Our human resources  experience

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Globe Machine and the resulting hire of their new Board Member For over a century, Globe Machine Manufacturing Company has been at the forefront of delivering custom-engineered factory solutions for manufacturers. Our solutions combine decades of proven mechanical performance with cutting-edge automation, controls, and robotics, empowering our customers to achieve next-level operational efficiency. Globe Machine was acquired by Westward Partners in 2024. Westward Partners is a Seattle-based private equity firm investing in lower-middle-market businesses across a variety of industries in the Pacific Northwest. The acquisition will set Globe up for accelerated growth and help the Company better serve new and existing customers through innovation, training, parts, and service – something it has done successfully for over a century. Congratulations to Globe Machine and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Three Bears and the resulting hire of their new Chief Financial Officer Three Bears Alaska (“Three Bears” or the “Company”) is the retailer of choice in Alaska for all essential categories, offering local communities a product selection that is not too big, not too small, but “just right” – at prices that provide value and with great service by locals, for locals. The Company was founded in 1980 by Alaskans, for Alaskans – the store footprints, inventory, and pricing are designed to meet the region’s unique needs. Three Bears offers its customers three types of shopping experiences: signature “Mini-Warehouses” (50k+ square feet with a unique, rationalized merchandise assortment model featuring grocery, outdoor/sporting products and full-service pharmacies), Supermarkets (focus is on grocery) and Convenience Stores (offer a broader merchandise selection and better pricing than a typical C-store and serve communities where population densities do not support a full mini-warehouse). Three Bears is owned by Westward Partners in partnership with the founding Alaskan family. Westward Partners is a Seattle-based private equity firm that partners with lower middle market businesses across a variety of industries based in the Pacific Northwest and Alaska. Westward partnered with and invested in Three Bears in early 2022 and has worked extensively with the Three Bears management team to successfully turbocharge growth, more than doubling the store footprint over the past four years. At this point in time, Three Bears has shifted gears from a growth mindset to a focus on margin improvement and optimization. As the new stores begin to reach run-rate and Three Bears fully digests and acclimates to its significantly larger scale and methods of operating, management, in partnership with Westward, has begun to employ a host of profitability improvement initiatives. The new CFO will have a significant role in managing, executing, and tracking these initiatives, as well as the continual development of new initiatives. It’s an exciting time to join Three Bears for an analytically minded senior finance professional who has a deep understanding of how to maximize gross and EBITDA margins (and absolute EBITDA dollars) in a retail/grocery environment. Congratulations to Three Bears and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

Vice President & Chief Human Resources Officer ABOUT THE COMPANY With roots dating back to 1938, The Papé Group is the West’s leading supplier of capital equipment solutions. Today, Papé operates across nine states with over 4,000 team members, proudly representing premier brands including John Deere, Kenworth, Hyster, Ditch Witch, and more. What sets Papé apart is its commitment to long-term relationships, both with customers and employees. As a fourth-generation, family-led business, Papé believes in the value of a handshake, the importance of service, and the impact of leadership that stays close to the work. ABOUT THE POSITION Reporting to the CEO of the Papé Group and residing in Eugene, Oregon, the VP & Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) serves as the organization’s senior leader responsible for developing and executing a people strategy that supports business performance, operational excellence, and a strong employee experience across a geographically dispersed, multi-site workforce. This leader will bring exceptional integrity, discretion, loyalty, and sound judgment, while building trust and credibility at every level of the organization—from frontline employees to executive leadership. The VP & CHRO will balance the operational needs of the business with employee engagement and workforce stability, ensuring the organization remains compliant, competitive, and well-positioned for growth. This role leads all HR functions, including labor relations, safety, recruiting, benefits, payroll, HRIS, onboarding, training, and performance management, while also serving as a key strategic partner in mergers and acquisitions and regular interactions with the company’s board. Essential Duties and Responsibilities Strategic Leadership & Culture Lead the continued development and execution of the company’s enterprise-wide HR strategy in alignment with business objectives, operational needs, and long-term growth plans. Serve as a trusted advisor to the CEO and executive leadership team on workforce planning, organizational effectiveness, leadership development, and employee relations. Champion a culture of integrity, accountability, respect, and performance while ensuring employees feel heard, supported, and engaged. Establish and maintain consistent HR practices across multiple locations and states while allowing for local operational needs. Compliance, Risk Management & Employment Law Ensure legal compliance across all employment-related areas, including wage and hour laws, payroll practices, employee classification, leaves of absence, and workplace policies. Partner with legal counsel and internal stakeholders to mitigate risk and ensure consistent application of employment law across 17 states. Oversee safety program alignment and compliance, ensuring workplace safety expectations are embedded into operational leadership and accountability. Lead investigations and resolution of complex employee relations matters with professionalism, confidentiality, and fairness. Total Rewards, Benefits & Retirement Plans Oversee benefits strategy and administration, including medical, dental, vision, disability, leave programs, and wellness offerings. Lead negotiation and management of benefits contracts and vendor relationships to ensure competitive offerings and cost effectiveness. Provide executive oversight for the company’s 401(k) plan, including vendor relationships, fiduciary compliance, plan governance, and employee communication. Partner with finance and executive leadership to manage labor and benefit costs while supporting retention and workforce stability. HRIS & HR Operations Develops and executes the HR technology strategy in collaboration with the CIO and CFO. Responsible for the HRIS vendor relationship, including selection, contract negotiation, implementation, optimization, and performance management. Ensure HR processes are efficient, scalable, compliant, and aligned across recruiting, onboarding, payroll, performance management, and reporting. Use metrics and workforce analytics to guide decision-making and improve outcomes. Talent Acquisition, Onboarding & Workforce Planning Oversee recruiting strategy and execution for hourly, salaried, leadership, and specialized roles across a multi-state footprint. Ensure onboarding processes are consistent, high-quality, and designed to improve early retention and productivity. Build workforce planning processes that support operational demands, business growth, and succession planning. Training, Leadership Development & Performance Management Recommend, select, and implement training programs for supervisors and managers, including: compliance training (harassment prevention, wage/hour, safety, union-related training) leadership and soft skills training (communication, coaching, accountability, conflict resolution) Establish leadership development practices that strengthen frontline leadership capability and reinforce company standards. Ensure performance management processes are practical, consistently applied, and drive accountability and employee development. Serves as a key advisor in helping guide and develop members of the emerging fifth generation, supporting thoughtful career pathing, leadership development, and integration into the business in alignment with company values and performance expectations. Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Lead HR due diligence and integration planning for mergers, acquisitions, and organizational growth initiatives. Evaluate workforce risks, compensation and benefits alignment, union implications, compliance exposure, and retention strategies. Drive integration of HR policies, culture, systems, and talent while maintaining business continuity and employee trust. Labor Relations & Union Negotiations Lead union strategy, labor relations, and negotiations, including preparation, bargaining, grievance management, and contract administration for approximately 100 employees. Maintain productive relationships with union representatives while protecting business continuity and operational flexibility. Provide guidance and coaching to leaders on union-related issues, discipline, and compliance with collective bargaining agreements. Team Leadership & Department Management Lead and develop a high-performing HR organization with functional responsibility for: Safety Recruiting Payroll Benefits HRIS Onboarding Performance Management Employee Relations Establish clear expectations, accountability, and development pathways for HR team members. Manage departmental budget, vendor performance, and service-level expectations. CANDIDATE PROFILE The ideal candidate brings a proven track record of executive leadership, strategic decision-making, and operational excellence within complex, growth-oriented organizations. Key qualifications include: Executive-level HR leadership experience in a multi-location, multi-state organization. Demonstrated success in building credibility with frontline employees and leaders at all levels. Strong working knowledge of employment law, wage and hour compliance, payroll practices, and workplace safety standards. Proven experience negotiating and managing vendor contracts, including HRIS, benefits providers, and retirement plan partners. Strong leadership training and development experience for supervisors and managers (compliance and soft skills). Robust M&A experience, including HR due diligence, integration, and organizational change management. High degree of integrity, discretion, loyalty, and sound judgment. Excellent communication, relationship-building, and conflict resolution skills. Preferred SPHR, SHRM-SCP, or similar credentials. Labor relations experience, including union contract negotiation and administration. Experience in distributed operations such as manufacturing, construction, industrial services, transportation, equipment, logistics, or other field-based environments. Demonstrated success scaling HR operations in a high-growth or acquisition-driven environment. Interested in Learning More? 180one is an executive search firm and is assisting Papé Group in this search. If interested in learning more about the opportunity, please contact Tom Haley / 503-334-1350 /  tom@180one.com  .

180one is pleased to announce our recent partnership with Les Schwab and the resulting hire of their new Director of Training & Development! Founded in 1952 by Les Schwab, this organization has grown into one of the largest independent tire retailers in the US, with over 530 locations and more than 8,000 employees, and is a top service provider, having won the 2021 Customer Satisfaction award in our category by JD Power. Les Schwab continues to grow and innovate in both products and services, including through new store openings and geographic expansion.  Congratulations to Les Schwab and the 180one Search Team on a successful executive placement!

180one congratulates S.R. Smith on the recent appointment of Kirsten Alvares as the new Vice President of Human Resources. For more than 85 years, S.R. Smith has had a singular focus: Create products that make the pool experience better for both swimmers and owners. If it involves a pool, chances are they’ve “seen it” and if there’s a way to improve, they’ll find it. They were the first to manufacture diving boards on a commercial scale the first to focus on salt-friendly products. Receiving her BA degree in English from Portland State University, Kirsten is an accomplished human resource leader with over 20 years of experience in the field. Most recently she was the VP of Human Resources at Gerber, here in Portland, where she was responsible for the administration, interpretation and development of all Gerber HR practices, policies, plans and procedures. 180one enjoyed partnering with S.R. Smith on this important VP search and we wish Kirsten all the best as she joins the team!

180one assisted M Financial Group in the search for a Director of Human Resources to develop and manage recruiting, training, benefits and other programs at the firm’s headquarters in Portland, Oregon. After conducting a targeted search, 180one worked with M Financial to select Jodi Whisman to join the organization. Whisman brings nearly 20 years of strategic HR and business partnering experience to the role. Much of her career has been spent with well-known Portland tech companies, including overseeing recruiting and talent management at VTech and Jive Software . Most recently Whisman was Director, Leadership and Organizational Development, at OCHIN, Inc. , where she developed and led organizational design, change management and employee engagement and retention. She holds a Master’s in Management with an emphasis on HR Management from University of Mary and a BA in Communication from North Dakota State University , as well as her PHR certification. 180one was thrilled to partner with M Financial in this search for a critical new hire. Congratulations to M Financial!

180one enjoyed partnering with Relay Resources , one of Portland’s top nonprofit organizations, to recruit a new Director of Human Resources. After conducting a search in both the nonprofit and for-profit sectors, Relay Resources selected Elizabeth Kurtz for the role. Kurtz joins Relay Resources with more than 15 years of HR leadership experience. She spent much of her career in the professional services industry, overseeing talent acquisition, training, organizational development, employee relations, compensation and more for organizations such as KPMG . Always drawn to purpose-driven organizations, Kurtz brings her ability to align people initiatives with business strategies to Relay Resources. 180one is proud to continue to partner with Relay Resources and other Portland-based organizations that are committed to strengthening our community. Congratulations to Relay Resources on this important hire! 

180one recently worked with Columbia Distributing , one of the nation’s largest malt beverage, wine and non-alcoholic beverage distributors, to appoint Michelle Rose as the Director of Human Resources. Prior to joining the Columbia team, Rose managed the human resources organization and facilitated training and organizational development for Siltronic Corporation . She holds a BA in Psychology from Portland State University and an MBA in Organizational Effectiveness from Marylhurst University , as well as her SPHR certification. 180one was proud to partner with Columbia on this successful hire!

180one congratulates Reed College in selecting Michelle Valintis as the school's new Director of Human Resources. Reed was founded in 1908 in Portland, Ore., and provides one of the nation's most intellectually rigorous undergraduate experiences to more than 1400 students. Valintis brings more than 10 years of HR management to the role. Before joining the Reed community, she served as Director of HR at the Oregon College of Oriental Medicine , as well as led the HR function for Genentech in San Francisco. At Reed, she will serve as a member of the President's Senior Staff and lead a team of four to provide HR services for the college's 500+ faculty and staff. Congratulations to Reed College on this critical hire!

180one congratulates TriMet , the seventh largest public transit provider in the United States, in selecting Randy Stedman as Executive Director of Labor Relations and HR. In this role, Stedman will lead the labor relations and human resources organization for the agency, which employs more than 2400 people, and serve as a member of the Executive Leadership Team. Stedman brings more than 20 years of labor and HR experience to the role, including serving as a labor and employment lawyer before leading the HR functions for various private and government entities. Before joining TriMet, he founded a successful labor relations and HR consulting practice . Stedman holds a BA and MS from California State University and a law degree from Vanderbilt University . As the Executive Director of Labor Relations and HR, Stedman will oversee programs and activities including labor contract policy development, negotiations and administration; labor relations; and human resources programs and staff development. Congratulations to TriMet on this successful hire!