JUDY CONTRERAS, PHR
1352 HUNTER DRIVE ï¶ BARTLETT ï¶ IL ï¶ 60103 ï¶ 630-890-5590 ï¶
DIRECTOR OF HUMAN RESOURCES
Dynamic, results-driven, business partner, who is successful in leading and providing solutions for human capital development that aligns with the business goals. I am an excellent relationship builder, negotiator, and presenter.
Core Competencies include:
 Compensation & Benefits
 Employee & Labor Relations
 Workforce Planning & Employment
 Diversity Initiatives
 Training
 Payroll & HRIS  Union Avoidance
 Business Development
 Market Research & Analysis
 Leadership Development
 Team Building
 Benefit Planning
 Succession Planning
 OSHA & Safety Initiatives  Performance Management
 Organizational Development
 Communication and Motivation
 Arbitration, Mediation
 International HR initiatives
 Legal & Litigation avoidance
Education & Professional Development:
ILLINOIS BENEDICTINE COLLEGE, Lisle, IL
Bachelor of Arts: Law & Psychology
KELLER GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT
Completed 1 year towards MBA
PHR Certified
BI-LINGUAL: Spanish
Memberships in the following organizations:
Society of Human Resource Managers, UIC Leadership Studies, Human Resources Association Oak Brook, NW Human Resources Association, American Chamber of Commerce Peoples Republic of China, Human Resources Association Singapore
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
CORMARK, INC., DES PLAINES, IL 2007 - 2009
Human Resources Director
Cormark is a $65 million privately held manufacturer of Point of Purchase Displays for the retail industry
Reported directly to both Presidents and oversaw 500 employees worldwide
Key Achievements
 Turned trade show leads, college interns, into direct placements. Utilized electronic recruiting over recruiters saving $86,000 in the first 6 months.
 Established a visa sponsorship program that yielded a payback scenario after the citizenship was achieved to secure our cost/benefit. This reduced citizenship departures after sponsorship by 100%.
 Reduced temp labor costs by 5% from $2.5 million to $2.375 million.
 Established new compensation programs to maintain competitiveness in the marketplace. Turned 100% of the hourly warehouse management staff to exempt status and negotiated fair compensation for conversion saving the company $30,000 per quarter in overtime.
 Benefits Planning development and management of benefits plans to ensure appropriate coverage, competitiveness, affordability for the firm and employee. Yielded a lower deductible for the employee, implementation of a wellness program, a smoker initiative program. Cost savings compared to renewal saved the company close to $40,000 annually. Converted the 401k program saving each investor 1% in fees while saving the company $1500 in annual expenses.
 Reduced turnover by 3% in the first 6 months. Established a strategy to reduce unemployment chargeable rates. Successful in lowering the Illinois chargeable rate from 6% to 4.4% in one year.
 Uncovered payroll fraud that was taking place with our temporary agency. It dates back 3 years and totals almost $300k. Filed insurance claim, police report and implemented changes to prevent ghost payrolling.
ESSENTIALS OF HUMAN RESOURCES, BARTLETT, IL 2005 – 2007
Owner/Consultant
An advisor for small and medium sized businesses on their human resources practices.
Key Achievements:
 Counseled business owners on compliance and regulatory issues as they related to human capital. Programs addressed: organizational development, recruiting & recruiting practices, unemployment compensation laws, succession planning, diversity, employee relations, recognition & camaraderie programs, total rewards programs with regard to compensation, establishing benchmarks and salary grades, access temporary versus permanent needs, payroll & HRIS, OSHA and safety initiatives, performance planning/merit and training initiatives.
 Audited and reviewed benefits plan for reasonableness and pricing.
 Established compensation plans, performance objectives and merit strategy in line with budget needs.
 Recent assignments have been with a home builder, a manufacturer of international products/retail, and services industries.
DESTINY HEALTH MANAGEMENT LLC, Oak Brook, IL 2002 - 2005
Head of Corporate Human Resources
Destiny Health’s is an entrepreneurial international health insurance company with over 1.6 million members. Owned by Discovery Health, Johannesburg, Africa a $3,635million firm with over 36,000 employees worldwide. Oversaw the US sister company and reported directly to the President and Chairman of the Board
Key Achievements:
 Instrumental in restructuring benefit plans saving the company 40% in annual costs.
 Implemented health solutions to drive down medical premiums enabling the company to see a
 6% rise in health benefits versus a double digit increase.
 Implemented an automated payroll and timekeeping system reducing errors by 100%. Restructured a department of hourly employees to a salaried structure reducing overtime costs by 20%.
 Responsible for unchanged unemployment chargeable rates despite significant outsourcing of jobs. Won all disputed chargeable cases.
 Structured a compensation program to control and address: management bonuses, merit review, performance reviews, and a stock grant program. Monitored effectiveness of all existing compensation policies, guidelines and procedures. Oversee the administration of bonus and incentive plans and recommend plan revisions as needed. Participate and conduct salary surveys to ensure compensation and benefit objectives are achieved.
 Prepare and execute, with legal consultation, benefit documentation such as original and amended plan text, benefit agreements and insurance policies. Instructs insurance carriers and other administrative agencies outside the company to effect changes in benefit program. Ensures prompt
and accurate compliance.
SITA INTERNATIONAL, Wood Dale, IL 1998ï€2002
Director of Human Resources
An $80 billion international e-marketplace organization that enabled over 15,000 airlines, aerospace companies and other aviation industry companies to plan, source, buy, sell and collaborate online. Reported directly to the President and oversaw operations in the US, Canada, London, Singapore and South America.
Key Achievements:
 Skilled in Human Capital development domestically and internationally.
 Recognized by CEO as an exceptional sales development trainer achieving tremendous sales growth in such a short period of time.
 Established, trained and supervised a specialized multi-lingual task force who provided immediate global customer service. This task force increased product usage, improved customer relationships and positioned the company as the only known U.S. entity in the industry capable of providing this service.
 Kept a watchful eye on Arthur Anderson Consultants billable hours.
 Chosen leader to close operation and move company to London.
CREATIVE SOLUTIONS, Concord, MA 1989-1997
Owner/Business Consultant
Independent consultant assisting entrepreneurs obtain Small Business Administration loans.
Key Achievements:
 On site leader developing models for newly established business that focused on marketing strategies, advertising, financial models, funding, and technology that achieved growth for each enterprise to enable independence.
 Developed and established base line human resources policies for start up companies. Established company benefits for medical, dental, long and short term insurance.
 Implemented strategic programs to recruit and train managers.
 Established processes that guided the mission and vision of each enterprise to stay focused on their financial objective.
 Counseled business owners on state compliance and regulatory issues. Full generalist responsibilities for implementation of human resources best practices: organizational development, recruiting & recruiting practices, unemployment compensation laws, succession planning, diversity, employee relations, recognition & camaraderie programs, total rewards programs with regard to compensation, establishing benchmarks and salary grades, access temporary versus permanent needs, payroll & HRIS, OSHA and safety initiatives, workman’s comp, performance planning/merit and training initiatives.
 Industries counseled are: hair salons, dry cleaners, ethnic grocers, liquor stores, bakeries, women’s boutiques, electricians, and waste disposal company.
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