Cathy Cook, SPHR
**** ****** ******* ******* | Providence Forge, VA 23140 | 804-***-**** | ********@*****.***
OBJECTIVE
Experience and dedicated HR Director with over 16 years of experience and expertise in employee
development, administration, records management, and legal compliance, seeking a position to utilize
management skills to develop HR departments within start-up and established businesses.
AREAS OF EXCELLENCE
Regulatory Compliance Project Management Training and Development
Policy & Procedure Development Talent Management Payroll & Benefits
Outreach/Program Development
EXPERIENCE
Human Resource Director – C & F Enterprises, Inc., Newport News, VA December 2011 – Present
o Initiated a full start-up of HR practices within the company
o Ensured that HR practices include compliance, payroll, benefits administration, progressive
discipline, grievance procedures, exit interviews, terminations, hiring, on-boarding and
performance incentives to ensure employee productivity and satisfaction
o Added key positions within the company such as marketing manager, e-commerce, web
developer, warehouse management, key account sales, creative positions and creative director.
o Work with department heads to create a positive work environment through recruitment which
best helped the department to grow and succeed
o Created a handbook to guide employees on training concerning management, harassment,
diversity, and workplace etiquette.
o 100% success rate in VEC cases and EEO
o Pulled company into complete compliance with state, federal, DOL and OSHA regulations.
o Developed health and safety assessments and committees to ensure a safe, working environment.
o Began smoking cessation program with a 92% success rate
o Open enrollment for all insurances including medical, dental, life, voluntary benefits and 401k
o Aided merger and acquisition of additional company with informational meetings
o All event coordination to include Holiday Parties, Anniversary parties, Health Fair, Wellness
o Programs used: Microsoft Office, Paycom and Oracle
Human Resource Director – Evergreen Enterprises, Inc., Richmond, VA August 2005 – September
2011
o Attained 99% win rate in national unemployment claims with only one loss in six years.
o Achieved a voluntary turnover rate of 1%.
o Initiated a safety committee, which lowered accidents by 85% in the first year.
o Developed recycling program to reduce waste by 64%.
o Oversaw an employee roster of over 400 people requiring benefits administration, 401k
administrations, Cobra administration, and workers’ compensation.
o Oversaw administration of FMLA, ADA, FLSA Affirmative Action, I-9 maintenance, and EEO.
o EEO mediations and represent company in hearings
o Designed and implemented online application and procedures to fill over 200 open positions
across various departments.
o Key Accounts such as Stein Mart, Ross, Bed, Bath and Beyond, Tuesday Morning, and many
others needed help with set up for Showroom visits, travel, and entertaining.
o Developed outreach programs to recruit university students and other professionals through job
fairs.
o Trained staff in Excel and OSHA compliances, and re-drafted the outdated employee handbook,
as well as ensure all incentive programs maintained compliance with legal policies.
o Implemented new payroll and administration processes, and trained HR staff in these new
processes.
o Succession planning, terminations, exit interviews, hires, and on-boarding
o Implemented health and wellness programs, smoking cessation program (92% success rate)
orientation programs, performance reviews, and oversaw event planning.
o Established performance management system for Territory Sales Managers.
o Collaborated with corporate executive teams to design management training programs, sales
incentive initiatives, and morale.
o Aided in the merger and acquisition of Plow & Hearth, training associates, advising and setting
policies.
o Set and created both onsite and offsite Sales Meetings in the city and Atlanta and Las Vegas.
Created meeting details, meals, hotel accommodations, swag bags for each sales reps, banquets,
awards ceremonies and sales incentives.
o Programs used: Microsoft Office, ADP, Paychex, PeopleSoft and home-grown systems
HR Generalist/ Manager – BWI Manufacturing April 1996 – July 2005
o Created cost-efficient incentive and morale-boosting programs to increase employee satisfaction,
resulting in lower absentee rate, higher production figures and a happier workforce .
o Reduced billable hours from over 200 to 15 hours per week by recruiting outsourced positions to
in-house facilities.
o Developed a program to deflect unions, resulting in avoiding 6 organized attempts in the first
year.
o Trained management teams on conducting interview and assessments to make sound hiring
decisions.
o Developed disciplinary procedures and a tracking system to diminish legal risks and maintain
productive workflow.
o Redeveloped orientation programs to include HR and company resources information.
o Recruited over 250 positions in management, manufacturing, and plant operations at the start of
the business.
o Oversaw plant operations, safety programs and stepped in as Plant Manager when they were not
at facility.
o Created a HR grassroots programs to expand corporate objectives, and conceived several
innovative HR programs and initiatives to train employees and provide incentives.
o Outside of HR: Purchasing, A/R, A/P, credit approvals, and customer service
o Processed payroll, 401k’s, benefits administrations, and employee benefit programs.
o Programs used: Microsoft Office, ADP
Previous Experience
Office Administrator to Office & Human Resource Manager, Corman Construction
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Bachelor of Business in Business Administration (Honors), 1985 - Old Dominion University
Associate of Science in Occupational Safety & Health, 1996 - John Tyler Community College
FEMA Search and Rescue, 2000-2012
Aided in disasters such as 9/11, Hurricane Katrina, the earthquake in Haiti, Hurricane Issac and most
recently, Hurricane Sandy which was my last and final event with FEMA.
HR Designations:
PHR-VA (Professional in Human Resources with VA state-specific certification), 2000
PHR (Professional in Human Resources), 2001
SPHR designation, 2009
Affiliations:
Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM)
Society of Human Resources Management (VA & Norfolk)
Linked In: Recommendations and several endorsements
Personal:
Physical fitness is a high priority. Enjoy travel, cooking, bunco, festivals and animals.