Global Finishing Solutions (GFS) is a family-owned and operated company, focused on our family of exceptional employees. With this “people-first” approach, our employees have every chance to flourish and make their mark. Each month, we spotlight a different department within the company, from our manufacturing floor to our office buildings.
The key functions of a human resources (HR) department are to maintain a high-performance workforce and ensure compliance with laws and regulations. They play a strategic role in ensuring the long-term availability of talent and highly engaged employees. Human Resources is also responsible for maintaining the company’s culture and other support programs, such as compensation, benefits, retirement plans and more. Let’s learn more about the team at GFS that puts employees first:
Department name: Human Resources
Number of employees: 6
Who they are: Although small, this group works with the most amount of people on a day-to-day basis. The HR department at GFS describes themselves as hardworking pranksters (watch out for their air horn and whoopie cushions!). With a teamwork and partnership mentality, the HR department is always willing to help employees with any questions or concerns they may have.
What they are known for: The HR department is responsible for finding and retaining talent, working with hiring managers, assisting with benefits and payroll, badging and security, learning management systems, job hazard analyses and other general employee relations on a day-to-day basis.
How they make a difference: HR helps our business by attracting, hiring and assisting in the development of talented individuals. They make a difference for the company by making our people systems and processes as user-friendly and seamless as possible. By being the eyes and ears of employees, they help bridge the gap between the needs of the business and the needs of employees.
Hidden department fact: Five of the six HR team members live in different communities in the surrounding area, including Alma Center, Chippewa Falls, Eau Claire, Eleva and Hixton.
From eight months to more than 10 years, this group has seen exponential growth through every stage of their career at GFS. Their varied work backgrounds and tenure at GFS contributes to the company’s mission of sustaining a safe, challenging and rewarding environment for our employees.
What do they like best about GFS? Find out below:
Dan Todryk, director of human resources
“I like the variety of activities to get involved in, from career pathing to recruiting. Building our people systems allows me to get involved in our company and help it grow. I’ve been here for eight months, and even when I’m out in the community, people from GFS recognize me and say hi.”
Barb Langreck, organizational recruitment specialist
“When I started at GFS, manufacturing was new to me, so I liked that I was able to learn new processes for recruiting that type of talent. I’m always learning new things. I also enjoy learning how to recruit for remote positions all over the country.”
Katie Rurup, organizational recruitment specialist
“The part of recruiting I like most is being able to get out in the community at job fairs. Being involved with high schools and colleges in the area is a great way to build relationships in the community. There are also opportunities to build relationships within the company and grow in your role at GFS. We are able to make a lot of our own decisions, which builds a sense of trust.”
Marcy Jones, HR/safety admin
“I really enjoy the family atmosphere here, which is one of the core values we live by. Continuous improvement is another core value, and even though I’ve been here for a very short amount of time, there’s already been a lot of continuing education that I’ve participated in, such as seminars and transformational leadership classes.”
Maria Kulig, HR/payroll coordinator
“The employees here are my customers, and I enjoy all of the employee relations and getting to work with everyone. I’ve been here for over 10 years, through all of the changes and growth. When I started, there were only about 200 employees, and now we have over 400.”
Lindsey Bradley, HR generalist
“I love my coworkers. I also really enjoy the flexibility that we have here. We don’t always have to work 8-5. When the weather is bad or when other situations arise, we have the flexibility to work from home. I think it makes our employees happier.”
One of the best ways to highlight your business is through a story that you can share across your online platforms. It humanizes your business and shows that your business can make a meaningful impact. Your testimonial would be used as a project profile on the GFS Booth Blog and can be shared on your website and/or social media channels.
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Located at GFS’ headquarters in Osseo, Wisconsin, the Center for Excellence is an innovative facility featuring an automotive refinish training center, as well as a separate space dedicated to technical product training.
GFS is continuously searching for talented, ambitious individuals to join our team. We aim to provide our employees with every opportunity to make an impact on the company and find their niche along the way — weather in a production, field services or an office position.
