Benefits Manager
Resume:
Laura M. Dilallo, MBA, SHRM-CP, PHR
***** *. ********* ***** ********, IL 60441 708-***-**** *****.*******@***.*** www.linkedin.com/in/ldilallo
Solutions-focused, passionate benefits professional with deep expertise in successfully planning, designing, and executing all benefit & retirement plans (401k, 403b, ESOP, DB), qualified and non-qualified. Expertise in strategic planning combined with tactical proficiency, project management, best practices, federal & state regulations, governmental compliance.
Professional Experience
YMCA of Metropolitan Chicago 2012 – 2020
Director of Benefits
Reported to the SVP of HR with a dotted line to CFO; creatively planned, evaluated & executed employee benefit plans, incentive-based wellness programs, 2 retirement plans (DB & DC), non-qualified executive plan, EAP, workers compensation, payroll, HRIS for 22 centers, 5 resident camps (IL, WI, MI) & 100+ after-school locations covering approximately 3,000 non-union & union employees & 2,500 retirees.
Benefits Advisor to C-Suite who continually evaluated all benefit trends to ensure top quality offerings at the best price to attract and retain top talent and align mission of the YMCA
Developed 5-year strategic plan commencing 2016 (enhance Wellness Program, increase employee engagement and understanding of benefits with continued communications, gradually changed funding strategy to a self-funding method which resulted in a cost savings of $1M for 2017 & 2018 combined)
Team Lead and Project Manager for RFP, Benefits SME for HRMS replacement system (ADP to UltiPro) which eliminated 3 different systems & combined into 1, creating efficiencies & savings of $200k
Designed & implemented new Wellness Program to increase employee engagement & encourage healthy lifestyles
Managed large vendor relationships (insurance carriers, consultants, broker, custodian, recordkeeper) to ensure top notch service of benefit administration with competitive costs and accurate billing
Strategized annual open enrollment to educate employees about benefit options, encourage timely elections, ensured accuracy and timely data to vendors; had raffle prizes for early enrollers
Strictly managed annual benefits budget for plans & vendors; analyzed plans & proposed premium cost sharing recommendations to senior management; tracked monthly costs while searching for savings
Prepared union benefit plan analyses and represented management at SEIU bargaining table; won proposal
Successfully implemented first ever Health & Wellness Fair to educate & excite employees about health; held raffles with donated items (e.g. autographed Bears football, iPad, 1-night stay at Great Wolf Lodge)
Served as chairperson of Retirement & Pension Administration Committee and Retirement Investment Committee quarterly meetings, created and distributed agenda and compiled meeting minutes
Managed the freezing & termination of the defined benefit plan, performed pension calculations, compliance notices to participants, legal IRS filings, annual benefit statements, distributions, IRS Determination Letter
Collaborated effectively with key stakeholders in Legal, Finance, Accounting, Treasury & Human Resources
Trained and mentored staff members while aiding them to become SME’s and SHRM certified
Marquette Bank 2010 – 2012
Director of Compensation & Benefits
While reporting to the SVP of HR, managed health & welfare benefits, voluntary benefits, FSA, 401K & ESOP, FMLA, disability, compensation, executive non-qualified plans, payroll, HRIS & contributed to strategic leadership of the organization comprised of 1,200 employees and 2,500 retirees.
Replaced 35-year tenured employee, handled compliance issues, automated numerous processes
Designed & implemented annual benefits strategies after securing senior leadership buy-in
Assessed and handled grandfathering medical plan for compliance to ACA
Established Health & Wellness Incentive Program resulting in 15% reduction in renewal rates and 10% reduction in claim dollars
Developed new 401k employee education program resulting in a 90% participation rate, a 30% increase
Implemented guaranteed service agreements with vendors that improved services by 15%
Saved $100k in annual costs by bringing annual dependent audit in-house
Completed and filed regulatory annual filings for H&W, 401k & ESOP plans (5500, PBGC, SARs)
Served as company’s HIPAA Compliance Officer and fiduciary on the Benefit Plan Administration and Investment Committees
Laura M. Dilallo
Page Two
Gerson Lehrman Group 2009 – 2010 Human Resources Consultant – Part Time
Consulted on policies and best practices for US domestic & international companies
Advised clients on benefit plans and trends, compliance issues, regulations, Health Reform Act, PPACA, HIPPA, ERISA, DOL
Assisted clients with training, workshops, and teambuilding projects
JBT Corporation (Spin Off of FMC Technologies) 2008 – 2009
Manager of Benefits & Retirement Plans
Project Lead for integration of benefit and retirement plans for large international food processing manufacturer with 9,500 union and non-union employees and 3,500 retirees
Coordinated 25 weekly benefit vendor calls to ensure smooth system implementations and file feeds
Managed all compliance and fiduciary requirements of all plans including funding and asset management as well as investment choices; designed new employee education programs re: benefits & retirement plans
Administrator for 401k and International Savings Plan; handled blackout dates for company stock fund and was main contact for TPA, Fidelity Investments
Education & Certifications
DePaul University - Master of Business Administration, Major in Human Resources
Marquette University - BS in Business Administration, Major in Human Resources
HR Certification Institute - Professional in Human Resources (PHR) Certification
Society for Human Resource Management - SHRM-CP Certification
Author/Publication
“Engage Employees to Make Smarter Benefit Decisions” – Benefits Pro (March 2015)
Expertise in Programs & Systems:
Microsoft Office
Share Point Portal
Northern Trust Portal
Fidelity Portal
Power Plan
Success Factors
Ultimate Software, Ceridian, ADP and Kronos
Professional Affiliations
Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Chicago Chapter of Society of Human Resources Management (SHRM)
Employee Benefits Council
Worldwide Employee Benefits Network
International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans
Human Resources Management Association of Chicago
HR.com
World at Work
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