VP of Human Resources

Bernice M. Bloom

**** ********* **. *******, ** *8016 Email: *******@*****.*** Cell: 901-***-****

Executive Profile – Senior Vice President Human Resources

Innovative, results oriented human resources business partner with over 15 years of leadership success in the retail, distribution, and manufacturing industries. Led and continue to lead significant business transformation initiatives. Served and continue to serve as a member of the executive leadership teams and lead labor negotiator. Revamped leadership development programs, and implemented diversity efforts focusing on attracting, retaining, and developing employees. Focus has been growth and turnaround companies with opportunity to develop people strategies, which helped grow the workforce exponentially while establishing company reputation as a leading employer of choice. Developed and executed business strategies that increased productivity and revenue.

Key Areas of Proven Leadership:

Change Management

Succession Planning

Strategic Planning and Execution

Benefits and Compensation

Building Collaborative Relationships

Employee Engagement

Talent and Performance Management

Employment Branding

Organizational and Leadership Development and Redesign

Labor and Employee Relations

Experience

FRED’S INC., Memphis, TN 2012 – Present

Publicly held retail company with over $2Billion in revenue, 650 general merchandise and 360 pharmacy locations employing over 10,000 store, pharmacy, distribution and corporate employees throughout the southeastern United States.

Senior Vice President Human Resources Jan 2014 – Present

Provide vision, mission and strategic direction that builds cultures of high performance.

Key responsibilities include:

Business Partner to CEO, and Executive Leadership Team, and responsible for strategic direction of all human capital. Accountable for all people infrastructure and delivery systems that drive sustainable growth and profitability to the organization. Systems include Labor Relations, Talent Management and Succession Planning, Benefits, Compensation, Organizational Learning and Development, Talent Acquisition, and Inclusion and Diversity. Responsible for over $36 MM budget; includes labor, benefits and employee relation’s initiatives.

Performance Management: Advisor and coach to executive team on employee performance and productivity, business strategy, and employee relations.

Change Management: Serve as change agent for cultural transformation engaging and aligning employee behavior and results to the core mission and vision of the Company.

Board Facing Role: Partner with Board of Director & Compensation Committee to develop executive compensation strategies to achieve business results, return shareholder value and retain top talent.

Total Rewards/Benefits & Insurance: Responsible for developing long and short-term strategies to achieving 100% compliance of all PPAC (Health Care Reform) requirements and proactively identify and execute health and wellness initiatives that mitigate $5MM of bottom line impact.

Labor Relations & Negotiations: Negotiated new collective bargaining agreement delivering increased management rights and 2% capped increases.

HRIS & Technologies: Ensures company’s HR systems, resources and procedures proactively mitigate risk to the brand and risk to our financials.

Vice President Human Resources 2012 – 2014

Developed, implemented, and directed human resource strategies, policies, guidelines, procedures, and programs including talent acquisition and development, compensation and employee relations to ensure efficiency and accountability for the store and pharmacy operations. Responsible for 10,300 team members in the field.

Accomplishments include:

Developed and implemented HR Dashboard to report results and analyze cause-and-effect relationships that drive decision-making on quantity, quality, time, cost, and internal customer satisfaction

Successfully completed two reductions in workforce (RIFs) with a net savings of $6M

Appointed by CEO to Compensation Committee for all compensation/benefits programs

Developed and executed Milestone recognition program for the field

Developed and implemented behavioral interviewing instrument /evaluation to assess candidates

Reduced unfavorable unemployment costs by $206k

Reduced Store Manager turnover 15.5%

Executed the hiring of employees for a new store concept

Successfully completed reduction in workforce

Drove the I-9 compliance and e-verify program

TruckPro, Inc.; Kele, Inc., Memphis TN 2007 - 2012

(Both entities were owned by same private equity firm until January 2009; TruckPro was sold and I became Vice President Human Resources TruckPro).

TruckPro is a privately held primary distributor of name brand heavy duty truck and trailer parts across multiple locations in multiple states. Kele is a privately held primary distributor of building automation products to system integrators and contractors.

Vice President of Human Resources TruckPro/Director Human Resources TruckPro and Kele (Head Position)

Directed, developed, implemented, and coordinated policies and programs covering the following: employment, labor relations, wage and salary administration, indoctrination and training, placement, safety and health, benefits, employee services, communications, employee relations, and organizational development. Originates human resources policies and practices which will provide a balanced program throughout all locations of the company. Provides advice and counsel to management concerning human resources activities and strategy and acts as legal liaison with corporate and outside counsel.

Benchmarked and implemented Best Practices Human Resource Management

Drove insurance renewal increases down from 21% increase to 8% net increase with TruckPro and from 18% increase to 10% decrease with TruckPro/Kele joint

Developed annual Performance Management Process

Developed and implemented a new pay grade and range structure in compliance with DOL

Developed and implemented standardized processes including hiring, termination, onboarding, etc.

Researched and negotiated new attorney fees, outside contract labor costs, background checks and other attorney fees resulting in 50% reduction

Awarded Incumbent Workers Grant from State of Tennessee for $44,000. Developed other financial resource grants for training FY 09 in the amount of $50,000

Developed and implemented a consistent company-wide Individual Bonus Plan for all employees

Developed metrics to report results and analyze cause-and-effect relationships that drive decision-making on quantity, quality, time, cost, and customer satisfaction

Established a written Safety and Health policy

Reduced average time to fill position rate from 60 days to 19 days

Reduced recruiting costs from $350,000 to $100,000

Reduced mental outpatient by $40,000 through implementation of EAP

Focused on key areas to improve efficiency, increase profitability, expand capacity, and future needs of business

Cleo Inc., Memphis, TN 2004 - 2007

Director of Human Resources

Publicly traded subsidiary of CSS Industries. Manufactures bags, tissue, gift-wrap, bows, cards, and battery tissue across multiple locations and multiple states with over 1000+ employees. (Company sold resulting in reorganization and reduction-in-force)

Directed, developed, implemented, and coordinated policies and programs covering the following: acquisition integration, employment, labor relations, wage and salary administration, indoctrination and training, placement, security, safety and health, employee services, communications, HRIS process, and organization development.

Successful wins on labor arbitrations of 100%

Reduced background check cost for individual reports by 37.1%

Provided support for a $14m revenue turnaround within one year

Improved reduced exposure on workers compensation accrual from 45% to 95% accurate accrual

Streamlined workplace plan implementation, training, and reduction for turnaround (in excess of $1.2m)

Implemented new performance management review system for 1100 associates

Developed and implemented new onboarding policy

Implemented talent management plan

Other Experiences:

The Cherry Corporation, Waukegan, IL

Manager

Multinational Corporation with sales of $338m plus. Designs, manufactures, markets automotive switches and modules, computer keyboards, switches, and electronic controls.

Cardinal Stritch University

Adjunct Instructor (Evenings)

Instructed core courses for the Associate, Bachelor, and Master degree level.

Professional Training and Skill Base

Total Quality Management

OSHA Training Certification

360 Degree Certification

Myers Briggs Training

Stephen Covey Training

Sanitation

Professional Membership and Affiliations:

Member of Society of Human Resource Management

Member, Board of Directors for Family Service Agency of North Lake County, Past President, President Emeritus, Vice President, Treasurer, Secretary, Fun Raising Chairperson, Personnel Chairperson, Strategic Planning Chairperson

Board of Directors, Lake County Chamber of Commerce, Human Resource Chairperson

National Association of Credit Management, Past Chicago CFDD President

Electronics Industry Association, Past Midwest Regional Chairperson

Member, CMCMA

Member, Past Collection Credit Committee of CMCMA

Article Published in Business Credit

Education:

Cardinal Stritch University, MSM in Management

Northeastern Illinois University, BA in Sociology and Psychology

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