About

John L. Nick

John spent the first 17 years of his professional career focusing on business operations and human resources. He has held leadership and executive positions with Tetley Tea, Westvaco Corporation (now Mead-Westvaco), Air Products & Chemicals and AMSCO (currently Steris Corporation). John earned his BA in Labor Economics with a minor in Business Administration from the University of Pittsburgh. He completed the Human Resource Executive Program through Penn State University and is experienced as both a Board Member and Board Advisor. John’s expertise and major focus is Organizational Analysis and Redesign.

John’s experience and expertise spans all levels of the organization from Board of Directors, to executives, to employees at all levels. He has been involved in the identification of employee or organizational issues that impede the effective utilization of Human Capital within the organization. John is also skilled in the development and implementation of state-of-the-art programs focused on work flow restructuring, as well as in improving employee engagement and performance at all levels within the organization.

Career Hightlights

John has spent the last 29 years as founder and President of J. L. Nick & Associates, Inc., a full-service Business/Human Resource consulting firm specializing in organizational and structural redesign and effective deployment of Human Capital.

He specializes in assessing organizational utilization of Human Capital. His expertise is in developing programs whose core focus is the qualitative improvement of that utilization. He has been intimately involved in the design and implementation of cultural, strategic and tactical programs for higher education, government agencies, not-for-profit and for-profit organizations.

Areas of Expertise

• Organizational/Cultural Assessments
• Organizational/Functional Analysis and Restructuring
• Employee Engagement Program
• Behavioral Assessments
• Leadership Development
• Developing High Performance Teams
• Executive Coaching
• Board Development and Support
• Compensation/Reward Programs
• Performance Management Programs
• Recruitment and Retention

Scott L. Nick

Scott has 20 years of professional experience in all facets of Human Resources. Scott’s focus is organizational transformation and employee development. He has actively managed HR departments in both the private and public sector for over a decade and has served as an Expert Witness for litigation involving compensation issues. Scott earned a BS in Psychology from the Pennsylvania State University and holds a Master Certificate in Human Resources Management. He also holds Certificates of Achievement in Strategic Organizational Leadership, HR Organizational Effectiveness and HR Management from Villanova University.

Areas of Expertise

• Organizational Development/Transformation
• Human Resources Development
• Compensation Systems Analysis and Development
• HR Needs Assessments
• Supervisory/Managerial Development
• Employee Relations
• Performance Management
• HR Policy Development
• Handbook Development

Mark E. Novad

Mark has more than 25 years of experience focused on the areas of business operations and human resources. He has held global executive leadership positions at Intel Corporation, II-VI Incorporated and most recently with Education Management. He has served on multiple boards of director and as a board advisor. He earned a BS in Journalism and Telecommunications from Arizona State University.

Mark’s expertise lies in all aspects of business operations, specifically the identification and resolution of employee and organizational issues. He has a proven track record of developing effective strategy and managing tactics for successful implementation. Mark has extensive experience in the areas of compensation, benefits, Human Resources Information Systems, employee communications, organizational restructuring, change management and operational improvement in both publicly-traded, privately-held and not-for-profit environments.

Career Hightlights

The majority of Mark’s career has focused on process improvements to position businesses for success, his overriding philosophy is to develop a passion and respect for companies’ most valuable assets – their people. Mark has been intimately involved in the design and implementation of strategic and tactical programs focused on qualitative improvements benefiting both the company and the employee.

Areas of Expertise

• Board Development and Support
• Organizational/Functional Analysis and Restructuring
• Risk Mitigation Strategies and Programs
• Executive Coaching
• Developing High Performance Teams
• Employee and Leadership Development Programs
• Performance Management Programs
• Recruitment and Retention
• Compensation/Reward Programs
• Employee Communications
• Employee Relations
• Benefit Program Design and Development

Jim Fiorenzo

Jim Fiorenzo earned a pharmacy degree from the University of Pittsburgh and his MBA from Gannon University. He lives in Erie and has recently joined Gannon’s Board of Trustees as well as being a past member of the Boys & Girls Club of Erie and the Erie Regional Chamber and Growth Partnership.

Career Hightlights

Fiorenzo was previously the President of UPMC Hamot and was responsible for both the for-profit and not-for-profit business segments of the health system. In Fiorenzo’s previous role he managed over 3,000 employees and $550 million in annual revenue. He helped lead on three hospital acquisitions and multiple physician practices, as well as the integration of Hamot with UPMC

Areas of Expertise

Throughout Fiorenzo’s career, he has concentrated on developing his leadership teams to focus on delivering organizational success through employee engagement and involvement. He has been intimately involved in business development and improving overall results with not only increasing overall revenue but improving net earnings by creating a more efficient process within each organization. From board involvement to developing better staff engagement, Fiorenzo has the leadership skills to bring any business or organization forward with positive results.

Shelby Harayda

Shelby has more than 10 years of professional experience in all facets of Human Resources. She has held HR positions with Erie General Electric Federal Credit Union, Scott Enterprises, Talent, Inc. and Essentra Components. She received a Bachelor of Arts in Communication and Media Studies and holds an Advanced Certificate in Human Resources Management from Mercyhurst University and a Professional Resume Writing Certification. She is a member of Lambda Pi Eta National Communication Association Honors Society and the Society of Human Resource Management (SHRM). Shelby is skilled in the development of innovative HR initiatives which streamline processes focusing on a positive impact on profitability, employee morale, and productivity. Her primary focus is influencing HR’s ability to be an effective business partner.

Areas of Expertise

• Human Resources Process Analysis and Enhancement
• Training and Leadership Development
• HRIS
• Talent Acquisition
• Performance Management
• Benefit/Payroll Administration
• Employee Relations

Barb Hetrick

Barb has been with J. L. Nick & Associates, Inc. for over 20 years. Her easygoing and accommodating style is the glue that holds our entire operation together. She is the friendly voice you will hear when you call our office, and the smiling face you will see when you visit. Her attention to detail and technical skills are instrumental in the preparation of countless documents used to support the unique needs of our diverse client base.

Mary Fromknecht

Mary has been with J. L. Nick & Associates, Inc. for over 14 years. Her impressive background in accounting includes a long and solid career in all major facets of finance and accounting. She studied business management at The University of Cincinnati. Her resourcefulness in managing our financial operations is a key ingredient in our ability to provide the superior levels of service our clients are accustomed to.

Michelle Hoffman

Michelle Hoffman has over 30 years of experience in all facets of recruitment, selection, and staffing. She is a recruiting professional dedicated to finding “the perfect match.” Michelle had extensive experience with various candidate identification and tracking programs. She has as successful recruitment track record at all levels including technical, accounting, sales, executive management, supervision, and administrative functions.

Areas of Expertise

• Recruitment
• Problem Solving
• Candidate Identification
• Candidate Sorting
• Candidate Selection

James Malloy

Jim has over 40 years of senior level executive management experience with primary concentration in Business Operations, Human Resources, and Environmental, Health and Safety. Jim’s background has provided him with a thorough understanding of the impact these areas have on organizational goals and success. This knowledge has enabled him to make significant contributions to the growth and profitability of organizations throughout his career.

Jim has held senior leadership posts at Sears & Roebuck, May Department Stores, and Port Erie Plastics. The exposure to different market segments and organizational size has resulted in an innovative approach and insight to business needs at various levels.

Areas of Expertise

• Organizational Development
• People Development
• Safety & Environmental Training
• Employee Relations
• Performance Management
• HR Planning & Process Development
• HR Policies & Procedures
• Compensation

Robert Hooks

Bob has more than 17 years of HR experience focused on the areas of Compensation and Benefits. He has held senior level positions at Education Management Corporation (EDMC), Respironics, Inc. and University of Pittsburgh Medical Center (UPMC). He earned an undergraduate degree in Marketing from Clarion University and an M.B.A. from the University of Pittsburgh.

Bob’s expertise lies in all aspects of Compensation, with specific emphasis on linking Compensation to Performance Management. He has a proven track record of developing, implementing and communicating all facets of Compensation and Benefits.

Career Hightlights

Throughout Bob’s career, he has focused on integrating Compensation, Performance Management and Benefit plans tied to the concept of employee involvement and engagement.

Areas of Expertise

• Compensation
  • Total Reward systems
  • Salary structure development
  • Market pricing and benchmarking
  • FLSA analysis
• Development of additional Compensations plans, i.e., annual bonus plans, stock options, etc.
• Performance Management plan designed to focus on behaviors and metrics

Tom Benson

Tom is a trainer for J. L. Nick and Associates. He is recognized by many as a powerful and engaging speaker that brings a lot charisma and passion to his presentations. He blends storytelling from his own personal and professional experiences throughout his life working in various industries with the content that makes his workshops interesting and engaging.

Tom has over 25 years’ experience conducting training for clients in a variety of industries. His areas of expertise include training needs assessment, curriculum development, supervisory/management skills training, strategic human resources design and integration, executive management development and employee coaching. Prior to his position at J. L. Nick and Associates, he was the training director for the Manufacturer’s and Business Association of Northwest PA for 15 years.

Tom has an undergraduate degree in Social Sciences from Gannon University and completed graduate studies at the University of Pittsburgh.

Cindy Aronson

Cindy is an experienced workplace trainer who excels in team building, workplace engagement, leadership development, managerial training and transformation. For over 25 years, Cindy and has led training for senior leadership teams in major corporations, nonprofits and government organizations. She has worked with J. L. Nick on numerous programs focused on team building and management development. Cindy takes pride in connecting with audiences of all kinds and inspiring them to new levels of motivation and commitment – helping them engage practical tools and solid solutions for achieving success. She is a member of the National Speakers Association and the Association for Talent Development and is a director of the board of the National Comedy Center and Lucy-Desi Museum.

John Papalia

In his Executive Director Business Development role at J.L. Nick & Associates, Papalia will work with clients and organizations to identify business needs and design solutions that closely align with their missions and business strategies. Through Papalia’s unique ability to build strategic relationships with community and business leaders, and backed by J.L. Nick & Associates’ experience in operational leadership and business transformation, the organization is poised to even more significantly improve the client experience, delivering increased business efficiency and effectiveness.

Beth Pellegrino

Qualifications

Beth has approximately 12 years of HR experience. She earned an undergraduate degree from Penn State Behrend as well as credentialing in the following areas:

• Human Resource Management – Cornell University

• Governance Risk and Compliance Professional – OCEG

• Integrative Health Coaching – Duke University

• 360 Assessments – Center for Creative Leadership

• Professional Coaching – Center for Creative Leadership

• SHRM-SCP – Society of Human Resource Management

 

Career Hightlights

Beth has a unique ability to focus on all facets of employee/management development and has experience in operational leadership and business transformation. Beth’s expertise is improving the client experience by delivering increased business efficiency and effectiveness.