Karen R Aflalo

Great Neck, NY ***** 646-***-**** adifpo@r.postjobfree.com https://www.linkedin.com/in/karenaflalo/ Professional Highlights

• Implemented an ATS (to improve the candidate experience) and Talent Management Program introducing Internet and on-campus recruitment, saving Alma Bank $900K in recruitment fees over 3 years.

• Developed and introduced Employee Engagement Programs such as Volunteer Days, focus groups, team building activities and employee surveys, reducing turnover at Alma Bank by ~25% per year for the past 3 years.

• Renegotiated contracts with HRIS, Payroll and Benefit vendors reducing HR technology costs at Alma by 28%.

• Spent 15 years at GFI, a fintech/broker-dealer firm, supporting a population that went from 300 to 3000+, an IPO and M&A activity resulting in the successful assimilation of 6 acquired firms. Opened up all LATAM offices to include identifying/building out space, staffing, and hiring local counsel to prepare handbooks and employment agreements.

• While at GFI, rolled out Employee Engagement Programs that resulted in less than 5% annual turnover for 9 consecutive years and achieved a 38% increase in minority and female hiring by designing and implementing a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan focused on identifying talent, succession and performance management. Human Resources Qualifications

• Strategic HR Planning & Best Practices

• Organizational Design & Development

• Diversity, Equity & Inclusion

• Talent Acquisition, Management & Metrics

• Staff Coaching & Mentoring

• HR Policy, Process & Systems Design

• Workforce Planning & Development

• Executive Development & Succession Planning

• M&A Due Diligence, Integration &

Restructuring

• Benefit Negotiations, Design & Communications

• Employee Relations Investigations & Resolutions

Professional Experience

Senior Human Resources Manager (pro bono)

WHO.WHAT.WHY. – New York, NY October 2020 to Present A non-profit online media organization that prides itself on distributing nonpartisan information. This organization provides accounts based on extensive research, sourcing and investigative reporting. Reporting to the CEO. Lead a remote team of 10 HRBP’s, 12 Recruiters and 4 HR Administrators.

• Partner with Department Heads to develop the talent strategy needed to support WhoWhatWhy’s tremendous growth and build a collaborative environment.

• Function as a consultant to key leaders to engage in strategic planning meetings to translate business needs into HR plans. Enhance recruiting strategies in order to identify, access and attract creative candidates. Chief Human Resources Officer

ALMA BANK – Long Island City, NY March 2017 to September 2020 Member of the Executive Management Team, reporting to the CEO and the Board of Directors. Responsible for all Human Resources functions for a 12 Branch, $1.3 billion, regional Community Bank (200 employees) including the development, delivery and administration of the Bank’s HR strategy, programs, processes, policies, HRIS, Benefits, Payroll, Employee Relations, Succession Planning, Recruitment, Retention, Organizational Development, L&D, and all other HR programs. Member of the Crisis Management Team, during the pandemic, creating and implementing strategies to run critical parts of the Bank with fewer and remote staff, identify infrastructure flaws and high-tech solutions for remote operations. Perform ongoing review of all HR policies & procedures and update as needed in response to the CARES Act, FFCRA, and the NY Forward Plan to adjust to the “new normal.”

• Worked closely with the CEO, COO, CBO, CRO, and BSA Officer to identify, analyze and mitigate internal and external risks. Developed and implemented programs to build a strong risk culture throughout the Bank.

• Work as an integral part of senior management to research and respond to regulatory inquiries from the Bank’s internal and external auditors, the FDIC, and the DFS during examinations and throughout the year as needed.

• Effectively resolved previous labor issues and worked to prevent future grievances from escalation. Page 2 Karen R Aflalo

• Reviewed policies & procedures to create and implement programs for improved efficiency and cost reductions: o Implemented an ATS (to improve candidate experience) and Talent Management Program introducing internet and on-campus recruitment. Saved the Bank $900K in recruitment fees over 3 years. o Developed and introduced Employee Engagement Programs such as Volunteer Day Programs, team building activities and Employee Surveys. Reduced turnover by ~25% per year for the past 3 years. o Digitally transformed the HR Department automating Onboarding, Offboarding, Open Enrollment, and Training by using electronic signatures, Webinars, creating an online portal with all banking policies and procedures, welcome emails and IT checklists. Freed up more than 30% of the HR staffs’ time. o Responsible for leading the development and execution of a long-term Benefit strategy intended to improve the health and productivity of Alma employees by introducing Wellness Programs and a consumer-driven healthcare option, saving the Bank $50K year one and $80K year two. o Renegotiated contracts with HRIS, Payroll and Benefit vendors reducing HR technology costs by 28%. o Conducted an RFP of the Bank’s Retirement Plans resulting in a change to the Bank’s 401(k) Broker and Recordkeeper. Saved the Bank and the plan participants nearly $100K in annual fees. o Rolled out BOLI, SERP and a Non-Qualified Deferred Compensation Plan as retention tools. Senior Human Resources Consultant (short-term assignment) CAMMEBYS INTERNATIONAL - New York, NY October 2016 to January 2017 Cammebys is a real estate investment company managing over $13 billion in assets nationwide. Hired to create an HR roadmap that would build and promote a culture that is compliant with HR best practices, policies, programs and processes.

• Drove transition from outdated HR systems into a fully integrated HRIS platform with ADP to better service their multi-site, multi-payroll environment to improve efficiency, allowing the CFO to easily run consolidated payroll, expense, headcount and turnover reports.

• Created a 3-year benefits strategy to control costs by 22% year one and create value for employees by providing wellness programs and additional voluntary benefits at reduced group rates.

• Implemented frameworks for employee evaluation and performance management reducing turnover and company liability.

• Aligned standards in approach between Employee Relations and Labor Relations to resolve labor disputes at the lowest possible level, minimize grievances, arbitrations and unfair labor practice charges.

• Taught HRBPs to work with Line Managers to identify current hiring needs, future needs and create succession plans for key positions.

SVP, Human Resources Director & Head of Talent Acquisition, Americas March 2002 to June 2016 GFI GROUP INC – New York, NY (acquired by CANTOR FITZGERALD in March 2015) GFI, with nearly $1 billion in annual revenue employing 3,000 people globally, is a leader in providing trade execution, broker-dealer services, clearing, processing, information and other back office services. Hired in 2002 as the first Head of HR for this high growth, fin-tech, start-up to build the HR function, support 300 employees and drive business results for GFI’s headquarters in preparation for an IPO. Managed GFI’s Global Stock Option, Restricted Stock Option and Deferred Cash Plans, annual HR budget, HRIS and ATS.

• Worked with CFO after January 2005 IPO, to build global SOX and Internal Audit teams; devised global equity- based compensation plans to use as incentives and retention tools for Senior Management and top performers.

• Led HR function on expansion into Latin America (1,500 employees in 2008). Promoted in 2008 to oversee the HR function for the Americas offices to include: New York (headquarters), Connecticut, Chicago, California, Texas, Chile, Colombia, Peru, Argentina and Mexico City. Provided Senior HRBP support to Brokers, Technology, Ecommerce, Finance, Legal & Compliance.

• Assimilated 6 acquired firms (software and broker-dealer companies) into the culture, business and performance processes in various GFI locations globally.

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• Supervised and mentored HRBPs and COE Heads; implemented and devised employee relations strategies in compliance with state and federal laws and regulations pertaining to FMLA, ADA, EEO and FLSA matters.

• Streamlined talent acquisition, succession planning and performance-based compensation processes used globally (rolled out Global Performance Management tool).

• Employee engagement programs resulted in less than 5% annual turnover for 9 consecutive years.

• Developed and recruited top talent for Training Programs, hiring over 300 recent college graduates from top- flight schools. Achieved a 38% increase in minority and female hiring by designing and implementing a Diversity, Equity & Inclusion plan focused on identifying talent, succession and performance management.

• Oversaw all compensation matters pertaining to payroll, bonus payments, negotiations of employment contracts/offer letters and industry benchmarking. Implemented a Total Rewards methodology to motivate employees and generate valuable business results using both monetary and non-monetary tools i.e. stock options, restricted stock units, deferred cash, optimal benefits, promoting work life balance and training for advancement.

• Negotiated and implemented all benefit plans, keeping healthcare costs to the company flat year over year by introducing different contribution strategies and various plan designs.

• Senior member of the Steering Committee of GFI’s Disaster Recovery Program. Vice President, Human Resources April 2000 to March 2002 SOCIETE GENERALE – New York, NY

• Senior HRBP at a French multinational Investment Bank and financial services company headquartered in Paris. Supported Corporate Banking and several other departments. Supervised and mentored 2 HRBP’s, a Compensation Analyst and a Payroll Manager.

• Introduced e-recruiting methods and other “low fee/no fee” recruiting alternatives to other HRBPs. o Resulted in a savings of over $700,000 for 2001

Additional Experience

Human Resources Consultant (various short-term assignments) CITIGROUP, CCH, a division of WOLTERS KLUWER, KPMG, and ROBERT FLEMING INC. Completed projects in the areas of Recruitment, Onboarding/Offboarding, and Competency Based Interviewing training. Human Resources Manager

CANTOR FITZGERALD LP – New York, NY

HRBP for a Global Institutional Broker-Dealer with over 3,000 employees. Conducted on-campus recruiting for Training Programs. Managed all Diversity and Inclusion recruitment efforts. Senior Legal Recruiter

VARET & FINK PC, formerly MILGRIM THOMAJAN & LEE PC – New York, NY Legal Recruiter for mid-sized national Law firm with 400 attorneys. Managed all Diversity and Inclusion efforts. Education, Skills, and Professional HR Affiliations NEW YORK UNIVERSITY BA Degree

Awarded Annual Merit Scholarship Triple Major: Political Science, Journalism and French Proficient in Microsoft Suite, Google Suite, PeopleSoft, Oracle, ADP, Slack and Salesforce Bilingual – English and French Active Member – Society of Human Resources Management (2007)

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