Kristina Kennedy
Independence
Summary
Human Resources professional with extensive experience in union and non-union manufacturing environments. Demonstrated success in reducing time-to-hire by 15% and managing comprehensive benefits administration for over 300 employees while ensuring compliance and enhancing employee engagement.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
HR Manager
Universal Industries
01.2025 - Current
- Reduced time-to-hire for general labor roles by 5% through improved recruitment strategies and streamlined onboarding processes, enhancing workforce readiness.
- Processed weekly payroll and administered benefits for 50+ employees, successfully leading annual Open Enrollment initiatives.
- Supported unionized manufacturing workforce and partnered with leadership during successful contract negotiations and agreement execution.
- Managed full Workers’ Compensation lifecycle including claims administration, return-to-work coordination, carrier communication, and regulatory compliance.
- Provided guidance on FMLA and disability leave matters to ensure compliance and minimize organizational risk.
- Collaborated with leadership to enhance safety training initiatives, fostering a proactive safety culture across the organization.
HR Generalist
EIMCo Inc
01.2024 - 01.2025
- Managed HR operations for 150+ employees, overseeing recruitment, payroll administration (UKG), and benefits coordination to ensure seamless HR processes.
- Led Open Enrollment communications and education efforts that increased employee understanding of benefit offerings and contributed to informed decision-making.
- Supported employee engagement initiatives, fostering a positive workplace culture and enhancing overall employee morale.
HR Generalist
IDEX Corporation
01.2022 - 01.2024
- Managed HR operations for 300+ employees in corporate manufacturing, enhancing employee experience and compliance.
- Reduced time-to-hire by 15% through strategic recruitment process improvements.
- Coordinated Open Enrollment and benefits administration for large employee populations, facilitating access to essential health resources.
- Administered Workers’ Compensation claims and leave programs, ensuring regulatory compliance and timely employee support.
- Processed bi-weekly payroll using UKG and Workday systems.
HR Specialist
IDEX Corporation
01.2021 - 01.2022
- Reduced Co-Op and Intern time-to-hire by 20% through recruitment process optimization.
- Implemented compliance-focused training programs and coordinated employee engagement initiatives to enhance workforce understanding of policies.
- Managed bid job processes for two union groups, ensuring compliance and supporting labor-related administrative functions.
Human Resource Assistant and Accounts Payable
Scheels All Sports Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2021
- Managed vendor accounts and processed ACH payments, ensuring financial accuracy and timely transactions.
- Processed semi-monthly payroll for 150+ employees using UKG.
- Coordinated hiring and onboarding processes to meet operational needs.
- Administered FMLA and disability leave while ensuring regulatory compliance.
Education
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Human Resource Management
Hawkeye Community College
Skills
- Full-Cycle Recruitment
- Recruitment strategies
- Employee Relations
- Union & Labor Relations
- Leave Management
- Benefits Administration
- Payroll administration
- Workers' compensation
- Workforce Planning
- Employment law
- Labor law knowledge
- Effective communication
- Employee engagement
Timeline
HR Manager
Universal Industries
01.2025 - Current
HR Generalist
EIMCo Inc
01.2024 - 01.2025
HR Generalist
IDEX Corporation
01.2022 - 01.2024
HR Specialist
IDEX Corporation
01.2021 - 01.2022
Human Resource Assistant and Accounts Payable
Scheels All Sports Inc.
01.2016 - 01.2021
Associate of Applied Science (AAS) - Human Resource Management
Hawkeye Community College