Dawn Block

Current

Principal at dawn block consulting

Past

Chief People Officer / VP Talent at Commerce One
A Vice President at The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

Education

University of California, Berkeley - Walter A. Haas School of Business
City University of New York-Queens College

Recommended

25 people have recommended Dawn

Connections

500+ connections

Industry

Computer Software

Dawn Block’s Summary

Contact dawn.block@comcast.net to meet your Human Resources needs on an out-sourced basis. I provide practical, cost-efficient approaches that cover the full HR life cycle, from initial recruitment through to all stages of employment, including termination.

Services are geared to startup companies where little HR infrastructure exists. Industry expertise is heaviest in technology - new media, software, internet - as well as manufacturing, financial services, advertising.

Particular expertise in the areas of RIFs/lay-offs, performance management, compensation, benefits (health and 401k), training & development, employee relations, hiring/firing, corporate culture and employee morale, recruitment process, employee communications (like handbooks), legal compliance with federal and state regulations, meeting facilitation, etc.

On an as-needed basis, I conduct HR "tune-ups" for small companies who don't have regular access to an HR professional. I'm their "go-to" HR person - available 24/7.

I take a strategic approach to understanding my clients' needs, but as a consultant I'm facile at operating at both the strategic and tactical levels. As a change agent I shepherd organizations through the inevitable tumult of business cycles.

I'm happy to meet with perspective clients at no charge, & can exercise maximum flexibility in providing services to meet your budget constraints.

You can reach me at 925.938.1993 or dawn.block@comcast.net

Dawn Block’s Specialties:

* HR GENERALIST - full-range services scaled to fit dynamic startups.
- Compensation design / variable comp plans / benchmarking
- Employee Relations / Communications / Terminations
- Management Training / Development / Career Coaching
- Benefits design / 401k Plan Implementations / insurance optimization
- Recruiting process / hiring / onboarding / orientations

* RETAINED SEARCH services for top-caliber executive & technical talent.

Dawn Block’s Experience

Principal

dawn block consulting

(Computer Software industry)

January 1995 — Present (14 years 7 months)

With 15 years of human resources experience under my belt, I established my consultancy in 1995. These days I specialize in HR issues affecting down-sized / right-sized organizations. I can still conduct searches for executives & technical talent, but there's a lot less demand for that today.

Past searches included the hiring of dozens of executives - Presidents, COOs, CFOs, CTOs, & VPs of Engineering, Marketing, Sales, Professional Services, Finance & HR. I’ve also hired hundreds of exceptional candidates at the director, manager & individual contributor levels.
Chief People Officer / VP Talent

Commerce One

(Public Company; CMRC; Computer Software industry)

February 1998 — December 2001 (3 years 11 months)

Having joined C1 with an employee count of just 70, I helped grow the Company to a whopping 3800 in under 4 years.

Prior to C1's 1999 IPO, I launched their "People Department" (HR), with a pronounced focus on talent scouting.

I led the HR integration of 5 major acquisitions, and personally conducted all executive searches for senior management positions.

It was a wild, crazy, E-ticket ride, but alas it all came to a crashing end...
A Vice President

The Federal Reserve Bank of San Francisco

(Government Agency; Banking industry)

1981 — 1995 (14 years)

Held 10 different positions over the course of 14 years, with numerous assignments on national task forces (eg, material handling/robotics, automation, HR, etc.)

As a Fed Executive, I led:
* SALES - of wholesale banking services ACH / Fedwire / Checks
* SERVICES - Tech Support & Customer Service teams
* OPERATIONS - 100+ employees in a 24/7 warehouse of $5B
* HUMAN RESOURCES

Dawn Block’s Education

University of California, Berkeley - Walter A. Haas School of Business

MBA coursework 1982 — 1984
City University of New York-Queens College

BA , Romance Languages , 1972 — 1976

Activities and Societies:

Summa Cum Laude

Additional Information

Dawn Block’s Interests:

I'm a do-gooder who believes that good deeds bring ultimate rewards. Call it "cosmic karma". I'm a tree-hugger, with a penchant for rain forests & tropical regions in developing countries, (notwithstanding my recent expedition to Antarctica.)

Dawn Block’s Groups:

Past President, Pleasant Hill Chamber of Commerce.
Currently serving on 2 non-profit Boards
- JFK University's Grad School of Professional Psychology
- Pleasant Hill Community Foundation