Michael Carow
Atlanta
Summary
Strategic HR leader with over 30 years of experience in enhancing employee engagement and optimizing talent acquisition. Expertise in implementing data-driven HR metrics that improve recruitment, development, and compliance management. Military discipline combined with corporate insight drives significant improvements in employee retention. Committed to coaching teams and fostering a culture of continuous development.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Corporate Vice President Human Resources
Koch Foods, Inc.
05.2021 - Current
- Strategic Chief Human Resources Officer with executive leadership responsibility for enterprise HR operations supporting 16,000 employees across 16 locations in 6 states. Extensive experience leading talent acquisition, labor relations, compensation and benefits, HR technology, organizational development, compliance, workforce planning, and executive coaching within complex manufacturing environments. Proven track record of transforming HR organizations, improving workforce stability, negotiating union contracts, reducing labor costs, and aligning people strategies with operational and financial objectives.
- Reduced hourly vacancies by 65% (1,465 to 506) and temporary labor utilization by 87% (450 to 58), strengthening workforce stability while maintaining a lean HR organization with no growth in corporate HR headcount and a 1:100 HR-to-employee ratio.
- Enhanced employee retention through enterprise recruiting, hiring centers, community outreach, turnover analytics, supervisor retention reporting, and employee engagement initiatives, contributing to a more stable workforce.
- Directed enterprise HR transformation through implementation of ADP Workforce Now, ADP Recruiting Management, ADP Time, SharePoint, and other HRIS enhancements, improving payroll, recruiting, compliance, analytics, and operational efficiency.
- Developed executive HR scorecards, workforce analytics, strategic action plans, and executive reporting that improved organizational performance and supported data-driven business decisions.
- Directed enterprise compensation and benefits strategy, modernizing payroll, redesigning benefit plans, implementing financial wellness initiatives, conducting eligibility audits, and establishing retention incentive programs to ensure market competitiveness.
- Led collective bargaining negotiations as chief labor relations executive with multiple unions across manufacturing, processing, distribution, and logistics operations.
- Developed and implemented leadership development programs for over 2,800 employees annually, enhancing supervisory and frontline leadership capabilities across the organization.
Corporate Director of Human Resources
Koch Foods, Inc.
06.2017 - 04.2021
- Provided Multi-State leadership for 10 direct reports around employee engagement, coaching managers on people-related issues, aligning HR processes and systems with business unit and location strategies, and providing HR solutions for all people-related processes. Managed a wide variety of human resources responsibilities, including employee relations, performance management, organizational development, health services, and talent acquisition. Collaborated with executive leadership to develop and execute comprehensive a comprehensive workforce strategy aligned with business objectives, focusing on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, talent management, and employee engagement. Led collective bargaining agreement negotiations for multiple operations. Oversaw environmental, health and safety activities for 7 locations throughout Mississippi, Alabama, Georgia, and Tennessee.
- Reduced turnover by 23%.
- Improved retention by 12%.
- Lowered workers' compensation costs by 41%.
- Negotiated labor agreements with zero work stoppages.
- Reduced hiring cycle from 58 days to 24 days.
- Led operational initiatives to enhance production efficiency and reduce waste across multiple facilities.
- Mentored and trained department heads to foster leadership skills and promote best practices throughout the organization.
- Established key performance indicators to measure progress toward corporate objectives and ensure accountability at all levels.
- Collaborated with executive leadership to define long-term vision, aligning departmental goals with organizational strategy.
Complex Human Resource Manager
Koch Foods, Inc.
10.2016 - 05.2017
- Managed 3 direct reports across all human resource functions for complex of 1500 employees, ensuring alignment with organizational goals. Effectively handled all workers’ compensation issues, unemployment claims, FMLA, staffing plans, employee benefits administration. Audited field compliance with HR-related legal and regulatory requirements, collaborating with legal counsel to address governmental inquiries and claims effectively. Advised and assisted field management with employee relations issues, including counseling and discipline.
- Managed resource allocation to optimize operational efficiency across production lines.
- Developed strategic workforce plans to align staffing with production demands.
- Led cross-functional teams to enhance communication and collaboration among departments.
Human Resources Director
Hormel Foods
10.1997 - 09.2016
- Directed human resources functions for a division with over 1,050 employees in California and 1,200 employees in Georgia, while serving as a key leader of the senior management team. Managed an HR staff of six and oversaw recruiting, training, organizational development, compensation, communications, benefit administration, safety, and security.
- Led talent acquisition strategies to enhance workforce quality and retention.
- Developed comprehensive training programs to improve employee performance and engagement.
- Streamlined HR processes, increasing operational efficiency across multiple departments.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - BA - Business Administration and Management, General
American Military University
05-1999
Graduate Certificate - Organizational Management
American Military University
05-2004
Career Course - Military Studies
United States Marine Corps Non-commissioned Officer Academy
01-1992
Skills
- Coaching
- Negotiation Skills
- Training
- Compliance Management
- Compliance
- Workforce planning
- HR Metrics
- Data Analysis
- Organizational Development
- Leadership Development
- Executive Coaching
Certification
Labour & Employment Law, OSHA Certifications, Collective Bargaining Institute
Timeline
Corporate Vice President Human Resources
Koch Foods, Inc.
05.2021 - Current
Corporate Director of Human Resources
Koch Foods, Inc.
06.2017 - 04.2021
Complex Human Resource Manager
Koch Foods, Inc.
10.2016 - 05.2017
Human Resources Director
Hormel Foods
10.1997 - 09.2016
Graduate Certificate - Organizational Management
American Military University
Career Course - Military Studies
United States Marine Corps Non-commissioned Officer Academy
Bachelor of Arts - BA - Business Administration and Management, General
American Military University