Cynthia Upshaw

Accomplished Human Resources leader skilled in managing end-to-end Employee Lifecycle programs across diverse industries including Transportation, Service, Hospitality, and Retail. Proven expertise in developing and implementing effective HR strategies that align with the organization's culture, vision, and strategic goals. Skilled in managing and leading teams, building relationships, and driving results. Deliver top-tier Human Resources services while fostering strong relationships across all employee levels. Talented Human Resources Director with a deep understanding of business needs. A creative leader with a commitment to collaboration. Highly skilled in project management to meet business objectives.

▪ Spearheaded benefits automation, slashing administration costs by 50% and operational costs by 20% through collaboration with brokers, IT departments, and carriers in the development of a weekly benefits activity report with a discrepancy file. This brought benefits administration into real time.

▪ Revamped HR programs using gap analyses, enhancing efficiency, ensuring compliance, and elevating employee relations, thereby reinforcing company's HR brand consistency and awareness through targeted training initiatives, which helped establish organization as a leader in the industry and a preferred employer for top talent.

▪ Pioneered a web-based HR portal with defined security roles, enhancing employee access and task-based privileges.

▪ Achieved a 20% reduction in time-to-fill positions by optimizing recruiting and onboarding operations, streamlining staffing resources, and selecting exclusive agencies for high-volume initiatives.

▪ Co-authored an HR Guide for field management and developed tailored curriculum to support front-line managers in effective employee lifecycle management.

▪ Overhauled Driver's Qualification File system and implemented cost-effective drug compliance programs, resulting in a 15% reduction in operating costs and consistent safety score improvements.

▪ Integrated Drug-Free Workplace programs, achieving a 6% savings on worker's compensation premiums through streamlined testing policies.

▪ Developed Training Systems, Safety Management Manuals, HR Guide, create and modify existing Policies and Procedures, Employee Handbook, New Hire Packages, company specific forms.

▪ Management and administration of industry/government programs (OSHA, MSHA, FMCSA, DOL, Worker's Compensation) ensuring compliance and controlling operating costs; program/case management, training and renewal negotiations.

▪ Point of contact for management, employees, vendors and compliance reporting for HR programs.

▪ Supervised staff in multi-site, multi-state matrix environment ensuring all programs and processes are done correctly to mitigate risk, perform random audits: recruiting, on boarding, performance evaluations, employee relations, compliance directives, FMLA/Leave Administration, Worker's Compensation, 401k Administration, payroll administration. Etc.