Katherine "Katie" Hanson, MSHR/HR
Franklin
Summary
Highly motivated HR leader committed to excellence with 12 years of progressive HR experience in multi-site manufacturing settings with a track record of high performance
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Materion Corporation
06.2019 - Current
- Reporting to the VP/GM, Precision Optics and VP of Global HR MPO & EMEA, I provide HR leadership, expertise, and business partnership to the VP/GM Precision Optics, onsite business unit leadership, and site leadership team along with supporting 125 employees in three production buildings across two shifts
- HR leader and change management leader for sole US based entity of the business unit who leads and supports areas such as talent development and management, retention, recruitment, diversity & inclusion, compensation, performance management, employee engagement, employee relations, change management, compliance, site employee communications, workers compensation, and site HR strategy
- Developed appropriate HR plans in support of key business needs in a dynamic changing environment and develop/implement appropriate change management plans
- Partnered heavily with employees and leaders to maintain 4.31% voluntary turnover for 2024 despite significant business challenges and cost control measures
- Achieved recognition for HR as a key highlight 2021 employee engagement survey for my sites, achieving a score of 8.1 out of 10 based on employee feedback and survey results
- Key partner to EHS Manager and EHS Team to support change management initiatives, drive employee behavior, injury root cause analysis, support compliance, lead W/C activities, and ensure performance is managed in terms of EHS expectations
- In concert with the VP/GM, transformed Optics US site to more effective organizational structure, including elevating talent, workforce reductions to meet financial targets and revenue forecast, and leadership on realignment of roles and responsibilities
- Coach for employees, management, and leadership for ongoing continuous improvement, positive employee relations and engagement, performance management, and organizational effectiveness
- Leader of site D&I and employee engagement efforts including a committee and initiatives such as volunteering, employee engagement initiatives, enhanced employee communication initiatives, skip level meetings, and sustainability efforts.
- Major leader in 2024 global Materion employee engagement survey communication strategy, roll out, and response strategy. Driver of local employee engagement initiatives along with ensuring employee development for critical and HiPO talent including advancement and retention
- HR Site leader and partner to HR COEs to deliver high quality service, strategy, and accuracy to stakeholders related to recruitment, compensation & benefits while also ensuring high quality service, information, and performance of the COEs
- Leader in employee relations investigations and initiatives. Key achievements include minimal major employee relations issues through continuous training and employee engagement through floor time, proactive performance management culture, accessibility to employees, employee engagement onsite events, lunch and learns, talent development programs, culture programs, high score in many aspects of previous employee engagement strategy
- Active partner with legal counsel to proactively to mitigate risk and stay ahead of any upcoming new state legislation & HR compliance leader for MA sites (Westford/Tyngsboro/Newton)
- Leader of HR for Windsor, CT facility (40 employees) and Westford, MA (140 employees) and Brewster, NY. Santa Clara, CA (80 employees) facilities
- Onboarded and managed HR Generalist in Brewster, NY and Buffalo, NY
- Developed talent strategy for Brewster, NY site for major product program ramp ups
- Supported and led various ethical hotline investigations for Corporate HR
- Leader of site talent calibration sessions and in-depth talent discussions with site leadership and VP/GM while also leading and advising on action items for talent strategies
- Onboarded and mentored new Buffalo HR Manager to the Materion Electronic Materials Buffalo business
- Supported employee and supervisor development by leading targeted training related to compliance, best practices, policies, and new initiatives
- Led site COVID-19 team for the site which included compliance topics, employee communications, best practices, corporate programs, and which resulted in overall employee rating on employee engagement survey of 9.0 out of 10 for the level of support, thoughtfulness, and transparency
- Leader of change management initiatives including integration of new learning system, HR shared services for tier 1 and tier 2 HR support, new benefits programs, targeted programs for vacation usage, COVID-19 initiatives
- Led and created staffing strategy for major customer ramp up during COVID: supported staffing of over 100 contingent workers and 40 direct hires
- Implemented annual HR training for all employees to promote cultural change and maintain compliance; the training includes many in person training and creation of training on Learning Management System
- Led, promoted, and piloted company diversity and inclusion initiatives for all employees through roundtable discussions, promotion of employee resource groups, and employee education
- Completed special corporate assignments including investigations at largest site in Elmore, OH and Brewster, NY, workforce reduction best practices, employe benefit changes, and special programs
- Led two workforce reductions for Windsor, CT site and led site closure HR actions (complete in March of 2022)
- Led successful and rolled out corporate HR projects including standardized reasonable suspicion process, employee engagement survey response framework and process, onboarding journey standardization, vacation carryover, HR resource center development, standardized training for managers/supervisors to manage disciplinary action
Senior Human Resources Generalist
Materion Corporation
05.2018 - 04.2019
- Supported 275 employees across three sites: 185 in Lincoln, RI, 75 in Brewster, NY and 10 in Santa Clara, CA including partnering with Brewster, NY & Santa Clara, CA Plant Manager
- Implementation team member for new HRIS system, Workday
- Trained HR team members and the employees located at the New England manufacturing sites on new HRIS Workday system
Human Resources Generalist
Materion Corporation
12.2016 - 09.2018
- Reporting to the HR Director, I was responsible for all day-to-day HR related activities for the Lincoln composed of 185 employees
- Responsibilities included employee training for HR compliance topics, hourly recruitment which included ramp ups for major product programs, employee relations, onboarding
- Corporate HR project co-lead for application tracking enhancements with talent segment
- Primary leader in employee relations issues and investigations
Human Resources Generalist
Wyman-Gordon Company
11.2015 - 12.2016
- Reporting to the Group HR Director, I supported 500 non-union/union employees along with another HR generalist in a heavy union environment
- Full cycle high volume recruiter for non-exempt and exempt level positions for Grafton, MA and Dillon, South Carolina site
- Standardized internal HR processes including new hire onboarding, recruitment processes, site communications, HR partnership with management and union
- Led the intern/co-op program
- Partnership with legal counsel and management on various accommodation requests, employment decisions, and implications on business
- Supported local site workers compensation program under direction of the divisional W/C manager
- Partnered with union stewards on requests and supported grievance meetings with union
Employment Representative
Toray Plastics (America), Inc
03.2013 - 11.2015
- Reporting to the HR Manager, I supported 750 employees and leaders in 3 non-union production facilities.
- Formalized the student internship program, composed of 25 students mainly in engineering, including recruitment, selection, and development. Formalized project review process with business unit leaders and functions to highlight projects and ROI at conclusion of the program.
- Rolled out new hire “Passport to Toray” program to create an onboarding journey for new hires in support on new hire engagement and learning
- Led and managed hourly staffing processes in concert with business teams including ramp up for major new production line. Recruited to maintain a waitlist of hourly production workers to minimize time to fill
- Supported and engaged in positive employee relations strategies including floor time, employee meetings, trainings, skip level meetings
- Led hourly performance management process, ensuring timely completion of reviews, role progression, and compensation advancement for hourly employees
Receptionist
Toray Plastics (America) Inc
09.2012 - 03.2013
- Supported front desk/reception function for the main office, registered visitors in compliance with security standards
- Provided administrative support to the main office employees and the HR department
Banquest Waitress
Emery's Catering
04.2012 - 12.2014
- Worked at various venue locations through the company to deliver high quality service and support to guests
- Delivered great service effectively with a smile and professionalism
Education
Master of Science - Labor Relations & Human Resources
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI01-2016
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish Language & Literature
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI01-2012
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Rhode Island
Kingston, RI01-2011
High School Diploma -
St. Mary Academy - Bay View
Riverside, RI01-2007
Skills
- Employee Engagement
- HR Transformation
- Leadership
- Coaching & Mentoring
- HR Business Partnering
- New Leader Assimilation
- Employee and People Manager Training
- MA and State Compliance
- Change Management
- Investigations
- Positive Employee Relations
- Diversity Program Development
- Affirmative Action Compliance
- ADA Compliance
- Employee Recognition Program
- Talent Development
- Policy Implementation
- Project Management
- Process Automation
- Relationship Building
Certification
- Society for Human Resource Management Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) - Society for Human Resource Management (in process - test 2/3/25)
- Graduate Certificate in Human Resources - University of Rhode Island - Kingston, RI 2015
Languages
Spanish
Limited Working
Interests
Skiing, reading & learning, traveling, fitness, spending time with friends and family, bowling, volunteering, cooking, Boston Bruins, New England Patriots
Affiliations
- Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), Member
Systems
- Workday
- UKG
- Peakon
- UltiPro
- iCIMS
- Microsoft Word, Excel, Powerpoint
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Materion Corporation
06.2019 - Current
Senior Human Resources Generalist
Materion Corporation
05.2018 - 04.2019
Human Resources Generalist
Materion Corporation
12.2016 - 09.2018
Human Resources Generalist
Wyman-Gordon Company
11.2015 - 12.2016
Employment Representative
Toray Plastics (America), Inc
03.2013 - 11.2015
Receptionist
Toray Plastics (America) Inc
09.2012 - 03.2013
Banquest Waitress
Emery's Catering
04.2012 - 12.2014
Master of Science - Labor Relations & Human Resources
University of Rhode Island
Bachelor of Arts - Spanish Language & Literature
University of Rhode Island
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
University of Rhode Island
High School Diploma -
St. Mary Academy - Bay View
Similar Profiles
GRAYSON DORVELGRAYSON DORVEL
GLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER at Materion CorporationGLOBAL SUPPLY CHAIN MANAGER at Materion Corporation
Paul L. DiCanioPaul L. DiCanio
Account Manager at Materion CorporationAccount Manager at Materion Corporation
Shawn DuntonShawn Dunton
Vice President / Director of Finance at Materion Precision OpticsVice President / Director of Finance at Materion Precision Optics