Key Services

Culture/Employee Engagement

Whether a startup, small, medium or large size organization, we will provide HR advice to CEO’s and leadership teams who…

HR Leadership/ Development

If you find yourself without an HR leader for a period of time, or need help assessing what type of leader or structure…

Tactical
HR support

Whether you’re facing an issue with possible theft, fraud, workplace or sexual harassment, we will conduct a thorough and objective…

We pride ourselves on consistently hearing

“YOU ARE NOT TRADITIONAL HR PRACTITIONERS”

– we are straight talkers who grew up in the business world bringing experience from multiple industries, from organizations of multiple sizes and complexities, from startups to billion dollar corporations.

SOMETIMES LEADERS NEED TO BREAK SOME GLASS IN ORDER TO AFFECT CHANGE AND CREATE AN ACTION ORIENTED CULTURE.

Values based leadership is a proven method of ensuring leaders always make the best decision possible not only for the organization, but also for the people.

Meet The Principal

A dog lover

Andrea Garson, MBA, CHRE

Andrea Garson has over 25 years of HR experience withTier 1 organizations, practicing values based leadership. She is a leading authority on culture, engagement, leadership development and attracting and retaining key talent. A seasoned presenter, Andrea has spoken across Canada at conferences, seminars, universities and colleges for groups as small as 20 and as large as 500.

In her leadership roles, Andrea was responsible for driving strategy and supporting initiatives to attract, motivate, develop and retain the best talent to support her organization’s objectives. She has been a driving force in leading employee engagement initiatives that build a foundation of increased retention……

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Resume

BREAKING GLASS
PRESIDENT

March, 2017 – Present
Thornhill, ON

Breaking Glass
BREAKING GLASS
PRESIDENT

March, 2017 – Present
Thornhill, ON

  • Provide various clients executive level leadership in all facets of Human Resources
CARDINAL HEALTH CANADA
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

May, 2014 – March, 2017
Vaughan, ON

Cardinal Health
CARDINAL HEALTH CANADA
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

May, 2014 – March, 2017
Vaughan, ON

  • Business partner to President and business leaders to set the strategic direction for the Cardinal Health Canada HR function
  • Strong focus on management develop, organizational structure, process and polices in all facets of HR
  • Evaluate and introduce HR technology including new payroll platform, time & attendance system; HRIS, LMS, and employee travel portal
  • Develop strategy for internal communications to drive engagement – employee engagement scores increased 5% yoy
  • Enhance manager effectiveness by implementing effective talent management strategies, training and development program, with a focus on performance management. Manager effectiveness scores increase 10% yoy
YORK UNIVERSITY
COURSE DIRECTOR

May, 2014 – December 2015
Toronto, ON

York
YORK UNIVERSITY
COURSE DIRECTOR

May, 2014 – December 2015
Toronto, ON

  • Design and deliver course material for Human Resources Management and Recruiting courses
ROY FOSS MOTORS
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

January, 2012 – May, 2014
Thornhill, ON

Royfoss
ROY FOSS MOTORS
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

January, 2012 – May, 2014
Thornhill, ON

  • HR startup for multi-site automotive dealership and fleet management business
  • Business Partner to President and business leaders to raise level of operational excellence
    across all business functions
  • Developed core values and subsequent HR polices/practices to guide effective business
    decisions to improve engagement and ultimately customer satisfaction
  • Focused on management develop, organizational structure, process and polices in all facets
    of HR
  • Implemented performance management system for leasing business to better manage
    goals, objectives and competencies
  • Created a company-wide reward and recognition program centered around the core values
WORKOPOLIS
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

April, 2007 – Sept, 2011
Toronto, ON

Workopolis
WORKOPOLIS
VICE PRESIDENT
HUMAN RESOURCES

April, 2007 – Sept, 2011
Toronto, ON

  • Strategic business partner to President and key member of executive committee providing HR leadership on internal and customer HR strategies
  • Start-up HR organization – migrated HR from an outsourced personnel service to fully integrated, trusted business partnership model
  • Developed employee satisfaction/engagement strategy – created culture of communication, trust, integrity, personal development – resulting in 84% overall satisfaction and 82% employee engagement, exceeding industry average. Winner of Canada’s Most Admired Corporate Culture – Best Emerging Organization 2009 and Top 50 Most Engaged Workplaces 2010 and 2011
  • Developed Workopolis Promise – organization’s mission, vision, and values – ties directly into all employee’s annual goal plan, performance reviews and reward and recognition plan
  • Managed HR, Administration, and Facilities teams – grew HR team from 0 – 10 in 18 months
  • Established wage and salary structure, pay policies, performance appraisal program, employee benefit programs and services, and company health and wellness programs
  • Represented Workopolis as Canada’s workplace expert and keynote speaker for numerous public relations events including conferences, keynote speaking, television, radio and print interviews. Featured in Globe and Mail, Toronto Star, BNN, CTV, CBC, and Canadian HR Reporter
DELL CANADA
SENIOR HR/L&D MANAGER

July, 2005 – April, 2007
North York, ON

Dell
DELL CANADA
SENIOR HR/L&D MANAGER

July, 2005 – April, 2007
North York, ON

  • Led HR policy and program development – managed HR Generalists and L&D team
  • Managed $1.2M L&D budget, planning annual training calendar for all business segments
  • Developed and delivered leadership development training – included Maximizing Team Performance, Managing for Success, Effective Communication, Behavioral Interviews
  • Supported business leaders in developing and executing strategic plans and objectives
  • Managed HR Generalists supporting 8 Vice Presidents, 800 employees, multiple lines of business – main focus on recruiting, discipline and coaching, training, performance management, payroll and benefits, health & safety, and legal considerations
PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP
STAFFING & TRAINING MANAGER/ HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

October, 2000 – July, 2005

PBG
PEPSI BOTTLING GROUP
STAFFING & TRAINING MANAGER/ HUMAN RESOURCES MANAGER

October, 2000 – July, 2005

Staffing & Training Manager
February, 2003 – July, 2005
Mississauga, ON

  • Responsible for development and success of National and North American HR programs covering 3500 employees, union and non-union throughout 54 locations, including campus recruiting, employee insights survey, performance management, HR planning and recognition programs
  • Led strategic organizational change of field compensation structure as project manager for new variable incentive pay for 350 sales representatives across Canada – moved from salary structure to base plus variable – resulted in 0% turnover and no legal challenges
  • National trainer for management development programs including Supervisory Skills, Performance Management, and Facilitating Effective Training
  • Managed HR Generalist role for corporate office consisting of 225 salaried employees, including all aspects of HR such as recruiting, hiring, discipline and coaching, training, performance development, payroll and benefits, health & safety, and legal considerations.
    Human Resources Manager
    October, 2000 – May, 2003
    Halifax, NS
  • Responsible for all HR generalist issues for PBG Atlantic (New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island) covering 400 employees across 10 locations with four collective agreements, including performance management, labour relations, training, payroll/benefits, recruiting, hiring, discipline, health & safety, and WCB
  • Extensive labour relations, including contract negotiations, leading grievance and arbitration process, union/management relations, and union avoidance techniques
  • Led acquisition and integration of two independent bottlers (Seaman’s Beverages, PEI, and Cassidy’s Beverages, Bathurst, NB) into PBG, including closure of one production facility
THE CHRONICLE HERALD
DIRECTOR
HUMAN RESOURCES

October, 1997 – October, 2000
Halifax, NS

Chronicle Herald
THE CHRONICLE HERALD
DIRECTOR
HUMAN RESOURCES

October, 1997 – October, 2000
Halifax, NS

  • Primary responsibilities included managing HR department of five directs, overseeing all aspects of HR for employee base of 500, as well as payroll and benefits, and health and safety
  • Initiated significant cultural change within organization enhancing employee relations and communication, strengthening management skills, and raising the profile of HR as a strategic partner
  • Developed several HR policies and practices, including workplace harassment, performance management, employee assistance program, and roundtables
LOBLAWS
HUMAN RESOURCES
SPECIALIST

November, 1994 – October, 1997
Dartmouth, NS

Loblaws
LOBLAWS
HUMAN RESOURCES
SPECIALIST

November, 1994 – October, 1997
Dartmouth, NS

  • Responsible for providing HR Generalist support to various union and non-union locations across Nova Scotia and New Brunswick
MOUNT SAINT VICENT, SAINT MARY’S,
COMPUCOLLEGE
INSTRUCTOR

September, 1992 – November, 1994
Halifax, NS

Mount/Saint Mary’s/Compu
MOUNT SAINT VICENT, SAINT MARY’S,
COMPUCOLLEGE
INSTRUCTOR

September, 1992 – November, 1994
Halifax, NS

  • Instructed courses in Human Resources Management, Business Law, Marketing and Economics

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