We help employers solve people problems. You’ll find us integrated with HR Departments of larger organizations and acting as the HR Department in smaller ones. Our projects span from one time consultations to ongoing projects that enact positive change and improve communication and relations between employee and employer.
We bring decades of expertise across every aspect of human resources so we can provide immediate impact to even the most difficult human resources or labour relations problems. We’re a small and nimble company, so you know we can react quickly when solving any human resources related issue.
About Kevin Woolliams
“Connecting people strategies to business needs in a way that includes everyone at a workplace is a passion. Helping facilitate an “a-hah” moment, crunching the numbers and finding solutions to people problems are the types of things I find extremely satisfying. Helping a diverse range of clients across the West with the team at HR West is the highlight of my working career.”
CONTACT KEVIN:
T: (604) 546 - 7674
Kevin is the founder of HR West. He is regarded as a leader in human resources and labour relations with more than twenty six years of senior level experience. Kevin has tackled HR problems from the smallest (two employee start-ups) to the largest (Fortune 500) firms across Western Canada in a range of industries (manufacturing, hospitality, retail, distribution, pharmaceutical, education, social services, petro-chemical, mining, trades, transportation and more).
Kevin works effectively with employees, supervisors, managers, executives and ownership to integrate human resources solutions into broader business needs and driving solution-based human resource/labour relations strategies to build individual and organizational cultural change that focus on business priorities.
In labour relations, Kevin has represented employers at the bargaining table in all western provinces and one territory negotiating collective agreements with over thirty different unions and locals with employee groups ranging from 5 to over 3000 employees. Kevin also represents employers at arbitrations, mediation, and other quasi-judicial forums.
Kevin has a BA and MBA and always consuming new learning opportunities. He is particularly proud of how much he has learned (and integrated into his consulting) from his indigenous clients across BC.
Kevin calls the lower mainland home but enjoys travelling with wife and two children. He is on sabbatical from competing in Ironman (he is a four time finisher) and is much more likely to be on the water, in the mountains or in the kitchen when not on assignment.
About Heather Johnson
“I help organizations develop the right strategy, culture, programs and people to build their business. I have a knack for looking at the big picture, asking the right questions, and applying over 30 years of experience to create practical solutions. I value resourcefulness and will engage your team to bring your strategy to life.”
CONTACT HEATHER:
T: (604) 546 - 7674
Heather is a seasoned former People & Culture executive equally as comfortable in the boardroom as on the shop floor. Heather has been contributing as the top human resources leader in industries ranging from financial to food manufacturing, third party logistics, retail and warehousing and distribution for the past 30 years. She is most effective in organizations that are undergoing major organizational transformation.
A true senior generalist, Heather’s approach is to understand the business and develop solutions to align people, culture and change programs with business goals, strategies and plans. Heather can facilitate strategy, planning, teambuilding and conflict resolution sessions. She can also assist in developing practical programs in most areas of human resources, particularly employee engagement, talent management and talent development, labour relations and compensation & benefits. Heather has hands-on experience with mergers & acquisitions as well as organizational restructuring.
Heather holds a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, as well as a Bachelor of Administration from the University of Regina. She has completed the Institute of Corporate Directors (ICD) HR & Compensation Committee Effectiveness course, and the Sauder School of Business Responsible Trustee Program. Holding a Human Capital Strategist (HCS) Certification, Heather applies this model in strategic planning. Heather has rounded out her organizational development toolkit with certifications in True Colors and Lominger competencies, as well as through a lifelong pursuit of understanding trends in leadership and organizational culture.
With very diverse interests, Heather is a curler, a long time member of a book club, an avid cyclist and participant in water-sports, and an active volunteer dedicated to building better communities. Heather is currently on the Board of Directors of the United Way of the Lower Mainland, and actively mentors and participates with CPHR BC & Yukon, including being the co-founder of the Fraser Valley Senior Leaders Forum.
About Tim Dolinski
“Nothing is more rewarding than achieving outcomes that exceed everyone’s expectations. My diverse career has developed personal insights to better understand the needs of a wide array of internal and external stakeholders. From strategic planning to in the moment creative problem solving, I take into account the practical realities of any situation, combine common sense with a well-reasoned, thoughtful approach with a determination to achieve positive results.”
CONTACT TIM:
T: (604) 546 - 7505
Tim Dolinski’s diverse career spans all aspects of the employment spectrum. From a unionized plant employee and full time union representative, to a senior management professional in human resources/labour relations with solid experience in operations, Tim brings with him invaluable hands on experience in a multitude of employment settings. As a life-long learner and a senior labour relations and human resources strategist, he evaluates the practical realities of every situation and has an aptitude for finding successful innovative problem solving strategies. Tim listens to understand versus listening with the intent to respond. He quickly analyzes the scope of the problem, brings a sense of order to any chaotic situation and moves toward identifying multiple solutions.
Tim has experience from coast to coast with unionized, non-union and blended labour environments as well as businesses that vary in size from a few individuals to national responsibilities for thousands of employees. In bargaining and hearings, he is a skilled, experienced chief spokesperson. Understanding and factoring in the core function of the business is an important approach for Tim providing human resource/labour relations advice that fits. His senior management roles have been in the food and beverage and manufacturing and distribution sector with well-known companies.
Most recently, Tim is extremely proud to have been providing human resources guidance in the non-profit sector for a social services and child protection agency for Aboriginal children and families in the Fraser Valley.
Tim lives with his wife Lisa, their two children Kate and Liam along with Matix the dog in historic Fort Langley, Tim enjoys the daily seven kilometer walk through the Village and his nightly workouts on the rowing machine or stationary bike. Grocery shopping and cooking for the family is a pleasurable, unintended hobby for him. The family supports “Sport for Life” with their children playing competitive softball, hockey and rugby.
About Dorothy McEwan
"There is no better feeling than finding and creating solutions for problems that plague businesses. Problem-solving and employee engagement drives my work. It’s all about asking the right questions, identifying the core issues, and then including employees in the solutions, because without their buy in even the best ideas will fall flat."CONTACT DOROTHY:
T: (604) 546 - 7675
Dorothy is the first employee of HR West. She is regarded as an engaging and witty teacher that drives employee engagement and buy in. She has over 6 years combined experience in hospitality, social services, and banking. She does not shy away from the tough conversations and provides an unbiased point of view.
Dorothy drives engagement through a collaborative approach between management and employees to identify broader issues in a solution and outcome focused manner. She doesn’t just ask the questions, she creates a solution focused environment that allows for employees to become part of the solution.
In labour relations, Dorothy provides grievance response and meeting support for employers to resolve outstanding issues prior to more expensive formal proceedings. She also conducts investigations into a variety of issues such as bullying, harassment, discipline, and much more.
Sometimes called a computer whiz, she is happy to help with spreadsheet, databases, and visually appealing presentations. Dorothy also regularly completes social media presence analysis for your company and/or your employees.
Dorothy completed her BBA at the University of the Fraser Valley. While there she spent a year abroad in Sweden at Mälardalen University studying International Business Management. Her professional and educational background gives her a fresh perspective on management and problem solving.
Dorothy calls the Fraser Valley home and spends her time off the clock playing volleyball, snowboarding, or trials biking. She loves to explore local and international locations, whether its 100 or 8000 kilometers it’s just an adventure waiting to begin!
Amy Saini is a multifaceted and energetic HR Consultant who has 18 years of experience driving organizational change in the non-profit and small-to-medium business sectors. She is an enthusiastic and solutions-focused Business Partner who draws from best practices while leading with her natural abilities to build relationships, educate and inspire those around her. Amy believes that strong HR practices are essential to realizing the overall organizational strategy.
A trusted and skilled advisor, Amy has implemented innovative and diverse initiatives and programs in different organizations. She has worked in generalist and specialist roles in a large HR department and built departments from the ground-up in HR management positions.
Having worked alongside strong leaders, Amy believes that true people management is an art form. She is well-versed in setting up systems that attract and retain talent, while keeping teams engaged. She enjoys working on people development, employee relations, engagement and supporting teams and leaders through change.
Amy holds a Chartered Professionals in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, as well as a Master of Arts (MA) degree in Adult Education. She is a certified Leadership Coach and a member of the International Coaching Federation (ICF).
Amy is a joyful yogi at heart. When she’s not on her mat, she’s hitting the roads and trails to train for run half marathon and marathon races. She lives in North Vancouver where she spends lots of time in the forests hiking with her husband, two kids and dog.
Chantel is an insightful and energetic professional with experience in labour relations and human resource management. Chantel possesses specific strengths in labour relations and HR policies.
Her strong people skills enable her to assist clients with everything from employee relations/conflict resolution to developing HR programs and best practices for their organizations. Chantel supports clients through various labour relations issues, including labour contract negotiations, grievance meetings, investigations, and Labour Board and Human Rights Tribunal hearings.
With a Bachelor of Arts from Simon Fraser University, Chantel’s pursuits have led her to finding her passion in human resources and labour relations.
In her downtime Chantel can be found baking in the kitchen, or chasing her daughter and dog through the parks and trails across the Fraser Valley.
With over 22 years of full-cycle HR experience, Emily’s professional experience has involved progressive responsibility in employee and labour relations, recruitment, retention, talent development and recognition. Her diverse experience has been gained in a multitude of industries from professional services to manufacturing, to utilities, to not for profits, real estate, finance, and insurance. She adapts to all types of organizations – big to small – and appreciates working with people to create outstanding career experiences.
Emily is passionate about helping leaders and organizations meet their strategic HR needs and enjoys building flexible and creative HR programs that enable organizations to attract, retain and reward top talent.
Taking a caring approach, Emily collaborates with stakeholders across all levels of an organization to adopt HR best principals and, in turn, elevate success. She enjoys helping leaders and teams build employee engagement strategies, tailor and implement performance management programs, navigate employee relations matters, create HR policies and procedures, guide leadership and employee development, recruit and build teams, and develop critical programs that support top employer practices such as diversity and inclusion.
Emily holds a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) designation, as well as a Master’s degree in Human Resources from the University of Westminster (UK) from her time living and working in London. She has added to her toolkit through the years attending a multitude of learning programs, most recently completing an executive education certificate in advanced leadership from UBC Sauder School of Business.
A born and raised Vancouverite, Emily loves to get around town on her e-bike enjoying a “good” cup of coffee or trying out new restaurants with friends. She also loves spending time with her family, travelling to places near and far and is passionate (but not fancy) about getting creative in the kitchen.
Juliane Chien (she/her/hers) is a Human Resources Consultant with a particular interest in accessibility, Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging (EDIB). She has previously worked in research and non-profit organizations in Canada after working abroad in Eastern Europe for a year. In her most recent role working as an EDIB consultant, she worked with organizations from the public and private sectors, including municipalities, technology companies, and non-profit organizations to audit their policies and build towards an inclusive work environment.
As an HR Consultant with HR West, she works with various clients from multiple industries tackling projects including recruitment, hourly compensation, EDIB, facilitation and presentations, employee handbooks, on-site HR support, labour relations and talent retention/development.
Juliane holds a degree in Kinesiology from UBC, with a Human Resources post-degree diploma at SFU. A lifelong learner, she has most recently completed the Leadership and Inclusion program at Centennial College to further her knowledge within Equity, Diversity, Inclusion, and Belonging.
In her spare time, she can be found at a nearby basketball court working on her jump shot and dribbling skills, or at a local bubble tea shop trying their latest drink.
Andrea Adams is an accomplished professional with 22 years of in-depth experience in human resource and corporate priority project management. With a solid education including a BBA in Human Resources and Master of Public Administration, she has significant experience in mining and public service. She is well equipped to understand the client’s priorities, problems and opportunities in order to recommend practical plans and solutions that work.
If you want to see her in action, find her YouTube channel, HR ShopTalk, where she interviews top HR professionals on a broad range of HR topics. The number of subscribers grows daily and there is no other comparable resource in Canada.
Andrea approaches her work with interest and respect. She has a track record of successfully addressing difficult situations with particular interests in employee engagement, project management, and labour relations.
Outside of work, she spends time with her husband and daughter adding in her hobbies of skiing, biking, and hiking as much as possible. She sponsored a refugee family in 2017 who she is still in touch with regularly and, on a practical side, has personally undertaken major house renovations and a variety of woodworking projects.
Elissa Lok is a People & Culture leader with 10 years of broad HR generalist experience; she supports business leaders in managing their most important asset—their PEOPLE— by simplifying HR, aligning people strategies with business goals, and implementing targeted, practical solutions.
Her experience is varied and includes the private sector, public sector, not for profits, small and growing businesses, as well as large multi-union organizations. Elissa understands that there is no “one size fits all” approach to managing the complexities of HR, and building effective employee teams.
As a skilled relationship builder, advisor, and communicator, Elissa has led organizational changes such as building an HR department from the bottom up, and shifting longstanding organizational culture. Experience areas include performance management, training and development, work design, employee relations, policy and process development, employee engagement, HRIS implementation, recruitment and retention.
Elissa holds an Honours BA in Organizational Communications from the University of Ottawa, and has achieved certifications as a Chartered Professional in Human Resources (CPHR) and a Certified Career Development Practitioner (CCDP).
Following a love for the outdoors, Elissa moved out west 20 years ago for ‘a ski season’ and never left; when she’s not digging into an HR project you’ll find Elissa on her bike, or in the mountains with her family and pup.
Tom Watts is a human resources and business executive with extensive experience in providing support and solutions to organizations in the areas of strategic human resources, people systems & structure, total rewards, talent management, health & safety, employee relations, labour relations, communications, change management, performance management, conflict management, investigations, team building along with mentoring and coaching.
Tom has business and human resources experience in international, national, corporate, field level, union and non-union environments and has supported organizations in a variety of industries including manufacturing, mining, energy, transportation, wholesale, privately owned, publicly traded, and municipal government.
Tom is a Chartered Professional Human Resources (CPHR) and Certified Talent Management Practitioner (CMTP). Tom has a Bachelor of Science and a Bachelor of Management from the University of Lethbridge. Additionally, Tom received coach training from the College of Executive Coaching and is certified in the EQ-i 2.0/360 and the MBTI I & II.
Tom lives with his family in the Edmonton region where he spent several years on a local minor hockey association board and is a strong supporter of community sports.