About Reflect Excellence
Reflect Excellence LLC was founded in 2021 for the express purpose of elevating the confidence, performance, and appreciation of local governments, their departments, and their employees.
By applying 70 plus years of non-profit and local government experience through the lens of the Baldrige Excellence Framework, Reflect Excellence is poised to provide a mirror to local government operations. Thus, allowing leaders to see and appreciate the strength of their people, strategies, and operations and target those strengths to accomplish even more for the public they serve.
Ellen has extensive leadership and managerial expertise in Human Resources that includes employee relations and cultural diversity, labor relations, job classification & compensation, employee recruitment and selection, benefit administration, employee safety & wellness, talent development services, human resource policy, processes and system design, workforce planning and performance management, employee engagement initiatives, and management support to chief administrators and councils. She led her department’s multi- year effort to achieve the prestigious Sterling Performance Excellence recognition. Under her leadership, her department was selected as the winner of Nation’s Best & Brightest in Wellness award from National Association for Business Resources for three consecutive years (2020, 2021, & 2022) for wellness excellence programs.
Prior to becoming part of Reflect Excellence, LLC as a HR consultant, Ellen worked for the City of Tallahassee, Florida from December 2013 through March 2023 as Director, Human Resources and Workforce Development providing centralized human resources management for all City departments. During her tenure with the city, she provided leadership and strategic direction to a centralized human resources department serving 23 city departments, six quasi-municipal entities and 3,800 employees. She brings 25 years of leadership and management experience in the public and private sectors in human resources and public sector labor relations.
While working as HR director for several municipalities in Maine, she also served as vice-chair of the Maine Municipal Employees Health Trust, a fully funded, self-insured health trust with assets exceeding $54 million and serving over 450 public entities in Maine and providing benefits to over 19,000 employees and their families. Ellen was also responsible for the human resources related components of the merger of two public utility districts that required bringing together unionized and nonunion employees into one comprehensive plan and unified human resources policies.
Ellen holds an MBA in Human Resource Management and professional certifications as Senior Professional in Human Resources (SPHR), Certified Labor Relations Professional (CLRP) and Master Certificate of Leadership from the International City/County Management Association. Ellen is an active member of the Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM) and the Florida Public Employees Labor Relations Association (FPELRA). Ellen served on the Board of Directors of FPELRA since 2015, including a term as its Board President.
Ellen can be reached directly at Ellen.Blair@ReflectExcellence.com or 207-641-3041
Gordon Klein is an accomplished public servant with a wealth of experience and expertise spanning various disciplines, including entrepreneurship, accounting, advertising, budgeting, economic development, finance, information technology, internal audit, leadership development, management, process improvement, and training. With over 35 years of experience in local government, Gordon has made significant contributions to public service, both as a team lead examiner for Baldrige-based award applications and as the founder and CEO of Reflect Excellence LLC, a specialized consulting firm.
Throughout Gordon’s career, he has demonstrated a remarkable ability to apply the principles of the Baldrige Excellence Framework to elevate the performance and effectiveness of local governments and their departments. His unique perspective and keen insights enable leaders to uncover and leverage the strengths of their organizations, resulting in greater accomplishments for the communities they serve.
As a sought-after speaker and instructor, Gordon shares his expertise on numerous topics, drawing on his international teaching experience and his role as a senior instructor for prestigious institutions. He has also served as a lead Sterling examiner for the Florida Sterling Council, evaluating organizations seeking recognition as role models of excellence. Through their engaging presentations and training sessions, Gordon inspires and empowers individuals and organizations to achieve their highest potential in public service.
Gordon can be reached directly at Gordon.Klein@ReflectExcellence.com or 850-509-0809.
Brian Smatt is an accomplished and results-driven HR professional with a proven track record of successfully leading and executing strategic initiatives. With a passion for employee engagement and development, he has played a pivotal role in transforming workplaces and fostering positive organizational cultures through various programs that includes wellness, training and organizational development and rewards and recognition. Throughout his career, Brian has consistently demonstrated exceptional leadership, project management, and team-building skills.
Prior to becoming part of Reflect Excellence, LLC as a Employee Engagement consultant, Brian worked for the City of Tallahassee, Florida for over 17 years in various capacities. During his early part of his time with the city, he provided program management for the Parks and Recreation Department before transitioning to HR. While in HR, he developed new initiatives for the wellness program and placing a higher commitment to employee well-being. His commitment to employee well-being and his ability to identify health trends positively impacted employee productivity and contributed to lowering healthcare costs for the city.
Recently, he skillfully managed the recruitment and engagement division. Under his guidance, the city’s recruitment efforts were optimized, resulting in reduced time to fill positions and an increased focus on local talent sourcing through colleges, universities, trade schools, and career fairs. Moreover, he played a key role in enhancing employee satisfaction, achieving an impressive 79% rating in the employee satisfaction survey. Additionally, he managed various programs such as health and wellness initiatives, internships, training and organizational development, tuition reimbursement, and rewards and recognition programs.
Brian’s dedication to professional development is evident through his various certifications, including SHRM-CP (Society of Human Resource Management) and Certified Public Manager from the FSU School of Public Policy. He is a Certified Red Cross CPR/AED and First Aid Instructor and actively involved with several local professional associations as a Board Member with Big Bend SHRM and Working Well.
Brian can be reached directly at Brian.Smatt@ReflectExcellence.com or 850-322-0894
