George Raine, CHRP, is President of Montana HR Services Inc.
In his company’s first year of operation, George won the 2004 ACHRA for Excellence in Human Resources, having been nominated by a client, Irving Personal Care Limited. George handled all hourly recruitment in Canada and the US for this state of the art diaper manufacturer, developed their HR policies, trained their managers, and designed and implemented a flexible work system that governed the training, progression, and compensation of all manufacturing personnel and produced one of the nest examples of a high morale, high engagement workforces in the Maritimes.
Since then, Montana has grown its client list to more than 40 organizations in New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island, Ontario, Manitoba, Massachusetts, New York, and New Jersey.
These clients include many manufacturing and high-tech firms, government agencies, the Canadian Department of National Defence, a university, and even a trade union.
George was previously employed for six years as Corporate Vice President of Human Resources for the large and diverse Irving Group of Companies, with responsibilities for human resources, including salary and compensation programs, in such companies as Irving Tissue, Cavendish Farms, Cavendish Agri Services, and Midland Transport, together with their US affiliate companies.
George formerly worked within the Nova Scotia Department of Health, responsible for the employee and labour relations aspect of health care reform in the mid 1990’s. Prior to that he headed the HR function for Frigidaire Canada Ltd. and held a number of HR and Labour Relations management roles with Canada’s largest steelmaker, Stelco Inc.
Widely considered one of eastern Canada’s most accomplished human resources professionals, Mr. Raine’s 30-year career has included the founding of the Canadian Council of Human Resources Associations [CCHRA], Canada’s largest HR association.
As founding President of CCHRA, George developed a partnership with the Federal Government to establish the unified national standard for the Certified Human Resources Professional [CHRP] designation, and the Essential Skills Profile for human resources practitioners. George was co-authored of CCHRA’s Required Capabilities Profile, a detailed analysis of the roles and requirements of HR professional, which is the foundation for CHRP requirements. The Required Capabilities Profile has been used as a benchmarking tool internationally.
Expert at guiding unionized employers to high morale, George discounts the existence of a union as an excuse to maintain the status quo. His labour relations experience includes extensive collective bargaining experience as well as a 95% success rate at arbitration. He has been a guest lecturer at NBCC, NSCC, Dalhousie University [Henson College], St. Mary’s University [MBA program], University of New Brunswick [MBA Program], Mount Allison University [BBA Program] and UNBSJ [BBA – Business Law].
He is frequently sought after to lead seminars and panels for conferences in human resources and labour relations.
He is creator of the Turnaround Interview® the only leadership tool specifically designed to correct behaviour without discipline, and specifically designed as a part of a high morale turnaround!
George holds a BA from Queen’s University and is a former officer in the Canadian Forces. As such, he has received extensive leadership and morale training through Canadian Forces leadership and staff courses, including courses in adult instruction.
Geordie joined Montana HR Services Inc. in 2008 after having spent nearly 10 years as an educator at the post-secondary and secondary levels.