Jim is a Human Resources executive with a proven record of strategic business partnerships and progressive leadership with nationally and internationally recognized organizations. Key member of executive and leadership teams with accountability for strategic organizational effectiveness, HR leadership, systems and talent management. 

Roles and Organizations:

MCKNIGHT & ASSOCIATES - Febuary 2017 to Present

Westlake Village, CA

Senior HR Consultant

 OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL - February 2015 to March 2016

Chicago, IL

Senior Vice President, Global HR Services - October 2015 to March 2016

 Chief Human Resources Officer - February 2015 to October  2015

Reporting to the CEO, was responsible for all global Human Resources functions; ensuring appropriate development and implementation of HR policies and programs; worked with the senior leadership team and the Board of Directors People Committee to ensure effective application of hiring and disciplinary policies, align HR resources and activities toward meeting the organization’s strategic goals; advised senior management on human resource issues; lead staff development activities and culture alignment; facilitated diversity and inclusion activities.

 FINCA INTERNATIONAL June 2011 to February 2015

Washington, DC

Vice President, Global Human Resources - March 2012 to February 2015

 Reporting to the President and CEO of FINCA International, responsible for strategic leadership on all human resource matters to FINCA International’s Management and staff, acting at all times as the steward of all FINCA staff resources in service to the organization’s mission, vision and goals.

 OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL  January 2006 to 30 May 2011

Oakbrook, IL        

Vice President, Global Organizational Development

 Responsible for global human resources strategies and talent development for this 7,000+ employee, faith based non-profit, microfinance development organization with 28 partner locations in Asia, Eastern Europe, Africa and Latin America.

 OPPORTUNITY INTERNATIONAL   11/2004 -6/2005

Oakbrook, IL  

Head, Human Resources & Administration (Consultant)       

 Assigned to Sinapi Aba Savings & Loans, Kumasi, Ghana, West Africa. Reporting to the CEO and Board of Directors, I was responsible for managing and monitoring the functions of Human Resources, MIS, Procurement, Corporate Law, Facility Architecture and Administration.

 WACHOVIA BANK  3/2003 - 10/2004

Charlotte, NC

Vice President, HR Technology

 Responsible for providing leadership in partnering with business units and senior management team, and providing strategic and operational guidance in areas of human resource practices, systems, processes and change management.    

 TRW-11/2000 - 3/2003(TRW was purchased by Northrop-Grumman in 2001)

Redondo Beach, CA

Director, Talent Acquisition                    

 Responsible for transitioning the recruiting organization from a decentralized model, to a centralized model, to support the high growth of this 10,000-employee defense systems division of TRW

HIRE SOLUTIONS, LLC   6/1997 - 11/2000

Marina Del Rey, CA

Human Resources Consultant           

 Provided Human Resource consulting services in the area of HR systems, strategies, compensation and processes. Customers included:

 Higher Education/ Public Service - United Arab Emirates University (UAE), Caltech, USC, University of Washington, City of New York – Board of Education, and, Cuyahoga Community College, the County of Riverside California, and Southern California Edison

 Healthcare - Catholic Healthcare West, Columbia Healthcare (St. David’s Health Care System), Cedars Sinai Hospital and City of Hope

 Manufacturing & Technology - Real Networks, Sony Imageworks, Jet Propulsion Laboratory, Northrop-Grumman, Dell Computers, Raytheon, Gateway Computers

 Commercial -Southwest Airlines, Continental Airlines,Darden Restaurants, The Walt Disney Company                         

UNIVERSITY OF CALIFORNIA, LOS ANGELES (UCLA)   11/1995 – 6/1997

Los Angeles, CA

Manager, Compensation, HR Systems, and Staffing               

 Reporting to the Vice Chancellor for Human Resources, I was responsible for supporting UCLA's 22,000 non-academic employee base. Implemented Hewitt automated job compensation system and directly managed a staff of 28 professional and support employees

 RESUMIX, INC.       4/1992 - 11/1995

Santa Clara, CA

Director

 Reporting to the CEO, I was responsible for managing product marketing and product implementation for this developer of automated staffing solutions. Grew the business from $1.2M to $12.6M in a 4 year period.    Provided all media interface during the purchase of the Resumix system by the White House for the Clinton-Gore transition team on CNN, PBS, ABC (Los Angeles, Chicago, Boston, San Francisco) and local television broadcasters.                    

 WALT DISNEY IMAGINEERING 6/1989 - 4/1992

Glendale, CA

Employment Manager               

Reporting to the Vice President of Human Resources, I was responsible for all national and internal staffing and for leading a team to develop recruitment strategies for the build-up of Euro Disneyland and other international and domestic projects.

 EDUCATION:                  

California State University, BS Business (Marketing)

Six Sigma Greenbelt -   TRW        

 PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS:

Society for Human Resource Managers

International Human Resource Information Managers

 PUBLICATIONS:

Resumes for Dummies – Technical Reviewer, Wiley Publications, Joyce Lain Kennedy-Author 2008 Franklin Award for best career book

Cover Letters for Dummies – Technical Reviewer, Wiley Publication, Joyce Lain Kennedy-Author – 2009 Franklin Award for best career book

Interviews for Dummies - Technical Reviewer, Wiley Publication, Joyce Lain Kennedy-Author

The Electronic Resume RevolutionTechnical Reviewer, Wiley Publication, Joyce Lain Kennedy-Author

Countries Supported:

 AFRICA

DRC Lubumbashi

Ghana- Accra, Kumasi (9 month assignment in country)

Kenya – Nairobi, Kisumu

Malawi – Lilongwe

Rwanda – Kigali

Tanzania – Dar es Salaam

Uganda – Kampala

Zambia -Lusaka

ASIA

Philippines – Cebu, Iloilo, Manila

Australia – Sydney

China – Hong Kong

EUROPE

Albania – Trana

Georgia – Tbilisi, Batumi

Romania – Targu - Mures

Serbia – Novi Sad

LATIN AMERICA

Columbia – Bogota, Barranquilla, Cartagena

El Salvador – San Salvador

Guatemala – Guatemala City

Mexico – Mexico City, Cuernavaca

MIDDLE EAST

United Arab Emirates – Al Ain, Abu Dhabi, Dubai, Fujairah (1 year assignment in country)

India – Chennai

 Pakistan Lahore

Turkey - Istanbul