Ed Wood – Principal Consultant, has been active in Human Resources for over 35 years. He received his degree from the University of Wisconsin-La Crosse in Business Administration with a concentration in Human Resources. While at UWL, he joined the Army ROTC and after graduation entered the Army as a commissioned officer specializing in personnel management. After 5 years in the Army, Ed held several positions in HR in a variety of industries. He was the HR Director for the Concourse Hotel in Madison, WI; the Corporate Employee Benefits Manager for Bliss Communications, which owns newspapers and radio stations throughout the state; and the Corporate Director of HR for Freedom Plastics, a PVC pipe manufacturer. After 7 years on the corporate staff at Freedom, Ed made the jump from HR to operations, accepting the position of Vice President and General Manager for the company’s Florida operations. After leaving Freedom Plastics, Ed joined Cygnus Business Media as the VP of Human Resources as part of a new management team brought in after reorganization. Cygnus is a leading business-to-business media company in Fort Atkinson. After the successful sale and transition, Ed found himself back at Bliss Communications as the Director of HR. He soon took on the additional assignment as the General Manager for a $4M division. Ed’s final corporate role was as the VP of HR for Berner Food and Beverage, a $230+M PE-owned manufacturer going through rapid growth during the COVID pandemic.

Ed has also been very involved in the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM).  In the local Rock County chapter, he held several board positions including Chapter president.  He also participated in various roles on the Wisconsin SHRM State Council  eventually serving a 2 year term as the Wisconsin State Director.  Additionally,  Ed was selected by other State Directors to serve the 10-state region as the Membership Advisory Council representative reporting directly to the National SHRM Board of Directors.

Summary of Experience

• Successful turnaround of $60million business-to-business media company, working with executive leadership team to bring business from bankruptcy to profitability to sale within 4 years
• Developed and implemented accelerated training program for production operators and supervisors
• Led team through design and implementation of performance management system, ISO certification, 5S, Lean Manufacturing projects and QRM initiatives
• Positioned company as an Employer of Choice through reduction of turnover, improved focus on safety, designing and presenting leadership training programs, stricter hiring practices, implementing exceptional flexible benefits programs, ensuring that compensation policies were fair and competitive, and reinforcing and demonstrating company values of community leadership and involvement
• Improved management and utilization of equipment, facilities, and personnel to obtain maximum efficiency, meeting performance objectives and customer expectations
• Designed and developed compensation and benefits plans that included self-funded as well as fully insured plans, executive compensation and hourly wage matrixes with incentive pay
• Developed a comprehensive succession plan that involved assessment, identification and development
• Led company through acquisition of production facility and integration of new location into existing culture

Credentials:

• B.S. Business Administration / Human Resource Management, University of Wisconsin – La Crosse
• Certified Trainer, Burke-Cleaver DISC

Professional Affiliations:

• SHRM National Member
• Jefferson County HR Management Association Member

Community Leadership:

• Society for HR Management (SHRM) North Central Region Membership Advisory Council (2004-2005)
• Wisconsin SHRM State Council, various positions ending with State Director *(1997-2005)
• Blackhawk Human Resource Association , various positions ending with President (1996-1999)
• Southwest Wisconsin Workforce Development Board Member (2001-2005)
• Community Action, Inc. of Rock and Walworth Counties Board of Directors (2001-2005)
• YWCA Board Advisor and Compensation Committee (2003-2005)
• Boy’s & Girls Club Board Advisor (2003-2005)