GAYLE R. GUTHRIE, CEBS

**** *** ***** *****, **; Decatur, Alabama 35603

Cell: 571-***-****; Email: acz0px@r.postjobfree.com

SUMMARY

Seasoned human resources and benefits professional with over sixteen years of multi-worksite and multi-industry experience, within organizations of all sizes - public and private, closely held and publicly traded, for-profit and not-for-profit.

Results-driven and self-motivated leader with principal strengths in creative problem solving and successful collaboration with stakeholders to implement sustainable continuous improvement for people, process, and product.

Strategic thinker with strong interpersonal, project leadership, communication, and organizational skills.

Areas of expertise include, but are not limited to: process optimization; policy development and implementation; operational effectiveness; compliance management; risk mitigation; employee relations; benefit plan design and strategy; pension & 401(k); health & welfare; human resources information systems (HRIS); vendor management; insourcing; outsourcing; communications; employee self-service; planning and project management; total rewards and employee recognition; coaching and mentoring; training and development.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

System Studies & Simulation, Inc. (Huntsville, AL)

Manager, Talent Management

February 2017 – Present

Directly responsible for the overall administration, coordination, and evaluation of the human resources functions in the following areas: organizational departmental planning; performance management and improvement systems; organization development; employment and compliance to regulatory concerns regarding employees; employee onboarding, development, needs assessment, and training; policy development and documentation; employee relations; employee communications; compensation and benefits administration; employee services and counseling. Develop and maintain affirmative action program; file EEO-1 annually; maintains other records, reports and logs to conform to EEO regulations. Oversee onboarding and off-boarding and conduct exit interviews. Establish and maintain department records and reports. Evaluate reports, decisions and results of organizational initiatives in relation to established goals. Recommend new approaches, policies and procedures to effect continual improvements in efficiency of department and services performed. Ensure compliance with all federal, state and local employment laws.

System Studies & Simulation, Inc. (Huntsville, AL)

Benefits Manager

August 2016 – Present

Directly responsible for the overall design, implementation, communication, compliance, administration, audit, policies, benchmarking, and financial objectives of the organization’s employee benefits program. Led initiatives focused on improving benefit trends, streamlining the process, plan costs and improving experience for employees. Performed audit on benefit program to ensure effectiveness, payroll and company costs were aligned. Manage relationships and partner with third party-providers, actuaries, brokers, investment advisors, trustees, and consultants. Serve as the subject-matter expert for health & welfare, leave of absence, disability management, post-employment insurance (COBRA), and retirement plan program policies and procedures. Development and dissemination of required and supplementary benefits communications. Drive compliance and operational optimization. Initiate and oversee the benefit plan contract renewal and/or proposal process. Plans and executes the annual benefits enrollment process. Coach, mentor, and provide leadership development and training to benefits team. Rely on extensive experience and judgement to plan and accomplish goals, with a wide degree of creativity and latitude.

National Rural Electric Cooperative Association (Arlington, VA)

Group Benefits Compliance Consultant

July 2014 - July 2015

Provided expert benefit plan compliance consulting and advice to member cooperatives and internal staff related to the NRECA health and welfare plans. Analyzed complex regulatory and operational issues, developed innovative solutions, streamlined processes and procedures; thus, enabling member cooperatives to maximize benefit value while minimizing plan compliance risk. Contributed to open enrollment, SPD, and SMM testing for the health and welfare plans by writing writing scenarios, running, and verifying data. Led annual preparation of SPD, SBC, and SMM for 12 different benefit plans, including facilitation of meetings with subject matter experts (SMEs) to assess plan design and operational changes, draft compliance technical language requirements, review and approval process, and finally the timely and accurate production of documents. Participated in strategic planning meetings to evaluate impacts of changes to the group health and welfare plans to ensure compliance with related laws and regulations.

Washington Gas (Springfield, VA)

Senior Specialist HR Compliance Management

July 2013 - May 2014

Subject-matter-expert (SME) for the qualified plan audits, including preparation and filing of the annual reports. Coordinated Sarbanes-Oxley (SOX)-related testing for benefits, payroll, and human resources operations at-large. Led human resources compliance efforts, including policy and procedure updates and the compliance dashboard development and tracking. Ensured regulatory compliance with OFCCP specific laws and regulations, including coordination, preparation and filing of mandatory EEO and veteran reporting; reviewed and updated the Affirmative Action Program. Managed benefits compliance efforts, including ensuring plan adherence with employee benefits related laws and regulations; non-discrimination testing for both the defined contribution and health and welfare plans; drafted and disseminated mandatory benefit communications.

Deloitte Consulting (Arlington, VA)

Senior Consultant, Federal Sector

September 2010 - July 2013

Analyzed and developed a governance plan, operating model, and integrated project plan, as well as ongoing identification and communication of risks and issues with stakeholders via weekly status reports. Conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis of data, including alignment to and correlation between various data points, and recommended program changes intended to drive the client towards its desired level of performance. Developed and validated various career development communication tools for use by managers and supervisors during in the on-going training and development of staff. Led an array of strategic planning activities, including researching emerging trends and benchmarking; conducting current-and-future-state gap analysis (headcount, attrition, turnover, retirement, salary, department, job category, etc.); incorporation of various cost-modeling and budgeting techniques to ensure a thorough assessment of financial risk. Reviewed, researched, and updated various human resources policies, ensuring compliance with all applicable laws (federal, state, local) and alignment with internal procedures.

Federal Reserve System Board of Governors (Washington, DC)

Benefits Analyst

February 2009 - September 2010

Managed the flexible spending account (FSA), dental, vision, life insurance and back-up care plans which were procured directly by the Board; coordinated invoice reconciliation and payment authorization. Reviewed and edited a variety of benefit plan documents and communications across the federal reserve footprint; contributed to the development of the Total Rewards website, from requirements to product launch. Conducted cost and utilization analysis on the plans and made recommendations for future plan redesign based upon findings; researched and proposed potential benefit offerings; identified best practices, industry standards, and benchmarks. Researched and responded to complex or escalated benefit inquiries from participants; coordinated with outside parties to ensure thorough understanding and inclusion of all data (i.e., employment with multiple government agencies or prior military services). Reconciled and paid the monthly medical premiums for retirees and those individuals on long-term disability (LTD). Completed the annual FASB Reporting; FASB 87 (defined benefit); FASB 106 (non-pension related post-retirement benefits); FASB 112 (post-employment benefits); completed nondiscrimination testing for the flexible spending account.

Wachovia Corporation (Charlotte, NC)

Acquired by Wells Fargo Corporation in Fall 2008

Benefits Consultant

February 2005 - February 2009

Led the pension review project, identifying over $1M annually in payment discrepancies; sourced via internal identification, participant inquiry, formal claims or third-party requests (attorney or Department of Labor). Recognized as the defined benefit plan SME for the Wachovia Pension Plan, which covered more than 200,000 active and former employees (in 2009), and incorporated over 100 merged plans. Contributed to a 9-month internal review of all health and welfare plans assessing process deficiencies, compliance issues, risks, and cost-saving opportunities collaborating with internal product managers and outside vendors. Counseled employees and retirees regarding escalated and complex benefit issues, including defined benefit, defined contribution, health and welfare benefits, leave of absence, disability leave, break-in-service, payroll, etc. Reviewed and revised the Qualified Domestic Relations Order (QDRO) procedures; verified participant and alternate payee accounts were created and properly divided.

SouthTrust Corporation (Charlotte, NC)

Acquired by Wachovia Corporation in Fall 2005

Compliance Administrator

January 2001 - February 2005

Integral in the preparation (and filing) of schedules and supporting documentation required for both annual reporting and termination filings. Counseled employees, retirees and former employees regarding qualified retirement plan benefits and other inquiries. Monitored, coordinated, and facilitated HIPAA training, mitigating potential exposure to PHI violations. Coordinated the distribution of assets for all acquired or merged defined contribution plans assets.

EDUCATION AND PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS

Bachelor of Science, Human Ecology with concentration in Human Resource Development, University of Tennessee, Knoxville, TN

Certified Employee Benefits Specialist (CEBS)

Compensation Management Specialist (CMS)

Retirement Plans Associate (RPA)

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