Gretchen Barocio

*Provides expert level consultation

-Provides advice, interpretation and counsel to clients regarding applicable human resource rules, regulations, policies and procedures in areas such as classification, compensation, performance management, grievance resolution, employee and labor relations, reasonable accommodation, FMLA, layoff and organizational development. Responsible for most complex issues. -Meets with employees and managers of the organization and regularly represents the Human Resources (HR) Office and the Office of the Secretary of State at meetings. -Assess, plans, develops and implements strategies to promote effective client relations to resolve complex issues and problems. -Investigates, prepares documentation and recommends position on grievances, complaints and appeals; serves as representative in a variety of appeal or adjunctive forums. -Researches, reviews, recommends and drafts new policy and policy changes. -Assists HR Manager and HR Operations Manager with strategy, planning and implementation of new processes and procedures.

*Provides HR guidance and support for assigned divisions

-Reforms recruitment processes including layoff lists, posting jobs, creating a recruitment plan, screening applications, corresponding with applicants, reviewing and approving interview questions, interview assistance, and maintaining records. -Processes and completes payroll: reviews and audits Personnel Actions for accuracy and appropriateness under applicable law, rule, CBA or policy, logs and tracks due dates and paperwork that must be returned, completes required data entry and benefit eligibility forms, calculates various date adjustments, sends online new employee orientations, completes appropriate employee letters, inputs payroll entries into the payroll systems, performs quality review of other HR Consultants payroll actions and runs reports. -Serves as the liaison between the division and Department of Enterprise Services for The Learning Center (TLC) Management System, submits requests for users, user changes, and removal of users; creates courses in TLC, provides on demand TLC training when necessary. -FMLA Administration; completes and send appropriate FMLA paperwork and makes FMLA designations or denies in consultation with supervisors, if appropriate. -Reasonable Accommodation (RA); completes and sends appropriate RA paperwork and questionnaires; works with health care providers, supervisors, and employee(s) to implement accommodation, if appropriate. -Reviews position descriptions forms and makes allocation decisions to job classes. -In the their absence, back up other Senior HR Consultants in providing guidance, support and recommendations to their assigned divisions. -Serves as the HR Office expert in one or more disciplines - including but not limited to; investigation fact-findings, complex reasonable accommodations, performance management, employee and labor relations and policy writing. -Provides training and presentations to all levels of the office, including Executive Management. -Creates, leads and implements Leadership Academy for up and coming leaders to help develop talent, build bench strength and provide leadership training to the Office.

• Established measures to promote equality in regard to diversity in culture, language, and family circumstances to ensure equal access to opportunity and advancement
• Projected employment needs and devised strategies to meet targets
• Partnered with cross-functional departments to develop, support, administer, implement and maintain iSolve (Thread) and Thread reporting
• Facilitated new hire on-boarding program by scheduling training initiatives, resolving issues and processing paperwork
• Diminished regulatory risks by managing random monthly drug testing for employees to ensure compliance adherence
• Challenged and refined current recruitment and sourcing processes by suggesting actionable improvements and innovations
• Identified and solved complex strategy problems that impact management and business direction
• Strengthened and enhanced processes for managing complaints by afferent policy guidance advice and leading thorough investigations into incidents and concerns
• Identified vacancies and recruited and hired applicants to fill positions in variety of departments
• Improved operational efficiencies and tracking by creating filing systems to maintain confidential employee documents and reports
• Crafted leadership development programs personalized to each area to challenge and advance current leaders
• Reduced workers compensation claims by implementing strong return to work policy
• Ensured legal compliance by maintaining all applicable state and federal requirements and provided representation at hearings
• Partnered with management to establish workplace safety curriculum for training and education purposes
• Reduced HR budget spending by 76% during FY 2019 by developing new processes and improving workflow
• Maximized HR efficiencies and maintained compliance with operational functions by performing background investigations, employment interviews, requisition posting, budgeting, statistical reporting, confidential document control and protocol development
• Reduced accidents in workplace by being proactive with prevention by implementing safety policies and procedures
• Launched wellness plans to reduce stress, boost morale and increase productivity
• Conducted employee performance reviews to access strengths and weaknesses keeping feedback positive and constructive
• Eliminated discrimination and harassment risks by investigating internal and EEOC charges for corrective action
• Evaluated and updated compensation strategies to offer competitive employment packages and attract top-notch talent
• Onboarded and trained more than 200 new employees per year in Human Resource and other management areas
• Aided senior HR leadership by accurately preparing bi-weekly payroll and tracking data into cumulative documentation
• Advised managers on strategies for improving policy enforcement and eliminating any concerning behaviors or legal concerns
• Developed organizational filing systems for agendas, correspondence, data communications, records and reports
• Devised training programs for new and existing employees
• Tracked programs closely to assess effectiveness and make proactive changes to meet changing demands
• Resolved internal and external investigations
• Mitigated audit risk with optimization of compliance tools, identification of deficiencies and successful corrective actions
• Served as the liaison between business divisions to facilitate communications
• Initiated employee evaluation process and recommended policy changes to ensure staff were progressing toward desired readiness goals
• Streamlined onboarding process by developing and implementing employee orientation program
• Recruited, hired and trained new employees to optimize profitability
• Built financial model for new HR business unit
• Maintained 100% protocol and procedural accuracy through HRIS management tools
• Ensured training credentials and regulatory compliance for 284 personnel
• Worked with department managers to assess needs
• Revamped recruitment strategies resulting in large savings in temp fees
• Streamlined benefit program administration efficiencies
• Delivered consistent and reliable service through overall administration, planning, coordination and evaluation of HR functions
• Liaised with senior leadership and addressed managerial needs by implementing technology solutions into business strategies
• Held company-wide town hall meetings to convey updates
• Planned and managed 401k, medical, dental and vision programs
• Increased employee productivity levels through Management Training
• Maintained compliance with all local, state and federal laws, as well as established organizational standards.

• Produced status reports for customers and senior management
• Met project benchmarks while reducing costs through introduction of enhanced implementation strategies
• Updated project plans based on changing objectives, specifications and staff availability
• Provided updates and managed inquiries for delivery of quality products and services
• Brought in additional project personnel and resources to meet demands
• Oversaw budgets for project, tracked expenses and timelines and communicated with key stakeholders on milestones
• Outlined work plans, assessed resources and determined timelines for projects
• Kept project teams on-task with proactive control of budgets, schedules and scopes
• Established key issues in need of resolution and project performance metrics to set planning objectives
• Managed financial operations, including calculating finances and production costs
• Oversaw bookkeeping and financial functions, including budget preparation and cost reporting
• Established and cultivated professional working relationships, which proved highly effective during store construction
• Defined project plans and timelines, managed workflow and personnel and achieved completion deadlines on or before schedule
• Managed estimation processed by preparing specialty subcontractor bid packages, material procurement for project management, contracts review and preparing action lists
• Defined project deliverables and monitored status of tasks
• Oversaw workforce schedules and allocated resources in collaboration with Executive Leadership in order to achieve project goals
• Aligned project specifications, schedules and phase deliverables across all teams, members and external parties to ensure conformance with user needs and client requirements
• Served as single point of contact for project scheduling and changes to maintain oversight while keeping progress on track
• Monitored team progress and enforced deadlines
• Developed and monitored internal financial budgets to measure against projections
• Managed vendor contracts to obtain licensing
• Maintained open and effective communications with project teams through stand-up meetings to increase productivity
• Executed on-time, under-budget project management on complex issues for senior leadership
• Saved costs by establishing and cultivating vendor relations to resolve site issues
• Assessed projects risks and devised mitigation actions encompassing close attention to contracts and service level agreements by subcontractors and vendors, external dependencies and potential roadblocks
• Executed on-time, under-budget project management on complex issues for senior leadership and local/national departments
• Evaluated financing and construction activities
• Developed slideshows and other forms of media to present project progress to executive team
• Assisted in raising capital for new projects
• Brought projects in on-time and in accordance with budget and quality standards
• Conducted countless meetings to increase communication and strengthen internal and external relationships
• Maximized cost-effectiveness of projects through value engineering processes to assess methods, materials and means
• Oversaw adherence to project timelines and budget constraints
• Identified issues and implemented appropriate solutions to ensure quick and effective remediation
• Aided senior leadership during executive decision-making process by delivering weekly compliance reports to identify process improvement or corrective action
• Obtained all signoffs and certificates of occupancy
• Collaborated with finance leaders and completion guarantors to foster funding objectives
• Collaborated with cross-functional teams to draft project schedules and plans
• Led 7 project teams concurrently for Associate Pastor and other ministry areas
• Increased process improvement initiatives and troubleshoot problems for corrective action to boost functionality and workflow
• Coordinated extensive planning required for complex contracts, including development of project milestones and budget
• Oversaw project details to ensure consistent adherence to legal requirements.

• Assessed events planning services and related costs
• Recommended money-saving strategies for events
• Organized venues, budgets, guest lists, catering and event timelines
• Designed and maintained spreadsheets documenting vendor, facility and guest information
• Designed contracts, collected fees and booked venues for events
• Initiated negotiations with vendors and subcontractors to maintain $1 million-dollar event budget
• Managed catering services, audio-visual services and housekeepers
• Hosted 350 attendees during annual events
• Coordinated vendors, timelines and budgets for events
• Organized corporate luncheons, dinners, conferences and special events
• Attended and participated in industry events
• Monitored multiple databases to keep track of all company inventory.

• Met demanding business targets with high efficiency and smooth performance
• Encouraged, trained and disciplined employees to maximize performance
• Motivated and led team members to work together to achieve targets
• Created list of signature items to increase overall revenue
• Coordinated monthly budgets, managed profit and loss and consistently met desired margin targets
• Increased annual profit by streamlining processes and improving staff knowledge of optimal procedures
• Assessed customer needs and requirements to effectively provide product pricing
• Managed and mentored staff of 260+ to effectively carry out corporate directives
• Formalized operational systems and procedures by developing and introducing employee handbook, detailed job descriptions and work-flow plans
• Expanded territory through successful cold-calling and profitable contract negotiation
• Created professional sales presentations to creatively communicate product quality and market comparisons
• Fostered performance-oriented environment focused on promoting team collaboration, personal accountability and long-term business success
• Disciplined and maintained staff of 12 District Managers to provide hospitable, professional service reflecting business initiatives
• Maintained physical and computer file systems
• Supervised various critical tasks, including budget implementations, employee reviews, training, schedules and community-based volunteer projects
• Developed and deepened community partnerships to create mutually beneficial relationships and build new revenue channels
• Controlled business inventory to keep it beneath $29MIL through effective oversight and usage monitoring.

• Maximized branch revenue by optimizing daily operations
• Audited location sales performance and data trends to improve underperforming areas
• Evaluated budget plans and current costs to project trends and recommend updates
• Spearheaded growth initiatives to improve operational standards
• Managed business expansion, revenue development and market gains
• Analyzed regional market trends to discover new opportunities for growth
• Established, reviewed and updated territory boundaries and distribution routes for route sales teams
• Oversaw store merchandising, brand exposure and product availability
• Negotiated long-term contract renewals with current clients and new clients
• Increased sales by $2MIL across 3 district-wide locations
• Recruited 17 managers and supervisors to fill internal job vacancies
• Developed and enhanced sales and merchandising programs, positively impacting bottom-line profitability with strong growth
• Produced top sales across Pacific Northwest region 20 fiscal quarters through effective planning and implementation of key initiatives and key performance indicators
• Identified and developed top talent within management structure to promote performance-oriented culture
• Led district conference calls with operations teams to update and align sales objectives
• Received management commendation for spearheading turning around the Tacoma Market Center
• Returned the Tacoma Market Center to profitability by reviewing operations, implementing improvements, restructuring frameworks, hiring talented staff and enhancing training programs
• Reduced manager turnover rate by offering percentage of training through e-learning
• Achieved annual sales volume in excess of $2MIL by motivating all levels of employees to continuously exceed objectives
• Addressed customer complaints quickly to drive satisfaction and adjusted operational strategies to reduce issues
• Oversaw quality of operations of 2 locations throughout the Western Washington region
• Created customer service model used at multiple locations, resulting in 75% increase in customer service ratings
• Collaborated with our VP of Sales to improve performance and grow sales
• Supervised 21 route sales representatives and managed all performance metrics within Western Washington territory
• Mentored team members by demonstrating best practices for sales and customer service
• Restructured frameworks, hired optimal staff and enhanced training programs
• Cultivated positive rapport with associates and team leadership
• Hired and motivated 100+ members achieving over $100K in sales per year.

• Analyzed investment materials to develop financial techniques to fulfill customer needs and predict favorable investments
• Counseled clients on financial matters and provided recommendations on investment opportunities, products and services based on client needs and asset availability
• Profiled and analyzed investment products to devise financial strategies meeting client financial needs and forecasted opportunities with highest return on investments
• Exuded professional expertise and resourcefulness to gain trust and confidence of clients, vendors, and other professionals
• Articulated value of various financial products, including stocks, bonds, mutual funds, and insurance policies; educated clients on benefits of individual products
• Counseled clients on financial matters and provide recommendations investment opportunities, products, and services based on client needs and asset availability
• Effectively controlled the release of proprietary and confidential information for general client lists
• Monitored multiple databases to keep track of all company inventory.

• Processed credit and debit card payments and returned proper change for cash purchases
• Trained 35 employees in inventory practices, POS systems and product knowledge, contributing to 30% increase in customer satisfaction ratings
• Monitored supplier operations to verify quality, delivery schedule and conformance to contract specifications
• Encouraged professional growth and talent development in associates to increase performance in all areas
• Conducted analysis to address productivity and employee needs which resulted in improved employee morale
• Assessed, optimized and elevated operations to target current and expected demands
• Collaborated with staff to maximize customer satisfaction, streamline procedures and improve bottom-line profitability
• Developed and implemented promotional strategies to drive business success and maintain budgetary guidelines
• Completed frequent walk-throughs and directed team members to correct any issues impacting store appearance or professionalism
• Improved efficiency by 20% through supervising daily staff assignments and tasks, including quarterly performance reviews and timely feedback
• Set schedules and delegated assignments based on team member strengths to optimize floor coverage and service levels
• Minimized waste through expense tracking and effective cost control strategies
• Performed daily activities in timely manner, including managing housekeeping and inventory needs of store
• Handled scheduling for two store shifts across 7-day work weeks to ensure proper staffing at all times
• Promoted and supported strong relationships with local community organizations in surrounding area
• Implemented merchandising plans to drive profitability, collaborating with visual merchandising team to develop strategy
• Established, enforced and updated policies keeping business agile and responsive to changing market conditions
• Partnered with Store Manager to develop and implement merchandising plans to guarantee profitability on weekly basis
• Helped team members deliver polite and positive service to every customer by closely monitoring behaviors and offering constructive guidance
• Assisted in overall day-to-day operations of store including continuous development of effective store associates to achieve desired sales and results
• Achieved or exceeded business plans on consistent basis by engaging employees in key processes
• Coached and developed store associates through formal and informal interactions
• Interviewed and vetted job applicants to make effective hiring decisions and fill vacancies with strong team members
• Mentored team on effective upselling and cross-selling techniques
• Led teams in planning, implementation and execution of merchandising and operating initiatives
• Recruited, interviewed and hired individuals demonstrating passion, dedication and added value to team
• Ensured proper organization of store, responded to customer complaints and answered questions quickly
• Conducted quarterly performance reviews to organize training and development for staff.