CHARLES J.

MELKA
Naperville, IL 60540 Cell: (847) 922-2459 e-mail: cmelka312@wowway.com

http://www.linkedin.com/in/charlesjmelka
HUMAN RESOURCES EXECUTIVE Professional Human Resources executive highly successful at delivering critical employee relations and strategic business leadership at multi-site manufacturing and service companies. Dynamic career built on extensive experience in corporate and plant HR, augmented by high-caliber management qualifications and leadership talents, further enhanced by MBA and SPHR accreditation. Expert at linking Human Resources with all aspects of business operations to drive and improve productivity, safety, teamwork, and profitability. Particularly effective serving as advisor to top executives and internal consultant to department heads in planning, budgeting, performance management, cost containment, and maximizing human capital. PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Starcon International, Manhattan, IL. 1/2008 12/2011 International mechanical contractor serving the construction and petrochemical industries with $230 million in sales; staffing needs fluctuate from 1,000 to 3,000 team members.
Vice President of Human Resources Chief HR Officer for all contracted maintenance sites and capital projects, reporting to the President. Restructured the domestic and international divisions aligning overhead to reduced revenues resulting in $4.5 million of cost savings. Led the analysis, design, and implementation of new health and welfare plans resulting in $1.3 million in savings without service disruptions to the workforce. Developed staffing model to effectively attract and deploy skilled crafts resulting in higher client satisfaction. Centralized HR departments resulting in reduced $500K overhead cost, improved communication and faster response times to internal customers. Authored and implemented Business Ethics compliance plans and whistle blower reporting systems that increased employee compliance with company policies and avoided after the fact legal expenses related to violations.

Wilbert, Inc., Broadview, IL. 2002-2008 Chicago-based plastics and concrete manufacturer with 1500 employees and $325 million in annual sales.
Vice President of Human Resources Chief HR Officer with responsibility for nine operating facilities and corporate office (ten locations in eight states), reporting to the President and CEO. Developed a trusted advisory role to the President/CEO and corporate executive team on strategic initiatives and problematic personnel issues. Drove Companys organizational restructuring plan to a centralized management concept and recruited four newly created positions and ten middle managers that improved communications, provided direct accountability and focus for resolving issues. Introduced an Employee Talent Assessment & Succession Planning Model to identify and develop our human capital for planned business growth and increased profitability. Due diligence and integration for two acquisitions converting employee benefits plans, standardizing policy and procedure administration and reducing overall company expense by $500K. Co-lead a plant start-up in Ohio, aggressively ramping up a workforce within timeline required by new customer agreement; first year volume achieved $20M with 150 associates. Implemented corporate safety program and converted divisional workers compensation programs to one unified self-insured plan resulting in first year savings of $1.1 million.

Page 2 Charles J. Melka Successfully negotiated a union contract that reduced employee wage demands to a 5% increase over three years without a decrease in employee morale or loss of productivity. Planned and executed the closure of our Florida plant affecting 75 associates without business disruption, increasing overall manufacturing efficiency and reducing annual operating costs by $2M. Authored and implemented Business Ethics & Compliance Program; served as Corporate Compliance Officer reporting to the Board of Directors. Established employee whistleblower reporting system. UNIMAST INCORPORATED, Schiller Park, IL 1998-2002 Manufacturer of steel and vinyl products for the construction industry, $300 million in annual sales and 800 employees with business units throughout the U.S. Company was acquired by Dietrich Industries. Director-Human Resources Total responsibility for all HR functions at corporate and operating facilities (eleven plants in nine states). Developed and elevated the corporate personnel function to a human resource department that contributed to meeting strategic company goals. Managed extensive staffing/employment activities from plant to executive level. Successfully transitioned 10 of 13 Plant Managers, and 17 of 26 sales management personnel. Directed the defeat of US Steelworkers organizing campaign that avoided $1.2M of increased labor costs. Co-lead greenfield plant start-up in Illinois with minimal service disruption to current customers, creating a $30M volume state-of-the art steel forming facility within 18 months. Implemented PeopleSoft 8.0 Human Resources Information System (HRIS) company-wide. Initiated S.T.E.E.L. (Supervisory Training Equals Effective Leadership), a comprehensive twelve-subject module training and development course for operations managers and line supervision. CHICAGO METALLIC CORPORATION, Chicago, IL 1979-1998 International, privately-held manufacturer and distributor of commercial suspension ceiling systems, steel processing facilities and service centers. Approximately 1300 employees and $400 million in annual sales, with business units in U.S., Europe -Belgium, Mexico, and Asia Pacific. Director-Human Resources Total responsibility for all Human Resource functions at U.S. operating facilities (nine plants in four states). U.S. liaison to European operations. Specific areas of responsibility included: employee staffing and retention, compensation and benefits, training and development, union avoidance, union negotiations, HR information systems, budgeting, forecasting, and safety. Played key role on Chicago Metallic Operating Committee as business partner aligning the human resources mission with corporate strategic and operating goals. Served as chairperson for two years. As a member of Strategic Planning Committee, executed all Human Resource related issues in connection with numerous mergers/acquisitions of businesses and new business ventures/due diligence (benefit systems, staffing/downsizing, employment agreements, union avoidance). Defeated attempts by organized labor (Steelworkers, Teamsters, Sheet Metal Workers) to unionize various company plants through pro-active employee relations programs and training. Spearheaded Total Employee Involvement within the corporation: Initiated quality teams, Action Planning system and Kaizen Continuous Improvement concepts. Instituted and facilitated numerous involvement programs (Team Problem Solving, Internal Customer Program, Suggestion System). Authored and implemented all management/executive compensation plans. Introduced formal Compensation/Wage and Salary Program where no uniform system previously existed. Included: published guidelines, training, point-factor system, and wage/salary committee.

EDUCATION/ACCREDITATION MBA, Human Resources Management, DePaul University, Chicago, IL BS, Business/Marketing, University of Illinois, Champaign, IL SPHR-Senior Professional in Human Resources Accreditation