Student Perspectives after Completing the ILR Program
Denise Rosenberger
I graduated from IUP with a B.S. in Government and Public Service in 2004 and earned my master's in Industrial and Labor Relations in 2006. I currently work at North Side Foods Corporation in Arnold, Pa. North Side Foods is a subsidiary of Smithfield Foods. My position is manager of Human Resources and Labor Relations. My responsibilities are to manage the daily administration of human resources and respond to the human resources needs for both hourly and salary employees in the Arnold plant. This includes the implementation and application of human resource policies, practices, and procedures; employee records and documentation; recruitment and retention strategies; benefits administration; employee and labor relations; performance management; employee wellness; interpreting and applying the collective bargaining agreement; and participating in organizational strategic planning.
Jason J. McKenna
.jpg)
Upon completion of my military career and completion of a Master of Arts Degree in Industrial and Labor Relations, I was hired by Highmark Inc. (Blue Cross/Blue Shield) as a management consultant, providing performance consulting and classroom instruction for a 400-member management team. I am now a human resources consultant for Highmark Inc., serving as a dedicated consultant for one of Highmark's for-profit subsidiaries.
I am currently in the process of completing my Ph.D. in Administration and Leadership Studies at Indiana University of Pennsylvania. My research areas of interest are the application of leadership theories in organizations, leadership and its effect on productivity, gender and leadership, military leadership, ethical leadership, employee programs, and human resource management.
.JPG "Brenda Calixte")
Brenda Calixte
I am currently acting labour commissioner in the Ministry of Labour, Information and Broadcasting, although my substantive position is assistant director (Administration) for the Victoria Hospital, which is under the Ministry of Health, Wellness and Gender Relations. I deal with all labour issues and labour laws affecting the private sector. Part of my daily routine is advising the unions and employers as well as employees on their rights as it pertains to the labour laws and to a large extent acting as the mediator between the union and the employer to help stablize the industrial relations climate in St. Lucia. The Office of the Labour Commissioner is responsible for work permits, overseas employment, labour statistics, health and safety, and all labour issues.
Diane Rylander
I am currently a labor relations representative for Lockheed Martin in Denver, Colo. I work for the Space Systems Company business area of the company. The pictures I have attached are products that Space Systems would produce. In Denver, we manufacture rockets which put satellites into space. I just graduated in October from Lockheed Martin's Human Resources Leadership Development Program, completing two one-year rotational assignments in staffing and compensation living in Syracuse, N.Y., and then Marlton, N.J.
My job now is great. I am serving a client area that consists of maintenance, facilities, operations, reproduction, etc. For example, janitors, millwrights, electricians, and utility workers are just some of the employees I am working with. I attended an arbitration in June, which the company won. I also sit in on grievance meetings, investigate grievances, and answer them according to the language in our collective bargaining agreement with the UAW.
I also investigate complaints and discipline issues. I have had to issue discipline, including verbal reprimands, written reprimands, suspensions, and yes, even a termination.
Lately, my focus has been on training managers. As a new labor representative, I have discovered some training and educational needs, and I m working to fulfill those needs that managers have. For example, I sat in on some interviews for janitors, electricians, and millwrights. Managers were not using the appropriate interviewing techniques, so I trained twenty-two managers on behavioral based interviewing. Since the UAW just negotiated a new contract last year, I have also updated a comprehensive CBA training binder which goes through the major provisions of the CBA, like seniority, overtime solicitation, grievance processing, attendance guidelines, discipline procedures, etc.
I really love my job. It's exactly what I went to school for, since I have a bachelor's degree in management and industrial relations from Clarion University, and then a master's degree from IUP in ILR. I'm doing exactly what I was trained to do, and it's really a fulfilling assignment.
Gina Rager
The ILR program most definitely helped me in my career success and life in general. One of my greatest achievements and accomplishments was going on to get my master's degree in Employment Relations. I feel that no matter what career path I end up taking, I will have a great knowledge of practices and the field of employment which, in my opinion, is very valuable to be educated in. My experience in the ILR Department was nothing short of excellent. I enjoyed going for my master's more than I did going for my bachelor's. My performance of attaining a 4.0 while in the ILR program also outshined my undergraduate GPA. To me, this is a direct reflection on the level of great teaching skills from the ILR professors, the interesting content of the presented materials, and the personal care and interaction between the department faculty and the students. I would and do highly recommend anyone interested in going on for a master's to pursue the degree in Industrial and Labor Relations at IUP!
Rosie Wolford
I am a 2005 grad of the ILR Department. Since that time, I have been promoted to the position of manager of Labor Relations and Medical Services. I work at Latrobe Specialty Steel Company and have been employed here since 1981. My classroom and practical experience in the ILR Department has prepared me well to take on this new challenge. I have participated in handling grievances, arbitrations, and contract negotiations as well as contract interpretation and application. IUP has afforded me tremendous career growth and opportunities. I would highly recommend the ILR Department at IUP for anyone interested in working with unions or learning how to stay union free.
Joshua J. Grubbs
I entered the ILR program in Spring 2004. I learned a lot from the professors in the program, especially Dr. Bullard and Dr. Piper. I did an internship with APSCUF in the Spring semester of 2005. I continued my education in a Ph.D. program in political science at the University of Tennessee. After getting to the dissertation stage, I decided to work while writing the dissertation. I started with SEIU Healthcare Pennsylvania in May 2008.
James Steven Bock
Currently I am employed as a sergeant with the Pennsylvania State Police. I have been employed in this capacity for the past 22 years. I have a Bachelor of Arts degree in Pre-Law at the University of Pittsburgh (1987) and completed my master's in ILR at IUP in 2006. After graduating, I took the LSAT and accepted placement in Duquesne University School of Law class of 2010. I am currently in my second year of a four year evening program. My goal is to retire when I have completed 25 years of service as a state policeman and then transition into a role as an attorney in the field of labor law. I would like to work with a law firm that represents the Pennsylvania State Troopers Association.
Elaine Kuhar
I graduated in May of 2007. I currently work for the United Food and Commercial Workers Union in Pittsburgh, Pa., as an organizer. I help people improve their wages and working conditions through union membership. I liked the variety of information taught in the Industrial and Labor Relations program. You not only learn about management concepts, but it opened up a whole new world for me because you get to learn about dispute settlement, arbitration, contract negotiations, and case and statutory law. The classes that I took really prepared me for the position I am in now, because I understand the laws in relevance to unions and organizing.
