Benefits Professional

Onjaya Howerton

Loganville, GA 678-***-****

**************@*****.***

Human Resources Professional

Benefits Training Programs Analysis and Audits HR Information Systems

Seasoned human resources professional with over 10 years’ experience leading teams, executing HR programs, and implementing best practices throughout organizations. Hands-on experience supporting large, diverse workforces across multiple industries and labor types. A track record of success strategically reorganizing HR departments, designing and implementing benefits programs, and developing employee training. Strong organizational skills, knowledge of HR regulation and compliance, and excellent technical skills.

Employee Benefits

Strategic Planning

Succession Planning

Change Management

Employee Relations

Compliance

Employment Law

Diversity & Inclusion

Employee Training

Management Skills

Recruiting

Union Workforce

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

MOREHOUSE COLLEGE, Atlanta, GA 2016 – 2018

Benefits Specialist

Manage all aspects of employee benefits programs including retirement, medical, dental, vision, life insurance, disability, tuition reimbursement, and wellness plans. Spearhead strategic efforts to analyze trends and forecast future financial impact to the college and promote cost-savings. Source and manage third-party vendors. Maintain working knowledge of and ensure compliance with government regulations that impact benefits plans such as ERISA, HIPAA, COBRA, and FMLA.

Key Accomplishments:

Successfully lead annual benefits renewal process, including design review, proposal analysis, cost-modeling, HRIS programming, and employee communication and training.

Delivered significant cost savings to the college through repeated audits and due diligence efforts.

Extensively increased organization’s wellness resources by securing an annual $50,000 wellness fund, recruiting a dedicated program coordinator, negotiating on-site biometric screenings, and offering lifestyle and stress management programs.

Successfully took all plans into carrier and regulatory compliance and eliminated $5 million exposure for improper plan administration.

Saved the college $709,703 in claims costs by properly managing eligibility of medical, dental, and vision roster.

Reconciled every Morehouse benefit for the first time in ten years, including Life Insurance and Disability.

MARKETSOURCE, Alpharetta, GA 2014 – 2016

Human Resources Coordinator

Provided support for all HR functional areas including talent acquisition, training, employee satisfaction, benefits enrollment and payroll at this private company offering outsourced sales solutions. Delivered top-notch customer service to internal employees and promoted a positive and respectful office culture.

Key Accomplishments:

Efficiently and effectively conducted investigations of employee issues, recommended optimal course of action, and successfully met goal of <30 days for resolution and case closure.

Developed and delivered training programs for managers on performance management, compensation, and FML.A policies and procedures.

Managed full lifecycle of hiring and onboarding process—Recruited, screened, and interviewed job applicants, updated employee handbooks, conducted onboarding and new hire orientation, and maintained personnel files.

Identified opportunities to improve corporate culture and employee satisfaction through data from annual surveys, employee exit interviews, and departmental team meetings.

ACUITY BRANDS LIGHTING, Conyers, GA 2012– 2013

Human Resources Generalist, contract

Facilitated finding and cultivating talent, maintaining federal nondiscrimination compliance (OFCCP), and promoting positive relationships with the labor union at this multi-billion-dollar lighting and building managements solutions company.

Key Accomplishments:

Sourced and recruited talent for trade, professional, and managerial positions; streamlined and coordinated onboarding processes.

Successfully launched an employee recognition program to promote positive employee relations.

Administered multi-state, weekly, bi-weekly and semi-monthly payroll, processed Worker’s Compensation claims, and fostered cooperative efforts with labor union.

THE HOME DEPOT, Atlanta, GA 2010– 2011

Resolution Expediter of Customer Care

Provided first-class customer service for the world’s largest home improvement retailer. Processed inbound customer concerns and delivered follow-up and resolution in a timely and effective manner.

Key Accomplishments:

Identified root causes of customer issues and drove immediate resolution to ensure customer satisfaction.

Designed programs to promote employee satisfaction and productivity including implementation of a tiered awards structure, sales incentives, and special events; coached associates to elevate performance and reach sales goals.

Performed account management and maintenance while exploring opportunities for new business.

RYLA, Kennesaw, GA 2009 – 2010

AT&T Business, End User Care

Orchestrated customer service activities for this call center outsourcing provider, resolving broad-based issues and complaints to maximize satisfaction and retention for AT&T.

Key Accomplishments:

Developed and implemented processes to ensure service levels and objectives were delivered on time and within budget and contractual obligations.

Created and implemented operations improvements to meet established objectives across multiple facilities.

PRUDENTIAL FINANCIAL, Iselin, NJ 2001 – 2007

HR Generalist

Recruited to spearhead full scope of HR operations for new company branch of financial advisors including new hire onboarding, manager training, resolving performance issues, and managing employee disputes.

Key Accomplishments:

Managed the entire onboarding process for new hires; authored employee manual, facilitated orientation, managed relocation process and sign-on bonus agreements for new hires, processed payroll, and advised field managers and supervisors in HR policies, laws, and compliance requirements.

Investigated employee complaints/disputes, documented findings, and recommended appropriate resolution.

HR Benefits Manager

Managed HR functions for clients such as UPS, IBM, Lockheed Martin, JP Morgan Chase, and AICPA, with an emphasis on benefits administration. Performed employee relations functions, resolving work-related disputes, and masterminding programs to increase productivity.

Reduced new hire turnover by 35% by initiating regular feedback sessions with staff.

Reviewed and processed Worker’s Compensation claims, short-term disability (STD), long term disability (LTD), FMLA requests, leaves of absence, sick leave, vacations, termination, and payroll.

Handled payment disbursements, adverse claims, overpayments/collections, disclaimers, litigation, 401(k) calculations, contestability, and foreign and accidental death claims.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Seton Hall University, 1999

Candidate, Master’s in Labor & Employee Relations, Rutgers University 2019

LEO Law Program (Legal Writing, Contracts, and Legal Research), Seton Hall Law School, 1999

Certifications

Professional in Human Resources (PHR), Spring 2019

Professional Development

Employment Law, Diversity, Sexual Harassment Prevention in the Workplace, HR Best Practices, Leave Benefits (FMLA, PFL, CFLA, PDL)

TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

HRIS: PeopleSoft, Employease, ABRA, Banner, Raiser’s Edge, Workday, Ulti-Pro, Peoplesoft,

Payroll Systems: ADP, Compease, Payforce

Applications: Microsoft Office, Lotus, Oracle, Kenexa, Photoshop, Illustrator, Lexis-Nexus, SAP, Seibel, JD Edwards One HR, SPSS, Kronos, Blue Pumpkin, SharePoint, Visio

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