The National Public Employer Labor Relations Association (NPELRA) recently honored Jerry Keating of the Regional Transportation Commission of Southern Nevada (RTC) with its 2013 Award of Excellence for his outstanding career contributions.
NPELRA selected Keating, who serves as the RTC’s assistant general manager and chief human resources officer, for his commitment to fostering a culture at the RTC where employees feel valued and for his ability to develop collaborative relationships with unions leading to successful negotiations and grievances being resolved.
“Jerry Keating has been an integral member and true leader of the RTC staff for many years,” stated RTC Board Chairman and Clark County Commissioner Larry Brown. “His knowledge, personality and diverse human relations skills have proven to be invaluable traits to the RTC and have helped to recruit and retain one of the most productive, efficient and effective workforces in Southern Nevada.”
Keating joined the RTC in 2006 and is responsible for directing and coordinating the 250-plus person RTC staff and all programs affiliated with the agency’s Human Resources, Benefits, Risk Management, Information Technology, Safety and Security, and Facilities Management departments. Under his leadership, the RTC works proactively with the labor union to resolve employee issues, creating a transparent process that minimizes grievances and allows for labor relations to be productive.
One of Keating’s most notable career accomplishments was his integral role in the transition of the RTC from a Clark County agency to a multijurisdictional entity. Keating successfully created a cohesive staff during the transition by building trust, respect and a new culture through his style of managing by walking around to engage staff members.
Keating also has implemented strategies and resources that have saved the RTC more than $200,000 annually. He continues to enhance the RTC’s information technology (IT) efforts, improve customer relations and establish a high-performance working environment.
Only one Award of Excellence is presented each year. The national award represents NPELRA’s highest acknowledgement of the recipient’s professional efforts of demonstrating creative and innovative leadership over an extended period of time.
“The nominations for this prestigious award were reviewed by a cross section of NPELRA peers, and Jerry was selected based on his unparalleled dedication and significant contributions to our standards of excellence during his 20-plus years as a human resources and labor relations professional,” said Michele Green, NPLERA awards committee chair.
During his career, Keating has also become actively involved in numerous professional organizations, including the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM), the Association of Training and Development (ASTD), the Nevada Public Employers Association (NvPELRA), the Southern Nevada Public Management Association (SNIPMA) and the American Arbitration Association (AAA). Keating has also obtained his designation as a Certified Professional in Human Resources from the International Public Management Association (IPMA) and was appointed to the Nevada Homeland Security Working Group.
