JOSEPH P.

MESERVE

602.762.0871
JPMeserve@cox.net

HUMAN RESOURCE MANAGER

Benefits Administration | Compliance | Group Insurance Negotiation
Human Resource leader with 15+ years experience providing corporate, HR risk
mitigation, regulatory compliance, innovative recruiting, employee incentives and
performance-assessment structuring. Trainer and executive consultant, able to
articulate complex regulations and governmental updates. Effective negotiator,
consistently yielding maximum insurance benefits. Well versed in managing $20M+
operational budgets, employee engagement strategies, and competitive benchmarking,
having helped firms rank in the Top 25% of Phoenix Best Places to Work.

EDUCATION
(M.B.A.) Master of Business AdministrationHR & Finance
William P. Carey School of Business
Arizona State University, Tempe, AZ
(B.A.) Bachelor of ArtsHistory
University of Maine, Portland, ME

Phoenix, AZ 85028
LinkedIn.com/in/JosephMeserve

KEY EXPERTISE
Federal & State Employment Law
Workers Compensation Law
Wage & Benefit Analysis
Contract & Vendor Negotiation
Staff Recruiting & Development
Personnel Policies & Procedures
Executive HR Consulting
Risk Management & Compliance
Employee Relations
Open Enrollment Software
HRIS Establishment
Performance Review Planning

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
ZacTara Unlimited, Inc.
Director of Administration

2009Current

Supervised preparation of financial reports, filing of quarterly tax reports, and year-end tax preparation.
Burch & Cracchiolo, P.A., Phoenix, AZ
Administrator

20102015

Oversaw $20M budget, profit projections, salaries/benefits, and provided administrative oversight for 95 employees.
Human Resources
Determined bonus distribution schedule, limiting tax liabilities to company and employees.
Complied with EEOC, Affordable Care Act, Exempt/Nonexempt Classification, Fair Labor board, ADA and FMLA.
Analyzed disability, dental, and vision benefit programs, weighing return on investment.
Risk Management
Shielded against malpractice litigation via proper client notification for changes in representation.
Earned 100% successful rating, for properly notifying clients in 400 cases involving changes of attorney.
Ensured the firm avoided potential conflicts of interest, and provided new hire orientation for onboarding attorneys.
Trained employees on new software and collaborated with IT teams to ensure technology aligned with business needs.
Workplace Morale
Scored 85-90% in Phoenix Best Places to Work, based on anonymous employee-based survey data.
Implemented morale improvement programs, including team building and approved, relaxed dress-code days.
Spearheaded wage and salary program, bolstering firm competiveness and a system of fair employee promotion.
Contract Negotiations
Brokered three-year insurance benefit contract, yielding a 0% cost increase to firm or employees.
Saved $50K annually by bidding and renegotiating copier contract, without compromising quality or efficiency.
Reduced outside storage fees by $20K annually and minimized ecological impact, by initiating paperless systems.

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Joseph P. Meserve | 602.762.0871

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Sherman & Howard L.L.C., Phoenix, AZ

Director of Arizona Operations

20092010

Leadership
Eased administrative transition from Arizona to Colorado, post acquisition.
Maintained Arizona locations continuity of operations for 200 attorneys and employees.
Supported staff and management during time of volatility and ensured HR regulatory compliance.
Transitioned computer systems and proprietary document management systems to Sherman & Howard platforms.

Mohr, Hackett, Pederson, Blakley, & Randolph, P.C., Phoenix, AZ

Legal Administrator

20002008

Executive Administration
Directed all HR activities across multiple locations.
Exceled at recruitment and retention of company-loyal employees that thrived within the company culture.
Counseled executives and departmental managers on federal and state employment law and workers compensation.
Administered 401(k) program, in collaboration with legal counsel and accountant, to guarantee regulatory compliance.
Scrutinized retirement plan rollovers, new enrollment, annual IRS Form 5500 filings, and status updates.
Employee Development / Best-Practice Management
Devised annual retreat, providing State-Bar approved continuing-education hours and team building opportunities.
Safeguarded firm assets with staff education and proactive attention to Errors and Omissions best practices.
Initiated employee community involvement and volunteerism program, fostering a culture of service.
Created specialized training and employee mentoring programs, reinforcing high-level attention to customer service.
Administration
Marketed firm through traditional and online mediums, and analyzed efficacy with business intelligence applications.
Negotiated and managed contracts for all insurance and benefits, balancing cost-containment with value to enterprise.
Retained as Director of Arizona Operations after Sherman & Howard, L.L.C acquired firm.

AFFILIATIONS
(SHRM) Society of Human Resource Managers
(ALA) Association of Legal Administrators
Arizona Association of Legal Administrators, Valley of the Sun Chapter
Former Editor of the ALA/LPMS Newsletter
Treasure & Member of Board of Directors

COMMUNITY SERVICE
Saint Joseph the Worker
Rsum DeveloperProvides rsum and job search assistance to the homeless