Archie Penson
Grayson
Summary
Dynamic talent acquisition leader with a proven track record at HARVEST SHERWOOD FOOD DISTRIBUTORS, enhancing retention by 40% through strategic workforce planning and DE&I initiatives. Expert in leveraging data analytics and ATS technologies to refine recruitment processes. Skilled in building high-performing teams and fostering an inclusive candidate experience.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Talent Acquisition, Human Resources
HARVEST SHERWOOD FOOD DISTRIBUTORS
Atlanta
01.2023 - Current
- Leading talent acquisition initiatives that resulted in a 40% improvement in retention rates, supporting overall company growth targets.
- Mentoring and developing a team of talent acquisition partners to achieve professional growth in the organization.
- Partnering with leadership teams to create recruitment strategies to align with evolving industry trends and technologies.
- Collaborating with business and operational leaders to reduce staffing agency relationships, saving the Company $ 2 million in outsourcing costs.
- Develop and implement short- and long-term talent acquisition strategies to attract, retain, and develop top-tier talent
- Enhance candidate experience by optimizing hiring processes and aligning recruitment initiatives with organizational values
- Analyzing recruitment metrics and data to optimize processes and improve hiring outcomes, reducing time-to-fill by 81%.
- Managing the talent acquisition strategy for expansion initiatives, successfully hiring 500+ employees for corporate and 14 regional locations while ensuring 95% cultural fit and reducing onboarding time by 45%.
- Created a talent acquisition survey for hiring managers and candidates to analytics to help guide decision-making, measure team productivity, and program ROI
- Leverage data analytics to identify trends, measure team productivity, and refine recruitment strategies for maximum ROI
- Drive key talent initiatives, including DE&I, internship programs, employee referral programs, onboarding, retention, and engagement
- Manage third-party vendor relationships to optimize contingent labor strategies
- Ensure compliance with DOT/FMCSA regulations for driver hiring and pre-employment processes
- Oversee recruitment marketing efforts, leveraging digital platforms and community partnerships to attract top talent
- Collaborate with organizational leaders to develop retention strategies and mitigate turnover challenges
Director, Talent Acquisition & Onboarding, Human Resources
AARON’S
Atlanta
10.2021 - 11.2022
- Led multi-state and Canada-based full-cycle recruiting efforts, coaching and developing a high-performing talent acquisition team
- Coached and developed a team of 26 talent acquisition professionals that reduced the time to fill positions by 60%.
- Managed the $200,000 talent acquisition budget and reduced annual recruiting costs by 30%.
- Designed and executed innovative recruitment strategies, including university partnerships and outreach initiatives
- Partnered with senior business leaders to develop annual hiring plans aligned with workforce needs
- Spearheaded the development of an enterprise pipeline framework for long-term talent sustainability
- Managed onboarding processes for executive and management-level hires, ensuring compliance and efficiency
- Worked closely with legal teams to ensure hiring policies adhered to federal, state, and local regulations
Regional Talent Acquisition Manager, Human Resources
LOWE’S COMPANIES
Atlanta
12.2019 - 10.2021
- Led a multi-state recruitment team of 11 professionals, driving talent acquisition strategies aligned with corporate goals
- Mentored and trained a team of (13) talent acquisition professionals, managed a $300,000 annual budget, and reduced recruiting costs by 25% in one year.
- Established robust sourcing strategies to maintain a pipeline of diverse, high-caliber talent.
- Collaborated with C-suite executives to develop and execute talent strategies that supported organizational agility, the company brand, customer service, and business goals.
- Worked with Central TA, Talent Attraction teams, and Campus Talent Acquisition to develop partnerships with 100+ colleges, universities, and professional organizations.
- Developed and analyzed talent acquisition metrics to improve hiring effectiveness and workforce planning
- Led military hiring initiatives, partnering with USO, DOD Skillbridge, Veteran Affairs, and military job fairs
- Advised senior leadership on market trends, competitor intelligence, and industry best practices
- Fostered DE&I initiatives by implementing targeted candidate sourcing strategies
Manager, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources
HD SUPPLY
Atlanta
03.2014 - 11.2019
- Managed full-cycle recruiting operations for exempt and non-exempt roles across multiple regions and Canada
- Launched a talent acquisition department that generated $250,000 in cost savings by implementing effective hiring policies.
- Collaborated with leadership to create targeted talent solutions that improved candidate retention by 30%, strengthening the company's competitive position in the job market.
- Developed and executed targeted recruitment strategies, including military hiring programs and veteran outreach
- Maintained OFCCP compliance and best practices in hiring and candidate selection
- Provided strategic insights to HR partners and senior leaders regarding hiring trends and workforce planning
- Implemented process improvements to streamline hiring workflows and enhance candidate experience
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Corporate Innovation
Post University
Waterbury, CT12-2025
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Post University
Human Resources Certification -
Post University
Skills
- Talent Acquisition Strategy
- Workforce Planning
- Diversity, Equity & Inclusion (DE&I) Initiatives
- Employer Branding
- Recruitment Marketing
- Executive Hiring
- High-Volume Hiring
- Candidate Experience
- Onboarding Optimization
- Vendor Management
- Stakeholder Management
- HR Compliance
- Employment Regulations
- Military Recruitment
- Veteran Recruitment
- Applicant Tracking Systems (ATS)
- ICIMS
- OpenHire
- Taleo
- Dayforce
- BrassRing
- Workday
- Data Analytics
- HR Metrics
- Power BI
- Microsoft Office Suite
Quote
The team with the best players wins! Jack Welch
Leadership And Accomplishments
- 2024, Received the Impact Award as Head of Talent Acquisition for top retention metrics, cost savings of over 3.5 million and time to fill lowered from 82 days to 28 days
- 2021, Recognized as Top Regional Manager and awarded the Impact Award.
- 2020, Achieved the highest hiring rates and time-to-hire (TTH) performance in company history.
Accomplishments
· Top Region within the company from a TTH perspective, along with hires for FY19
· Recognized as Top Regional Manager for the division with the Impact Award FY 2021
· Recognized for Strategic Leadership Award FY 2024
· FedEx Bravo Zulu Award (Above & Beyond - Development of Cost Savings for the Recruitment of IT Director)
· FedEx Bravo Zulu Award (Outstanding Customer Service resulting in the fastest Hire in the company's History)
· Awarded Recruiter of the Year
· Awarded 2d Brigade 'red tee-shirt campaign' for having the highest retention in the company
Timeline
Head of Talent Acquisition, Human Resources
HARVEST SHERWOOD FOOD DISTRIBUTORS
01.2023 - Current
Director, Talent Acquisition & Onboarding, Human Resources
AARON’S
10.2021 - 11.2022
Regional Talent Acquisition Manager, Human Resources
LOWE’S COMPANIES
12.2019 - 10.2021
Manager, Talent Acquisition, Human Resources
HD SUPPLY
03.2014 - 11.2019
Master of Business Administration (MBA) - Corporate Innovation
Post University
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Post University
Human Resources Certification -
Post University
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