Robert L. Antoine, Jr.
Human Resources Professional
Overland Park,KS
Summary
HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTIVE & EDUCATOR
Strategic HR leader with 30+ years of experience aligning human capital strategies with business objectives in transportation, energy, and technology sectors. Expertise in organizational transformation, performance management, and labor relations. Currently leveraging leadership and communication skills as an educator to inspire the next generation.
Overview
43
43
years of professional experience
2
2
Certifications
Work History
Secondary School Teacher / Adjunct Instructor
Spring Hill USD 230/UAGrantham
03.2022 - Current
- Company Overview: University of Arkansas Grantham
- Teach high school Speech, Interpersonal Communications, and Debate to 11th- and 12th-grade students, fostering critical thinking and public speaking skills
- Serve as an adjunct instructor at University of Arkansas Grantham, an online university, delivering undergraduate courses in human resources management and business communications
- Mentor students across both roles for academic and career success, drawing on extensive HR leadership experience
- University of Arkansas Grantham
Vice President / Co-Founder, Client Engagement
Aplomb Solutions, LLC
Leawood, Kansas
01.2013 - 11.2021
- Co-founded a bootstrapped HR software consulting firm with two equity partners, delivering platform integration services to medium-to-large healthcare systems across over 70 U.S
- And Canada contracts, growing revenue to mid-eight figures by 2021
- Drove client engagement and business development as a senior equity holder, building a multi-million-dollar enterprise sold in 2021, exiting upon sale
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
VeraSun Energy Corporation
11.2009 - 12.2013
- Company Overview: Publicly traded (NYSE) ethanol manufacturer
- Served as a Section 16(a) executive for a publicly traded (NYSE) ethanol manufacturer, growing sales to $4B in 3 years before its sale to Valero Energy, leading HR through talent acquisition, M&A, and leadership development
- Directed HR, safety, risk management, security, and communications teams, transforming HR into a proactive business partner culture with streamlined policies and procedures
- Recruited 6 senior management positions and drove nationwide talent reviews, implementing a web-based succession planning system with top-talent rankings for Board review
- Partnered with the Compensation Committee of the Board to develop executive stock option and compensation strategies, ensuring governance and performance alignment
- Publicly traded (NYSE) ethanol manufacturer
Vice President, Human Resources – Transit Services
Laidlaw International, Inc.
02.2001 - 10.2009
- Company Overview: Part of a $10B NYSE-listed firm with 90,000+ employees
- Led HR for a $500M public transit division (part of a $10B NYSE-listed firm with 90,000+ employees), overseeing 18,000 employees across 120+ U.S and Canada locations, driving best-in-class HR practices
- Spearheaded due diligence and integration for 20+ acquisitions, assimilating leadership talent to fuel revenue growth
- Negotiated 60+ union contracts as chief labor strategist, transitioning pensions to 401(k) plans and cutting workers’ comp by $2.4M through a 45% reduction in accident frequency
- Grew non-union workforce from 50% to 70% using counter-organizing and preventive strategies, reducing grievances without operational trade-offs
- Pioneered automated HR systems (PeopleSoft), including wage administration, benefits/job hotlines, and a secure employee portal with 401(k) access
- Part of a $10B NYSE-listed firm with 90,000+ employees
Western Regional Director, Human Resources – Environmental Services
Laidlaw International, Inc.
03.1998 - 12.2001
- Directed HR for a $250M hazardous waste and environmental consulting division with 2,600 employees across 62 facilities in 28 western U.S
- States and 3 Canadian provinces
- Co-led integration of USPCI and Rollins Environmental acquisitions, eliminating 1,200+ positions while transitioning to a shared services platform
- Renegotiated all western U.S
- And Canada labor contracts as successor to USPCI, securing favorable terms
Vice President of Human Resources
Calavo Growers, Inc.
01.1996 - 03.1998
- Directed HR for an agricultural cooperative (650 employees, including 300 seasonal) across corporate, packing, processing (U.S
- And Mexico), and field operations, overseeing employee/labor relations, safety, and staffing
- Supervised a 5-person team, including payroll, while partnering with senior management to revise HR policies for operational efficiency
- Managed HR budget, achieving 15% cost savings through headcount reduction and process improvements
Multiple HR Leadership Roles
Nestlé
08.1982 - 12.1995
- Company Overview: World's Leading Food and Beverage Company
- Advanced over 13 years from Plant HR Generalist to Director of Human Resources for Friskies Pet Care, driving recruitment, labor negotiations, and international HR strategy for a assigned businesses.
- Held plant level, division and corporate roles in all HR functions.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Journalism
University of Kansas
Lawrence, KSSkills
- Leadership Coaching & Development
- Performance & Talent Management
- Mergers, Acquisitions & Change Management
- Labor Relations & Union Negotiations
- Compensation & Benefits Design
- Strategic HR Planning
- HRIS/HCM: Workday
- HRIS/HCM: SAP SuccessFactors
- HRIS/HCM: Oracle HCM Cloud
- HRIS/HCM: ADP Workforce Now
- HRIS/HCM: PeopleSoft
- HRIS/HCM: Ceridian Dayforce
- HRIS/HCM: UKG Pro
- ATS: Taleo
- ATS: Jobvite
Certification
Certified Trainer: Interaction Management, DDI, Inc.
Timeline
Secondary School Teacher / Adjunct Instructor
Spring Hill USD 230/UAGrantham
03.2022 - Current
Vice President / Co-Founder, Client Engagement
Aplomb Solutions, LLC
01.2013 - 11.2021
Senior Vice President of Human Resources
VeraSun Energy Corporation
11.2009 - 12.2013
Vice President, Human Resources – Transit Services
Laidlaw International, Inc.
02.2001 - 10.2009
Western Regional Director, Human Resources – Environmental Services
Laidlaw International, Inc.
03.1998 - 12.2001
Vice President of Human Resources
Calavo Growers, Inc.
01.1996 - 03.1998
Multiple HR Leadership Roles
Nestlé
08.1982 - 12.1995
Bachelor of Science - Journalism
University of Kansas
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