HELEN LINDER, SPHR
** ******* ****, ********** ********, PA 19067
( Cell: 715-***-**** ( ************@*******.***
Relationship-building OD professional with strengths in HR start-ups and
sustainable change management that promotes lifelong learning, systems
transformations, talent development, team building, and succession
planning. Internal leadership consultant in union and non-union
manufacturing, consumer products, and mail-order companies.
Proactive HRD decision-maker with talent for re-engineering, training
development, and executive coaching for capacity building and
organizational growth. Experienced in HRIS and continuous-learning program
development.
VALUE OFFERED
? Leadership Development ? Transformation & Change Management ? Lean
Manufacturing
? Succession Planning ? Executive Coaching & Consolation ? Training &
Staff Development
? Strategic Planning ? Team Building & Staff Retention ? Employee &
Labor Relations
? Safety Teams & Training ? On-the-Job & Return-to-Work Programs ?
Performance Improvement
professional experience
CHARMING SHOPPES INC. 10/08/2001 to 7/12/2010
CATHERINES, Division of Charming Shoppes (CSI), Bensalem, PA 3/2/09 to
7/12/10
Retail Company specializing in plus size retail stores with 493 stores and
4,000 employees nationwide, 4 direct reports.
Vice President of Human Resources (promoted from Director of Fashion Bug)
. Provided strategic direction and lead the brand ELT in the development of
our 3 year strategic plan.
. Developed leadership training for brand "A" talent leadership to build
bench and retention.
. Lead the stores human resources for 493 stores in 48 states with ER,
recruitment, training employment law.
. Lead Culture change initiatives and Time Management initiatives for brand
to reducing the number of meetings and work load.
. Developed and Managed Budget for department which included total company
headcount/salaries.
. Change Leadership and organizational restructuring for the Merchandising
Department through the Act Vertical Process streamlining the processes.
. Performance management and 360 degree feedback for brand and identifying
the talent pool for development and retention.
. Advising the Brand Leadership on organizational design and structure to
assure the right people were in the right place.
. Lead Marketing Department through Value Stream Mapping process to
indentify waste and stream line the process, leading to a reduction in
time to complete the approval process.
FASHION BUG., Division of Charming Shoppes (CSI), Bensalem, PA 2/1/08
to 3/1/09
Retail Company specializing in plus size retail stores with 1,000 stores
and 10,000 employees nationwide, 4 direct reports.
Director of Human Resources
. Lead Human Resources: for all stores and corporate associates within
Fashion Bug as well as all the shared services associates.
. Training and development: Lead T&D for entire Charming Shoppes Bensalem
campus; providing 33 training programs throughout the year.
. Change Leadership: Drove change in Fashion Bug field through education,
consistent practices, training.
. Succession Planning: Lead the FB corporate and field group through the
succession process and building individual development plans.
FIGI'S, INC., Division of Charming Shoppes (CSI), Marshfield, WI 10/2001
to 2/1/2008
Direct mail order catalog company with 274 FT, 125 PT, and up to 4000
seasonal employees in 7 facilities.
Director of Human Resources (promoted from Senior Manager)
Key member of executive team with full P&L for $30 million budget. Senior
HR Generalist with division oversight for recruitment, staffing, training,
talent development, layoffs, OD, benefits, compensation, government
compliance (AA/EEO, ADA, OSHA, ERISA, FMLA, FLSA), and safety. Supervised 3
direct reports and 4 indirect reports.
. Change Leadership: Led initiatives in lean manufacturing, value stream
mapping, re-structuring, e-learning, talent development, and succession
planning. Oversaw transition management in merger with CSI (2005).
. Strategic Planning: Instituted paradigm shift from continuous cost
cutting to revenue improvement and branding strategies. Partnered with
key corporate committees to drive mission-critical change programs.
. Executive Coaching: Created and delivered coaching for company president,
VPs, and managers. Focused on team building, employee and labor
relations, talent development, OD, and cultural change management.
. Training: Headed up corporate Leadership Training Council with HR VPS
from 7 divisions and developed 3-day leadership training, new-hire
orientation, and on-boarding process. Led training for groups up to 250
on topics such as ethics, call center service, communications, risk
management, diversity, safety, and motivation.
. HRIS Conversion: Transitioned from manual to HRIS records management and
reporting for more accurate and real-time data tracking. Updated legacy
payroll system twice (PeopleSoft, ADP, Abra) in 3 years.
. Recruitment: Saved $300,000 (60% reduction in costs) through innovative
advertising, recruiting, and labor policies such as job fairs in malls,
free busing, and flex time scheduling for students and stay-at-home
mothers.
. Compensation: Re-aligned seasonal salary plan and increased wages by 20%
over 5 years to increase recruitment and retention. Added peak-season
incentives, shift differentials, and referral programs to attract quality
workers. Negotiated and approved salaries and merit increases up to $20
million (total compensation).
. Cost Controls: Reduced worker's compensation by 20% ($200,000) and
contained vendor contracts, including advertising and busing, to $250,000
annually despite rising fuel, labor, and supplier costs.
. Performance Management: Led changeover to software-based performance
review system (CompPlanner). Trained 50 managers and executives on
system, as well as 40 HR managers (train-the-trainer) company-wide.
LAND O'LAKES, Spencer, WI 3/2000 to 10/2001
National processed-cheese manufacturer with 500 employees (primarily union)
on 3 shifts (24/5)
Manager of Human Resources
Oversaw diverse HR functions: recruitment, hiring, training, salary
negotiations, benefits and compensation, union relations, payroll, worker's
compensation, safety, and regulatory and audit compliance. Supervised 4
personnel.
. Change Management: Transformed HR from administrative to strategic-
partner role, working closely on 6-member senior management team. Gained
trust of union employees and leadership through proactive outreach
efforts and even-handed union grievance process. Recruited 100 hourly,
supervisory and management staff.
. Program Development: Designed and introduced HR programs in succession
planning, on-the-job (OJT) training, return-to-work training, maintenance
apprenticeship, and new-hire orientation. Saved 15% of worker's
compensation costs, reduced turnover by 10%, and built learning
partnership with technical college.
. OD Leadership: Instituted enterprise-wide (4 divisions) FMLA process and
tracking. Innovated and implemented 360-degree feedback process for plant
management and ensured regular performance reviews for 50 non-union
employees. Designed and delivered multi-media training for groups up to
100.
minnesota corn processors, Marshall, MN (corporate headquarters) 3/1998
to 11/1999
Corn-processing plants (24/7 operation, non-union) with 350 employees.
Purchased by ADM in 2001.
Manager of Human Resources
2 clerical reports. Directed hiring, training, safety, plant security,
FMLA, worker's compensation, affirmative action, regulatory compliance, and
performance reviews at MN plant.
. Performance Improvement: Collaborated with 2 production managers to
design and launch performance standards for new-hire training program
that reduced turnover by 50%. Tracked new-hire progress in meeting
production standards on Honeywell system and initiated weekly OJT
training exams for promotion to operator.
. Staffing & Training: Brought exempt and nonexempt employees on board via
Internet and college recruitment, job fairs, and hiring agencies.
Negotiated management salaries up to $50,000. Led training and co-
training for 200 employees in safety and communications with small groups
of 20 and interactive sessions.
MARSHALL ENGINES, Kearney, NE (corporate headquarters) 5/1996 to 3/1998
Auto engine re-manufacture company (sole proprietorship) with 100 employees
that grew to 200.
Manager of Human Resources
Challenged with start-up of HR department in planned growth phase of
company with no support staff.
. HR Management: Established and managed industry-standard personnel
policies including recruiting, hiring, salary negotiations, benefits and
compensation, payroll, training, worker's compensation, 401K, safety, and
legal and government compliance (OSHA, EEOC, ADA, and DOL).
. Recruitment & Training: Doubled size of company by recruiting and hiring
exempt and non-exempt employees for non-unionized setting. Pioneered ESL
classes for Hispanic workers. Developed and led 6-week customer-service
training program for sales group.
EDUCATION & cERTIFICATION
Master's Degree, Organizational Development - University of Phoenix
(online)
Bachelor of Science, Business Administration / Human Resources - University
of Nebraska-Kearney
SPHR Certification - Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Technology Summary: Windows XP, MS Office, Word, Excel, Access, PowerPoint,
Outlook, PeopleSoft, Abra, ADP, CompPlanner, Brass Ring, Blackboard,
webinars (LiveMeeting), and teleseminars.
PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS
Faculty (part-time), Lakeland College, Wisconsin Rapids, WI - Leadership &
Ethics (undergraduate) - 2007
Blended classroom with in-person and virtual students; use Blackboard
interface for assignments and resources
Member: Society for Human Resources Management (SHRM), American Society for
Training & Development (ASTD), Stevens Point (WI) SHRM Group, Marshfield
(WI) Human Resources Group.