APRIL GAUZE
Morehead,KY
Summary
Experienced Human Resources Professional with 15+ years of diverse industry experience, including collegiate, banking, local government, insurance franchise, law firm, and big box retail. Trusted for exceptional organizational loyalty and ambition. Skilled in managing diverse teams and fostering strong dynamics. Expert in professional communication, multitasking, and maintaining high levels of quality and productivity. Highly-focused and ambitious human resources manager bringing several years management experience with extensive customer service, public relations and philanthropic background. Astute and proactive problem-solver possessing elevated business and operations acumen honed through progressive career history, diverse industries knowledge and accomplished education. Talented in key hr functions, spanning employee hiring, training, development and retention-promoting relationship building. Driven and decisive professional offering several years of experience managing human resources teams to deliver compliance, personnel communication and workforce programs. Flexible and focused with expertise in recruitment and retention, mediation, staff training and development and complex problem resolution. Develops and implements hr strategies and initiatives aligned with overall business strategy. Seasoned Human Resources Manager with substantial experience in developing effective HR strategies and managing comprehensive personnel processes. Skilled in talent acquisition, performance management, employee relations, and compliance with labor laws. Successfully implemented innovative recruitment campaigns and streamlined HR operations to enhance organizational efficiency. Demonstrated ability in fostering positive workplace environments and facilitating productive team dynamics. Highly-motivated employee with desire to take on new challenges. Strong work ethic, adaptability, and exceptional interpersonal skills. Adept at working effectively unsupervised and quickly mastering new skills. Resourceful Human Resources Manager offers employee relations and business management expertise paired with first-rate communication and problem-solving abilities. Strategic and well-rounded professional seasoned in managing and overseeing various aspects of HR. Commended for building trusting relationships within organization to support business needs. Talented hr leader with several-year career overseeing human resources operations, including employee relations, organizational structuring and policy development. Well-versed in benefits administration and legal compliance. Forward-thinking with superior problem-solving, conflict management and organizational skills. Proactive professional accomplished in hiring, developing, and motivating employees. Successful at building rapport at all levels and resolving issues smoothly. Human resources manager offering several years of management experience and development of high-performing teams through recruitment, training, organizational development and evaluation of performance. Strong record of accomplishment working with senior managers to build organization to meet performance goals. Strong background in directing hiring practices, designing pay structures, developing employee policies, managing employee payroll and benefits and working with executive team to develop talent acquisition and retention goals. Seasoned Human Resources Manager with broad experience in employee relations, recruitment, and benefits administration. Possess strong expertise in developing efficient HR policies and procedures, fostering a positive work environment, and resolving conflicts. Demonstrated ability to drive strategic initiatives resulting in improved operational efficiency. Notable success in mentoring and coaching teams to deliver top performance.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Precision Resource Corporation
Mount Sterling, KY
05.2020 - Current
- Provided guidance on labor law compliance issues such as FMLA, ADA, Title VII.
- Assisted in the development of performance management systems including goal setting, performance reviews, corrective action plans and disciplinary procedures.
- Investigated employee relations matters through interviews with involved parties to ensure a fair resolution.
- Ensured compliance with federal, state and local employment laws.
- Implemented organizational change initiatives effectively while minimizing disruption in operations.
- Handled sensitive employee and company information with highest level of confidentiality and discretion.
- Managed full-cycle human resource operational activities to maximize HR employee performance.
- Supported top talent identification processes by interviewing candidates and executing onboarding, orientation and benefits processes.
- Achieved desired work environment and performance by proactively advising and guiding employees on best practices and overseeing HR training.
- Created and implemented employee retention strategies.
- Reported on workplace health and safety compliance to superiors.
- Verified accuracy of employee hours worked, pay rate changes, deductions, bonuses, and other payroll data.
- Managed the processing of new hires and terminations in the payroll system.
- Reviewed insurance claims for accuracy and completeness, ensuring that all required information was present.
- Assisted employees with enrollment into health insurance plans, retirement savings accounts, and other voluntary benefits.
Human Resources Business Partner
Masco Cabinetry
Mount Sterling, KY
08.2016 - 04.2020
- Process, Verify, and Maintain documentation relating to personnel activities such as staffing, recruitment, training, grievances, performance evaluations and classifications
- Manage the hiring process and requisition system to ensure compliance with all applicable laws and policies
- Enters and maintains accurate personnel information for multiple HRIS/Plant Software systems
- Explains company personnel policies, benefits, and procedures to employee and conduct interviews and new hire orientations
- Partner with Talent Management and training departments to develop and implement hourly and plant leadership training
- Assist HSE Advisor to ensure that employees are trained on safety issues and receives annual training as required by OSHA
- Administers employee leaves of absence specific to FMLA and short/long-term disability, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws and policies.
- Assists with counseling and termination process to ensure consistent application of policy
- Responsible for annual benefits enrollment, including educating employees on benefit changes
- Compile and analyze turnover data, create countermeasures to improve, work with plant management to maintain a positive work environment, and implement countermeasures to reduce turnover
- Compile and publish weekly/daily employee scorecard
- Develop and maintain employee recognition programs
- Serve as point of contact for third party staffing agency
- Work close with plant trainer to develop, enhance or create training plans and or programs that will better prepare our workforce to be successful
- Remain current with new and ongoing changes in the HR profession
- Assists HR Manager with community outreach and positive communication
- Serve as company representative as a part of area programs and/or meetings.
Human Resources Manager
Lowes Home Improvement, Inc.
Morehead, KY
03.2004 - 07.2016
- Foster a diverse and inclusive workforce by ensuring equal employment opportunity goals and guidelines are achieved
- Receive, report, evaluate, and follow up on various stages of workers compensation and general liability claims
- Understand, share, and bring to life the vision and mission of the organization while ensuring employer brand management
- Process payroll weekly and monitor time and attendance records on a daily basis
- Make decisions that would set precedence for future situations and communicate that to the entire organization to ensure a clear understanding of policies and guidelines to which everyone would adhere
- Developed and conducted management and human resource related training presentations for company management training programs that could consist of an audience of 250+ individuals
- Continually make decisions and take action that is 100% ethically correct
- Ensure DOT compliance with all employees driving company vehicles at store location
- Oversee and evaluate performance evaluations for up to 200+ employees
- Served as a company representative at multiple community events and responsible for networking with community organizations
- Create and implement new programs or procedures to enhance employee, managerial, and company success
- Receive and resolve employment-related disputes or employee complaints
- Administered compensation, benefits, payroll, performance management, training, development, and safety programs
- Develop, mentor, & train up to 200+ employees (including Senior Management staff) on a daily basis through one on one feedback, role playing, computerized training systems, or by conducting classroom style training sessions
- Identify training needs and develop and/or administer programs to address those needs
- Process and maintain all HR employment records and reporting in a detailed and organized manner including but not limited to personnel files, payroll, OSHA reporting, employee relation trends, labor relations, I-9’s, training programs, etc
- Analyze business data and take a proactive approach to ensure employee, management, and company success
- Served as a district mentor for HR team and trained new HR managers in the district
- Coordinated work activities of subordinates and staff relating to employment, compensation, labor relations and employee relations
- Establish and cultivate a recruitment network in the community in which we served
- Proactively identify staffing needs and take immediate action in utilizing and enhancing recruitment networks
- Represent organization at personnel-related hearings and investigations
- Develop a business partnership with management staff to serve as a support in guiding them to make legally sound and ethically correct business decisions as well as appropriate development and performance management of their employees
- Screened applicant resumes and conducted both phone and in-person interviews
- Make Hiring decisions and onboard new employees
- Utilized Microsoft Outlook to organize events for the store and/or district
- Utilized various types of office equipment and computer software programs such as Everify, Word, Excel, PowerPoint, PeopleSoft, Kronos, Choice point, Outlook, etc
- Contribute to the financial success of the company through employee engagement activities that reduce costs associated with work-related injuries and turnover.
- Create and maintain a detailed and organized filing system.
Office Manager/Cost Accountant
Paul Davis Restoration
Fletcher, NC
05.2003 - 02.2004
- Managed and organized all daily office activities
- Process payroll weekly and financial reports
- Pay company payroll taxes
- Organize work orders and ensure employees and contractors were onsite and completing jobs in a timely manner
- Maintain accounting records for the company using a cost accounting method
- Greet and assist all clients in a friendly and professional manner either in person or via phone
- Give daily updates on business aspects to company owners
- Monitor projects to make sure we were staying in budget and controlling unnecessary expenses
- Answered telephone, responded to inquiries, greeted visitors, directed guest as appropriate
- Carried out all responsibilities in an honest, ethical and professional manner
- Continually make decisions and take action that is 100% ethically correct
- Analyze business data and take a proactive approach to ensure employee, management, and company success
- Make daily bank deposits and reconcile all accounts monthly.
Chief Financial Officer
Paintsville Utilities
Paintsville, KY
04.2001 - 04.2003
- Converted payroll system from bimonthly to biweekly
- Managed all accounts payable
- Responsible for all personnel files and onboarding of new hires
- Completed all accounting process for the city utility company
- Analyzed and generated all financial reports
- Presented financial reports and updates during monthly meetings with city council
- Organized and created an effective filing system for all company documents.
Human Resources Assistant
Citizens National Bank
Paintsville, KY
04.1999 - 04.2001
- Process bi-weekly payroll
- Assist with recruiting, interviewing, and new hire orientation.
- Daily Audit of Timecards
- Attendance tracking
- Assist with reviewing FMLA paperwork
- Plan and organize company events
- Audit and Balance general ledger accounts
- Ensure we were in compliance with HR budgets.
- Assist in annual benefit and compensation reviews.
- Responsible for maintaining all personnel files and keeping data in HRIS systems up to date.
- Created multiple HR manuals.
Education
Bachelor in Business Administration -
Morehead State University
01.1999
Associate Degree -
Prestonsburg Community College
01.1996
Skills
- Employee Relations Management
- Leadership Development
- Workplace Conflict Resolution
- Staff Engagement Strategies
- Succession Planning
- Detailed Documentation Management
- Training Development
- Compliance
- Compensation and benefits
- Diversity and Inclusion
- Employee Retention
- Payroll Processing
- Microsoft Office proficiency
- HR Operations Management
- Legal Compliance
- Corrective Action Planning
- Policy Enforcement
- Employee Onboarding
- Risk Management
- Employee Handbook Development
- Training programs
- Human Resources Information Systems
Certification
PHR Certification, Human Resources Certification Institute
Professionalreferences
- Donnie Price, District Manager for Gander Mountain (Former Lowes District Manager), (513) 504-3466
- Tiffine Hudson, HR Manager for Lowes, (304) 951-0098
- Kelly Hunt, HR Manager for Lowes, (606) 339-7184
- Tiffany Conley, Licensed Clinician for Mountain Comprehensive Care, (606) 233-7867
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Precision Resource Corporation
05.2020 - Current
Human Resources Business Partner
Masco Cabinetry
08.2016 - 04.2020
Human Resources Manager
Lowes Home Improvement, Inc.
03.2004 - 07.2016
Office Manager/Cost Accountant
Paul Davis Restoration
05.2003 - 02.2004
Chief Financial Officer
Paintsville Utilities
04.2001 - 04.2003
Human Resources Assistant
Citizens National Bank
04.1999 - 04.2001
Bachelor in Business Administration -
Morehead State University
Associate Degree -
Prestonsburg Community College
Similar Profiles
Keishla FelicianoKeishla Feliciano
CNC Machine Operator at Precision Resource CorporationCNC Machine Operator at Precision Resource Corporation
Nazim BhuiyanNazim Bhuiyan
Educational Psychologist at Panoramic Associates (Precision Resource Group)Educational Psychologist at Panoramic Associates (Precision Resource Group)
Andre NiessenAndre Niessen
Sales Manager at Precision Resource CanadaSales Manager at Precision Resource Canada