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.
Marc 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.
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 YorkState 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. Krizekhas 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, ExecutiveTeamBuilding, 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 CountyBudgets 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.
E. David Stearns, Consultant
E. David Stearns has over 25 years in team leadership for marketing and sales organizations. Dave has a reputation as a results-oriented management professional with extensive experience in team building and development, sales and marketing management, capital medical technology, information technology, and business applications. He has a proven record of leadership, bottom-line results, strategic planning, implementing change and team development. Dave is highly energetic, enthusiastic and profit-driven witht he ability to instill the same qualities in others.
Dave has extensive knowledge in application software and diagnostic technologies. With over 16 years with IDEXX Laboratories, Inc., the world leader in diagnostic and information systemse, he served as North American Sales Manager for both practice managment software and the primary contributor to the launching digital radiography in the verterinary market.
Currently, Dave is a partner and Vice-President for Business Development for Veterinary Medical Developers, a Denver based company developing imaging centers for pets in the United States. He is also owner of his own marketing consulting firm, Stears and Company, LLC, specializing in market products and services.
Dave has worked as a consultant for both education and accreditation to the American Veterinary Medical Association and has an extensive background in practice management as he managed multi-doctor veterinary practices. He is also a Registered Veterinary Technician with several years in private veterinary practice as a Hospital Administrator and laboratory owner.
Dave is recognized for the following accomplishments:
Developming, guilding, and monitoring marketing programs in conjuction with strategic objective and financial goals.
Leading competitive and market analysis to anticipate competitive strategies and offerings.
Generating marketing and sales tools at supporting sales efforts in North America.
Defining criteria and establishing market segments for continued market development.
Defining and leading product phased review.
New product launches.
Developing sales techniques and training methodology for sales force establishment.
Hiring, training, and motivating award winning sales teams.
Managing tradeshow/conference activity and speaker bureaus.
Transforming the mentality of sales teams from a haphazard selling approach with poor results, to a methodical qualifying of prospects and exceptional sales shifting the selling culture to a persistent "taking market share" approach.
