Experience

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  U.S. Department of Veterans Affairs

  • Chief Human Resources Officer

    • May 2022 - Present

    As the Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for the VA Midwest Health Care Network (VISN 23) within the Veterans Health Administration I manage and direct the Human Resources program that supports eight VA Health Care Systems and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics across five states in the upper Midwest. With 360+ HR staff we deliver a full range of Human Resources services for 17,000 employees executing healthcare, educations, and research missions. In addition, I serve as a member of the VISN 23 Executive Leadership Team, working directly with the Network Director (Executive Director/CEO) and other senior leaders to create and implement a strategic vision for leading a responsive, innovative, High-Reliability Organization, that serves Veterans and their caregivers.

  • Senior Strategic Business Partner

    • Oct 2019 - May 2022

    As the Senior Strategic Business Partner for the Minneapolis VA Health Care System, I was chiefly responsible for guiding the Minneapolis VA through the most significant reorganization of Human Resources in VHA history. The new approach, HR Modernization, created a collaborative network of Shared Services Units and Strategic Business Units serving the entire VISN rather than the traditional HR Department operating on a facility-by-facility basis. This transformation required dedicated and determined Change Management work with a wide array of stakeholders. Shortly after embarking on HR Modernization, the COVID-19 Pandemic Emergency unfolded. I was part of the initial response team in February 2020 and continued as part of the Incident Command Team for more than two years through the pandemic’s many phases.

  • Human Resources Officer

    • Jun 2013 - Oct 2019

    As the HRO I serve as the Director of the Human Resources Management Service. I was responsible for the overall human resources management program for the Minneapolis VA Medical Center and associated Community Based Outpatient Clinics. With 60+ HR staff we delivered a full range of Human Resources services for 4,000 employees executing healthcare, education, and research missions. In addition, I contributed to a number of governance bodies including the Executive Leadership Board, the Finance Council, the Workforce Engagement Council, and the Compliance and Integrated Ethics Council.

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  US Army

  • Landstuhl / Ramstein, Germany

  • Supervisory HR Specialist

    • Apr 2010 - Jun 2013
    • Landstuhl / Ramstein, Germany

    As Chief of the Civilian Personnel Branch at the largest overseas US military hospital in Landstuhl, Germany (next to Ramstein Air Base), I was the primary adviser to the Hospital Commander and senior leaders on civilian personnel matters. The human resources program for which I was responsible contributed to the delivery of world class healthcare to Wounded Warriors evacuated from Afghanistan and Iraq as well as military families across Europe.

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  USDA-FSIS

  • Minneapolis, MN

  • Lead HR Specialist (Classification)

    • Oct 2005 - Apr 2010
    • Minneapolis, MN

    I was the primary subject matter expert on classification, position management, and organizational design for Human Resources Operations in the Food Safety and Inspection Service, an agency with 10,000 employees. I was a key player in designing the compensation architecture and formulating classification policy for the Public Health Human Resources System (PHHRS), a pay-for-performance demonstration project.

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  US Army

  • Neu Ulm, Germany

  • US Army Active Duty

    • Nov 1987 - Sep 1990
    • Neu Ulm, Germany

    Helped win the Cold War. Held a Top Secret security clearance.