Trisa Kern

Experience

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  AFL-CIO

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2002

  Union Summer Intern

  Assisted union organizers working for Service Employees International Union’s Justice for Janitors campaign.Organized large and small scale demonstrations, performed research, and traveled with union organizers to learn the basics of organized labor.

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  Triality, Inc.

  Jul 2003 - Oct 2004

  Administrative Assistant

  Handled human resources, development, and office management at an agency that serves people with disabilities. Duties included managing human resources files, writing, editing and designing development publications, grants, press releases and annual reports.Created, implemented, and maintained the organization’s first development database.

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  ACLU of Kansas

  Oct 2004 - Jun 2007

  Operations & Programs Manager

  HR and operations manager for statewide civil liberties organization with national presence. Managed HR tasks including recruitment and hiring, orientation and training, payroll and benefits administration, and performance evaluations.Promoted to oversee organizational and program operations including financial records, budgets and audits for 501(c)3 and 501(c)4 organizations, database maintenance, and educational programs. Supervised the administrative assistant, interns, consultants, volunteers, and temporary staff. Show less

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  ACLU of Illinois

  Jun 2007 - Feb 2013

  Associate Development Director

  Operations leader advancing HR, technology, and development for statewide civil liberties organization with national presence. Oversaw all aspects of annual black-tie gala including sponsorship, vendor coordination, and external relations. Advanced foundation relations for multiple philanthropic organizations including grant writing, report submission, site visits, relationship development, and annual and personalized fundraising communications. Partnered with HR on special projects and supervised development assistant, interns, consultants, volunteers, and temporary staff. Show less

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  Columbia Legal Services

  Mar 2014 - Dec 2020

  Director Of Operations

  Executive HR leader focused on organization-wide, strategic initiatives for statewide, unionized legal services organization. Served as department head leading HR and business operations teams focused on crafting equitable policy and practice, employee relations, labor-management relations, bargaining, recruitment, retention, engagement, mentorship, professional and leadership development, pay equity, and other special HR initiatives. Advised and coached management and executive leadership team on employee relations, performance management, employee support and engagement, labor and employment law, difficult conversations, conflict resolution, and other proactive strategies. Promoted organizational diversity, race equity, inclusion, and belonging centered on cultural competence including race-based caucusing, talent development, and restorative justice.Supervised three departments and five direct reports to advance organization-wide HR operations, administrative, development, equity, and technology systems. Show less

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  MFR Associates PLLC

  Oct 2020 - now

  HR Investigator and Consultant

  Experienced HR leader, licensed Investigator, and consultant helping clients navigate complex investigations and align HR practices with race equity, inclusion, and belonging.Conduct workplace investigations and/or assessments across the public, private, and nonprofit sectors. Provide advice, training, and thought partnership on centering and aligning race equity, inclusion, and belonging with HR practices. Partner with clients on internal and external policies and practices, employee relations and support, equitable recruitment and retention, employee engagement, pay equity, conflict resolution, executive coaching, and other professional and leadership development initiatives. Show less