CRIS H. GANSMAN

* ******** ***** 732-***-**** (C)

Jackson, NJ 08527 acy0lj@r.postjobfree.com 732-***-**** (H)

Senior Benefit and HR Professional

Accomplished HR/Benefits leader and strategic thinker with broad industry experience in the design, development, and delivery of Health & Welfare, Defined Benefit, and Defined Contribution programs. Drive change through partnering/collaboration with Human Resource/HRIS/Payroll/Finance/Legal personnel to execute creative solutions that meet design, administrative, and business needs of the company.

Areas of expertise include:

● Benefit Plan Design/Strategy ● Benefit Administration ● HR Outsourcing Solutions

● Operations Implementation ● Project Management ● Staff Management

● Business Process Change ● Vendor Management ● Benefit Programs Budget Analysis & Forecast

● International Benefits ● System Implementation ● Compliance – ERISA/IRS/DOL Regulations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Resources Global Professionals, New York, NY 2009 – Present

Senior Consultant – Human Capital Practice

Work with Senior Management to provide project management and consulting services for Fortune 500 companies related to the day to day administration, operation and design of benefit programs. Sample assignments include:

For a diversified leading global manufacturer of highly engineered critical components and customized technology solutions for the energy, transportation and industrial industries, partnered with senior leadership on the strategy and design of benefit programs for union and non-union populations – managed the implementation of private exchanges (Willis Towers Watson One Exchange) for active and retiree populations, future structure of benefits department, and evaluating administrative processes. Consolidation and outsourcing of multiple Retirement plans. Assisted with strategy and evaluation of all international benefit offerings. Handled complex level escalations and vendor management for H&W and Retirement/Savings plans.

For an industry leading global property and casualty insurance company, assisted in design and delivery of cost effective benefit programs and project management for Global Health & Welfare and HR Service Center departments. Acted in capacity of a technical resource / consultant / subject matter expert for plan administration, plan design changes, merger & acquisition work, and vendor management for outsourcing of administration solutions. Projects included: Redesign and implementation of H&W programs – H&W Private Exchange (Mercer Marketplace) implementation, Retiree medical, Optional Life and Health Saving Account; Design and implementation Total Health Management- Lifestyle & Disease Management; Leave Management Administration – Evaluated department structure and recommended changes to administrative processes; PeopleSoft 9.1 Software Upgrade; Managed H&W Annual Enrollment 2010, 2011, 2013 and 2014; Merger & Acquisition support for 3 acquisitions and 4 divestitures.

For a global real estate solutions company, reviewed and re-engineered all outsourced benefit operation processes. Proposed and implemented a series of recommendations/changes – created template for Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and redrafted over 50 SOP’s; conducted training of offshore Associate’s; identified/implemented multiple short and long term improvements across benefit operations.

For a worldwide media conglomerate, provided technical expertise to Global Technologies Services group and Benefits department in the RFP process and selection of Health & Welfare Benefits Administration Outsource Partner for Active and Retiree populations.

Fidelity Investments, Raleigh, NC 2007 – 2008

Vice President – Retirement Services Operations, Process Change Lead

Part of Senior Management group in Retirement Services responsible for driving process change initiatives resulting in over $7 million annual savings and operational efficiencies. Led internal groups to identify deficiencies, reengineer processes, and implement/train on new solutions. Executed process change within a Six Sigma environment. Projects included:

● Streamline Pension Calculations: Identified process-improvement to clean up Participant Data leading to pension calculations running cleanly through system; minimize the need for manual pension calculations

● Overpayment Process: Identified end-to-end process gaps leading to $11 million overpayment recovery

● Client Reporting Package: Developed integrated DC/DB reporting standards/metric quarterly reports

● Compliance: Managed 409(A) and Pension Protection Act activities

● Contract Review: Targeted additional revenue opportunities for DB Operations

● Business Integration: Identified service delivery improvements across Business Lines (DB, DC, and Stock)

● Operation Billing System: Built new Billing System resulting in additional business revenue stream

● Metrics: Developed metrics to measure qualitative and quantitative results

Consulting/Contract Engagements 2006 – 2007

United Union of Roofers – Local Union #8, Brooklyn, NY - Interim Executive Fund Director (2006 – 2007)

Responsible for Operations and Staff Management of Self-Insured Taft Hartley Health & Welfare and Retirement Funds.

Managed and administered Medical, Dental & Prescription Drug plans and COBRA program

Leave Management Administration – STD, LTD, and Workers Compensation

Defined Benefit Plan Administration

Goldman Sachs, New York, NY - Consulting Engagement – International Benefits (2006 – 2007)

Managed Mercer Gold Global Database ensuring all relevant benefit information was housed on database across international/worldwide regions, including acquisitions and regional and global companies.

Implemented multiple International H&W benefit program enhancements and outsourced international benefits

Drafted communications for redesigned global benefits (Europe, Asia, Latin America & Caribbean Island countries)

Designed and rolled-out new Canadian Registered Retirement Savings Plan (RRSP)

Columbia University Medical Center, New York, NY - Benefit Operations Consulting Engagement (2006)

Responsible for start-up of new benefit operations and client service center servicing union staff of Medical Center.

Performed desk audits resulting in administrative process improvements and revamped Employee Orientation presentation

Identified/coordinated training and development needs for service center

PeopleSoft – Study to help determine feasibility to implement benefits administrative component

ACS/Mellon, Little Falls, NJ (Formerly PricewaterhouseCoopers - Kwasha) 1998 - 2005

Senior Client Service Account Manager (2003 - 2005)

Nurtured strong business relationships as primary client manager for strategic planning, design and delivery of overall HR Benefits administrative and call center outsourced services for domestic and international employee populations. Clients included a complex Fortune 100 Company and a large financial institution totaling over 100,000 employees and retirees. Prepared RFPs, negotiated fees, and managed client budgets. Managed four supervisors, 50+ staff, and all activities associated with client DB, DC and H&W Plans.

● Managed major client implementation project for redesigned H&W, DC, and Deferred Compensation - Stock Ownership plans and integration of acquisition representing 30% increase in employee population for Administration and Service Center

● Responsible for Client Retention: prepared client accounts P&L, accruals, projections, and billings

● Met with client’s HR personnel to review performance and discuss/identify new business or plan design changes

● Successfully managed major deconversion project over 20 month period where Fortune 100 Companies H&W and DB Plans were separated and outsourced to a new vendor

Defined Benefit Special Project Engagement Manager (1998 - 2002)

Primary client contact for special project work on Fortune 100 Company DB Plans. Responsible for all aspects of project management, including cost proposals, revenue projections, and billing.

● Partnered with Actuaries and Client to redesign Retirement Plan to provide an early retirement window

● Managed divestiture of retirement plans. Developed new administrative procedures to reduce cost and increase production 60% for large volume of Early Retirement Window packages offered by client

● Converted manual retirement package process to system-generated package ($2 million+ client savings)

Defined Benefit Operations Manager (1998)

Managed staff of eight DB Plan Administrators delivering DB services to large Fortune 100 client.

● Transitioned outsourcing operations from the Plan Implementation Group to the Administrative Group

● Successfully developed and initiated new Retirement Case Management department to address an influx of new retiree cases for a Fortune 100 Company, which became standard service offering across all outsourced clients.

Towers Perrin, Voorhees, NJ 1997 - 1998

Client Service Manager

Managed operations and call center services group for a Fortune 500 client’s H&W, DC and DB Plans, directing a staff of 23 professionals. Primary client contact for implementation, annual enrollment, and ongoing administration.

● Coordinated all systems related programming changes with implementation team

● Identified and implemented process improvements; monitoring performance versus quality metrics

● Trained administrative and call center staffs

Aftra Health & Retirement Fund, New York, NY 1993 - 1997

Manager, Participant Services/Benefits Administration

Member of senior management team responsible for design and administration of self-insured national multiemployer Taft-Hartley benefit fund programs for 30,000+ employees. Successfully trained and implemented Operations / Participant Service Center Organization from ground up.

● Designed and implemented new Health benefit programs that resulted in cost savings of $5M

● Designed and implemented new 401(k) plan for Fund Staff

● Redesigned Retirement Plan – increase in benefit formula and change in benefit payment type options

● Prepared and presented benefit budget recommendations to Board of Trustees

● Negotiated rates and contracts with Consultants, Insurance and Plan Benefit Vendors

Forstmann Little Management Group, Livingston, NJ 1990 - 1992

Merger & Acquisition Manager, Pension/H&W Plans

Managed design, administration, and communication of employee retirement, 401(k), Stock Purchase and H&W Plans for four LBO investments both domestically and internationally. Managed six benefit professionals.

Ciba-Geigy Corporation, Ardsley, NY (Merged with Novartis) 1989

Manager, Corporate Benefits and Compliance

Implemented IRC Section 89 regulations for H&W Plans until law was repealed. Managed all aspects of H&W plans and government compliance for qualified retirement plans. Managed Expatriate Program.

Ogden Corporation, New York, NY 1987 - 1988

Retirement Plans Administrator

Managed Profit Sharing, 401(k) and PAYSOP Plans for executives. Coordinated company-wide annual compensation reviews and merit performance reviews. Managed staff of four professionals.

Related Professional Experience 1978 - 1986

CPI Pension Services Consultant/Sales

Bankers Trust Company Treasurer – Defined Contribution Recordkeeping

William M Mercer Company Benefits Communications Specialist

Equitable Life Assurance Company Retirement Plan Specialist

EDUCATION

B.S., Insurance & Risk Management and B.S., Marketing, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY 1978

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATION AND DEVELOPMENT

Six Sigma Designation – Yellow Belt; Certified Employee Benefits Specialist Program (CEBS);

Society for Human Resource Management (SHRM) – National & Local Chapters

SYSTEMS SOFTWARE EXPERIENCE

PeopleSoft; Workday; BenefitFocus; Mercer Marketplace; Willis Towers Watson OneExchange; Microsoft Office; SQL

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