ROBERT A. ZIMEL, CPLP
** ********** ****** ● Rumson, NJ 07760
********@***.*** ● h 732-***-**** ● c 201-***-****
Accomplished business leader with extensive internal and external consulting experience in Learning,
Talent Management and Organizational Development . Exceptional coach and facilitator. Strong
leadership and interpersonal skills, producing highly effective teams and individuals. Excels at analyzing
situations, making critical decisions, and managing people to achieve targeted results.
STRENGTHS AND COMPETENCIES
Customer Focus Team Leadership & Development Executive Coaching Creative Problem Solving
Business Acumen Strategic Thinking and Planning Interpersonal Savvy Project Management
KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS
Learning / Leadership Development:
• Developed and implemented comprehensive leadership development curriculum, after building new competency model.
• Selected and launched learning management systems at two companies; drove department efficiency, maximized development data, and minimized administrative headcount.
• Facilitated numerous leadership, management and professional development programs
• Managed 360 development process; provided coaching and development planning.
• Assessed performance and development needs, including cultural factors, of Asia offices; designed custom learning plans and tools to support unique needs of each office.
• Led the creation of a blended solution for new employee orientation
• Managed expense and capital budgets for two learning departments
• Led team of learning professionals, focused on needs assessment, instructional design and facilitation to support business objectives
Talent Management:
• Redesigned talent management infrastructure and processes to align with updated company leadership culture: developed new corporate and field competency model, performance criteria, key performance indicators, and performance management processes.
• Developed and implemented multi-modal training solutions for goal setting, progress updates, and annual reviews to drive engagement and managerial competence.
• Researched and implemented talent assessment solution, reducing overall talent assessment costs while concurrently increasing assessed population.
• Built behavioral interviewing tools to drive new sourcing strategy and managerial accountabilities.
• Designed organizational talent review and succession planning tools; conducted talent reviews in partnership with broader HR team.
• Researched best practices and selected service providers for career development, candidate selection, high-potential assessment, and applicant tracking systems
Organizational Development / Change Management / Sales Force Effectiveness:
• Led the shift of the Organizational Steering Team from activity focus to accountability for results, yielding fewer and more concentrated strategic initiatives.
• Formed the Training Advisory Group, generating more effective partnerships between the learning function and the business units, driving greater adoption of learning, and improving efficiency.
• Facilitated executive meetings, both impromptu and meticulously designed.
• Enhanced coaching capability of field management using a blended learning solution.
• Coached executives to mitigate escalating conflict, improve professional relationships and decrease quantity of cross-functional supply chain issues.
• Drove employee engagement by expanding career and professional development opportunities
• Led the redefinition and realignment of go-to-market model; created sales leadership and sales associate development tracks, anchored in sales coaching, consultative selling, and role clarity.
• Boosted center employee productivity in distribution by developing and delivering training and performance support to hone leadership’s feedback, coaching and conflict management skills.
• Created and integrated change management plan to support company shift to new vision and strategy
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
THE CHILDREN’S PLACE, Secaucus, NJ
Senior Manager, Talent Development and Management (2008 to 2012)
Created talent management and development strategies. Redesigned talent management architecture,
including development of new corporate and field competency model and performance management
processes. Established talent development processes to drive efficiency in stores, corporate, distribution centers and Asia. Designed and implemented new development curriculum. Facilitated leadership programs. Managed 360 development process. Coached and developed management. Implemented
selection and assessment tools. Managed department budget.
BENJAMIN MOORE & CO. (A BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY COMPANY), Montvale, NJ
Manager, Organizational Development and Learning (2004 to 2008)
Led a team of OD and Learning professionals, developing leadership, employees, field and retailers.
Created and integrated organizational change principles into company-wide strategies. Integrated
competencies, performance management, talent management, and development. Facilitated executive
meetings. Designed, developed and implemented leadership and management development. Created
and implemented learning strategies for sales effectiveness. Developed and evolved learning strategy
and tools for independent retailers. Established and managed the corporate development curriculum.
Managed department budget.
ACHIEVEGLOBAL, W ayne, PA
Account Executive (2002 to 2004)
Identified Fortune 500 client needs, then developed and implemented leadership, team effectiveness,
sales performance and customer service solutions. Mapped business objectives to learning solutions to
create and sustain behavior change and deliver targeted results. Implemented solutions.
THE FORUM CORPORATION, New York, NY
National Account Director (1999 to 2002)
Developed and implemented learning systems that solved clients’ business problems, capitalized on new
opportunities, and produced measurable results. Identified, targeted, and penetrated Fortune 500
companies. Assessed client needs. Designed and developed solutions. Facilitated programs.
Region Account Manager – Norrell Corp., Managed Staffing and Outsourcing Provider
Vice President of Marketing and National Sales Director – Ronpak, Inc., Manufacturer
Various Commercial Banking Positions – Fleet Bank, American Union Bank, First Fidelity Bank
EDUCATION AND CREDENTIALS
CERTIFIED PROFESSIONAL IN LEARNING AND PERFORMANCE ● INDUSTRY CERTIFICATION FROM ASTD
Additional Certifications and Professional Development In:
Adult Learning Principles
Instructional Design
Assessment Tools
Leadership Development
Management Skills
Team-Building
Consultative and Strategic Selling
Customer Service
Quality/Process Improvement
Professional Associations:
National Advisors to Chapters, 2009 - 2011 ● American Society for Training & Development (ASTD)
Past President and Board of Directors since 2003 ● MidNJ Chapter of ASTD
Education:
RENSSELAER POLYTECHNIC INSTITUTE ● Bachelor of Science - Management ● Troy, NY
ABA NATIONAL COMMERCIAL LENDING GRADUATE SCHOOL ● University of Oklahoma ● Norman, OK