Sarah Budzinski
Fishers,IN
Summary
Versatile leader with a rare blend of large-scale operations, human resources, and business development experience across globally recognized and growth-stage organizations. From managing high-volume park operations at Walt Disney World to serving as the sole HR professional and strategic partner for a growing company, known for bringing structure to complexity, leading through change, and building strong teams that deliver results. Proven ability to integrate people, processes, and strategy, whether supporting mergers, launching new systems, or driving multimillion-dollar marketing initiatives, while maintaining a strong focus on culture, performance, and customer experience.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Human Resources and Business Development Manager
Cochran Exteriors
Indianapolis, IN
01.2023 - Current
- Organization’s sole HR practitioner, managing all HR operations including recruitment, employee relations, benefits administration, compliance, performance management, and policy development.
- Business development across residential and commercial sectors, including client relationship management, networking initiatives, and event planning/execution.
- Created the Exterior Maintenance Systems for Community Managers course through CAIMB to teach in classroom and hands on training for Property Managers to learn how to evaluate their facilities for signs of damage, deterioration, and required repairs.
- Played a central role in the merger of the 2023 Cochran Exteriors and Infinity Home Services, aligning organizational culture and developing unified policies and procedures to integrate the combined workforce.
- Manage vehicle fleet operations, including maintenance, titles, and asset disposition to ensure efficiency and value preservation.
- Oversee marketing strategy and a $1M budget, allocating resources across digital, print, and community channels, including Google Ads, Google LSA, Angi, and other lead-generation platforms, to maximize brand visibility and ROI.
- Orchestrated company wide rollout of enterprise systems Zoho, Paycor, CompanyCam, Acculynx, WEX and RingCentral, enabling process standardization and scalable operations.
Director of Customer Experience and Training
Upland Brewing Co.
Indianapolis, IN
05.2021 - 12.2022
- Developed and launched the Upland Training Program, creating standardized materials and delivering courses to support staff development across seven restaurant locations and the brewery.
- Led full-cycle recruitment and onboarding for front-of-house, back-of-house, managerial, and regional roles, ensuring staffing aligned with operational need.
- Coordinated and executed large-scale external events and festivals, such as Tour De Lou, Thunder over Louisville, and Grandfalloon to strengthening brand visibility and community presence.
- Evaluated and approved product donation requests, supporting partnerships with nonprofit organizations and community initiatives.
Store Manager of Operations
The North Face Inc.
St Louis, MO
05.2019 - 04.2021
- Led daily store operations and provided direction, coaching, and performance management to staff to ensure achievement of sales and customer service goals
- Managed full-cycle recruitment and onboarding for store positions, building a high-performing team aligned with operational needs
- Executed visual merchandising strategies in accordance with brand standards to enhance product presentation and drive sales
Guest Experience Manager
Walt Disney World Company
Orlando, FL
01.2009 - 04.2019
- Managed large-scale daily operations across multiple Walt Disney World parks, coordinating cross-functional teams to ensure safety, operational continuity, and exceptional guest experiences for millions of annual visitors.
- Partnered with security, attractions, entertainment, and food & beverage teams to manage operational needs, incident response, special events, and safety protocols in a high-volume environment.
- Served as HR leader supporting park operations, overseeing performance management, employee relations, conflict resolution, and talent development for a large workforce,
- Onboarded full-time, part-time, seasonal, and leadership hires across multiple parks, ensuring alignment with Disney standards and organizational culture.
- Delivered training programs to hundreds of employees across multiple park teams, reinforcing operational standards, safety protocols, and service excellence.
- Supported grand openings of new retail locations, coordinating logistics, staffing, training, and operational readiness.
- Facilitated onboarding and development initiatives for Disney College Program participants, including orientation sessions and career growth programming.
Education
Bachelor of Science -
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations And Advertising
University of Southern Indiana
Evansville, IN12-2008
Skills
- Team leadership
- Business development and planning
- Customer service
- Negotiations
Affiliations
IndyChamber Ambassador
NAWIC
Fishers Chamber of Commerce
Zionsville Chamber of Commerce
Certification
SHRM- CP
Timeline
Human Resources and Business Development Manager
Cochran Exteriors
01.2023 - Current
Director of Customer Experience and Training
Upland Brewing Co.
05.2021 - 12.2022
Store Manager of Operations
The North Face Inc.
05.2019 - 04.2021
Guest Experience Manager
Walt Disney World Company
01.2009 - 04.2019
Bachelor of Science -
Bachelor of Science - Public Relations And Advertising
University of Southern Indiana