Human Resources

DONNA C. PORTER

**************@*****.*** • 423-***-****

Summary

I am a seasoned Human Resources Executive with a strong 20-year history in strategic human resources leadership, team coaching, benefits, total rewards, policy writing, payroll, compliance, and analytics, plus accounting experience. My expertise extends to the strategic planning, design, implementation, and administration of comprehensive human resources services, with a particular focus on enhancing employee relations and leveraging technology to optimize organizational performance. I have an extensive background in managing HR functions in multiple states, including experience in acquisitions and post-merger integrations. I concentrate on ensuring employment law compliance across regions, and I excel in driving change and fostering a culture of diversity, equity, and inclusion, ensuring strategic alignment with business goals across multiple geographic regions. I have operated as a corporate human resources department of one and later developed a human resources team.

Experience

Human Resources and Compliance Consulting March 2023 - Current

Self-employed, Palatine, Illinois

●Led due diligence and post-merger integration efforts for acquisitions, ensuring seamless transitions and alignment of HR policies.

●Completed comprehensive market wage studies and developed equitable pay scales, ensuring compliance with regulatory requirements.

●Implemented new HRIS (Smartlinx), focusing on enhancing compensation and performance management processes, and new payroll system (Paycor) from setup to end user training.

●Collaborated with senior leadership to onboard employees and integrate compensation strategies at newly acquired locations.

●Audited payroll and benefits to ensure alignment with organizational objectives and regulatory standards.

●Developed comprehensive HR policies and handbooks tailored for company and state compliance, enhancing legal adherence and operational efficiency.

Vice President, Human Resources Operations July 2019 - March 2023

Lutheran Life Communities, Arlington Heights, Illinois

●Provided human resources, benefits administration, payroll, compliance, and employee engagement support for six non-profit Continuing Care Retirement Communities in three states with an employee count of approximately 1,500.

●Supported community human resources staff by providing in-person coaching and training; conducting routine and unscheduled compliance audits at the community; and assuming community human resources responsibilities at the community in the absence of their human resources manager.

●Established strategic partnerships for benefits administration to negotiate contracts and oversee bid processes to ensure cost-effectiveness and alignment with company strategy.

●Developed and implemented policies and programs focused on compliance, safety, employee engagement, total benefits, turnover reduction, and company culture.

●Headed the successful implementation of HRIS (Paylocity) and timeclock/scheduling software (Smartlinx) to improve human resources operational efficiency.

●Utilized benchmarking, data analytics, and CompAnalyst compensation tool to assess the effectiveness of compensation structures and made strategic recommendations for adjustments to establish guidelines for base pay range analysis to ensure market competitiveness.

●Oversaw performance management and compensation cycles, ensuring internal equity and market competitiveness.

●Evaluated performance and expertise of human resources team members to provide learning opportunities to increase their human resources skills and knowledge.

●Conducted periodic community audits to ensure compliance with company policies, as well as federal and state regulations.

●Served as an administrator and point of contact for 403(b) plan, including conducting annual testing for compliance.

●Investigated all compliance hotline calls without bias to resolve non-compliance issues and employee conflicts.

●Negotiated with Teamsters union to establish equitable benefits and working conditions; engage in the employee grievance process to reach a fair resolution; and improve company-union relations.

Vice President, Human Resources & Risk Management August 2007 - July 2019

Senior Living Support Services, Cleveland, Tennessee

●Provided strategic HR leadership across multi-state operations (both non-profit and for profit) that included Continuing Care Retirement Communities, Skilled Nursing and Rehab Facilities, and Home Health Agencies in seven states for 2,000 employees, focusing on compliance, employee relations, payroll, benefits, regulatory adherence, and employee engagement.

●Aligned human resources initiatives with corporate goals and business strategy through routinely scheduled visits with community leadership and its human resources department.

●Served as a human resources consultant and advisor for corporate and community management.

●Established and maintained close relationships with employee benefits brokers and brokers, collaborating closely with them to design and introduce employee benefit plans that met the needs of both the business and its employees.

●Conducted due diligence and post-merger integration efforts for the acquisition of thirteen locations, assimilating them into the company culture and human resources systems to ensure seamless transitions and alignment of human resources policies.

●Assessed community human resources team members, provided training or corrective action, and recruited stronger employees when needed.

●Created a corporate human resources department to include Human Resources Manager, Total Rewards Manager, and Payroll Manager.

●Implemented a comprehensive analytics dashboard for senior leadership, providing insights into key human resources metrics such as turnover, retention, compliance issues, and compensation trends.

●Managed payroll processing for all communities and conducted periodic audits for accuracy.

●Developed and executed a comprehensive learning and development program, enhancing employee engagement and retention.

●Designed and led large-scale organizational transformation initiatives, including workforce planning and process optimization.

●Served as the primary contact for the implementation of timeclock/scheduling software (Smartlinx), improving efficiency in compensation and performance management.

●Developed and implemented annual salary increase programs and merit bonuses to attract and retain top talent, ensuring competitive positioning.

●Served as Compliance Officer, ensuring adherence to human resources laws and regulations, and developed human resources policies and procedures, enhancing organizational compliance and efficiency.

●Responded to all corporate hotline calls, investigating allegations and following up with disciplinary action as needed.

Education

In Progress: Senior Professional in Human Resources certification

Master of Business Administration

William Woods University

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration

Lipscomb University

●Accounting major

Skills and Accomplishments

●Demonstrated leadership in developing and mentoring human resources teams, both at the corporate level and in individual communities, by fostering a culture of continuous improvement and strategic alignment with organizational goals.

●Developed strategic policies and procedures to increase compliance and efficiency while decreasing risk.

●Experienced in developing departmental budgets.

●Managed all workers compensation, FMLA, and ADA claims to their conclusion.

●Effective communication skills utilized for company and employee communication, including board presentations, handbook development and routine employee newsletters.

●Proven expertise in HRIS implementation, with quick adaptability to innovative technologies.

●Deep understanding of federal, state, and local employment laws, with a focus on compliance.

●Experienced in utilizing compensation data management tools and adaptable to innovative technologies, ensuring efficient and effective compensation analysis.

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