Alison Eckels
860-***-**** acgcjl@r.postjobfree.com
SUMMARY
Influential Human Resource Generalist able to devise, lead and execute HR initiatives, projects and processes in
direct support of business objectives and performance improvement. Notable talent in developing long-term
relationships by earning the trust and confidence of Executive Leaders and clients. Record of achievement in
full-cycle recruiting using a consultative, strategic approach in capturing and managing top talent. H igh
performing, collaborative, results oriented, tacit decision maker who can capture, select, employ and consult top
talent for performance and retention in professional & executive workforces. Highly adaptable across an array of
industries including: Financial Services, Information Technology, Sports Media/Entertainment, Manufacturing,
Healthcare and hospitality with a mission to create “best in class” talent attraction and management to secure a
diverse workforce in step with business strategies.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Project & Program Management Strategic/Tactical Planning Staffing Service Delivery Models Relationship
Change Management Leadership Effectiveness and Vendor Management
Full Life Cycle Recruiting Recruitment & Performance Metrics Branding and Candidate Experience
Talent Needs Analysis HRIS and ATS Technologies Competitive Intelligence
Social Media Strategies Diversity & Inclusion Programs On-boarding & Assimilation
Benefits & Compensation CRM, ATS Performance Management
360 Degree Feedback Certified Analysis and Reporting Referral Program
Employee Relations EEOC, OFCCP Proposal Generation
COMPETITIVE OVERVIEW
Client Relationship Management – Reputation for strong, sustained relationships with internal clients,
independent representatives, HR business partners to facilitate recruiting, assimilation, growth and retention.
Previous HR business partner
Hiring – 85% drop in recruiting costs – from $9M to $1.5M. Drove start-up to filling a record number (1,600)
of new positions by executing initiatives that attracted top tier talent while building structure, staff, processes
and systems. Championed dynamic enterprise-wide centralized staffing initiative, outsourcing and change
management strategy. Established respected Executive Search & Recruiting function resulting in: 43 hires
(75% without search firms/agencies) and 23 executive searches within a five month period including hiring for
CFO, CIO, COO, and Board of Directors positions.
Recruiting and staffing background – Designed groundbreaking platform whereby pre-screened
executives, professionals and college graduates were exposed to a round-robin interview cycle of hiring
managers thereby truncating a lengthy decision making process into a single event with immediate feedback.
This method filled 25 – 30 open positions in one evening at several companies cutting recruiting costs and
duration by 70%.
Executive Career Coach – Provided one on one, strategic career coaching. Assessed internal clients’
professional talents and ambitions to see how those talents could be best utilized to improve organizational
effectiveness and profitability.
Awards & Recognition – Three times recognized by “C” level as a trusted “go to” HR advisor for all HR
matters concerning their businesses.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
Executive Consulting/Search Projects: 2008 – present
Major assignments for: ESPN, Walt Disney ABC Television Group – NYC / Aetna, Smith & Wesson, Davis-
Standard and Starwood Hotels and Resorts.
Consultant with the ability to flex across different industries. Multi-specialist in project management, executive
recruiting with full cycle recruiting; process expertise; outplacement consulting; search firm, IT, manufacturing,
digital media and healthcare hiring.
• Global Talent Acquisition Leader for Davis-Standard. Top graded engineers and established a new
college relations program for engineers.
• Project-led a major corporate initiative involving the hiring of all executive and professional level
candidates when ESPN The Magazine moved its location from NYC to Bristol, CT. Following the loss of
50% of staff, hired and on-boarded over 46 professionals without the use of agencies, resulting in a
seamless transition. Initiated Creative Director Search for all of ESPN Digital and Content. Hired Human
Resource Business Partners and Business Analytics professionals.
• Led Staffing & Recruiting for Smith & Wesson. Established strategic hiring practices for all salaried
positions including the new enterprise resource planning “Project Genesis.” Positions filled include SAP
MM, SAP, Basis, SAP FICO, SAP Security, Buyers, Counsel, Inventory Control and Engineering.
MassMutual, Springfield, MA 2006 – 2007
AVP Talent Management & Corporate Staffing Leader
Directed Talent Acquisition staff of 30, for an organization of 6,500 employees and $33.4B assets under
management. Managed corporate staffing with accountability for all hiring at Corporate Headquarters.
Lead recruiter for professional and executive level positions corporate-wide. Effectively managed a record
number of positions, 1,600 while rebuilding structure, staff, processes, systems, SLA’s, metrics and reporting.
• Established respected Executive Search & Recruiting function resulting in 43 hires (75% without
search firms/agencies) and 23 executive searches within a five month period including hiring for CFO,
CIO, COO, and Board of Directors positions.
• Aggressively managed $3.4M budget and all expenses associated with employment including all
staffing vendors, relocation, agency spend and contingent workforce. Achieved savings of $165,000 by
renegotiating relocation vendor; reduced number of search firms under contract from 75 to 42; and
reduced agency spend of $3.8M to $2.9M in 2006.
Citigroup Inc., (Travelers Life & Annuity)/MetLife, Hartford, CT 2002 – 2006
Director of TL&A Staffing for Citigroup Investments and Insurance (International/Corporate) and Director of
Executive Recruiting for MetLife
Directed staffing function at 3,000 employee headquarters including all aspects of recruiting: executive,
professional, technical, non-exempt, temporary, college and intern hiring. Managed relationships with executive
recruiting agencies; negotiated and managed fee and contract process; served as central point of contact for
contingency searches.
• Following Travelers Property Casualty spin-off, developed staffing strategies and start-up
employment infrastructure. Established internal and external candidate procedures; developed workflow
and employment opportunity content on company websites; utilized behavioral interviewing techniques,
behavioral skill analyzer, and interview evaluation forms in all hiring decisions.
• Key-contributor to enterprise-wide centralized staffing initiative and change management strategy.
Accountable for reducing recruitment costs by 75 - 85% from $9 M to $1.5 M through innovative recruiting
programs and costs containment efforts while maintaining quality of recruitment.
• Established Recruiter performance standards, staffing metrics and reporting, including time-to-fill
and new hire quality; developed and implemented customer satisfaction surveys for both managers and
new hires. Results: 84% of requisitions filled within 90 days and overall Staffing satisfaction surveys
indicated 95% satisfaction rating from Hiring Managers and new hires.
Hartford Life (HLI), Simsbury, CT 1998 – 2002
Assistant Director, Human Resources, Information Technology
Aetna Inc., Hartford, CT 1988 – 1998
Human Resource and Employee Relations Consultant
EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
BA, English, Regis College, Weston, MA
Cornell University, School of Industrial & Labor Relations, New York, NY
Planning & Facilitation Organizational Change; Internal Consulting Skills for HR Professionals
Greystone 360 Degree Review Process, Practitioner and Master Trainer, Greystone, Inc.
Life & Health License, 2009