Bridget Canter
Paducah,Kentucky
Summary
Driven and decisive human resources executive offering 20+ years of experience managing human resources operations and personnel to deliver compliance, personnel communication and advocacy. Flexible and focused with expertise in complex problem resolution, training and development, benefits administration, compensation, recruitment and retention, and mediation. Develops and implements HR strategies and initiatives aligned with overall organizational strategy.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
Vice President of Business Affairs and Human Resources
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, Kentucky
08.2020 - Current
- Serves as the senior advisor to WKCTC leadership and its stakeholders in all aspects of fiscal and human resources management.
- Develops, recommends, and implements guidelines, processes and procedures for the College's business and human resources functions.
- Works collaboratively with college leadership to develop an annual college budget of $47.8 million. Provides custody, accountability, receipt and disbursement of the budget.
- Assists in the development, implementation and evaluation of the WKCTC strategic plan.
- Supervises and evaluates the performance of all business, financial aid, and human resources personnel - 12 full time staff.
- Assists in the mediation and resolution of complex human resources and student account issues.
- Serves as an advocate for WKCTC's 231 full-time and 170 part-time employees comprising a personnel budget of $22 million.
- Represents WKCTC and its employees and students as an active member of the Kentucky Community & Technical College business affairs and human resources peer teams.
- Facilitates communications between various departments and the WKCTC Board of Directors regarding business initiatives and operations updates.
- Strategically guided leadership teams through challenging periods by leveraging human resources knowledge and business acumen. Assisted leadership in restructuring organizational units to better support the college's mission to serve students.
- Review financial statements and other reports regularly in order to assess the company's financial health.
- Mediate conflicts between employees and facilitate effective resolutions to disputes.
Director of Human Resources
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
Paducah, Kentucky
07.2006 - 07.2020
- Coordinated, directed and promoted all human resources initiatives for 231 full-time employees and 170 part-time employees.
- Managed employment process to include advertising, recruitment, contracts, applicant tracking and resignations.
- Coordinated wage and salary administration.
- Provided guidance relating to employee relations and grievance issues to include interpreting and administering personnel policies.
- Managed and facilitated professional development and training programs.
- Conducted new employee orientation sessions.
- Managed employee benefits to include new hire benefit orientation and open enrollment periods.
- Coordinated the performance management system for all college employees.
- Managed the human resources operations and personnel budget.
- Organized onboarding processes for new hires, including orientation sessions and paperwork completion.
Human Resources Manager
Great Dane Trailers
Savannah, Georgia
01.2005 - 06.2006
- Coordinated, directed, and promoted human resources initiatives for approximately 1,200 employees at multi-site manufacturing and service facilities to assure compliance with local, state, and federal regulations as well as company policies.
- Developed and implemented policies, guidelines, and programs to promote and enhance employee relations as well as company interests.
- Supervised a staff of 12 employees, including 3 salaried, 3 clerical, and 6 health and security personnel.
- Conducted and coordinated general employee and supervisor training on topics such as harassment, business ethics, health and welfare plans, and various company policies and procedures.
- Oversaw the workers' compensation program to include coordination with the employees, physicians, and third party administrator.
- Coordinated all recruiting and staffing needs for office and manufacturing positions.
- Investigated and responded to employee complaints and concerns.
Manager Employee Benefits
Great Dane Trailers
Savannah, Georgia
04.2002 - 01.2005
- Supervised the administration of both current and terminated retirement plans for 5,000+ employees at 30 locations nationwide.
- Advised and consulted employees from the executive level to direct laborers on health and welfare plan benefits eligibility and compliance with FMLA regulations.
- Provided guidance to managers and their personnel in areas of salary and retirement benefit administration.
- Directed the calculation and payment of annual management incentive bonuses.
- Organized data and coordinate the implementation of annual office merit reviews and wage increases.
- Prepared and filed annual Workers' Compensation Self-Insured renewal applications for the states of Georgia, Indiana, and Tennessee.
- Served as the point of contact for all retired employees on subjects such as pension payments and health insurance.
- Provided retirement estimates and paperwork for all vested participants of the Great Dane Retirement Plan.
- Conducted harassment investigations and other investigations into employee complaints and concerns.
- Acted as the liaison between employees and the third party administrators for all health and welfare plans.
Benefits and Compensation Analyst
Great Dane Trailers
Savannah, Georgia
11.1998 - 04.2002
- Coordinated daily activities associated with the administration of all group insurance plans including health, life and disability plans.
- Initiated, tracked and monitored office personnel and salary change reports.
- Assisted in the preparation of Form 5500 and other government agency required reports.
- Attended career fairs and interviews as company representative at various southeastern colleges and universities.
- Provided support and assistance to co-workers in the areas of 401K and pension administration.
Education
Masters of Business Administration -
Georgia Southern University
05.2003
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources -
Miami University
05.1998
Skills
- Executive team leadership
- Staff Management
- Operational Management
- Human Resources Management
- Financial Acumen
- Policy Development
- Project Management
- Procedure Implementation
- Performance Improvement
- Organizational Communications
Affiliations
- Member of Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
- Member of Colleges and Universities Professional Association - Human Resources
- National Association of College and University Business Officers member
- Member of President's Cabinet at West Kentucky Community & Technical College
- Active member of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System Human Resources Peer Team
- Active member of the Kentucky Community & Technical College System Business Affairs Peer Team
Accomplishments
- KCTCS President's Leadership Seminar participant - Class of 2014
- Chair, KCTCS Compensation Transition and Implementation Team (2023-present)
- Acting KCTCS Vice President of Human Resources (2024)
Timeline
Vice President of Business Affairs and Human Resources
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
08.2020 - Current
Director of Human Resources
West Kentucky Community and Technical College
07.2006 - 07.2020
Human Resources Manager
Great Dane Trailers
01.2005 - 06.2006
Manager Employee Benefits
Great Dane Trailers
04.2002 - 01.2005
Benefits and Compensation Analyst
Great Dane Trailers
11.1998 - 04.2002
Masters of Business Administration -
Georgia Southern University
Bachelor of Science - Human Resources -
Miami University
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