Optimize Your Talent. Minimize Your HR Challenges. Let’s Talk about the People in Your Business

Our Team

Shelly Rae

Head, Human Resources Consulting

Shelly has spent 25+ years in the Human Resource Profession developing a passionate commitment to employee well being, a passionate commitment to personalized customer service and strong financial acumen. Her expertise covers all facets of Human Resource Management across a broad range of industries including financial services, manufacturing, retail, consumer packaged goods and the public sector. She specializes in finding optimal workable solutions to human resource issues in support of business leaders in small and mid-sized companies. Prior to starting up People R Us, Shelly held executive and leadership positions with The Dominion of Canada General Insurance Company, The Municipality of Metro Toronto and Hallmark Cards. Her extensive experience working in the field of human resources uniquely prepares her to understand and address her client’s challenges and opportunities.

Shelly will help you customize the right solutions to optimize your business. If it means writing new human resource policies, sharing a best practice or process, developing a new job evaluation and compensation structure, creating a new organization structure, overseeing the implementation of an HRIS, writing a legally defensible employment agreement or developing a talent acquisition strategy, Shelly is ready to roll up her sleeves to get the job done!

Specifically, Shelly offers expertise in the following areas:

  • HR Operations
  • Talent Acquisition and Management
  • Total Rewards (including Compensation, Variable Rewards, Incentive Programs, Pensions and Benefits)
  • HR Information Systems
  • Organization Design & Job Design
  • Organizational Effectiveness
  • Performance Management
  • Succession Planning 

Very simply … how do you get 25+ years of experience? The answer is 25+ years! Shelly is motivated by a Challenge…being Creative…helping Clients…and achieving Positive Results!

Lotte Struwing

Senior Human Resources Consultant

People R Us is fortunate to have such an experienced business leader with a deep expertise in Human Resources and Coaching on board. Lotte has been proudly serving clients since 2008 and prior to that she spent over 20 years in senior roles within corporate settings gaining ‘Tier 1’ industry knowledge she has adapted for small and medium businesses. Lotte’s Human Resources and business experience encompasses Retail, Wholesale, Manufacturing, Distribution, Professional, Sales, Research, Health Care and Non-profit - private & public. She loves to work with clients who have an “Employer of Choice” mindset – those who understand their employees make the difference. Lotte specializes in offering guidance, strategies and the hands on implementation necessary to help business owners create a solid foundation which in turn allows them to do what they are meant to do – Drive Business Results!

Lotte applies a practical approach that takes people and businesses to the next level. She strongly believes that success comes from aligning business strategy and Human Resources. Her approach provides flexible, customizable and scalable services that meet business needs at every step of the way.

Lotte’s deep background in Human Resources allows her to offer a full suite of HR services through People R Us. With career transition as a major focus, she can support employers finding themselves in a position of having to terminate employees. Lotte is able to support the entire termination process as well as provide transition services if required all while ensuring departing employees are treated with dignity and respect and supported in finding their next opportunity.

As a lifelong learner, Lotte holds her Certified Human Resource Leader designation (CHRL), 3 designations through WorldatWork – Certified Compensation Professional (CCP), Certified Benefits Professional (CBP) & Global Remuneration Professional (GRP), is a Certified Career and Resume Strategist and is a member of Toastmasters International. In a volunteer capacity, Lotte is a board member with Barrie Enterprise Resource Network (BERN), the Toronto Business Development Centre and The Barrie Foodbank.

Gayle Draper

Human Resources Consultant

Gayle Draper joins People R Us after having spent 20 years working as a professional in the employment industry facilitating the success of people in career transition and businesses in staffing transitions. Her gifts are shared with people from multiple industries and occupations, energizing their success by guiding, coaching and counselling them to the next successful chapter in their work life. She is known as an inspirational presence in both the training room and boardroom.

Gayle truly is a people person. Intuition, education and work  ethic set her apart from her colleagues but it is her collaborative style that is most appealing and gives the most impactful results. Her style is patient, positive, flexible and outgoing with  her Human Resources services naturally evolving in the last decade.

Gayle expanded her business education to specialize in Human Resources after an earlier career working in government funded career centres developing training programs for apprenticeship, second career and specialized wage subsidies.

As a sought after Speaker, she has presented at local, regional, provincial and national conferences. Gayle is the ‘Mentor’s Mentor’, building unique mentoring programs for Entrepreneurs and Human Resources professionals. She believes deeply in the role and its impact on the workplace, whether the people are blue color, white color or executive; unique combinations bring forth unique results.

Gayle began her career at Bay and Bloor, returning to her four season’s community. These experiences have given her corporate, and small –medium business experiences. Her Human Resources’ specialties are people based. She specializes in organizational development and learning, completing needs assessment  and working collaborative with department leaders and business owners to complete training needs analysis. She creates and builds customized solutions, writing curriculum and delivering programs that have humour, energy and inspiration. Employees leave asking for more, ready to implement learning, with actions plans in place.

 

Joanne Alexander

Senior Compensation Consultant

Joanne is an integral part of the People R Us team bringing  over 25 years of solid experience in compensation planning and management; job evaluation; job analysis and design; conduct of classification reviews and audits; pay equity compliance; job description writing; salary administration; and conducting compensation and benefit surveys.  She has led and participated in all phases of job evaluation and pay equity projects, including customizing and testing job evaluation systems; developing tools such as questionnaires; conducting employee information seminars; and chairing and facilitating job evaluation committees. She has also developed and recommended pay policy, job grades and salary structures. 

During her career, Joanne has conducted several organizational reviews and generic job description projects.   She has developed employee handbooks, compensation governance processes and practices, and other informational products, as well as pay manuals for the House of Commons.  She also has a background in training.

Joanne’s extensive experience has been gained primarily in financial services, municipal and provincial governments, and the OPP.  She has successfully provided professional consultation and advice to a range of clients.  Joanne continually focuses on providing high quality service and an optimum level of support to clients and colleagues.