Don Borwhat Jr - Bio
For more than 25 years, GE-alum Don Borwhat has been advising leaders across a variety of industries on how to sustain productive workforces, move through transformational change effectively and contribute to the bottom line. As the president of Creative Human Resource Solutions, LLC, Don has served clients in high technology, sales, manufacturing and service, assuming critical consulting roles of significant scope that help start-up, struggling, growing or high-performing organizations achieve key goals.
After earning his Bachelor of Science degree from Syracuse University, Don worked for Firestone Tire & Rubber Co. and Standard Products before taking the HR manager spot at the International Paper Co. – where he started up the largest and most technically sophisticated paper mill in the world. He then moved on to a distinguished career with GE, serving first as HR manager for GE’s Power Generation Business in Schenectady, NY.
WEBSITE DESIGNED AND MAINTAINED BY RJ WEB DESIGN - POWERED BY RJ MEDIA GROUP 2009.
As GE began to globalize, he was promoted to international operations and asked to develop and execute the Human Resource strategy and business plan. Don moved on to head HR for GE’s Aircraft Engine Business, where he was recognized for his work with labor relations, developing employee involvement programs and coaching difficult employees. His ability to assess and develop key talent was recognized by CEO Jack Welch, and Don spent several years working with Jack to assess and coach GE senior leaders and employees as a senior vice president of Human Resources. Actively involved in consulting since 1995 as a speaker, facilitator and coach, he left GE in 2002 to consult full time.
Career Highlights
• Developed strategies for globalization, M&A and start-ups, including building the Human Resources function from the ground up.
• Worked with a number of Fortune 500 clients, including Dell, Lockheed Martin, Wal-Mart, Home Depot, International Rectifier, GE and RJR.
• Appointed Chair of a task force that was commissioned to re-engineer the City of Charlottesville government in 1993.
• Recognized for his employee involvement programs at GE and featured in Personnel Journal magazine in 1995 for his HR business partner work.
• Invited to the White House in 2001 to receive President Clinton’s Workforce 2000 award.
• In 1995 GEFANUC (the business Don supported) was recognized by Industry Week as one of the nation’s top 10 manufacturing sites.
• Part of the team that introduced Jack Welch’s GE WorkOut programs to empower employees and eliminating redundancy/unnecessary work.
• Cited in The Wall Street Journal in 1996 for his work with Tom Peters and Mike Hammer on re-engineering, empowerment and involvement.
• Served as a member of the adjunct faculty at the University of New Mexico, University of Virginia, Darden Business School and University of Japan. (Several case studies on Don’s work are used at the Darden School and his work is referenced in several textbooks.)
• Received the Optimus Award from Workforce magazine for his efforts in developing HR organizations into true business partners in 1997.
• Coached and developed two business leaders who were identified by FORTUNE magazine two of “the most powerful women in business.”
• Appointed by the governor to a 4-year term on the Virginia Workforce Council in 2001.
• Joined Intuit to start up and grow its payroll business and build an HR team.
• Elected to the BOD of the Economic Development Authority of Western Nevada in 2004.
• Partnered with a number of different organizations, agencies and consulting groups, including The Creative Management Group, DeLaPorte and Associates, Falls River Consulting, Central Intelligence Agency, City of Charlottesville, University of Japan, University of Virginia and University of Reno.
________________________________________
As you would expect of the former VP of HR for a Fortune 10 corporation, Don is a well-rounded HR professional. He’s also a pioneer in the arena of Vision Powered Management and Leadership Effectiveness, having led numerous successful efforts under the umbrella of VPM, resulting in major impacts to both the bottom line and employee satisfaction. Working with Don is not only a pleasure, it is tremendous fun. After a day with him, you know the definition of WOW. - Marybeth Sullivan-Rose, Vice President, Rose & Crown Consulting
Don is the type of HR person every company wishes it had – and because most companies don't, Don has a successful, sought-after consulting practice. His business acumen, people skills and HR experience allow him to approach organizational challenges with a depth of knowledge few individuals possess in this field. He's a great listener and coach, and I’d strongly recommend him to any individual or company who wants to hire the best.
- Kristin Tetreault, SVP of Communications & Organization Effectiveness at Clayton Holdings, Inc.
Through his Vision Powered Management program of employee empowerment, teamwork and elimination of unnecessary tasks, Don has a unique style of being able to engage people and get them to look at things differently. His program drove significant improvement in employee productivity that translated into improved earnings. In my consulting business, I frequently talk with clients about using Don’s approach – they love it!
- Lisa Just - Partner, Consortium for Human Strategies in Richmond, VA
As an accomplished cosmetic surgeon, I found that surgery was a strength – but managing an office and dealing with employees was not. My residency taught me to surround myself with smart people who have expertise in other areas so that the patient can get the best care. So when it came to hiring staff, setting up systems and training my team, I did just that with Don Borwhat and Creative Human Resource Solutions. He is a man of high intellect and ethics, and his guidance was paramount through the toughest (building) years of my practice. - Jagdev S. Heir, MD, DMD
