Triathlete
Musician
Matthew Cook
Foster,RI
Summary
HR Leader and Trusted Advisor to executive teams who cultivates talent for the sustainable benefit of the company through reduced risk, increased performance and cultures that foster engagement. An innovator who excels at connecting human resource solutions to the strategic objectives of the business and delivers on solutions that bring the power of the whole organization to the goals and mission of the corporation. Agile, strategic, adept at building high performing teams that deliver on key performance areas: Talent Acquisition – Built high functioning executive team and staff for U.S. operations of business unit of world’s largest pure play renewable energy company. HR Strategy - Centralized a National System Control Center, including consolidation of unionized regional operating centers, for operating all U.S. power generation assets. Union and Labor Relations - Designed and led negotiations of five Collective Bargaining Agreements, including a new six-year deal with USW that was prerequisite to closing on a $700M acquisition. Mergers and Acquisitions - Led HR due diligence and business integration efforts on more than $2B in acquisitions over three years. Leadership Development - Creating framework for strengthening North American business leadership. Employee Engagement – Led survey analysis and training for “Leading for Engagement” that increased workforce empowerment and established framework for improved productivity. Training and Development - Built and launched technical skills training initiative that strengthened competencies and improved productivity.
Overview
37
37
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Owner
LAZARUS LLC
01.2014 - Current
- Company Overview: executive coaching and human resources consulting services
Vice President, Human Resources & Organizational Development
ASTRONOVA
01.2014 - 08.2025
- Company Overview: a global leader in developing and applying data visualization technologies in products serving industrial, packaging, aerospace, and defense markets
- Hired by CEO to build the Human Resources function and develop organizational growth strategies to achieve global strategic initiatives.
- Implemented structured executive compensation program including equity compensation
- Developed and implemented AstroNova Leadership Academy for development of future global business leaders.
- Developed and implemented organizational development plan to transition organization from a departmental structured centered on headquarters to a global organization aligned by global product groups.
- Implemented diversity and inclusion programs that resulted in 15% increase of women in manufacturing. Program is sustained through a mutual internal support group: “Women in Manufacturing.”
- Created reporting agenda and structure to the Board of Directors committee on human capital: including succession planning; executive compensation design and planning.
- Transformed HR organization from 80% administrative support to 20% strategic / 60% business partner advisory work / 20% administrative through automation, outsourcing and upskilling of HR staff – achieving HR service model of 1 HR professional per every 100+ clients.
- Led a multi-business collaboration in the development of State-wide leadership development program funding by Real Jobs Rhode Island.
Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development
BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP
01.2008 - 01.2014
- Company Overview: world’s largest publicly traded “pure play” renewable energy Independent Power Producer
- Promoted by CEO to oversee organizational development of 1,000-employee NA business as part of company strategy to build talent pool after years of aggressive acquisitions. Identify and define critical leadership competencies around accountability, teamwork and results. Define framework for assessment and develop methodology, resources and support. Drive implementation of leadership development plans, all in the context of change management. Coach leaders in the development of high performing teams.
- Increased the number of high potential internal promotions to critical leadership roles.
- Improved the speed and effectiveness of onboarding key leadership hires.
- Helped drive multiple high performing teams to achieve or exceed operational targets for cost, safety, risk mitigation and other KPI’s.
Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
01.2009 - 01.2013
- Promoted by COO to establish strategic HR support for this business unit that was doubling its asset base every five years and worth $17B as of 2013, focusing on key leadership roles. Initiated succession planning and leadership development process. Established processes for HR acquisition due diligence and integration. Created standard for labor relations strategy. Established organizational employment structure. Designed and initiated labor cost reduction strategies. Built leadership development and engagement trainings.
- Led HR reorganization of U.S. and Canada businesses into one North American business platform.
- Integrated $2B in acquisitions with no risk or disruption to the business and reducing U.S. labor costs by 12% per megawatt hour of production.
- Negotiated five labor contracts, avoiding strikes, creating sustainable smooth labor relations, saving 24% in labor costs on construction projects and more than 2%/$6M in overall labor costs.
- Kept benefits costs below inflation, reducing forecasted costs by 20% and funding requirement by $2M while cutting annual expense for retiree medical by 30%.
- Reduced turnover 1.5% and increased by 20% internally promoted managers, including vp operations to COO North America.
Director, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
Director, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
01.2008 - 01.2009
- Hired to establish HR function, procedures and processes for newly created U.S. operating platform. Built new HR team. Led talent acquisition of U.S. Executive Team and staff for U.S. Operating Platform Consolidated multiple legacy benefit programs. Improved efficiencies of talent acquisition and drove down recruiting costs.
- Reduced cost of new hires by 31%.
- Lowered days-to-fill for new positions by 25%.
Director, Human Resources
QUEBECOR WORLD, INC., RETAIL OFFSET GROUP
01.2004 - 01.2008
- Company Overview: part of Quad Graphics, formerly one of the largest commercial print companies in the world.
- Promoted by VP of HR to partner with the executive VP of this 2,000 employee, twelve-location business unit to retain and strengthen talent, technical capability and organizational leadership in a downsizing environment. Led employee engagement, waste savings and standard maintenance initiatives. Developed and launched strategic training programs to retain talent in highly competitive environment. Designed and introduced HR “scorecard” that aligned performance with KPI’s. Conducted unionization risk assessments and union-free training. Developed and implemented Affirmative Action plans.
- Increased workforce empowerment and productivity by as much as 15%.
- Doubled internal skills base, increasing internal promotions by 100%.
- Consolidated and integrated eight plants across the U.S.
- Maintained labor costs at 20% below market levels.
Senior Human Resources Manager
Senior Human Resources Manager
01.2000 - 01.2004
- Appointed by regional VP to build and lead all HR within 650-employee eastern region in response to a growing and vibrant business climate. Crafted and implemented leadership training programs for managers, front line supervisors and crew leaders. Created and launched “pay for performance” and other results-based incentive programs. Developed and implemented safety management initiatives.
- Increased internal promotion rate by 50%.
- Improved safety performance by 25%.
- Staffed and created training for the installation of $16M in new equipment, on budget.
- Secured $120K in WIA and EDC training grants.
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
01.1996 - 01.2000
- Recruited by general manager to lead HR for single printing plant, and quickly given responsibility for an additional location totaling of 350 employees, with a focus on talent acquisition and development to support rapid growth in facilities, equipment and customers. Addressed, developed and implemented ISO 9002 initiatives. Built a diverse workforce and addressed labor shortage issues in a 2% unemployment environment.
- Met 100% of quality assurance targets.
- Prevailed in EEOC discrimination charge.
- Increased female worker population from 2% to 50%.
Production Planner
Products Design & Mfg Corp.
01.1989 - 01.1996
Owner
Darthill Manufacturing Inc.
01.1989 - 01.1996
Legal Aid
The Law Firm of Al Machado
01.1989 - 01.1996
Education
Juris Doctorate - Law
Western New England School of Law
Springfield, MA01.1995
Commissioned U.S. Army Officer - undefined
Vermont Officer Candidate School
Williston, VT01.1990
B.A. - Philosophy
University of Vermont
Burlington, VT01.1989
Skills
- Organizational Development
- Organizational Design
- Employee Engagement
- Talent Management
- Succession Planning
- Workforce Planning
- HR Technology
- Employee Communication
- Recruitment
- Diversity
- Change Management
- Business Strategy
- Compensation Planning
- Budgeting
Certification
Senior Professional in Human Resources
Leadership Circle Profile practitioner and coach
Certified Coach, International Coaching Foundation
Interests
Timeline
Owner
LAZARUS LLC
01.2014 - Current
Vice President, Human Resources & Organizational Development
ASTRONOVA
01.2014 - 08.2025
Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
Vice President, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
01.2009 - 01.2013
Vice President, Human Resources and Organizational Development
BROOKFIELD RENEWABLE ENERGY GROUP
01.2008 - 01.2014
Director, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
Director, Human Resources, U.S. Operations
01.2008 - 01.2009
Director, Human Resources
QUEBECOR WORLD, INC., RETAIL OFFSET GROUP
01.2004 - 01.2008
Senior Human Resources Manager
Senior Human Resources Manager
01.2000 - 01.2004
Human Resources Manager
Human Resources Manager
01.1996 - 01.2000
Production Planner
Products Design & Mfg Corp.
01.1989 - 01.1996
Owner
Darthill Manufacturing Inc.
01.1989 - 01.1996
Legal Aid
The Law Firm of Al Machado
01.1989 - 01.1996
Commissioned U.S. Army Officer - undefined
Vermont Officer Candidate School
B.A. - Philosophy
University of Vermont
Juris Doctorate - Law
Western New England School of Law
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