Craig S. Ott - PHR

Experience

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  IOWA DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE, ALCOLHOL BEVERAGES DIVISION

  Jan 1983 - Jan 1986

  Human Resources Management Analyst, Retail Store Operations (1983-1986)

  • Multi-site Human Resource and Operations responsibility for 220 retail outlets and 1,100 union employees. Managed a staff of six regional professionals and three internal support staff for businesses totaling $250 million in 1986. Responsible for HR operations including $98.4 operations budget, union negotiations, investigating grievances, management training, employee relations / services and project management areas. Reduced payroll budget by 6.3% or $464,250, over a 19-month period while opening five new stores. Spearheaded reduction in force plan, eliminating 1,100 union employees and disposal of assets in 1986. Show less

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  DEE ZEE MANUFACTURING INC.

  Jan 1986 - May 1988

  Human Resource Manager

  Newly created position to support growing truck accessory manufacturer. Client group comprised of 500 employees in manufacturing and warehouse distribution environment with businesses totaling $103 million in 1988.• Developed HRIS tool to provide comprehensive wage/salary, benefits, workers compensation and disciplinary action analysis. This reducing costs of administration by 45%. • Responsible for compensation & benefits, recruiting, labor relations and safety/OSHA compliance programs. • Wrote, edited and updated company-wide employee handbook and standard operating procedures.• Developed strategies around retention, referrals and recruiting that reduced turnover by 37%. Show less

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  Marriott International

  Jan 1988 - Jan 1999

  Director Human Resources

  Career Progress:Director of Human Resources, New Orleans Marriott Hotel, New Orleans, LA (1998-1999)Director of Food & Beverage, Kansas City Airport Marriott Hotel, Kansas City, MO (1996-1998)Director of Human Resources, Kansas City Airport Marriott Hotel, Kansas City, MO (1994-1998)Director of Human Resources, El Paso Marriott, El Paso, TX (1991-1994)Director of Personnel Services, Marriott's Orlando World Center, Orlando, FL (1988-1991)Human Resource Manager, Marriott's San Diego Marina Hotel, San Diego, CA (1988)Supported Corporate and Regional HR initiatives for small and large convention hotel operations.• Served as strategic partner with other area executive committee members to develop strategic initiatives including union avoidance measures, college recruiting, embedding culture and developing leaders.• As HR generalist, partnered with: Marriott University on design and delivery of training for managers; Legal and Compliance on regulator issues; Staffing on developing competency based interviews; Employee Relations Program on mentoring future leaders and Asset Protection Measures to workers compensation reduce losses.• Responsible for execution of the welfare-to-work program generating $180,000 per year in bottom line profits.• Developed strategies to align recruiting efforts and to leverage work force utilization with area hotels. Show less

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  Marriott Vacations Worldwide Corporation

  Jan 1999 - Jan 2001

  Director, Corporate Employee Services and New Product Development

  Senior HR director reporting to SVP HR. Directed multi-site HR team of 13 professionals serving 7,000 employees worldwide. Provided strategic HR leadership over employee relations, recruiting, internal communications, and project management for a growing $503 million global vacation ownership company.• Project manager for global employee opinion survey for 7,000 employees. Trained managers, designed enterprise processes, and facilitated employee feedback sessions. Achieved 96% participation and 83% employee overall satisfaction rating.• Directed team to develop a web based 24-month forecasting model used to link business requirements (budget, manpower, and office space) with recruiting strategies (college, web, referral programs, and agency). Reduced time-to-fill positions by 27 days. • Designed measurements (KPI’s) and methodology tools to support HR strategic vision and objectives. • Oversaw development and implementation of PeopleSoft HRIS organization wide. • Led recruiting team in process reengineering efforts that linked corporate, market, college and web based efforts. Developed strategies to facilitate 30% company growth projections. Show less

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  Gaylord Hotels

  Jan 2001 - Jan 2002

  Hotel Director, Human Resources

  Senior HR officer reporting to SVP Hotels. Directed multi-site HR team of 37 professionals serving 3,800 employees. Provided strategic HR leadership for employee benefits, compensation/payroll, data management, employee communication, training/development, wellness, and employee relations divisions. • Sponsored and led internal focus groups, career development process, succession planning process, and mentoring program for all levels of organization. Employee relations complaints were reduced by 17%. • Oversaw development and implementation of companywide, multi-state drug testing program impacting 6,600 employees. • Linked employee and guest satisfaction surveys resulting in: process improvements, targeted service standards training and a 14% increase in overall guest satisfaction. Employee participation grew 36%.• Led recruiting and employment teams through process reengineering efforts that linked local, college, intern, international and web based efforts. Time to fill positions was reduced by 37%.• Instituted and facilitated organizational process improvements resulting in EBITDA margin growth from 26% to 31%. Show less

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  Starwood Hotels & Resorts Worldwide, Inc.

  Jan 2002 - Jan 2004

  Director of Human Resources

  Orchestrated pre/post-opening HR functions including: compensation and benefits development, training, recruiting, HRIS, policy/procedures, employee relations, culture and communications strategies. • Sponsored and led all efforts to recruit, train/develop, and support employees for an opening convention hotel operation. • Led training activities for all areas of the business with focus on guest satisfaction and problem resolution. • Developed new employee handbook and managed culture transformation process. Strategic planner, process partner, communication coach, and feedback point for employees and managers throughout pre & post opening process.• Established metrics, work practices, core competencies for critical positions within the organization. Show less

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  Sumner County Schools

  Jan 2004 - Jun 2011

  Human Resources Director

  Senior HR officer reporting to Director of Schools. Directed team of 10 providing strategic HR leadership for benefits, talent acquisition, compensation, data management, employee relations/labor negotiations impacting 6,800 employees within multi-site operation. • Led employee relations efforts. Partnered with site leadership to reduce employee complaints and mitigate lawsuits. Handled all EEOC complaints. Partnered with local law enforcement on investigations when needed. • Senior labor negotiator for district. Provided leadership to Executive and BOD committees concerning contract strategy and resolutions. Successfully negotiated reductions in benefits and labor costs of $2.3M. • Sponsored and led implementation of HR data management system – provided digital capture, retrieval, and analytics for district. • Led effort to expand satellite health care centers for employees and family members. Two additional centers were added increasing access and services provided districtwide. Overall utilization increased 22%. Show less

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  Metropolitan Nashville Public Schools

  Jun 2011 - Feb 2017

  Executive Director of Human Resource Operations

  Executive Director, Human ResourcesProvide strategic Human Resource leadership for talent acquisition & development, employee benefits, compensation/payroll, data management, workplace safety, Oracle ERP, Kronos, and employee relations divisions impacting 13,800 employees within a multi-site operation. • Responsible for district wide talent management strategies and acquisition efforts for a workforce which averaged 10% turnover and 15% transfer rates. • Develop HR analytics (KPI’s) – providing enhanced visibility of Human Resource costs and impact of HR talent acquisition, benefits, compensation and data management strategies. • Oversee labor negotiations, EEOC compliance, employee litigation, employee handbooks, HR policy/procedures development, and communication strategies. • Developed districtwide performance/competency compensation strategy overhaul resulting in alternative compensation plans supporting role and leadership differentiation and talent acquisition strategies. • Sponsored and led implementation of HR data management system – providing digital capture, retrieval, workflow, and analytics reducing data processing time by 52% and 3 FTE’s. • Sponsored and led team of professionals around districtwide design and implementation of Kronos workforce management system. • Led employee relations efforts. Partnered with site leadership to reduce employee complaints and mitigate lawsuits. Administered all EEOC complaints. Partnered with executive leadership and attorneys to provide ongoing training for all management staff on employee engagement and harassment. Show less

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  Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County

  Feb 2017 - Oct 2021

  Payroll Division Manager for Metropolitan Government of Nashville and Davidson County. Leading all payroll activities for active and pension employees of Metro Govt. and MNPS. Partnered with implementation teams and lead tactical teams to successfully deliver and implement Oracle ERP within both Metro Nashville Government and Metro Nashville Public Schools HR, and Payroll operations.

  • Payroll Division Director

    Dec 2020 - Oct 2021

  • ERP Project Manager

    Feb 2017 - Dec 2020
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  Self Employed

  Oct 2021 - now

  Professional Day Trader

  Day Trader

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  Sumner County Schools

  Feb 2022 - now

  Human Resources Director

  Senior HR officer reporting to Director of Schools. Directed team of 13 providing strategic HR leadership for talent acquisition, compensation, data management, employee relations impacting 6,800 employees within multi-site operation.