Who We Are

Claire E. F. Knowles

Married to Richard N. Knowles, Ph.D., 1 daughter, 3 step-daughters, 5 step-grandchildre

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Human Resource Management Professional
Comprehensive 34 years experience in large manufacturing organization with Personnel Management, Labor Relations, Benefit Administration, Compensation, Administrative Services, Contract Administration,  Purchasing, Traffic/Shipping, Training & Development,
Safety, Health & Environmental Services.  Adept at communicating and dealing with people: Principle-based Management; Contract Bargaining; Certified in Mediation; Certified Personal and Life Coach. Particularly strong in women’s issues. Passionate communicator/workshop presenter and author of numerous newsletters and published articles.

Education  
Empire State College (SUNY) -  B.S.  Business, Management & Economics  
Concentration: Human Resource Management. & Labor Relations		 1993
   

Certifications

  
  • Certified Personal/Executive Coach – National Institute for Clinical Application of Behavioral Medicine (NICAMB) 
  • Dispute Resolution/Mediation – Better Business Bureau – for internal application within DuPont Company
  • OSHA Certified Trainer – OSHA #501 Voluntary Compliance Safety & Health
  • OSHA 1910 Process Safety Management – Certified Internal Auditor – administrative compliance – DuPont Company
  • ISO 9000 Quality Standards  (Internal Auditor – DuPont Company)
  • Dale Carnegie Course Certification
  • Certified Professional Secretary® Certification – International Assn. of Administrative Professionals
   
Professional Experience  

Subcontractor – AmTrust North America Insurance Company

  
Small Business Workers Compensation/Safety Compliance Auditor 2006 - Present
Buffalo Niagara Partnership – Women to Women Mentoring Program 2006 - Present

Creator/Owner of Lights On and Lights On Workshops

 2004 – Present

Co-Founder and Director of The Center for Self-Organizing Leadership, Inc

2003 – Present
Independent Consultant – Richard N. Knowles & Associates, Inc and Partner in The SOLiance Group 

2000 - Present
One of three-member HR Advisory Group to Personnel Manager, Municipal Government – City of Niagara Falls, NY

2002 – 2006

E. I. DuPont de Nemours & Company, Inc.
(Niagara Falls and Buffalo, NY manufacturing facilities)

  • Switchboard Operator
  • Stenographer
  • Secretary (Electronics Research & Technology)
  • Personnel Administrator
  • Employee Relations Supervisor
  • Employee Relations Senior Supervisor
  • Labor Relations Senior Supervisor
  • Training & Development Supervisor – Joint venture –
    (DuPont/Olin) Niachlor Start-up
  • Human Resources /Labor Relations Manager
  • Human Resources/Administrative Services
  • Superintendent includingSafety/Health/Environmental, Medical, Purchasing
 1966 – 2000

Zonta Club – Niagara Falls, NY
(Chairperson – Status of Women Committee)

 1980 – 1990
Board Member – United Way of Niagara
(Chairperson – Personnel Committee)		 1978 - 1984
Member, HR/Local Business Advisory Group
Business Studies – Curriculum
Niagara County Community College		 1978 - 1982

Awards and Recognition

December 2012

Claire Knowles' held a successful Amazon book launch for her book, "Lights On!..A Reflective Journey" resulting in "best seller status."

Lights On!, by best-selling-author, Claire Knowles is now available in Kindle version and Amazon books

Testimonials

"Claire--I want to say how much I enjoyed our session on Thursday. It renewed my energy and appreciation for working here at this place, at this time and with these people. I especially liked the range of tones you can use to get your point across, from fun and silly to dead serious...on the topic of discussing personnel issues with each other. You are a terrific trainer! Onward!"

~ Staff Leadership Interaction, Wellspring House