1. KEITH GAERTNER, SHRM-SCP, SPHR
Strategic expert and versatile Human Resources Director offering over 20 years of progressive HR leadership experience. Recognized
for core strengths in HR strategic development and implementation of corporate culture initiatives and budget objectives. Excels at
maximizing performance as an organizational change agent and recognized as a trusted company advocate who can effectively
balance the needs of employees and the organization. Demonstrated ability to solve employee relations issues in high stress
environments, adapt to multiple industries, and lead teams to successful results. Core competencies include:
 Organizational Development  Employee Relations/Conflict Resolution  Strategic HR Planning
 Leadership Coaching and Counseling  Compensation/Benefit Plan Design  Safety Culture Development
 Departmental Budgeting/Analysis  HR Policies, Processes and Procedures  Regulatory Compliance Advisement
 Human Capital Management  Talent Acquisition and Retention  Organizational Change Management
PROFESSIONAL HUMAN RESOURCES LEADERSHIP EXPERIENCE
Human Resources Director – Acme Manufacturing, Denver, Colorado 05/2015 – Present
Hired to provide senior and executive leadership to manufacturing company with over 250 employees. Providing strategic leadership to
senior management for structural and cultural organizational development. Delivering all aspects and processes of Human Resources
to the entire organization.
 Partner with all levels of leadership within the company with expert HR and regulatory advice.
 Guide leadership to avoid costly litigation and claims by enforcing a concept of proactive management throughout the
company.
 Develop talent management program to increase talent pool and decrease time-to-fill metrics.
 Review and develop employee benefit program to help increase retention and employee satisfaction.
Human Resources Manager - Civeo (formerly PTI Group, USA), Englewood, Colorado 09/2010 – 04/2015
Served as Human Resources Manager for the United States, reporting to Senior VP of HR; charged in developing and leading Human
Resources initiatives to include employee relations, sourcing and recruitment, benefits and compensation, building and leading HR
team, and HR project management. Strategically managed team of 10 HR employees, advised 30+ senior managers and supported
over 500 employees located in geographically-dispersed locations throughout the United States. Successfully developed and
implemented strategic HR plan from the ground up for the company’s venture into the US.
 Provided management support and leadership to entire US HR team, including generalists, recruiters, payroll, benefits, and
HRIS employees. Acted as mentor and coach to employees to ensure growth and development for each individually.
Coached employees on complex employee relations matters and guided team to implement strategic plan for the US.
Managed a diverse team with multiple industries within the same company including the oil and gas, construction, and
manufacturing sectors.
 Partnered with all levels of leadership within the company, including executive team, with expert HR and regulatory advice.
Successfully guided leadership to avoid costly litigation and claims by enforcing a concept of proactive management
throughout the company.
 Managed complex project of implementing full HRIS programs twice in the company. Successfully led team to implement
UltiPro when PTI Group began in the US and then transitioned the company to ADP Workforce Now upon change to Civeo.
 Developed new talent management program and helped drop the time-to-fill metrics for recruiting by over 100%.
 Designed and implemented popular benefits program for US employees, which became one of the key retention tools the
organization utilized.
Human Resources/Safety Manager- Concrete Express, Inc., Denver, Colorado 01/2007 - 09/2010
Provided senior Human Resources and Safety leadership to company with more than 500 employees and $60 million in revenue.
Reporting directly to the CEO, led all company initiatives to improve safety records and implement improved human resources policies
and procedures.
 Provided change management leadership in implementing a Safety Culture initiative which since 2007 has reduced recordable
injuries by 82%. The funds saved paid for 95% of the expenses for current or ongoing claims costs. The program also dropped
vehicle accident rates by 60% and saved over 62% in auto accident claims paid out.
 Implemented an on-boarding process that included a robust indoctrination for new employees into the company. Using a
combination of classroom, PowerPoint and video presentations covering topics such as extensive safety training, benefits
orientation, work rules and performance expectations.
Tel: 303.680-9661(H)/303.358.0299(C) | Email: keithdg1@q.com | LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/keithgaertner

2.  Utilizing an internal referral process successfully recruited craft personnel resulting in a retention rate of 83%. Partnered with
local high schools to provide career opportunities in construction for non-college bound graduates.
 Successfully negotiated health care insurance renewal keeping the increases below 10% while comparable rates in the
Denver region have risen at rates of 20+% in the last three years.
 Implemented a complete salary matrix for all positions associating job descriptions and duties so they aligned properly with
relevant compensation data from outside vendors.
 Initiated a Performance Management system designed to develop employee’s performance with the overall business goals.
The program utilized objective criteria goals that aligned business needs and productivity improvements with employee career
goals and personal job satisfaction.
 Coordinated employee activities and social events that tied in with individual and team performance such as successful project
completion to one year’s service without any work related incidents.
 Started the CEI University to provide a variety of training to all levels from laborer to superintendent. The program provided
basic work needs instruction to career advancement training using a combination of internal and external resources.
Human Resources Manager- JR Engineering, Greenwood Village, Colorado 12/2005 - 12/2006
Provided all functions of Human Resources for employee base of 150. Reporting directly to the CEO, charged with developing and
implementing HR policies and procedures as well as enhancing talent management, safety, and benefits programs. Successfully
managed affirmative action and enhanced organizational development.
 Revamped the College Recruiting/Relations program to make it more effective. Leveraged the relationships with incumbent
alumni to meet and interview prospective applicants from local universities. Provided training with interview and “sales”
techniques to engage the students and increase offer to acceptance success.
 Established a multi-path career track for engineering and technical staff providing training or mentoring for individual
contributor technical roles, project management, client relations or sales.
 Successfully negotiated a two-tier healthcare plan to address the needs of upper management for enhanced benefits and still
contain costs while providing a program with competitive coverage for other employees in the company.
 Overhauled the compensation program revising all classifications to be compliant with FLSA rules for exempt and non-exempt
employees. Examined pay structures to align compensation to with local and national data.
 Created matrix to track required training for CEU’s by engineering staff to recertify for their PE status. Additionally, the program
worked to ensure that all employees, regardless of status, received a company-wide goal of 40 hours training per year.
Human Resources Director – Istonish Holding/Team Excel, Greenwood Village, Colorado 10/2003 - 12/2005
Delivered key leadership to Istonish in a period of growth and evolution for the company. Strategically guided company to successful,
diverse growth along with implementing new policies, procedures, and benefit programs. Successfully designed and implemented
safety, performance management, and recruiting strategies for the company.
 Provided a pivotal role in the establishment of a multi-lingual call center by recruiting staff that were technically fluent in
Spanish, French, Italian, Dutch, German, Portuguese and Mandarin Chinese. Hired a total of 25 people and the center was
operational in one month maintaining the project budget and schedule.
 Created policy manuals and handbooks compliant with both US and Canadian labor laws using data supplied by the Ministry
of Labour Employment Standards.
 Implemented a performance management plan. Contents included Performance Expectations based on objective call center
metrics, Performance Improvement - employing a win-win coaching philosophy, and Performance Discipline - ensuring
consistency with corporate policy.
 Proactively worked with employees and supervisors in client facilities traveling to different locations providing general HR
support and team building activities and employee social events. Addressed any potential or current issues regarding
performance or morale.
 Administered benefit programs for all employees in 5 states including California and 2 Canadian provinces. Successfully
negotiated a less than 10% increase renewal rate for U.S. employees and obtained similar concessions for a supplemental
Canadian program.
 Implemented an office safety program and night shift acclimation programs. Provided training to employees on off-shift
including stretching/flexing exercises along with changes in lighting to keep staff alert. Negotiated a cost sharing arrangement
with a client to share the expense of modifying workstations over 20 years old.
Human Resources Manager- Royal Crest Dairy, Inc., Denver, Colorado 06/1984 - 07/2003
Provided senior leadership to family company of more than 450 employees. Offered expert guidance to leadership and the entire
company to transition the company into an organization with efficient structure and communication. Reporting to the President, led the
organization to an optimal level of structure without compromising the family culture developed over the 60 year history of operation.
Tel: 303.680-9661(H)/303.358.0299(C) | Email: keithdg1@q.com | LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/keithgaertner

3.  Promoted to implement and direct a full-service human resources operation including oversight of benefit plans, compensation
programs, talent acquisition, safety and training for three locations around the Denver area.
 Teamed with Senior Managers of the Executive Management Committee using an outside consultant and the “Good to Great”
philosophy to analyze process to determine which aligned to provide a sound basis for the strategic management of the
company.
 Maintained zero percent increases in healthcare rates for a 4 year period by aggressively communicating to employees the
importance of the programs and combining that with a wellness program to help in the cost containment effort.
 Reduced turnover in driver positions from 60% in first three months of employment to 20% by instituting a mentoring program
teaming a newly-hired driver with a reliable experienced employee.
 Implemented a well-received program by both managers and employees called, “Breakfast with the President” which allowed
new employees to meet the President to discuss any topics they felt relevant. Coordinated all other employee recognition
programs and social activities.
TECHNICAL PROFICIENCY
Windows Operating System and all associated software and applications to include MS Office (Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint and
Outlook). HRIS platforms: ADP Workforce Now, Timberline, Vision, Ascentis, and UtiliPro.
ACADEMIC PREPARATION
Bachelor of Science: Business Administration
University of Phoenix, Phoenix, Arizona
CERTIFICATIONS AND PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
 Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR)
 SHRM Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP)
 Certification in Professional Human Resource Management – Regis University, Denver, Colorado
 OSHA 10 and 30 Hour Construction Safety and Health Certification
 Stormwater Management Construction Erosion Control Supervisory Training
 Professional Affiliations: Society for Human Resource Management; Mile High Society for Human Resource Management;
Risk Management Committee for Colorado Contractor’s Association
Tel: 303.680-9661(H)/303.358.0299(C) | Email: keithdg1@q.com | LinkedIn:
www.linkedin.com/in/keithgaertner