Alejandro Diaz
Tucson,AZ
Summary
I am a highly experienced human resource (HR) professional with strong business acumen who generates an employee-oriented, high-performing culture emphasizing goal attainment and superior workforce optimization. I am a team player, role model, and leader, leading by example and a go-to person in any team.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/HR Manger
Alejandro Serious Mexican Food
03.2022 - Current
- As the owner, I perform all duties of HR generalist, manager, supervisor
- I use all my HR knowledge to provide an excellent environment to work in
- I apply my HR skills to employee relations issues, payroll, worker compensation issues, appraisals, recruitment, disciplinary action, career mentoring, and much more
- Voted by readers awarded 2022’s best new business in Northwest Tucson, including Marana, Foothills, and Oro Valley
- Awarded 2024 Standout Restaurant by Discover Marana and Marana Chamber of Commerce
- Managed employee relations, which resulted in an extremely low turnover rate
- Ensuring we complied with state and federal FLSA, OSHA, EEOC, etc.
- Financially responsible for a business with revenues in the hundreds of thousands of dollars.
HR Director
Highgate
05.2021 - 03.2022
- As Complex HR Director in Tucson, Arizona, I oversaw all HR activity for multi-unit hotels
- I successfully implemented new hire policies, COVID policies, recognition programs, and engagement strategies
- All hotel units I oversaw exceeded expectations in financial performance, service, and cleanliness
- The Double Tree Downtown Tucson hotel was recognized as the highest-rated hotel Quarterly for all North America Double Tree
- Cleared a three-month backlog in I-9 and employee files when I took over the Tucson location, bringing the hotels current and to legal standards
- HR consultant to HR personnel, employees, supervisors, managers, directors, and GM regarding all HR issues, etc., including human relations, corrective action, conflict resolution, and performance management coaching
- Provide HR duties to other HR personnel for Highgate
- Conducted new hire onboarding, facilitated new hire orientation, initiated background checks, payroll, and much more
- An executive committee member, which included GMs, HR directors, and Sales directors. The committee created short-term and long-term strategies on how to exceed hotel financial and service expectations to our stakeholders.
- Managed employee relations issues with care and confidentiality, maintaining trust with staff members while resolving conflicts effectively.
- Optimized HR budget allocation by strategically reallocating resources based on department needs and priorities.
- Supported organizational change initiatives by guiding employees through transition periods, minimizing productivity disruption.
- Developed comprehensive onboarding programs for new hires, improving retention rates and overall satisfaction.
- Championed diversity initiatives to create an inclusive workplace culture, increasing underrepresented groups' representation.
HR Business Partner/HR Generalist I and II
Southwest Gas corporation (SWG)
02.2016 - 05.2021
- Highly experienced in employee relations, expert investigator, leadership development, performance management, recruitment, and consulting to assist in achieving organizational goals
- I provide various HR services, talent management, quality assurance, and compliance.
- Monitor EEO and other programs, including CDL, D & A, leave compliance, coordination with RISK and workers' compensation, and more.
- Making sure the company is compliant with FMLA, ADA, OSHA, FLSA, ERIS, etc
- Managed 300-plus employees in client groups that included administration, customer service, construction, engineering, call center, and more. Client groups included Tucson, Yuma, Casa Grande, Global, Eloy,
- Conducted dozens of high-level investigations from 2019 to 2020 in partnership with the business, legal, and senior leadership, mitigating any litigation
- COVID-19 response and investigation team
- Developed the first HR SWG guide for the HR MA position, helping management assistants up to HR managers navigate SWG HR processes and procedures
- Developed new hire orientation and appraisal training and helped develop investigation training.
- Project management- Headed two-year CDL migration project, MA guide creator and stakeholder in developing new HR discipline and terminating streamlined HR process
- SWG training includes LMS administrator, SWG 7 Habits, investigations, presentations, project management, and more
- An officer with the local Toastmasters Club at SWG in 2019
- Administer and coordinate the DOT drug and alcohol program and the DOT CDL program
- HR consultant to employees, supervisors, managers, directors, and VP regarding many issues, including human relations issues such as corrective action, conflict resolution, and performance management coaching
- Created the first JTED internship program for SWG
- Member of C3 and CEWD creating workforce pipelines for SWG.
HR- Management Assistant
Southwest Gas Corporation
07.2013 - 02.2016
- Created the first HR guideline handbook. The first HR guidebook in the 75-year history of SWG.
- The HR management assistant position was a mentorship position to learn SWG HR processes and procedures to develop into a Generalist
- Created high-level reporting for HR manager, directors, and VP
- Supplied comprehensive HR support to exempt and non-exempt employees on the policies and procedures relating to employee status, benefits, etc
- Supported multiple HR Generalists, Division Managers, VPs, and HR Administrators
- Lead HR Management Assistants for the entire company.
- Aided in employee relations and investigations
- Helped with candidate screening, reference checks, new hire processes, compensation, and employee relation issues
- Conducted new hire onboarding, facilitated new hire orientation, initiated background checks, was in charge of random drug testing, etc
- Offer employee HR benefits support and assistance
- Oversee Southern Arizona's CDL compliance records
- Oversee HR record keeping, making sure we are compliant
- Managed the HR DOT drug and alcohol testing program
- Coordinated job-specific testing for various positions
- Represented HR for SWG at job fairs
- Aided in HR training and development for all departments
- Organized the annual SAZ Company Service Awards Reception for employee anniversaries.
Owner/Operator
MIRANDA’S CAFÉ BONITA LLC
11.1998 - 03.2009
- As the owner of multiple locations, I performed all duties of an HR generalist, manager, supervisor, owner, employee, and strategist
- As owner I used my earlier HR experience and handled HR Generalist duties successfully for 11 years
- Applied my HR skills to employee relations issues, payroll, worker compensation issues, appraisals, recruitment, disciplinary action, career mentoring and much more
- Managed employee relations with which resulted in less than 4% turnover over 11 years
- Made sure we were compliant with state and federal FLSA, OSHA, EEOC, etc
- Used leadership skills to solve problems and handle emergencies
- As owner of Cafe Bonita
Supervisor International AAdvantage
American Airlines
03.1991 - 03.2001
- Oversaw daily operations of the department, ensuring smooth workflow and timely completion of tasks.
- Applied strong leadership talents and problem-solving skills to maintain team efficiency and organize workflows.
- Handled customer complaints, resolved issues, and adjusted policies to meet changing needs.
- Monitored workflow to improve employee time management and increase productivity.
- HR hiring supervisor
- Guided managers and employees in the interpretation of FLSA, ADA, FMLA and worker’s compensation policies
- I was HR hiring supervisor for various years, payroll Analyst for one year. I filled in for the HR manager over three years when she was gone for vacation or special projects.
- Organized new hire employee orientation program.
- Member of Recruitment and Retention Committee that developed best practice strategies to hire and retain employees.
- Consulted managers and employees relative to employee relations issues such as corrective action, conflict resolution, and performance management coaching.
- Oversaw problem resolution review process, monitored timely responses from management, conducted grievance review board, and ensured all decisions were implemented.
- Assisted managers, employees, and colleagues with proposed union contract interpretation and held Union informational meetings.
- Developed and implemented a productivity tracking system for frequent flyer department.
- As supervisor I directed multiple teams, was division manager fill in for large AA call center. Coached teams to peak performance exceeding 72 million dollars in sales in 2001.
- Initiated and implemented absent time cost-saving program that saved AA $500,000/Yr.
Education
Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Human Resources -
University of Arizona Global Campus
12.2020
Bachelor of Science in Business -
University of Phoenix
01.2015
Skills
- A Culture Influencer
- HR Leadership Guidance
- HR Employee Relations Expert
- HR Workforce development
- HR Policy & Development
- Talent Developer and Talent Acquisition
- HR Temporary Staff, Contractor, and Intern Recruitment and Onboarding
- HR Investigations
- Employee Engagement
- HR Drug & Alcohol Compliance
- HR Retirement counseling
- HR CDL Policy and Files
- Talent Planning
- Business Acumen
- Alignment of KSI and KPI
- HR Benefits Management
- Training, Organizational Development Help
- HR Risk management, OSHA compliance, worker’s compensation
- HR Compensation Management
- Employee Satisfaction
- Extremely High Work Ethic
- Excellent Interpersonal, Verbal, and Witten communication skills
- Microsoft Office (Teams, Excel, Microsoft Word, PowerPoint)
- LMS administrator training
- AWSI drug testing system
- ICIMS recruiting
- Accusource Background system
- ORACLE-HRIS and more
- Hour-Glass, ADP Timekeeping, and various HRIS systems
- Small business operations
- Relationship Building
- Project Management
- Strategic Planning
- Marketing
- Business Development
- Business launch
- Sales Leadership
- Employee Development
- Product branding
- Teamwork and Collaboration
- Performance Evaluation and Monitoring
- Finance and Accounting Oversight
- Marketing Strategies
- Cost Control
- Performance Improvements
- Training Management
- Payroll Administration and Timekeeping
- Process Improvements
- Management Team Building
- Hiring and Onboarding
- Employee Motivation
- Performance Improvement
- Staff training/development
- Budget Control
- Employee Scheduling
- Business Leadership
- Goal Setting
- Effective leader
- Customer Service Management
- Decision-Making
- Labor Relations
- HR analytics
Languages
Spanish
Professional Working
Awards
- 2024 Discover Marana Standout Restaurant Award
- 2022 Best New Business Award for Northwest Tucson (Oro Valley, Marana, Foothills)
- Southwest Gas Corporation’s “GEM” award recipient 2013
- American Airlines United Way Cooper awardee for fundraising
- Three-year VICA Gold Medal in architectural drafting in high school
References
- Deron Johnson, HRBP, Southwest Gas Corporation, 520-307-8705, deron.johnson@swgas.com
- Robert Leck, Vice President Hospitality Division, SCG American, 949-220-6302, Rjleck66@gmail.com
- Justin Chesebrough, Director Beyond Textbooks-Vail School District, Vail School District, 520-260-0421, chesebroughj@vailschooldistrict.org
Timeline
Owner/HR Manger
Alejandro Serious Mexican Food
03.2022 - Current
HR Director
Highgate
05.2021 - 03.2022
HR Business Partner/HR Generalist I and II
Southwest Gas corporation (SWG)
02.2016 - 05.2021
HR- Management Assistant
Southwest Gas Corporation
07.2013 - 02.2016
Owner/Operator
MIRANDA’S CAFÉ BONITA LLC
11.1998 - 03.2009
Supervisor International AAdvantage
American Airlines
03.1991 - 03.2001
Master’s Degree in Business Administration specializing in Human Resources -
University of Arizona Global Campus
Bachelor of Science in Business -
University of Phoenix
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