Knute Sorenson, Ph.D., VP – HR Consulting

Dr. Sorenson is an Executive HR Professional with more than 30 years experience with about ten years as a consultant. His expertise includes Business Improvement, Disaster Recovery, Quality Programs, Strategic Human Resource Management, Organizational Development, Human Performance Improvement, Succession Planning, Leadership Development, and Executive Coaching. Dr. Sorenson worked for major corporations, in the US, including such companies as Lee Ranch Coal Mine, Santa Fe Pacific Gold, Public Services Company of New Mexico (PNM), Lockheed-Martin, and Countrywide Mortgage. He is a Senior Consultant with MRC’s HR Consulting Group in Albuquerque, New Mexico. He holds a Ph.D. from the University of New Mexico in Organizational Learning, a M.A. from Webster University in Management and Human Resources Development, B.S. from the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology in Mathematics, and a B.S. from the New Mexico Institute of Mining & Technology in Computer Science.

Robert K. Schultz, President – The MRC Group of Companies

Robert founded MRC in 1984, and resides in Albuquerque, NM. As a working, hands-on President he has responsibility for the overall strategic direction, human capital and business objectives of The MRC Group of Companies. MRC provides highly focused and client centered consulting services in four (4) critical areas: Mining, Mineral & Chemical Search, Health, Safety and Environmental Search, HR Management Search and HR Business and Services Consulting. MRC's associates, now numbering over 20, are all seasoned professionals with extensive backgrounds in Mining, Human Resources and Consulting. Robert has provided executive search services for HR professionals across industry at all levels and senior level searches for mining industry clients, large and small, for about 30 years. Prior to 1977 Robert worked in Philadelphia with major corporations such as Bell Tel, Scott Paper, GE Aerospace, and several major banks as an administrator/program manager for the largest Employee Assistance Program (EAP) on the East coast. Robert received a B.A. in Psychology and Literature from Columbia University with post-graduate studies at The New School for Social Science and Research.

Jim Schutz, VP, HR Search Services

Jim has been with MRC corp. since the company was founded in 1984, and resides in Albuquerque, NM. He previously spent 15 years in corporate Human Resources with experience in the Engineering, International Construction/Mining and Nuclear Power industries, working in a variety of Human Resource Management and Staffing roles. In addition, he has extensive International Human Resource Management experience, both as an expatriate and on field assignments (UK, Greece, Netherlands, Saudi Arabia, New Zealand, Columbia, El Salvador, Thailand) as well as project assignments at numerous US locations (Alaska, Nevada, Texas, Indiana, Maryland, California, Louisiana). During his tenure with MRC, Jim has focused exclusively on Human Resource searches for a broad base of clients/industries, domestic and international, working across the entire range of Human Resource organizational levels and for both generalist and functional specialist positions. Jim leads the HR search group for MRC corp.

James Sanwick, Vice President – The MRC Group of Companies

James Sanwick joined MRC in 1998. He has over 30 years experience in both general management and as a HR executive. During his career he has worked in both the public and private sector in everything from start ups to large multinational companies, with a decade working for one of the world's largest mining conglomerates. He has also operated his own consulting group doing organization development for such diverse organizations as Dynegy, M&M Mars, Bay Area Rapid Transit, Eckerd Drugs, Johnson & Johnson and PE Biosystems. Although involved in HR and Mining for a large part of his career he has also worked in finance and venture capital, education, and business strategy and structure. James has worked with clients in the US, Canada, China, Mexico, Central America, the Caribbean and South Africa. James holds a Bachelor and Masters degree as well as numerous post graduate certifications in HR and management development processes. A well known speaker on the topics of high performance organizations, creativity and communications, James chaired the "High Performance Teams" seminars for a number of years for Clemson University. His biography has appeared in "Who's Who in America" and "Who's Who in the World." He works out of the Lake Tahoe office where his family has lived for the last eleven years.

Lindsey Schultz, Corporate VP – The MRC Group of Companies

Lindsey, has been working with MRC corp. for 7 years, she is the daughter of Robert Schultz, President & Founder of the MRC Group of Companies. She began her work at MRC as an HR Intern/Research Assistant, while attending the University of New Mexico full time in pursuit of a B.B.A. in Human Resources and Organizational Behavior. After graduating in 2005, Lindsey started working as an HR Search Consultant, addressing middle to senior level HR searches for companies such as: Verizon, Praxair, Chevron, Phelps Dodge, and others. Her HR search work embraces the full spectrum of HR disciplines for a wide array of clients/industries. In 2006, Lindsey moved to Phoenix, AZ to pursue an M.B.A. at Arizona State University and graduated in May 2008. Lindsey maintained full-time HR search responsibilities in addition to being trained to assume secondary responsibility for the overall operation and management of MRC Corp.

Paul Buckley, HR Consultant – HR Search Services

Paul Buckley has spent much of the last decade working in Human Resources and Labor Law administration for Missouri State Government. Most recently, Paul was the Director of the Missouri Division of Labor Standards where he oversaw the administration of the State’s employment laws and worked with employers across all industries to enhance compliance with federal and state wage and hour, child labor, immigration and occupational safety and health laws. Prior to his appointment, Paul worked for the State’s central administrative management office, most of that time serving as the State’s Chief Negotiator and Labor Relations Manager where he was responsible for negotiating and administering union contracts covering state workers. Paul has a broad HR Generalist background having led efforts to implement the state’s first comprehensive performance management system covering nearly 60,000 employees and has served as member of the Missouri’s Personnel Advisory Board, which is responsible for hearing and issuing decisions on disciplinary appeals from state workers. He has served as a trainer in organizational development and HRIS. Originally from Philadelphia, Paul obtained his degree in Business Administration from Ball State University in Muncie, IN and currently resides in Holts Summit, MO where he also serves as a City Councilman.

Sal Castillo, VP, Inter-Cultural Services – The MRC Group of Companies

Sal is a bilingual (English/Spanish) Human Resource Management professional with over twenty years broad based experience in the field and based in Dallas,TX. He has worked with a range of companies, from start-ups to multinationals and has significant experience with multi-plant, multi-city facilitates. Sal is a military veteran who has lived in Korea and Germany and has background in Industrial Security and Investigative Services. He has worked in a variety of industries including: steel foundry, housing materials, defense, industrial gases and technical geospatial mapping. Sal's generalist HR background includes; HR administration, compensation/benefits, employee/labor relations (chief spokesman at contract negotiations), and union free organization experience. His strong business acumen and focus towards cost effective and efficient business solutions has made him a champion of practical organizational effectiveness. Sal received a Masters in Human Resource Development at Central Texas University and a Bachelors of Science at University of Maryland. He has attended numerous labor/employee relations seminars including Cornell's NLRA Seminar. Sal's background and experience gives him a unique ability to help businesses maximize employee productivity and management skills within a multi-cultural, bilingual work environment.