Nexstar Makes HR, Labor Relations Appointments

Nexstar Media Group announced today that Terri Lynn Bush has been promoted to the new position of associate counsel and SVP, human resources. Since 2015, Bush has been the company’s associate counsel and VP of human resources. The appointment is effective immediately and Bush will continue to report to Elizabeth Ryder, EVP and general counsel.

Nexstar also announced that Charles W. “Chuck” Pautsch has been appointed to the newly created position of associate counsel and VP of labor and employment relations. He Pautsch will assume his new role immediately and will report directly to Bush.

Nexstar said the personnel changes reflect Nexstar’s “focus on human resources and employee relations and the company’s commitment to driving operational excellence, talent development and a positive corporate culture to support the company’s continued growth.”

A human resources and labor relations leader, Bush joined Nexstar in 2010 as associate counsel and human resources director before being elevated to VP in 2015. During her tenure, she has served as an integral member of the senior management team and has been instrumental in developing Nexstar’s human resources strategy that aligns the company’s long-term operating goals with ongoing employee success.

In her new role, Bush will be responsible for advancing Nexstar’s best practices in human resource management and delivering enhanced employee and leadership development services to improve organizational effectiveness. She will also continue to oversee all of Nexstar’s human resources functions including talent recruitment, personnel management and training; employee and labor relations; compensation; compliance and organizational development as well as facilitating a positive, collaborative, respectful and productive workplace environment for all employees.

Prior to joining Nexstar, from 2000 to 2010 Bush served in human resources leadership roles at Rosewood Hotels & Resorts and Harrah’s Entertainment. From 1997 to 2000, she was corporate counsel for Southern States Gas & Oil, a publicly traded energy holding company.

She began her career as an indigent defender in Bossier Parish, La., and then as an assistant district attorney in Caddo Parish, La. Bush earned a B.A. in history from Louisiana State University and earned her J.D. from LSU’s Paul M. Hebert Law Center.

Pautsch is a seasoned attorney with a long career practicing labor and employment law as partner in several national law firms. He brings a broad range of legal and labor relations expertise to Nexstar and will be responsible for the company’s human resources and employment relations affairs including collective bargaining agreements, contract negotiations, supervisory training, and administering labor-related policies and procedures, among other related legal matters.

Pautsch most recently was managing partner of Pautsch, Spognardi & Baiocchi Legal Group from 2014 to 2018 where he specialized in labor-management relations and employment law and represented employers, including Nexstar, across a broad range of industries.

Between 2008 and 2013 he served in several prominent positions at various distinguished legal firms including as partner and chair of labor and employment Law Group at Arnstein & Lehr; managing partner (Wisconsin Office) of Jackson Lewis; and managing partner (Wisconsin and Illinois Offices) of Constangy, Brooks & Smith.

Earlier, from 1988 to 2008 Pautsch was president and chair of litigation group at Wessels & Pautsch where he managed 22 attorneys across six offices throughout the Midwest.

Pautsch earned a B.S. (summa cum laude) in political science, history and English literature from North Central College and received his J.D. (magna cum laude) from the University of Illinois.