Tom is a seasoned professional with over thirty years' experience in human resources. He has served as Corporate Director of Human Resources of a multi-plant manufacturer in the HVAC industry within a union environment and as HR Director of a 1500 employee non-union hospital.

Tom developed an interest in resolving workplace conflicts to make employees more productive and reduce costs in his employee relations work. He then became an advocate for workplace mediation. While he has many years of experience in mediating workplace disputes and leadership training, his qualifications also include certification as a mediator by the Michigan State Court Administrative Office (SCAO) and Mediation Training Institute International. He is a volunteer mediator at the Ottawa-Allegan Center for Dispute Resolution where he also serves on the board of OACDR as its vice president.

Much of his career has focused on coaching and mentoring supervisors in both the manufacturing and health care sectors on how to be productive leaders. He has successfully negotiated with unions, benefits providers, and other vendors in an integrative, both-gain format. He has presented cases in arbitration hearings and successfully led employee relations initiatives.

In addition to manufacturing and health care, Tom has been an applauded educator in the public schools where he taught for several years and at the University level as well. He is a current member of the adjunct faculty of both Davenport University and Cornerstone University teaching a variety of HR subjects including Human Resources, Selection and Training, and his favorite, Negotiations and Dispute Resolution. He is recognized as a master teacher and entertaining speaker on workplace conflict. He recently authored a book, Dare to Lead, which focuses on courageous leadership.

Tom holds a Bachelor of Science degree from Penn State University and a Master of Arts degree from Grand Valley State University. He has done work in Negotiating and Administering the Labor Agreement at the University of Michigan; Leading Organizational Change at Cornell University, and Governance of Non-profit Organizations at Harvard School of Business. He served in the U.S. Navy as a shipboard division officer. He also finds time to do lay speaking in his church.

Comments:

Tom was an excellent trainer/teacher. I walked away with skills I could use immediately, which in fact were put to use the very next day.
      ~ Victor Fejeran, Director of Training and Employee Development, Tribe of Indians Government Offices