Lead (over 400 employees 24/7 365 operation) providing direction to Human Resources and guidance to Production Leadership in policy and CBA interpretation. Ensure compliance with federal and state laws regarding employment and labor-related matters. Partner with inside and outside legal counsel as necessary on union-related matters. Research the latest legislative trends and decisions to forecast impact and develop and lead organizational response. Laid off due to bankruptcy.

• Labor Strategy/Contractual Advice – Lead teams that provide operating departments and support functions ongoing advice/counsel on contract issues, administration, and execute on the location's labor strategy.
• Ad Hoc negotiations – advise and draft proposed agreements and MOUs to ensure they are contractually correct and consistent with the Company's overall labor strategy.
• Design, develop and implement site Leadership Development program, Operational Management Development Program and Succession Planning Strategy.

Vice President Human Resources - The RiteScreen Company, LLC

(2018-04 - 2020-07)

Human Resource Leader (Reporting to CEO) of OEM building supply manufacturer; responsible for driving the evolution of strategic human resources across a multi-location, multi-state business. Key areas of oversight and direction: recruiting, strategic planning, benefit plan design, management development, compensation structures, talent management, legal compliance, safety leadership, employee relations. Lead 3 HR generalists and HR support staff (4) in 7 states. Company Sold.

• Manage Workers Compensation program including successfully working with outside counsel to defend against litigation in Miami/Dade; securing cost avoidance in one case of at least $80,000.
• Improve benefit strategy by implementing a richer health plan at no cost to the company. Strategy lowers renewal cost by $195,000 (-6.8%) while providing health premium reductions to employees of between 5% and 10%.
• Design, draft, and implement company COVID-19 plant safety strategy. Accountable for all locations and sustaining best-practices, including communication strategy, safety protocols, contact tracing, and return to work requirements.

Director Human Resources - Vitro Architectural Glass

(2016-12 - 2018-05)

Reporting to Plant Manager in a 24/7 – 365 float glass operation. Responsible for a department of 12; Management team of 5 in a 1 million square foot, safety-sensitive Plant. Hired as "change agent" serving as coach and mentor to site leadership and management. Responsible for HR, Safety, Occupational Health, and Security.

• Secure over $25,000 in state funding for training programs to drive plant-wide LEAN culture shift. Initiative includes a safety DOJO, implementation of Standard Work, LEAN initiatives at multiple levels of the plant including 5S and Problem Solving, and Kaizen training to reduce "missing" within the plant.
• Lead successful marketing and recruitment of employees to a 24/7 heavy manufacturing site (under HLS purview) recruiting over 100 employees within 3 months to support plant restart after major industrial fire.
• Implement strategy for union avoidance; training all Managers on best practices in union avoidance.

Interim Human Resource Director - MEKRA Lang North

(2015-07 - 2016-09)

Reporting to Chief Executive Officer, responsible for (6) direct reports, all human resource functions including employee relations, union relations (Mexico) payroll, benefits, and safety and facilities management. Responsibility for South Carolina and Mexico locations. MEKRA Lang is a tier–one automotive supplier.

• Lead cross-functional team to source benefit plan, achieving cost savings of over $270,000 for the company and reductions in premiums for employees.
• Implement a leadership staffing strategy for Monterrey Mexico incorporating technical, behavioral and cognitive interviewing and assessment components. Strategy successful in building global leadership team with superior competency in English, Quality, and Continuous Improvement.
• Implement best practices by developing HR policies supporting a return- to-work program, actively managing, and successfully closing old worker compensation cases and updating and implementing a Drug Free Work program.

Project Manager - WACKER Polysilicon

(2014-09 - 2015-07)

Manager responsible for key training and organizational development projects during Greenfield phase. Responsibilities include management and development of strategic recruiting relationships, occupational assessments, and creation of leadership and management development interventions.

• Partner and launch WACKER Institute a nationally recognized "Best-in-Class" college- to-career degree program in partnership with Chattanooga Community College.
• Implement recruiting strategy with the Tennessee Department of Labor to screen, interview, and hire employees; resulting in the successful onboarding of over 100 employees within 3 months.
• Implement Occupational pre-employment assessment strategy for all Chemical Operators.

Human Resources Lead - The Raymond Corporation - Toyota

(2004-09 - 2014-09)

Responsible for Organizational Development and Training and reporting directly to VP of Human Resources. Responsible for talent management and organizational development strategies at three locations. Support management, professional (200+) and hourly (1,400) employees on multiple initiatives, including: TPS programs, management and leadership development, employee selection, screening and interviewing.

The Raymond

Corporation (division of Toyota) is a leading manufacturer (steel to wheels) of electric industrial material handling equipment.

• Lead all "people" projects driven out of Japan. Develop global training in Toyota Industries Business Problem Solving while working in Japan on special project and served as first global trainer in this practice.
• Develop messaging and implementation strategy for Union Avoidance training, delivered to over 1,400 hourly employees. Implemented during suspected organizing activity.
• HR Project Lead on Greenfield project in Dalion China, including recruiting, and establishing Human Resource infrastructure, engaging the Local Service Unit to hire labor and reviewing and approving all Labor Contracts.
• Implement talent management program to develop Assistant Team Leaders in welding, assembly, fabrication, paint and supply chain operations. Strategy includes talent management lifecycle, including screening, coaching, assessment, interviewing, hiring and development of individuals (>60) in this pivotal position.
• Manage new employee on-boarding process during one of the largest sustained periods of growth in company history. On-boarding program includes orientation, new-hire documentation, OSHA safety, and ISO compliance and TPS introductory training. On-boarded over 800 (doubling company size) new employees between 2009 and 2014.

Master of Science Certificate - Project Management - Boston University

Master of Science - Technical and Professional Communications - Southern Polytechnic State University

Bachelor of Science - Secondary Education and Geography - State University of New York @ Cortland