Keith Karas, SHRM-SCP, PHR

Experience

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  US Army Reserves

  Nov 1983 - Nov 2003

  First Sergeant

  Served 3 years active duty (Regular Army) and remainder of enlistments as a reservist with multiple active duty tours. Assignments include progressively responsible leadership roles at the team, squad, platoon, company, and battalion levels. Final assignment was as Chief Administrative Sergeant, Command Group, 9th TSC, responsible for the health, welfare, morale, and training of 400 soldiers at Fort Belvoir, Virginia and a forward deployed (active) element at Camp Zama, Japan. Notable assignments include the 82nd Airborne Division, the 11th Special Forces Group, and the US Army Drill Sergeant Academy.Achieved distinction as the 1991 "Drill Sergeant of the Year" for the 80th Division and selection as an Honor Graduate during attendance at each session of Primary, Basic, and Advanced Non-Commissioned Officer Courses. After completing Drill Sergeant duty at the Reception Station and Basic Combat Training commands, was nominated and served 3 years at the US Army Drill Sergeant Academy (80th Division) initially as a Drill Sergeant Leader, then Senior Drill Sergeant Leader, and finally as the Chief Instructor. Recipient of the Meritorius Service Medal, six Army Commendation Medals, five Army Achievement Medals, the Expert Infantry Badge, the American Parachutist Badge, the Drill Sergeant Badge, and the Honduran Parachutist Badge.Overseas deployments include Operation Kilo-Punch, Joint Task Force Bravo, Honduras, March 1984, 82nd Airborne Division as a rifleman assigned to 1st Battalion 504th Parachute Infantry Regiment as a Show-of-Force during runoff elections in neighboring El Salvador. Also participated in Exercise Yama Sakura, Camp Zama, Japan, 1998, as a First Sergeant with the 9th TSC during a logistic projection/interoperability rehearsal between the United States Army and a Japanese (Military Defense) Engineer Battalion. Show less

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  Unilever

  Apr 1991 - Dec 2000

  Human Resources Associate/Unassigned Employee

  Originally hired as a bargaining unit (union) employee, but then detailed to work in the HR department based upon recruiting and personnel experience as gained in the US Army. Performed recruiting and new hire orientation tasks, compiled data for the Affirmative Action Plan, maintained monthly staffing/continuity report, routine file maintenance, maintained confidential High Potential Officer rotation documents, and coordinated the corporate citizenship efforts (Adopt a Family, Southeast Middle School Partnership, United Way, Earth Day, etc.) Show less

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  Broadway Services, Inc.

  Nov 2000 - May 2006

  Deputy Director of HR/Manager of Recruiting and Training

  Originally hired as the Manager of Recruiting and Training. Promoted to Deputy Director, leading the HR operations for 250 security employees serving in 30 client locations throughout Maryland. Duties included recruiting, training, employee relations, investigations, safety, and client relations. Member of Executive Command Staff.

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  Baltimore City Mayor's Office of Employment Development

  May 2006 - Sept 2007

  Director of Human Resources

  Led 4 person HR Department. Supervised the recruiting, employee relations, performance management, staff development, and compensation/benefits for 400 employees serving in 8 career centers throughout Baltimore City. Member of the Executive Team,

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  MKS&H

  Sept 2007 - Sept 2008

  Director of Human Resources/HR Consultant

  Served full time as an internal Director of HR for a medium-sized public accounting practice and part time as an HR Consultant to a diverse client portfolio. Consultancy included facilitating training interventions (supervisory coaching, team building, harassment prevention, etc.), employee relations, performance management, conducting sensitive investigations, and benefits administration.

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  Little Sisters of the Poor

  Oct 2008 - Dec 2020

  Director of Human Resources

  Led strategy and execution of all employee initiatives (workforce planning, recruiting, onboarding, compensation analysis and benchmarking, employee relations/coaching of supervisors, risk management, investigations, governmental reporting, exit interviews, HR metrics, etc). HR advisor to executive leadership team. Contractural staff liaison. Other duties performed to ensure organization was well represented and complaint with federal and state regulations.

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  TranSystems

  Dec 2020 - now

  Vice President/HRBP, Northeast Region (MD, PA, OH, NJ, MA, and CT)

  A versatile and upbeat leader who approaches challenges with a sense of optimism, pragmatism, and a sincere desire to help the organization successfully navigate change. My role has changed dramatically, as I was intially the Director of HR and later promoted to VP of HR for WBCM, until we were acquired by TranSystems in June 2023. I currently oversee the HR operations for the Northeast Region (less benefits and talent acquisition). My experience and skills include policy development, influencing/coaching of leaders, talent acquistion, employee relations, performance management, compensation/benefits, risk assessment/safety, policy development, communication/messaging, change management, and acquistion/due diligence. Show less

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  Fidelity Building Services Group

  Nov 2024 - now

  Vice President Human Resources