Denene Burnette
Twinsburg,OH
Summary
Experienced manager with a proven track record in team leadership, planning, and organizational skills. Demonstrated ability to equip employees with the necessary tools for independent handling of daily functions and seamless customer service. Skilled trainer and mentor with exceptional management abilities and a results-driven approach that consistently achieves success.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Chief, Harassment Prevention Program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2015.06 - Current
- Responsible for national management and oversight of the agency's Anti-Harassment Program for over 400,000 employees, to include developing directive and policy, data analysis and strategic planning for overall agency goals
- Maintains strategic partnerships with Administration and Staff Office, Human Resources staff, Office of Accountability and Whistleblower Program, Office of General Counsel (OGC), labor partners negotiations, and Secretary’s Sexual Harassment and Assault Prevention/Survivor Care and Support Sub-Council to build consensus and commitment to establishing comprehensive enterprise-wide effort and initiatives to eliminate harassment and sexual assault at any VA facility or staff office
- Leads staff of 20 employees nationally located
- Staff consists of supervisors, intake specialists, case specialists and team leaders
- Management and oversight include performance management, fiscal oversight, position management, training and development, employee relations and other critical leadership responsibilities
- Provide expert guidance on Federal EEO laws (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973, the Genetic Information Non-Discrimination Act of 2008, Pregnancy Workers Fairness Act of 2023), Executive Orders, and regulations, including the anti-harassment and EEO complaint process, to senior leaders, including SES members
- Created standard operating procedures (SOPs), review tools for Case Intake and Management and sexual harassment survey
- Partnered with the Office of General Counsel to create an Anti-Harassment Factfinding Guide
- Responsible for managing VA training contract totaling one million dollars
- Responsible for securing and managing one-million-dollar marketing contract to create and distribute anti-harassment brochures, standup banners, bookmarks, etc., throughout VA.
- Developed a Congressional Mandated Report out of the Deborah Sampson Act which is given to congress on a year basis
- Developed a mandatory Harassment Prevention and Accountability training course of all of VA
- Partnered with VA’s Pharmacy Benefits Management office to create an accredited sexual harassment training course for Pharmacists
- Independently reviews and analyzes Administration Policies, programs, and activities to ensure conformance with Department policy and sound technical and managerial practices
- Created a compliance review program to ensure VA facilities were compliant with VA handbook and had a model Anti-Harassment program
- Authors and develops position descriptions, performance standards, crediting plans and conducts job analysis for new and existing positions
- Complies and analyzes data, prepares complex narrative and statistical reports
- Reviews laws, rules regulations and court decisions, evaluates, impact on agency rules policies and practices, recommends alternatives, connections, or remedial actions necessary to maintain an effective EEO program
- Responsible for creating a budget plan for the anti-harassment office.
- Self-motivated, with a strong sense of personal responsibility.
- Worked effectively in fast-paced environments.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
- Proven ability to learn quickly and adapt to new situations.
- Excellent communication skills, both verbal and written.
- Assisted with day-to-day operations, working efficiently and productively with all team members.
- Managed time efficiently in order to complete all tasks within deadlines.
- Organized and detail-oriented with a strong work ethic.
- Used critical thinking to break down problems, evaluate solutions and make decisions.
- Strengthened communication skills through regular interactions with others.
- Learned and adapted quickly to new technology and software applications.
- Developed and maintained courteous and effective working relationships.
- Demonstrated strong organizational and time management skills while managing multiple projects.
EEO Specialist (Acting Administrative Officer)
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2008.06 - Current
- Designated as Acting Administrative Officer for Great Lakes Operation (Cleveland office) in June 2008
- Assisted the Acting Field Manager in the day-to-day oversight and management of EEO responsibilities assigned and performed in the office, to include establishing procedures to facilitate field office operations and complaint processing
- Responsible for managing the workflow in the field office and quality assurance
- Reviewed all the work products for the Program Assistants, Counselors, Investigators and Intake Specialist for quality and timeliness.
EEO Specialist (Investigator Team Leader/C2)
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2005.12 - Current
- Promoted to the position of Investigator Team Leader/Intake Specialist in December 2005
- Responsible for reviewing the Investigative files and Report of Investigations for six (6) Investigator; two (2) Investigator/Intake Specialist (C2s); and three (3) Counselor/Investigator (C1s)
- Responsibility consists of reviewing the investigative files and Report of Investigations
- Provide technical advice and guidance to Investigators in accordance with EEO laws and regulations
- Review of investigative files consists of making sure the correct evidence, including testimonial, as well as written documentation was obtained and that the evidence was properly analyzed
- Responsible for preparing Advisement of Right (AOR) letters
- Responsible for managing and assigning pending cases to Investigators
- Responsible for assisting employees who are experiencing problems with their performance
- Assist Supervisor in identifying the deficiencies, and what type of training is needed to bring the employee’s performance to an acceptable level
- Provide on the job training to employees
- Provided technical assistance to Intake Specialists, who were required to complete investigations to assist in reducing the backlog of investigations
- Responsible for conducting quarterly meetings with Investigators and management; assist management with special projects, and handle complaints received regarding investigations
- Responsible for processing formal complaints of discrimination to make acceptability determinations and/or final agency decisions (FAD’s) in accordance with EEO laws, regulations, and policies.
Resolution Support Center Manager
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2010.05 - 2017.10
- Service as Team Leader, providing critical development and implementation support in the creation of the newly established Resolution Support Center (RSC)
- RSC was a nationwide program office responsible for resolving complaints for all staff involving equal employment opportunity (EEO) and non EEO issues at the lowest level before becoming a formal EEO complaint
- Duties and responsibilities included managing the end-to-end processes and procedures, developing directives and policies, labor partner negotiations, SOPs, hiring staff, training, data analysis and strategic planning for overall agency goals
- Responsible for resolving over 95% of cases received in this arena
- Developed and maintained strategic partnerships with Administration and Staff Office, Human Resources staff, Office of General Counsel (OGC), and union partners to build consensus and commitment to establishing a comprehensive enterprise-wide effort and initiatives to eliminate discrimination at any VA facility or staff office
- Leads a staff of eight employees nationally located
- Staff consists of Program Specialist with experience in EEO counseling, EEO investigations, mediation and conflict coaching
- Management and oversight include performance management, fiscal oversight, position management, training and development, employee relations and other critical leadership responsibilities
- Provide expert guidance on Federal EEO laws (Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, the Equal Pay Act of 1963, the Age Discrimination Act of 1967, the Rehabilitation Act of 1973), Executive Orders, and regulations, including the EEO complaint process, to senior leaders, including SES members
- Developed and implemented a nationwide call center (REACH) which eliminated one of the Office of Resolution Management (ORM’s) toll-free phone lines to effectively provide customers outstanding service at a one stop shop
- Developed a SOP to include, training, marketing tools and manning phones lines for the entire ORM
- Moving from two toll-free line to one was a cost savings and allowed customers to focus their efforts to a centralized place to handle their concerns
- Responsible for managing VA’s External Complaint Program which has oversight responsibility for the processing of external civil rights discrimination complaints it receives from Veterans or other individuals alleging discrimination against the VA or organizations/entities receiving VA funds
- Works collaboratively with Human Resources to recruit, retain, train, develop and promote staff
- Supports performance management and diversity initiatives
- Carries out budget responsibilities in accordance with established policies and procedures
- Plans spending, funds are allocated timely, and budget limits are not exceeded.
- Served as an escalation point for complex cases or disputes, resolving issues promptly to maintain client satisfaction.
- Coordinated with other departments to provide seamless support and communication across all channels.
- Utilized data analysis to identify areas for improvement and implemented changes to enhance overall support center performance.
- Improved customer satisfaction rates by effectively managing a high-performing support center team.
- Actively monitored team performance metrics, providing coaching and feedback as needed to improve individual results.
- Leveraged comprehensive reporting tools to monitor and analyze support center trends, informing data-driven decision making for continuous improvement.
- Developed strong relationships with clients by providing personalized assistance in addressing their needs.
- Maintained up-to-date knowledge of industry trends, sharing insights with the team to improve overall effectiveness.
- Promoted a positive work culture through recognition programs acknowledging outstanding achievements by Support Center staff members.
- Implemented innovative solutions for common customer issues, resulting in reduced call volume and increased customer satisfaction.
- Managed a diverse team of support professionals, fostering an inclusive and collaborative work environment.
- Developed and maintained relationships with customers to enhance customer satisfaction.
- Coached employees through day-to-day work and complex problems.
- Developed and implemented procedures for responding to customer inquiries and resolving technical issues.
- Evaluated employee performance and conveyed constructive feedback to improve skills.
- Successfully managed budgets and allocated resources to maximize productivity and profitability.
EEO Investigator
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2001.10 - 2005.12
- Responsible for planning and coordinating investigations.
- Contacted all parties to explain their rights and responsibilities, as well as scheduled interviews to take testimony or mail out written interrogatories
- Examined all documentation to be included in the investigative files, including redacting relevant documents in accordance with the Privacy Act.
- I reviewed, summarize, and analyzed testimony and documents to produce well-written and logical report
- Selected as a member of ORM’s Training Team during FY 04’ which consisted of visiting different sites to educate employees and managers on laws governing EEO.
- Collected, analyzed and interpreted information, documentation, and physical evidence associated with investigations.
- Documented findings and prepared detailed reports.
- Collaborated with federal agencies on investigations.
- Ensured compliance with legal regulations during investigations, minimizing risk for litigation or procedural errors.
- Offered training seminars on investigative techniques, elevating the skill level within the department and fostering collaboration among team members.
Senior Investigator
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1987.07 - 2001.10
- Officially detailed to Acting Director of the local EEOC office, responsible for supervising three (3) Investigators, one (1) Computer Assistant, one (1) Stay-in-School Student and one (1) Senior Volunteer
- Duties and responsibilities included reviewing mail-in intake inquiries and making assignments to the Investigators
- Responsible for reviewing initial assessment of charges made by the investigator during the intake process and providing the investigator guidance as to the direction of the investigation
- Ressponsible for reviewing evidence in all charges submitted for final resolution
- This process included, reviewing the evidence, and ensuring that the standards of proof (i.e., disparate treatment, retaliation, reasonable accommodation, harassment, pregnancy, adverse impact, etc.) were correctly applied to each case
- Provided independence guidance to leadership as to whether to issue a Dismissal and Notice of Right to Sue or seek legal advice regarding issuing a reasonable cause finding
- Managed the office inventory ensuring the efficient operation of agency resources which included planning office “stand downs
- Assigning cases to the investigators, matching the complexity of the charge and the skill level of the investigator
- Developed a case tracking system to monitor office performance in all performance indicators such as charge receipts, cause findings, on-sites, cause resolutions, merit resolutions, monetary benefits, average processing time and aged inventory controls.
- Scheduled and participated in biweekly Management Review Group Sessions (MRGS) during which cases were triaged and investigation completion deadlines were made
- Responsible for administrative duties such as monitoring time and attendance and ensuring the office was sufficiently covered to comply with the agency’s customer service initiatives
- Responded to Congressional inquiries.
- Counseled employees regarding unprofessional conduct and resolving employee complaints
- Trained new Investigators, Stay-in-School Students and Senior Volunteers, regarding office procedures and Commission polices and regulations
- Ensuring the integrity of the data in the Charge Data System (CDS)
- Supervised the completion of EEOC 396 report and to ensure its accuracy
- As Senior Investigator, I was responsible for investigating charges of employment discrimination pursuant to Title VII of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, as amended, the Age Discrimination in Employment Act of 1967, as amended, the Equal Pay Act of 1963 and the Americans with Disabilities Act.
- Interviewed Charging Parties to assess their credibility and to determine the relevant basis and issues.
- Drafted charges of employment discrimination and was responsible for drafting affidavits from testimony gathered during interviews with Charging Parties, Respondent Representatives, and other witnesses
- Prepared written interrogatories that solicited information relevant to the investigation of class cases and analyzed, written documentation gathered through the investigative process
- Responsible for accessing the credibility of the evidence from written documents and testimony provided by the witnesses
- Prepared detailed written reports on the findings of the investigations
- Participated in the agency’s outreach and educational activities
- Developed training modules and delivering training to private and public sector employers as well as the agency stakeholder and/or advocacy groups
- Served as Officer-in-Charge during the absence of the Director
Education
Ragsdale High School
Jamestown, NCBachelor of Science in Criminal Justice -
UNC - Chapel Hill
Chapel Hill, NCSkills
- Customer Service
- Decision-Making
- Problem-Solving
- Time Management
- Dependable and Responsible
- Excellent Communication
- Critical Thinking
- Computer Skills
- Organizational Skills
- Organization and Time Management
Jobrelatedtraining
- Leadership Training
- Creating an effective Anti-Harassment Office
- Conducting EEO Investigation Training
- EEOC Excel Training
- Federal Dispute Resolution Training
- How to be a Better Communicator
- Mediation Training
- Intake Specialist Training
- Time Management
- Effective Communication Skills -
Federalstatus
Career
Personal Information
Citizenship: United States of America
Awards
- Outstanding Performance Awards 2015 - 2023
- Special Contribution Awards – 2023
- Quality Step Award – 2020
Timeline
Chief, Harassment Prevention Program
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2015.06 - Current
Resolution Support Center Manager
U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs
2010.05 - 2017.10
EEO Specialist (Acting Administrative Officer)
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2008.06 - Current
EEO Specialist (Investigator Team Leader/C2)
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2005.12 - Current
EEO Investigator
Dept. of Veterans Affairs, Office of Resolution Management
2001.10 - 2005.12
Senior Investigator
Equal Employment Opportunity Commission
1987.07 - 2001.10
Ragsdale High School
Bachelor of Science in Criminal Justice -
UNC - Chapel Hill
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