Our Team
Mark B. Portnoy - President
mbportnoy@pmphr.com
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As President, Mark is responsible for overseeing the development of PMP’s human resource and labor relations initiatives. With his vast experience in these areas Mark is able to provide guidance and leadership to PMP’s team of experts that ensure PMP’s continued success in providing excellent service to its clients. PMP’s clients have come to rely on our team approach, and our unique combination of expert consultants that have been able to provide timely, practical and effective advice and assistance.
Mark has been a labor relations and human resource consultant with the firm since 1975. He has over 30 years experience representing companies in all aspects of labor relations, including union elections and representation hearings, grievance meetings, and arbitration hearings and has acted as the chief spokesperson in hundreds of collective bargaining negotiations. Mark has worked with various industries in the public and private sector; among them are transportation, defense, communications, retail, municipalities, publishing, manufacturing and service industries throughout the United States and on special assignments overseas. Mark has negotiated with all of the major and many of the smaller unions throughout the country including the UAW, SEIU, Teamsters, IAM, CWA, UNITE and many others.
Additionally, Mark continues to participate in nearly all aspects of PMP’s services including training, representation at federal, state and local agencies as well as providing daily counseling both on and off site, on a wide variety of human resource related topics.
Mark earned his B.A. from the University of Rochester in New York and PhD at the University of Calgary.
Alan B. Pearl - Chief Operating Officer & General Counsel
abpearl@pmphr.com
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Alan began his career as a labor attorney representing unions. Since 1976, he has represented management clients as both a consultant and in a legal capacity. He is a practicing trial attorney and the principal partner in Alan B. Pearl & Associates, P.C.
A graduate of Adelphi University and Brooklyn Law School, Alan has participated in the "Lawyer in the Classroom" program sponsored by the Nassau County Bar Association and is a frequent lecturer to groups and businesses on discrimination and employment law matters in the workplace. His articles on labor and employment issues appear regularly in numerous trade periodicals such as in the heating, air-conditioning and restaurant industries. Additionally, Alan contributes articles to various chambers of commerce publications.
Alan represents management in all aspects of labor and employment matters in the private and public sector, including regulatory compliance under FMLA, OSHA, FLSA, Title VII, ADA, and ADEA. Alan regularly appears on behalf of clients before federal and state regulatory agencies, including the NLRB, EEOC, NYSDHR, and their state counterparts throughout the country.
He trains management in the full panoply of labor and employment laws and regulations.
Grace M. Conti - Executive Vice President
gconti@pmphr.com
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Grace, Executive Vice President of PMP, has been with the firm since 1993. She holds a degree in Human Resources/Labor Relations from the State University of New York and has also taken courses at Cornell University.
Ms. Conti is perhaps best known for her expertise in Affirmative Action rules and regulations. Grace works closely with clients in developing affirmative action plans, as well as preparing for difficult affirmative action audits. Often called the "Affirmative Action guru" by her clients, she is proud of her exceptional record of successful OFCCP audits. Her thorough knowledge and experience of the intricacies of Affirmative Action regulations has made her a nationally recognized Affirmative Action specialist. Her clients come from a variety of industries including aerospace and/or aviation, communications, manufacturing and various service industries.
Grace guides and assists clients in complying with federal and state regulations affecting employers. She trains supervisors in all aspects of employer/employee issues, and Grace works with companies that need to establish, restructure or out-source human resource functions. Ms Conti’s background, experience and collaborative style helps clients develop a solid HR infrastructure to diminish exposure to litigation, reduce turnover and improve the company’s bottom line.
In 2008, Grace was a recipient of the Long Island Center for Business and Professional Women’s prestigious Achievers’ Award. Grace was recently elected Co-Chair of the Long Island ILG. She represents PMP at various business and community events including those sponsored by the HIA and IMA as well as at the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM).
Gina Ianne Grath, Esq. - Labor and Employment Consultant
ggrath@pmphr.com
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Ms. Grath received a Bachelor of Arts in Government from Manhattan College in 2000, and a Juris Doctor from Hofstra University in 2003. Since her admission to the New York bar in 2004, Ms. Grath has practiced exclusively in the field of labor and employment law. In addition to litigating employment and related matters in the state and federal courts, Ms. Grath regularly provides advice and counsel to human resources and management professionals on all types of workplace law issues, including discrimination, fair employment practice matters, and wage and hour compliance. Ms. Grath also represents employers in administrative proceedings brought before the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission, the New York State Division of Human Rights, and the National Labor Relations Board, among others.
Ms. Grath is a member of the Suffolk County and New York State Bar Associations. A regular speaker on various subjects, Ms. Grath’s recent seminars have covered such topics as wage and hour laws, privacy in the workplace, the FMLA, and ADA.
Barbara DeMatteo - Director of HR Consulting
bdematteo@pmphr.com
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Barbara DeMatteo is a highly effective and accomplished professional whose Human Resources experience spans almost 30 years.
In supporting businesses in varied industries across the United States, Barbara has developed her strengths in employment regulations, employee relations, interviewing, training and coaching supervisors and managers. Barbara acts in the capacity of a company's outsourced HR function in writing and revising employee handbooks, writing job descriptions, developing and implementing performance management programs, providing guidance on the most effective way to handle employee situations and nurturing HR professionals through on site mentoring.
Working with all levels of management teams, she is continuously called upon to develop and deliver training program continuums and individual coaching sessions that focus on developing ‘Managers of Process’ into more valuable ‘Managers of People’. Using her experience and background to build on the development of solid HR infrastructures, she works with management teams to focus on their most important asset, the right employees.
Barbara is rewarded with the consistent positive feedback she receives from attendees in her management training sessions. ‘The best trainer I ever had’ is a succinct summary of the majority of training class responses. Her reputation in companies makes her a sought after trainer, coach and facilitator. She is quite proud of continuously being invited to return to companies to build on her work to develop the talents of management teams.
Barbara's educational background includes a Bachelor's Degree in Criminal Justice from St. John's University and a professional designation from the American Compensation Association. She is a certified DiSC® trainer and she serves on a number of community organization committees.
Rita DiStefano - Director of HR Consulting
rdistefano@pmphr.com
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Rita DiStefano joined PMP in 2005 after working for a large global company for over 20 years overseeing HR for their Nassau and Suffolk County locations. During her tenure, she gained expertise in the field of recruitment, training, benefits, employee relations, performance management and compensation.
Rita currently offers clients her expertise with policy development, interactive management training, job descriptions, compensation analysis; she provides guidance on Employee Handbooks, developing and implementing performance management programs, employee relations, recruiting, discipline and termination. Where no HR department exists, Rita provides on-site HR services or augments clients' HR department with either on-site or off-site support.
Since 2001, Rita has been a member of the Board of Directors of the Hauppauge Industrial Association, also serving on their Executive Board as First Vice Chair and liaison to the HIA-LI Health Care Committee. Rita has also served as Chair of the Suffolk County Workforce Investment Board for four years after receiving an appointment for that position from Suffolk County Executive Steve Levy.
Rita was honored to receive an award from the Long Island Works Coalition for her vision and dedication to the collaboration of business and education along with State recognition for her internship programs. She is the past Chair of the C.W. Post Employee Advisory Board.
Rita was recently honored by the HIA-LI at a gala for “Those Who Make a Difference.”
Maureen Bradley - Affirmative Action/HR Consultant
mbradley@pmphr.com
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Maureen graduated from Molloy College with a degree in Mathematics & Computer Science. Her primary focus at PMP is assisting clients in the development and maintenance of Affirmative Action Plans. She analyzes all employee data before submission for Department of Labor OFCCP audits. She encourages clients to be proactive in conducting compensation analyses and, where needed, regression analysis so adjustments can be made before it becomes a serious problem during the audits.
Mary Simmons - HR Consultant
msimmons@pmphr.com
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Mary Simmons is a Strategic Human Resource Professional with 25 years of experience partnering with companies in various industries to achieve success through formulating cost-effective human capital strategies that align with organizational goals. She was a Trainer and HR Generalist for a large retailer and then joined a major financial institution for 16 years as a HR Generalist and Senior Recruiter. Mary has also worked for a global provider of outplacement as a Career Counselor and Employment/ Business Liaison.
She proactively partners with all levels of management to attain positive business results as well as solid, progressive HR policies and procedures. Mary brings a strong foundation in HR fundamentals, personalized Talent Acquisition, creating results oriented training and employee relations.
Mary graduated from University of Delaware with a Bachelor's degree in Human Resources. She is currently a committee member of the NAMC and a member of the Long Island HR Networking Group.
Susan Ghim, Esq. - Labor and Employment Consultant
sghim@pmphr.com
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Susan Ghim, a 2001 graduate of St. John’s University School of Law, was admitted to the New York State Bar in 2002. Ms. Ghim began her career in labor and employment law as a union-side labor attorney involved in arbitrations, federal court litigation and National Labor Relations Board proceedings. Since 2008, Ms. Ghim represents employers in various state and federal court cases involving NYLL, FLSA, Title VII , NYSHRL and commercial matters . Ms. Ghim also represents employers before the New YorK State and United States Department of Labor, the National Labor Relations Board and the Equal Employment Opportunity Commission. Additionally, Ms. Ghim provides consultation and advice to employers regarding labor and employment issues.