Kristin Braafhart
Muskegon,MI
Summary
Outgoing, highly skilled professional with excellent interpersonal skills, a varied background in product development for food and personal care products, as well as effective in managing and scheduling workers. Recognized for the ability to apply communication and organizational skills, effectively meeting the needs of customer/trade partners while working in a team oriented environment.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Western Southern Financial Group - Gerber Life Insurance Company
Fremont, MI
04.2022 - 01.2026
- Mediated conflict resolution processes between employees and management to foster a harmonious workplace environment.
- Designed and managed HR metrics dashboards to monitor recruitment, retention, and employee satisfaction.
- Facilitated compliance training sessions to ensure staff adherence to regulatory requirements and company policies.
- Spearheaded diversity and inclusion initiatives to strengthen workforce representation and foster employee engagement.
- Facilitated stay interviews with employees to uncover opportunities for enhancing organizational culture.
- Oversaw employee relations issues, resolving conflicts with professionalism and discretion.
- Oversaw maintenance of accurate HR records in compliance with applicable laws.
- Led comprehensive internal investigations, ensuring fairness and transparency in addressing employee concerns.
- Oversaw employee personnel records management, ensuring accuracy and minimizing financial discrepancies.
- Optimized HR processes to enhance efficiency and minimize paperwork through automation.
- Partnered with executive leadership to synchronize HR initiatives with overarching business objectives.
- Ensured adherence to local, state, and federal laws while upholding organizational standards.
- Facilitated new hire orientation programs and training sessions to enhance team collaboration.
Human Resources Generalist
Nestle USA - Western Southern Financial Group - Gerber Life Insurance Company
Fremont, MI
03.2015 - 04.2022
- Spearheaded employee performance evaluations in collaboration with business partner leaders to enhance professional development.
- Ensured adherence to HR policies and labor laws, minimizing organizational risk.
- Assisted employees with inquiries related to benefits, compensation, and workplace concerns. Conducted investigations to address employee issues as necessary.
- Assisted in recruitment efforts by collaborating with senior recruiter and hiring managers. Participated in candidate interviews.
- Executed employee engagement initiatives to foster a positive workplace culture.
Human Resources Administrator
Nestle USA - Gerber Life Insurance Company
Fremont, MI
08.2012 - 03.2015
- Optimized recruitment processes through development and implementation of comprehensive onboarding protocols for new hires.
- Orchestrated employee training sessions to ensure adherence to company policies and regulatory standards.
- Administered HR databases and employee personnel files, ensuring data integrity and confidentiality.
Associate Sensory Analyst – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NESTLE NUTRITION R&D CENTERS, INC
Fremont, MI
09.2009 - 08.2012
- Manage the planning, preparation and execution of sensory and consumer tests in coordination with Senior Sensory Professionals to guide Innovation and Renovation projects from Development to Industrialization.
- Effective and efficient test designs and questionnaire development
- Basic analysis and interpretation
- Accurate and timely reporting
- Coach on best practices
- Communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing
- Key sensory attributes and standards for In/Out specifications
- Manage internal and external resources to achieve results
- Follow and uphold all Food Safety, Food Quality, Occupational Safety, Health and Environment policies and procedures
Senior Sensory Technician – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH
Fremont, MI
03.2000 - 09.2009
- Assist Sensory Analysts and Sensory Manager in providing sensory support for R&D, Marketing, QA and International.
- Manage the preparation and execution of consumer tests with minimal supervision, in a multi-tasking environment.
- Assist Analyst/Manager in questionnaire development and test planning, set up panelist recruitment via automated system
- Prepare data (enter and/or edit and clean data) for Analysts and Manager
- Assist Senior Sensory professionals with basic analysis and interpretation
- Administrator of Automated Telephone Recruiting system; Insuring that the 800# calls from panelists are responded to and that information is updated in the panel database
- Manage the Consumer Test Facilities daily operations and part-time workers
- Utilize Part-time workers to manage workload and meet tight deadlines
- Coach less experienced associates on best practices
- Communicate effectively with others both orally and in writing
- Gerber Products Company
Sensory Technician – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH
Fremont, MI
09.1995 - 03.2000
- Assist Sensory Analysts and Sensory Manager in providing sensory support for R&D, Marketing, QA and International.
- Assist in the preparation and execution of consumer tests with minimal supervision, in a multi-tasking environment
- Assist Analyst/Manager in questionnaire development and test planning, set up panelist recruitment via automated system
- Prepare data (enter and/or edit and clean data) for Analysts and Manager
- Consumer & associate panel recruitment and database maintenance
- Order and restocking of product and reference library samples
- Gerber Products Company
Staff Assistant – Marketing Information
Nestle USA - Gerber Life Insurance Company
Fremont, MI
01.1989 - 09.1995
- Assist and support Marketing Information Department.
- Updated and issued daily scheduled reports pertaining to food and baby care sales
- Coordinate major account data and make changes as requested
- Updated and issued regularly scheduled reports; monthly, quarterly, semi-annually and annually. Such as Information Card, Baby Care vs. Plan, Hospital report, National Market Profile and New item Contribution to Sales report
- Performed special products as assigned, assisted department staff with special requests and performed administrative maintenance for the sales information system
Education
BS - Business Administration
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MIAssociates - Administrative Assisting
Ferris State University
Big Rapids, MISkills
- HR policies and procedures
- Employee relations
- Microsoft office proficiency
- Training and mentoring
- Records management
- Corrective action planning
- Recruitment and hiring
- Human resources operations
- Talent acquisition
- Compliance
- Onboarding and orientation
- Employee onboarding
- Staff management
- Training development
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Western Southern Financial Group - Gerber Life Insurance Company
04.2022 - 01.2026
Human Resources Generalist
Nestle USA - Western Southern Financial Group - Gerber Life Insurance Company
03.2015 - 04.2022
Human Resources Administrator
Nestle USA - Gerber Life Insurance Company
08.2012 - 03.2015
Associate Sensory Analyst – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NESTLE NUTRITION R&D CENTERS, INC
09.2009 - 08.2012
Senior Sensory Technician – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH
03.2000 - 09.2009
Sensory Technician – Sensory & Consumer Insights
NOVARTIS CONSUMER HEALTH
09.1995 - 03.2000
Staff Assistant – Marketing Information
Nestle USA - Gerber Life Insurance Company
01.1989 - 09.1995
Associates - Administrative Assisting
Ferris State University
BS - Business Administration
Ferris State University