Darrell Olson

Experience

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  Newell Company

  Jan 1977 - Jan 1994

  VPHR-division level
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  Newell Mirro Division

  Jan 1982 - Jan 1994

  VP - HR
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  Twin Disc

  Oct 1994 - May 1996

  Vice President HR

  Chief HR Officer for this WI based custom engineering and manufacturing company with three US manufacturing locations, one Belgian plant, and seven company owned international distribution locations. Designed and manufactured power transmissions for heavy duty off road, military, industrial, and marine applications.1200 employees in four manufacturing locations.Implemented comptency based base pay system in US union-free factories; designed and implemented conversion of defined benefit pension plan to cash balance type with 30% reduction in future liability; devised and introduced succession planning process linked to personal development plans and individual performance measurement plan. Show less

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  Andersen Windows/Morgan Products

  May 1996 - Jan 2001

  Vice President HR

  Chief HR Officer reporting to CEO for this $750M fabricator and distributor of millwork, primarily Andersen Windows (later acquired by Andersen). Grew this workforce from 1500 to 2400.Member of an executive team which turned this perennial money loser around through divesting manufacturing business unit and focusing on distribution. Acquired 12 DCs and built nationwide distribution to 24 DCs. (18 bargaining units)Achieved profitability in two years (after 8 yrs of losses). Re-negotiated 18 labor agreements, redesigned benefits package, thereby reducing cost by $1.2M/yr, designed performance based comp plan for managers, and base comp plan for all. Show less

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  CFM Corporation

  Apr 2005 - Mar 2009

  Senior Vice President - Human Resources

  Chief HR Officer for this $450M multi national manufacturer of consumer durables (fireplace inserts, gas and wood burning stoves, and barbeque grills). Initially, 3200 employees which we downsized to 1250.With corporate office in Toronto area and ten manufacturing locations in four countries, helped this private equity owned turnaround situation assemble executive team which rationalized product strategy and manufacturing capacity.Built base compensation system from ground up in US and Canada, helped develop and execute manufacturing strategy to shift manufacturing to existing low labor cost factories in US and Mexico, developed individual performance based base pay plans, etc. Show less

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  Darrell Olson Consulting

  Mar 2009 - Sept 2013

  President (retired)

  Coach executives in improving their talent "bench" and effectiveness of their teams. Provide formal talent assessments based on objective based interview and psychological assessment. Assist the HR teams of smaller clients who benefit from "on-call" senior level HR expertise.