Customer Service Human Resources

G. Lindsey Higgins

**** ********* *****, ********, ** 54650

Work 608-***-**** Mobile 608-***-****

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

HIGHLIGHTS

> Personally requested by Executive Leadership and Owners to

concurrently manage Talent Acquisition and Retail Human Resources

departments for 5 years

> Proven track record of leading Human Resource and Talent Acquisition

functions within multi-national / multi-facility organizations

> Particular strengths in building multisite teams, developing strong

customer relationships and developing HR function into a valued and

strategic business partner delivering on organizational goals

> Significant knowledge and contributions in the development of talent

management, performance management, incentive and HRM systems; as well

as union avoidance and / or implementing and maintaining positive

employee and labor relations initiatives

> Co-leader of Lominger Talent Competencies implementation Team,

implementing Selection, Performance and Succession processes focused

on competency management.

EXPERIENCE

Ashley Furniture, Industries, Inc., Arcadia, WI - June 2006 - Present

Ashley Furniture is the largest furniture manufacturer and retailer in

North America, and number 2 worldwide. With 13 manufacturing plants,

distribution centers and 500+ retail stores across the globe Ashley has

$3.3B in sales and over 19,000 employees worldwide.

Corporate Director Staffing & Recruiting

With an internal staff of eleven, lead and direct high volume recruiting

functions for all salaried and production positions in WI, PA, NC, GA, IL

FL, MS, and CA within seven domestic manufacturing / distribution

facilities as well as retail operations, global headquarters and

international corporate offices. Average 5,000 + hires every year with

annual budget over $2M

. Championed new Applicant Tracking System project. Led implementation

of new system to integrate online applications into HRIS system

. Decreased advertising costs by $300,000 while increasing hiring at all

manufacturing/production positions. Developed referral bonus program

to increase applicant flow

. Developed and implemented new recruiting, interviewing, on-boarding /

orientation process that reduced turnover by 53% at one location and

allowed for increased hiring capability. Implemented same processes

in other locations in subsequent years

. Designed and implemented executive selection and onboarding process

for better integration and retention of executives

. Partnered with CIO and Information Technology group to design and

implement a rapid hiring process which reduced time to fill by 30%

. Created a corporate wide metrics system and created leading indicator

measures to increase manufacturing hiring efficiencies by 11%

. Implemented background check, offer, drug testing and exit interview

processes across organization which has reduced turnover by 5% through

improved hires and greater focus on correct work attitude

. Developed diversity recruiting initiatives to specifically target

Hmong and Spanish speaking employee base resulting in increased

employee base by 19%

. Used Lean / Six Sigma skills to implement, measure and update

processes, increase applicant yield to hire from 40% to 68%

Director Retail Human Resources (in addition to responsibilities as

Corporate Director Staffing & Recruiting) (2008 to 2013)

Directed all Human Resources activities in over 60 corporately-owned retail

stores. Direct reports included four Regional Human Resources Director,

Managers and Generalists

. Managed all employee relations issues and necessary investigations

o Coached and Counseled Regional HR Managers on implementation of

HR metrics

. Increased visibility on staffing to sales models and

developed a process change in the retail training

curriculum resulting in greater retention of new employees

. Managed selection and onboarding for all retail leadership positions

and sales positions

. Introduced new selection process based on behavior based interview

criteria for Retail Sales Associates; reduced turnover through better

selection by 13%

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (ConAgra Food Ingredients), Omaha, NE - 1998 - June

2006

ConAgra Foods, Inc. (NYSE:CAG) is one of North America's leading packaged

food companies.

Manager- Human Resources / Employee & Labor Relations

Partnered with and supported 120+ locations worldwide with 4,200+ commodity

trading, management and administration, production/manufacturing and

corporate employees. Partnered with international and domestic client

groups, Senior Vice Presidents and Directors, Operations Managers and

Production Supervisors and managed all HR issues including;

recruiting/staffing, college relations, managing employee/labor relations

issues, performance management, employee complaint investigations,

separations/terminations, training/organizational development,

acquisition/divestiture, benefits, compensation, payroll, relocation,

expatriation, and repatriation, immigration/visas, alumni connections,

community/corporate connections and search/research firm relationships in

order to maintain market data.

. Partnered with business leaders to establish organizational goals,

strategies, and to determine measurement criteria. Then implemented

processes, policies, procedures and measurement systems to manage to

the organization's goals. Partnered with leadership on development

and implementation of corporate KPI's, Talent Management Processes,

and Individual Development Plans

. 1st chair negotiator of the collective bargaining agreements for the

Food Ingredients (FI) group. Managed 16 contracts, including

grievances and arbitrations.

. Partnered with corporate team and consultants to develop and deliver

contract administration training program.

. Chaired the first company negotiations to implement a consumer driven

health plan at an organized facility along with instituting employee

contributions for the first time for cost savings at the location and

set precedence set for future negotiations

. HR lead on all international and domestic acquisitions and

divestitures for the FI group. Managed the on and off boarding of all

employees, benefits/retirement plans and necessary contract effects

bargaining. Established processes and timelines for each step to

ensure satisfactory completion on time and on budget

. Managed the incentive and compensation process for the group.

Developed salary budgets, performance management's targets, incentive

goals and objectives and then applied them to the correct market data.

Koch Industries, Inc., Wichita, KS, Houston, TX, London and Singapore -1997

- 1998

One of the largest private companies in the world, with 80,000 global

employees.

International Selection Recruiter

. Managed recruiting/staffing for international business units,

corporate finance, trading and legal departments at exempt/executive

level

. Staffed Commodity trading office in Singapore from ground up without

use of outside recruitment providers, through on site activity, phone

and video interviews

. Directed activities of 2 selection team members (recruiters)

UtiliCorp United, Inc., Aquila Energy and Energy One -1995 - 1997

Kansas City, MO, Omaha, NE, Houston, TX and Calgary, Alberta

Strategic Sourcing Team Leader

. Managed the energy trading, marketing and sales recruiting for North

America offices

. Produced streamlined employment application process and orientation

programs

. Developed and managed ex-pat, relocation, out-placement, referral

plans and consultants

SkillSearch, Inc. Nashville, TN and Kansas City, MO - 1995 - 1995

Account Executive

American Century Investments Kansas City, MO -1990- 1995

Employment Specialist

Customer Service Instructor

Customer Service Representative

Robert Half Kansas City, MO - 1990

Recruiter

Adia/Addeco Lawrence, KS - 1989

Office Supervisor

EDUCATION

B.A., University of Kansas, Personnel Administration - 1989

PROFESSIONAL ASSOCIATIONS

Certified to teach "Best Work Environment" by Employment Learning

Innovations, Inc.,

Achieve Global Certified Instructor in all performance areas 2005

Villanova Lean/Six Sigma certified 2009

Society for Human Resources Management, national and international member

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