Kari Dunn
Head of People Operations · CHECKERSPOT and WNDR Alpine
Salt Lake City, UtahWork Experience
Head of People Operations
CHECKERSPOT and WNDR Alpine2023 – Present
As the first Head of People Operations of a high-growth bio based materials company, I am responsible for building programs, processes and best practices for continued growth and scale. Within my first year I have: ● Built and lead a top-tier People team that has established a comprehensive onboarding program resulting in reduction of ramp up time ● Launched Checkerspot's first global performance management process, first short term incentive bonus program and first professional development program for a cohort of 13 future leaders ● Advised leaders at all levels on diverse and challenging employee issues, resulting in a reduction in People Operations-related escalations and implemented proactive measures to enhance team cohesion, reducing interpersonal conflicts ● Modeled integrity and courageous leadership, fostering a culture of trust among employees and leaders at all levels ● Demonstrated deep knowledge of US HR-related policies and laws, particularly in California employment law, ensuring legal compliance in all HR practices and successfully navigated legal challenges, resulting in zero employment law violation ● Excellently communicated initiatives and influenced stakeholders at all levels, resulting executive buy-in for new programs ● Established a cohort of future leaders and conducted seminar style training sessions enhancing understanding of leadership and supporting career growth ● Researched and secured new HRIS system to be implemented in 2024
Director of Human Resources
SIGNATURE PRODUCTS GROUP2021 – 2023
Responsible for providing all Human Resources leadership and services for a mid-sized, growing company, from all administrative duties to people operations and executive support: ● Built out HR team to scale with organization's projected growth ● Updated and implemented policies, procedures and best practices ● Refined processes for recruitment and onboarding ● Created and managed internal engagement activities ● Built performance management tool that leverages internal talent ● Developed and implemented professional development through multi-year People Strategy
HUMAN RESOURCES BUSINESS PARTNER
AMER SPORTS WINTER AND OUTDOORS2018 – 2020
Arc'teryx, Salomon, Suunto and Legal Entity of ASWO April 2018-November 2020 Responsible for providing Human Resources leadership, strategic partnership and support to Go-To- Market Commercial, Retail, Sales and Marketing, Distribution Center leaders and teams: ● Executed development programs focused on elevating skills for managers and future leaders, promoted DEI in the workplace, talent management, and employee engagement surveys ● Built trusting relationships with leaders, advised and consulted on business strategy and goals ● Recruited for top talent and drove people development through performance management process and Coaching for Success program ● Developed, refined and executed onboarding process for new hires at home office and at distribution center ● Wrote, interpreted and upheld policies ● Managed employee relations for US based retail stores and commercials teams ● Member of reorganizing task force and leadership team ● Served as coach to employee teams, as well as partner and advisor to senior management ● Managed extensive furlough and unemployment process for non-exempt employee base during Pandemic ● Founding member and chapter lead for AWE-Amer Women Empowered ● Handled all employee relations for a division of 300+ employees
DIRECTOR OF OPERATIONS
HABITAT FOR HUMANITY OF SUMMIT AND WASATCH COUNTIES2017 – 2018
Responsible for providing the overall leadership for the Park City ReStore, including all business operations including sales, procurement, customer relations, marketing and resource policies and procedures, hiring, training and development of ReStore staff to ensure productivity, customer service excellence and safety.
REGIONAL US RETAIL MANAGER MOUNTAIN REGION
PATAGONIA1990 – 2015
Responsible for successful operation of 11 premium retail and outlet locations spanning the US generating over $60 M in sales: ● Oversight of development, training and support of 300 non-exempt and exempt team members ● Ensured excellence in sales, operations and profitability of industry leading retail locations while giving back to the community and protecting the environment ● Created engaging customer and employee standards and experiences, setting overall strategy/vision, managing transformational products and programs that exceeded market expectations, and driving business growth in a highly competitive industry ● Close collaboration with VP of Global Sales, General, District, Area and Store Managers to analyze business trends and identify opportunities to drive sales across the brand ● Collaborated with designated HR manager for identifying and assessing talent among employee base ● Responsible for ensuring that the elements of Patagonia's Purpose Statement and Core Values were consistently communicated through the retail stores ● Effectively managed the SG&A and Operating Income goals by increasing the sales line, lowering expenditures, controlling payroll, improving inventory shrink, and increasing conversion rates ● Directed store openings across the United States ● Increased the national outlet business from $9m to over $18m in sales ● Created successful annual New Manager Training Camp. Mentored manager peer trainers and created succession for the program ● Monitored the implementation of policies and procedures in the stores, working proactively with Human Resources, Internal Audit and Loss Prevention Departments, to ensure compliance and limit risk for non-exempt employee base ● Selected to work with the internal Omni Channel team to smoothly rollout programs like "Locate" TECHNICAL APPLICATIONS/PLATFORMS: Microsoft office | COGNOS | Retail POS Systems; Micros, Datavantage | HR Related Systems; Kronos (UKG), Halogen, Workday, Culture Amp, SharePoint, ADP, ICIMS, Paylocity, Companalyst
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