Cecile J. Bereal has worked in
the Human Resource field for over 20 years. She is the
President and CEO of RMA Management Alliance, Inc., a Human
Resources consulting, training, coaching, and organizational
management firm. Her company specializes in the “ATIONS” –
employee relations, investigations, mediations,
facilitations, and collaborations.
Ms Bereal
is particularly knowledgeable—and considered an expert-- in
the sensitive area of sexual harassment. She is frequently
brought in to coach managers who have had allegations of
inappropriate behavior of a sexual nature filed against
them. Based on her facilitative and educational styles of
coaching, managers have dramatically changed their
behaviors, eliminating or minimizing the risks for
litigation.
Ms.
Bereal’s knowledge and expertise also extend to workplace
diversity, and the specific issues experienced by African
American and Latino populations. Ms. Bereal has noted that
diversity has changed over the years, with less focus on the
number of cross-cultural populations, and increased focus on
understanding human behaviors, personality and information
processing styles, in other words, the ATTITUDE of
diversity. Her programs, therefore, address these areas as
well as the barriers that prevent effective communication
among cross-cultural groups. She has created two very
popular trainings and keynote topics called, The
A.T.T.I.T.U.D.E. of Diversity and The Choreography of
Communication.
Because
of Ms. Bereal’s skills, knowledge, and abilities in EEO
legislation and Title VII employment issues, employers and
legal counsels frequently call on her to conduct neutral 3rd
party investigations in response to allegations of Title VII
discrimination, violations of ADA and FMLA rights, and
retaliation. She is on the “A” list with counsels due to
her ability to conduct legal investigations that will stand
up in court and where she may appear as an expert witness.
It is not unusual for her to transition from investigator to
human resources consultant and work with both the employer
and employee to resolve issues.
Ms.
Bereal’s knowledge extends to developing, writing, and
statistically analyzing recruitment, hiring, and promotion
practices, and adverse impact as they relate to affirmative
action.
Ms.
Bereal has been featured in numerous publications, including
the San Diego Business Journal, San Diego Union Tribune, The
Daily Transcript, as well as throughout the country. She
has also written articles for the Journal on problems facing
American female managers transitioning into leadership roles
in organizations with plants in Mexico.
Ms. Bereal has created and
designed organizational policies and standard operational
procedures for companies of all sizes. In addition to her
extensive work in diversity, she has created, designed and
implemented academic curricula for the University of
Phoenix, Universities of California, San Diego and Irvine.
Ms. Bereal is a premier management skills trainer for new,
middle, and executive management personnel, where she has
developed a variety of modular programs, in such areas as
effective and legal communication, successful leadership,
sexual harassment, workplace diversity, conflict resolution,
and change management. She has served as team consultant
for organizations involved in self-directed work teams, as
well as assisting in creating and building teams, and is
skilled in team intervention when there is conflict.
She is a recognized expert in
workplace ergonomics, and has successfully decreased Workers
Compensation claims of repetitive strain injuries.
Ms Bereal is frequently called
upon to act as a strategist, coach/mentor, Affirmative
Action coordinator, consultant, ombudsperson, and strategic
partner, representing the Human Resources perspective. Her
coaching techniques have played an integral role in bringing
about successful resolution of issues between employees and
management. She also represents organizations before EEOC,
DFEH, labor board hearings and workplace disputes.
She has
been instrumental in working with private and public sectors
going through reorganization where it was necessary to
conduct audits and assess organizational needs. She has
served both as a facilitator and a participating advisor
during strategic planning sessions.
Ms
Bereal has worked with elected City officials to identify
and assess management and general population employee issues
in conjunction with developing a process for soliciting the
community perspectives. She has guided employers and
personnel through the numerous steps of cultural and
organizational changes and how to manage those changes.
Much of Ms Bereal's experiences have included working with
Federal and State governments. She is a mediator for the
EEOC and a workplace investigator for the Bureau of Land
Management
Ms.
Bereal holds a Masters degree in Organizational
Management/Human Resources and a Bachelors degree in
Business Administration/Management. She is a frequent
keynote speaker and seminar leader throughout the country.
Ms. Bereal was recently invited to be a presenter for the
2005 National SHRM Conference held in San Diego this past
June 2005.
Her
seminar and/or keynote presentations have included NHRACC in
Fresno, California; SHRM Tulare/Kings County chapter, SARAH,
the Sacramento, California affiliate of SHRM; Hospitality
Financial and Technological Professional organization (HFTP);
Delta Division, General Motors Annual Conference; San Diego
Fisher & Phillips Legal Seminar Program; and has been a
featured presenter with other law firms’ programs.
Her
professional affiliations include or have included:
Co-Facilitator of Mega Sessions at the Leadership Conference
for the National Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM),
where she has served as the San Diego Chapter VP Programs,
2004 President, 2005 Immediate Past President, 2005 Chair of
the prestigious Workplace Excellence Award Program, Director
of Communications on the SHRM State Council, San Diego Core
Committee for the 2005 SHRM National Conference in San
Diego, Chairperson for Session Hosts/Programs for the 2005
SHRM National Conference American; Equal Employment
Opportunity Commission (EEOC) Advisory Council, Affirmative
Action Officers Association (AAOA), African American
Business Women of Vision (AABWV), California, East County,
and Carlsbad Chambers of Commerce, Society of Training and
Development (ASTD), Southern California Mediation
Association, International Personnel Management Association
IPMA), Professional Coaching and Mentor Association (PCMA),
and Organizational Development Network, (OD), Tec
International (organization of CEO’s).
Ms. Bereal
is currently writing a book, “Organization Faux Pas: or How
to Remove the Fo’ Paws from your Mouth.”
Some of RMA Management
Alliance, Inc. clients include
ACBS, a Division of Fidelity
Information Services
American
Rim Supply, Inc.
Atlas
Pumping Service, Inc.
BAE
(formerly GDE Systems)
Bureau of
Land Management, State of California
California
State University; San Diego, San Marcos and Dominguez Hills
Cities of
San Diego, Calexico, Carlsbad, Oxnard, Palm Desert, and
other municipalities
County of
Imperial
Departments of Defense – Army, Air Force, Marines, Navy
Department
of Fair Employment and Housing
Department
of Labor, Office of Federal Compliance and Contracts Program
Equal
Employment Opportunity Commission, Arizona California,
Nevada, New Mexico, Washington
Department
of Transportation
Financial
Database Services
Fisher
Price, a Division of Mattel, Inc.
Ford Motor
Corporation, Dealer Development Division
General
Dynamics
Grand
Pacific Resorts and their properties
Grand Pacific
Palisades
Seapointe
Riverpointe
Resorts in Napa
Carlsbad Inn
Southern
California Beach Resorts
Red Wolf Lodge
in Squaw Valley
Harbor
Packaging, Inc.
Health and
Human Resource Center (EAP)
Home Start
(non-profit organization)
Industrial
Indemnity
Internal
Revenue Service
Law
Offices of:
Fisher &
Phillips – Chris Hoffman, Managing Director
Luce, Forward,
Hamilton & Scripps – Robert Levy, Partner, Employment Law
Morrison &
Foerster, Rick Bergstrom, Partner
Robert Shipley
Charles
Anthony Williams
Mattel,
Inc.
Milgard,
Inc.
Metropolitan Correction Center
Mobile
Systems Wireless
Natural
Alternatives, Inc.
Occidental
Petroleum
Otay Water
District
Oxford
Industries/Lanier
Padre Dam
Water Municipality
Point Loma
Credit Union
Rohm
Electronics, Inc.
San Diego
Blood Bank
San Diego
Community College District and all campuses
San Diego
Water Authority
San Diego
Zoological Society/Wild Animal Park
Small
Business Association (SBA)
Solar
Turbines
Southern
California Insurance Funds (SCIF)
Sundstrand
Aerospace
Temecula
Valley Dry Wall
The
Employers Group
The
Greater San Diego Chamber of Commerce
The
Greater San Diego Employers Association
The Reuben
H. Fleet Science Center
United
Auto Workers (UAW)--General Motors Delphi Division
University
of Phoenix
University
of California, San Diego and Irvine
US Postal
Service
Washington
Inventory Services
