CARA CUDE
Springfield
Summary
Human Resources professional with robust experience in talent acquisition, employee relations, and performance management. Proven track record of fostering strong team collaboration and driving results through strategic initiatives. Skilled in conflict resolution, training and development, and organizational development. Adaptable and reliable, ensuring alignment with evolving business needs.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Human Resources Manager
Georgia Pacific
01.2023 - Current
- Supported leadership teams with effective change implementation practices.
- Designs and enacts methods to secure superior results from transformation efforts.
- Collaborated with management to devise strategies for enhancing workforce retention.
- Redesigned pay scales to align with industry standards.
- Ensured compliance with HR policies and regulations.
- Provide guidance, coaching, and consultation regarding leading people and organizational management practices to develop site people leaders
- Conducted policy evaluations for necessary updates.
- Analyzed workforce trends to predict necessary personnel levels.
- Developed and executed comprehensive plans for potential leaders.
Area Human Resources Business Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
05.2021 - 01.2023
- Strategically enhanced business performance across 12 locations in partnership with store and district leaders.
- Develop talent development strategies.
- Provided regular, honest feedback for continuous improvement in employee productivity.
- Guided and coached to enhance leadership skills in people management.
- Utilized human capital knowledge to guide sites in maintaining engagement action plans.
- Lead conversations with site teams on sourcing, recruiting, and staffing plans and partners with the Talent Acquisition team to determine and support hiring plans
- Coach leaders on change management strategies and resistance management techniques
- Develops and implements plans to ensure exceptional results from change initiatives
- Workday, BrassRing, Kronos, and LUCI experience
- Designed initiatives to boost diversity levels across the district.
- Supported alignment of objectives among Staffing Administrators across the stores.
District Talent Acquisition Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
03.2019 - 05.2021
- Oversaw talent acquisition processes spanning 13 diverse locations.
- Collaborated with district leaders and hiring managers to design impactful recruitment strategies.
- Built comprehensive candidate pipelines for both nonexempt and exempt roles.
- Coordinated with hiring managers throughout all stages of candidate selection process.
- Full cycle recruiting
- Developed impactful relationships with educational institutions and civic groups.
- Trained hiring managers on effective recruitment strategies and interview skills
- Engaged at local and in-store hiring events for talent acquisition.
- Served as district brand ambassador.
- Regional brand ambassador for Generation T movement by Lowe’s
- Executed strategic workforce management.
- Organized leadership career fairs and recruitment events used company-wide.
- Acknowledged for upholding efficient processes resulting in a 14-day fill rate.
- Guided peers with performance challenges and trained new talent acquisition associates.
Human Resources Business Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
07.2017 - 03.2019
- District Brand Ambassador
- Listed as Hi Po HRBP in region
- Worked in 48 mil per year location with 210 associates
- Monitored compliance with established policies and procedures.
- Implemented innovative strategies to maximize recruitment efforts.
- Ensured compliance of personnel, DOT driver, and medical files.
- Guided employees through steps for enrolling in benefits programs.
- Ensured I9 compliance
- Strengthened workplace cohesion and collaboration.
- Conducted internal investigations to resolve conflicts.
- Employee Engagement-Led all employee events (meetings, celebrations, etc)
- Counseled leadership on Corrective Action and performance evaluations
- Change Management-Led the locations employees through multiple policy changes, restructures on positions, and much more
- Oversaw team of HR coordinators in busy seasons.
- Ensured schedules were effective so that our profit margins continued to increase
- Conducted comprehensive training sessions for new hires.
- Facilitated comprehensive candidate interviews.
- Biweekly Payroll Processing
- Executed training sessions in partnership with locations' Loss Prevention.
Human Resources Coordinator
Lowe’s Home Improvement
12.2016 - 07.2017
- Collaborated with HR business partner to manage functions across a store employing up to 200 associates.
- Oversaw recruitment discussions.
- Completed preliminary assessments for new employees.
- Facilitated onboarding process for new employees.
- Ensured the accuracy of associate paperwork, personnel files, DOT files, etc
- Facilitated effective conflict resolution.
- Monitored and adjusted schedules to maintain optimal staffing levels.
- Engaged with local networks and participated in functions to attract qualified applicants.
Overnight Support Manager
Walmart
08.2015 - 12.2016
- Led oversight for groups ranging from 20 to 30 associates.
- Guaranteed all freight schedules were adhered to.
- Conducted performance evaluations
- Created effective schedules
- Designed workflows to enhance precision.
- Change Management
- Facilitated interviews, providing critical evaluation of candidates.
- Managed inventory control processes for optimal stock levels.
- Conflict resolution with associates and customers
- Monitored adherence to established policies and procedures.
Education
Bachelor’s Degree - Organizational Management, Human Resources
Ashford University
10.2015
Skills
- Various HRIS
- Community engagement
- LinkedIn and indeed Recruiter experience
- Change management and resistance techniques
- Succession planning
- Engagement and morale action planning
- Compensation structure review
- Job analysis and revision
- Policy analysis and revision
- Strategic planning
- Business partnerships
- Problem solving
- Conflict management
- Investigation
- Streamlining processes and procedures
- Leadership development
- Full cycle recruitment
Previous Name
Cara Leake
Timeline
Human Resources Manager
Georgia Pacific
01.2023 - Current
Area Human Resources Business Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
05.2021 - 01.2023
District Talent Acquisition Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
03.2019 - 05.2021
Human Resources Business Partner
Lowe’s Home Improvement
07.2017 - 03.2019
Human Resources Coordinator
Lowe’s Home Improvement
12.2016 - 07.2017
Overnight Support Manager
Walmart
08.2015 - 12.2016
Bachelor’s Degree - Organizational Management, Human Resources
Ashford University
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