CHERYL FARRELL
WALNUT CREEK
Summary
Human Resources Administrator with extensive expertise in benefits administration and data analysis, drawing from over two decades of experience in human resources and transportation development. Proficient in HRIS, ADP, and project management, ensuring accurate and efficient operations. Demonstrates exceptional attention to detail and strong multi-tasking abilities, committed to enhancing organizational efficiency and employee satisfaction.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Retirement Specialist
John Muir Health
Walnut Creek, CA
07.2025 - Current
- Consults and advises employees, retirees, and/or beneficiaries on retirement benefit plan policies, procedures, options, and legal requirements for the JMH Retirement Plan, JMH 403(b) plans, JMH Retiree Medical Insurance, and JMH Retiree Medical Account
- Facilitates and processes pension related calculations for withdrawal of contributions and deferred retirement. Processes contribution adjustments, refunds, and other administrative changes
- Validates eligibility and approves 403(b) distributions and loan requests
- Reviews and enters retirement plan distributions for JMH Retirement Plan in trustee system
- Collaborates with legal and actuary to determine QDRO qualification and approval for JMH Retirement Plan and JMH 403(b) Plan
- Creates expense forecast for Treasury to ensure proper funding of distributions. Coordinates with actuaries, plan administrator, Treasury, and other professionals to provide verified and completed data for administration of retirement benefits
- Conducts monthly and quarterly audits in retirement plan systems and Workday, reconciling against eligibility, billing, and error reports to ensure data accuracy and integrity
- Maintains participant records and confirms vesting percentages are accurate for matching when distributions are requested
- Partners with Benefits Manager on annual audit for JMH Retirement Plan and JMH 403(b) plan to provide requested data
- Acquires and distributes relevant information and documentation to plan participants and beneficiaries, including annual compliance notices
- Works closely with Client Service Managers and vendors with updates, change requests, and issues resolution
- Administers enrollment in JMH Retiree Health insurance benefits and JMH Retiree Medical Account
- Assists with Open Enrollment projects, including review and audit of enrollments, reviews content in employee benefit booklets, as well as other internal communications
- Serves as back up for employees requesting enrollment assistance or have questions regarding health and voluntary benefits
Transportation Development Coordinator
Contra Costa Centre Association
08.2023 - Current
- Manage commute programs, enhancing participation and efficiency.
- Create marketing materials, boosting event engagement.
- Plan and execute events, ensuring smooth operations.
- Audit metrics, providing insightful reports to stakeholders.
- Track invoices, maintaining financial accuracy.
Human Resources Administrator
Amerit Fleet Solutions
08.2022 - 08.2023
- Manage and maintain Zendesk (HR Support) tickets and responses.
- Ensure smooth communication with employees/Fleet Managers and timely resolution to questions/concerns.
- Maintain HRIS records and compile reporting.
- HRIS updates such as terminations, rate changes, personal updates, transfers, reporting changes.
- Create and present regular reports and presentation related to HR metrics.
Human Resources/Recruiting Coordinator
Hills Physicians/PriMed
02.2022 - 08.2022
- Candidate Prescreening.
- Open requisitions and manage status for recruitment team and managers.
- Prepare and distribute recruitment statistical reports.
- Review offer letters, conduct reference and background checks.
- Onboarding compliance.
- Provide service to candidates, new hires, and employees.
- Invoice tracking and purchase orders.
- HRIS data updates and audits.
- Maintain recruitment dashboards.
Executive Assistant, Human Resources
Central Garden & Pet
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Monthly headcount and turnover report analysis.
- Create Restricted Stock Agreements and track approvals.
- Coordinate severance agreement details and assemble packets.
- Review offer letters and maintain Comp & Equity report.
- Monthly coordination of service award file review and submission.
- Create bonus letters and stock option letters.
- Scheduling of internal meetings.
- Coordinate and schedule itineraries for high-level candidates.
- Business travel planning for domestic travel and submit/review expense reports.
- Schedule candidate interviews.
- Type correspondence, memos, agreements, offer letters.
- Maintain spreadsheets for quarterly compensation reviews, president awards, contacts, locations, and distribution lists.
Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
The Cooper Companies
01.2017 - 01.2018
- Greet visitors and positively represent the HR department to employees and guests.
- Run benefits monthly eligibility reports.
- Audit and track monthly benefit invoicing and payments.
- Handle confidential material relevant to company operations and maintain files.
- Coordinate calendars by making appointments and initiating meetings, including reservations for catering and audio/visual.
- Produce and distribute accurate meeting notices, agendas and minutes, and track follow-up on action items.
- Produce and distribute quarterly Learning and Development calendars.
- Manage Human Resources intranet page.
- Manage milestone anniversary program.
- Prepare expense reports and general office invoices for payment.
- Create and update various documents, spreadsheets, and PowerPoint presentations, including organizational charts and maintaining employee contact information.
- Sort and distribute in-coming department mail; package and send out-going mail.
- Print and copy documents, prepare binders, and coordinate printing with outside vendors.
- Coordinate special projects.
- Work with Executive Admin Team to provide backup support to Receptionist, including: switchboard relief, greet visitors, sign for and deliver packages, process daily mail.
- Assist with Global Wellness and Corporate events duties as assigned.
- Provide support on department projects and initiatives as assigned.
Executive Assistant - Legal Services
John Muir Health
12.2015 - 03.2017
- Maintain daily appointment calendars and mail for Counsel.
- Collect and prepare information as needed for discussions and meetings.
- Type correspondence, reports, memoranda as requested.
- Prepare and track departmental policies to appropriate JMH entities.
- Communicate complex information to management and outside counsel.
- Performs legal and database research.
- Manage Education Affiliation Agreements.
- Manage Legal Outside Counsel spend – invoice tracking and reporting.
- Assist in managing the routing of subpoenas and other documents served on JMH.
Human Resources Assistant – Projects
John Muir Health
09.2014 - 12.2015
- Employee Events: Oversee Employee Service Awards Program, National Hospital Week BBQ, December Holiday event and other JMH employee recognition programs as directed by the Sr. Leadership Team (e.g. Take Your Kids to Work Day activities, Customer Service Initiatives, Recruitment initiatives).
- Employee of the Month/Year: Coordinate the Employee of the Month program for WC and CC which includes scheduling and facilitating monthly meetings with employee committees, recruiting committee members, advising managers of employee’s nomination and obtaining manager’s evaluation. Create monthly write-up on EOM for display in cafeteria hallway and newsletter. Organize and facilitate notification of award to EOM winner. Schedule and organize annual employee of the year selection and reception, assuring Senior Leadership will be present to announce the EOY.
- Coordinate information between Payroll and Department manager for employee terminations @ Concord and BHC. Process terminations in HRIS system and send separation evaluation to all managers. Follow up with manager to assure separation evaluation is completed.
- Provide clerical assistance to HR Director on an “as-needed” basis.
- Triage Employee Relations calls to HR Directors and Employee Relations Manager.
- Provide support to Benefits team when needed.
- Provide back-up to HR reception desk and Executive Assistant when needed.
- UI Claims Support: Upon receipt of UI claim from EDD department, review and provide documents and information that is required to process the UI claim responses for our third party administrator and HR Business Partner or Comp Analyst. Assure that response is filed in a timely manner to ensure compliance.
Executive Assistant/Supervisor
John Muir Health
06.2013 - 09.2014
- Provide customer service to 6000+ employees.
- Support SVP, Human Resources and Director, Human Resources with calendaring, travel, complex meeting coordination.
- Manage HR Receptionist.
- Departmental Budget Reconciliation.
- Manage complex Health System wide initiatives - coordination of mass communication materials, execution of major deliverables.
- Assist with Employee Relations issues.
Senior Human Resources Assistant
John Muir Health
04.2006 - 06.2013
- Provide customer service to 6000+ employees.
- Support Recruitment Department (job postings, reference checking, interview scheduling, preparing new hire paperwork, hosting new hire orientation).
- Assist in new hire and open enrollment benefit elections.
- Audit data integrity between several HRIS systems related to Benefits and Recruitment.
- Manage student eligibility program.
- Assist in Leave of Absence process.
- Serve as back-up to Retirement Specialist and Senior Human Resources Assistant, Benefits.
- Manage benefits email inbox and phone lines.
Human Resources Assistant
John Muir Health
06.2005 - 04.2006
- Provide customer service to 6000+ employees.
- Data Entry of high volume employment applications.
- Manage department switchboard (first point of contact for employees, applicants, and executives).
- Manage file room and employee files.
- Process verification of employment (written and oral).
- Assist Human Resource Director.
Executive Assistant, GameSpot
CNET Networks
01.2002 - 01.2003
- Support Senior VP and VP of Sales & Marketing.
- Process and submit expense reports.
- Support Sales Team (RFP requests, presentation/report presentations).
- Support Marketing Team (events, client appreciation).
- Maintain client database (updated contact information).
Sales Assistant, GameGroup
Ziff Davis Media
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Support Senior VP and VP of Sales & Marketing.
- Process and submit expense reports.
- Support Sales Team (RFP requests, presentation/report presentations).
- Support Marketing Team (events, client appreciation).
- Maintain client database (updated contact information).
- Assist Production Department with insertion orders (four monthly magazines).
Education
High School Diploma -
Sacred Hearts Academy
Honolulu05-1988
Skills
- Microsoft Office (Experienced), ADP (Skillful), PeopleSoft (Skillful), Workday (Experienced), Customer Service (Expert), Benefits Administration (Experienced), HRIS (Experienced), Event Planning (Experienced), Project Management (Experienced), Data Analysis (Experienced), Administrative Support (Expert), HR Administration (Experienced), Recruitment (Experienced), Employee Relations (Skillful), Report Generation (Experienced), Budget Management (Skillful), Documentation (Expert)
Timeline
Retirement Specialist
John Muir Health
07.2025 - Current
Transportation Development Coordinator
Contra Costa Centre Association
08.2023 - Current
Human Resources Administrator
Amerit Fleet Solutions
08.2022 - 08.2023
Human Resources/Recruiting Coordinator
Hills Physicians/PriMed
02.2022 - 08.2022
Executive Assistant, Human Resources
Central Garden & Pet
01.2018 - 01.2021
Administrative Assistant, Human Resources
The Cooper Companies
01.2017 - 01.2018
Executive Assistant - Legal Services
John Muir Health
12.2015 - 03.2017
Human Resources Assistant – Projects
John Muir Health
09.2014 - 12.2015
Executive Assistant/Supervisor
John Muir Health
06.2013 - 09.2014
Senior Human Resources Assistant
John Muir Health
04.2006 - 06.2013
Human Resources Assistant
John Muir Health
06.2005 - 04.2006
Executive Assistant, GameSpot
CNET Networks
01.2002 - 01.2003
Sales Assistant, GameGroup
Ziff Davis Media
01.2000 - 01.2002
High School Diploma -
Sacred Hearts Academy