Who We Are:

· Marc Harding, President

Marc R. Harding is a seasoned executive with over 25 years of experience in human resources and general management. He spent fifteen years in the technology development industry where he was part of a team instrumental in helping grow the business from a 400-employee site to a 3000-employee site in an eight-year time frame. Since 1995 he has led a regional management consulting practice. During this time he has worked with a number of small to medium sized industry-leading businesses including start up operations in a variety of contract Human Resource and General Management roles. His areas of expertise are Total Compensation System Design, Executive and Professional Search, Human Resource Management System Development, Organizational Design and Effectiveness, Business Development and Planning and Performance Management Systems. He has developed a client base in excess of 80 in the years he's been consulting. Six have won state or national awards for their growth and his retained clients have a growth rate in excess of 50%. His background in high change environments has provided him with a unique perspective on what it takes to be successful in today's global economy.
Marc holds a bachelor's degree from the University of Wisconsin at LaCrosse. He has had numerous Continuing Education courses in the Human Resource and General Management fields. These are highlighted by a certification from the American Compensation Association as a Certified Compensation Practitioner. Harvard Leadership courses in Finance, Business Planning, Marketing and Strategic Planning. Intensive training offered through the University of Michigan on Change Leadership.
He is a member of the Society of Human Resource Management, World at Work. He has been active in the community with a variety of organizations such as Lakeland College Advisory Board, Chippewa Falls Chamber of Commerce, St. Joseph's Hospital Advisory Council, Chippewa Valley Technical College Foundation Board, Chippewa Valley YMCA Board and the United Way.

· Gayle Soppeland, Associate

Gayle Soppeland is an Administrative Assistant with 18+ years experience in the secretarial field with an emphasis in human resources.
Gayle has extensive experience in formulating cost analysis, preparing wage and benefit comparisons and performing overall administrative human resources functions.
Her computer knowledge includes having worked with ADP, an HRIS system; performed internet set up, software installation and computer troubleshooting. She is proficient in Microsoft Windows and Microsoft Office 97,which include Access, Excel, Word and PowerPoint.
She has also worked as a legal secretary, an elementary school secretary to the principal, loan processor for a financial institution, and provided in-home day care. She has designed an office layout and coordinated the office relocation and set up as well as designed new company letterhead and marketing brochures.
Gayle has an Associate Degree in Secretarial Science from Chippewa Valley Technical College, Eau Claire, WI.

· Carl Wehman, Senior Consultant

Carl Wehman has over thirty years of experience in areas of employee relations, staffing, employee development, training and performance management.

Carl worked for Cray Research in Chippewa Falls and Rice Lake, Wisconsin. He was instrumental in the transition of Cray Manufacturing facility in Rice Lake from the standard model of management to a self-managed, team-based workforce. Carl’s work experience also includes human resource management with Jerome Foods in Barron. Prior to Jerome, he held various positions with the State Job Service.

Carl is a graduate of the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse with a Bachelor of Science degree in Business Administration. Carl completed the certification program for the Myers-Briggs Type Indicator in 1987 and has been utilizing the MBTI for over ten years in the areas of conflict resolution and teamwork at both private and public organizations.

· Ray Doring, Senior Consultant

Ray Doring is a Training and Development Executive and educator with significant experience in the corporate world, and with graduate and undergraduate educational institutions. He is regarded as a results-oriented strategic planner with proven leadership abilities capable of identifying corporate issues and bringing them to resolution. Ray has excellent communication and interpersonal skills coupled with strong personal qualities that motivate students in educational environments, and senior management and staff in corporate settings.

Significant Accomplishments

Developed and delivered team effectiveness through team building and leadership development strategies; established core management development curriculum, which extended to the CEO and President of a 67 billion dollar company.

Received the highest rating from New York State National Program on Non-collegiate Sponsored Instruction resulting in seven internal courses being available for full college credit, the first multi-site approval granted.

Created a Training and Development function that delivered training to 33,000 employees geographically dispersed throughout thirteen states from Maine to Alaska. Expanded the department from 1 to 110 full time employees.

At the request of the Chairman, designed and delivered the Corporate Strategic Planning Sessions from 1988-1995, consisting of a five day program for the top 70 executive officers and selected members of the Board of Directors. Program focused on corporate direction, team building and personal growth.

Designed, developed, implemented and evaluated training and development programs for the corporation and affiliates including Commercial/Consumer Lending, Operations, Merger, Compliance, Management, Sales/Service, Training Certification, Instructional Design and Alternative Delivery.

Consistently achieved the highest level in faculty evaluations done both by peers and students in all three teaching positions.

Education

MS Management, Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute, Troy, New York – awarded 1973

BS Biology, Niagara University, Niagara Falls, New York – awarded 1966

· John C. Krizek, Senior Consultant

John C. Krizek has been a leader of Public Sector government in Western Wisconsin for over 24 years and has an outstanding reputation for Lean Budgeting and Labor Relations. In addition he has over 14 years of Operations Management experience in manufacturing where most recently he implemented the Toyota Lean Manufacturing Model. Expertise includes but is not limited to: Operations Management, Budgeting that drives out waste, Human Resources, Executive Team Building, Labor Relations, Risk Management, Training, Benefits Design and Cost Reduction.

John has proven experience in evaluating operations problems and incorporating existing resources to provide long term solutions and impressive results. Some of his accomplishments include:

Certification in lean Operations Management (University of Kentucky)

Developed and Administered 24 annual County Budgets that reduced the tax rate and maintained quality services.

Management Negotiator of labor contracts with AFSCME, Teamsters and United Rubber and Cork workers. Experience in Union de-certification, accretion, interest and grievance mediation/arbitration.

Trained over 300 Andersen Windows production associates in the “Kaizen” problem solving process and “5’S” Lean Transformation.

Implemented an Injury Prevention and Workers Compensation Control Program that in one year reduced work related injuries by 25% and Workers compensation cost by 50%.

Performed Public Officials Errors and Omissions risk assessments.

Implemented PTO and Cafeteria benefit programs that made associates stakeholders.

Served on Governor Thompson’s Task Force on Shared Revenue. Expert in how to manage municipal operations under the Tax Rate Freeze.

Through “TQM” developed a collaborative relationship between 38 different departments to achieve the organizations goals.