Lisa Sonego

Experience

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  British Petroleum Oil - Cleveland, OH

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1992

  Benefits and Compensation/Sr. Personnel Admin

  Held two positions while at BP Oil. Retail and Transportation areas. Served multi-facilities across the entire US. 7,000 and 1,000 employees, respectively.

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  C.E. Lippert Furniture - Zeeland, MI

  Jan 1992 - Jan 1994

  Manager of Human Resources

  Managed and enhanced the HR function for this wood manufacturing job shop which created high end wood surfaces through skilled craftsmanship for larger suppliers. Implemented HRIS, lead the creation and implementation of compensation and benefits structures, workforce planning for growth needs.

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  Human Resources Consultant - Western, MI

  Jan 1994 - Dec 1999

  Executive Human Resources

  Western Michigan human resources leadership professional, servicing West Michigan as well as multi-state entities. Served as interim Director for various facilities including health care, entertainment, manufacturing. HR project management, strategy, and training. Partnered with the HR firms Humanco, Innovations in Management, and also individual connections.

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  Activa Management Services - Grand Rapids, MI

  Dec 1999 - Jul 2004

  Director of Human Resources

  •Developed and established the organization’s HR function during the growth stage of business; designed and implemented needs and gap analysis, job evaluation, analysis, and descriptions, resulting in the total compensation package. Outlined preferred structure to meet identified organizational goals. *Facilities and businesses in multiple states and globally.•Functioned as a lead business partner in business strategic plan formulation during the growth phase of the organization; translated plan and core values into department and individual goals and MBO system, along with a leadership development program; this resulted in increased communication between departments, cultural foundation, organizational efficiency, and meeting and tracking goals for business growth.•Extensive coaching with employees, managers, and executives in regard to employee relation issues including performance standards, conflict resolution, clarifying expectations, and business goals.•Facilitated analysis and metrics for labor forecasting resulting in identified divisional staffing needs and structures, effective hiring practices and on boarding. Further results were decreased labor costs and turnover, enhanced time efficiencies for managers, employment replacement guidelines and workflow design, internal pay equity monitored, and more qualified hires identified through increased retention.•Research and implementation of HRIS program to meet business growth, efficiency, and business needs. Show less

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  City of Kentwood, MI

  Jan 2005 - May 2013

  Director of Human Resources, Labor Relations

  •Provided HR strategic direction and guidance, enhancing employee development, engagement, attraction, and retention, and significantly reducing departmental silos. * Identified and implemented a customized leadership development program by collaborating with executives and staff.* Coached and counseled employees and teams at all levels while increasing the flow of communication and retention. •Lead strategist and negotiator of four collective bargaining agreements. Used interest-based bargaining with union representatives and teams through three successful bargaining cycles resulting in costs of contracts kept at record maintenance levels while incorporating the City's short and long-term goals. *Significant Benefits and Compensation initiatives. Negotiated all benefits offered, renewals and plan designs, to below-market cost and budget friendly while meeting the needs of employees, unions, and shareholders. Show less

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  City of Cape Coral

  May 2013 - Jul 2023

  Director of Human Resources

  Directed the Human Resources and Labor Relations functions for the staff members that serve the 210,000 citizen-based City of Cape Coral, located in beautiful SW Florida.• Lead negotiator, eight bargaining units as part of IAFF, FOP, and IUPAT.• Restructure of process and flow of recruitment, orientation, and electronic onboarding. Implementation included union acceptance, complete management involvement, and full training after the process.* Restructured the pay philosophy for the organization to best align with the goals and values of the organization. Included a total compensation and custom market wage review by internal staff, and job evaluation for classification via vendor. * Negotiated pay philosophy and implementation with seven bargaining units.• Continually identified areas of enhancement within the HR department and throughout the organization that relate to HR and Labor. Through collaboration identified barriers and action steps to implement solutions, resulting in HR divisions working together towards common goals, topics, and solutions, and creating joint initiatives, versus functioning in silos. • 7% vacancy rate through implementing performance metrics to educate and drive leaders resulting in retention, attraction, and succession planning.* Electronic conversions for 1,700 personnel files, training software, performance, skills, onboarding, retirement, FMLA tracking, etc.* Onsite Wellness Clinic implemented in 2020 to reduce benefit costs and improve employee experience in health care.* Implemented a Robust leadership training program in 2018 through the organization-wide collaborative team, developing over 200 leadership certificate holders.• An integral member of the executive team to set, direct, and guide the strategic goals of the organization. Show less

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  The City of Pompano Beach

  Nov 2023 - now

  Human Resources Director