Danis Cuenca Pineiro
Miami,USA
Summary
Strategic and hands-on HR Director with 17+ years of experience driving business growth and transformation across manufacturing, logistics, hospitality, warehouse operations, startups, corporate, education, and technology sectors. Proven success scaling HR functions, aligning talent strategies with complex business goals, and building high-performing, accountable teams in diverse and fast-paced environments.
Passionate about building leaders in every employee by fostering a culture of accountability, trust, and continuous development. Skilled at leading enterprise-wide initiatives—from startup phases to mature organizations—by implementing data-driven workforce planning, compliance optimization, and leadership development programs. Adept at navigating domestic and international labor regulations while fostering inclusive cultures that support innovation and sustainable growth. Trusted partner to executive leadership, delivering scalable HR frameworks and cross-functional collaboration that accelerate business performance.
Overview
15
15
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Director of Human Resources
SWCORP
01.2023 - Current
- Spearheaded enterprise-wide HR strategy across manufacturing, logistics, e-commerce, and customer service divisions, aligning talent operations with business objectives.
- Scaled the company from $10M to $60M through transformative HR leadership—guiding the business from a startup to a family-owned enterprise and ultimately to a structured board-led organization.
- Acted as subject matter expert on each functional role to deeply understand business needs and support long-term scalability.
- Partnered closely with sales and operations to maintain and support large national accounts, including Home Depot, Lowe’s, Walmart, Costco, and Menards.
- Led the development and implementation of a J-1 visa intern program, shaping company culture through global talent integration and fostering a diverse, innovation-driven workforce.
- Provided strategic HR support during business formation, mergers, and acquisitions—managing due diligence, cultural integration, and organizational design for scalable growth.
- Shaved over $1 million in unnecessary costs by implementing real-time accountability systems and process improvements that enabled objective, data-driven decision-making.
- Developed and implemented a comprehensive Employee Handbook, onboarding programs, and department-specific KPI dashboards to drive clarity and performance.
- Served as a key advisor to the CEO and executive team on labor law compliance, international employment regulations, 1099/contractor policies, and visa sponsorships, including F-1 and H-1B processing.
- Reengineered recruiting strategy to build leadership pipelines and fill mission-critical roles under tight timelines.
- Led cross-functional process mapping initiatives to eliminate silos, clarify workflows, and enhance interdepartmental accountability.
- Designed and enforced workplace safety programs, including OSHA-compliant standards and forklift certification protocols.
- Championed an “open door” policy to foster employee trust, engagement, and proactive issue resolution.
- Introduced real-time operational reporting tools (e.g., Takt Time tracking, loss monitoring, and KPI dashboards) through collaboration with IT and operations.
- Rebuilt and restructured the finance department by promoting high-potential internal talent and integrating top-tier external hires, ensuring strong fiscal oversight and sustainable leadership development.
- Conducted investigations and assisted with handling employee complaints involving Affirmative Action and EEOC to promote equitable workplace.
HR Director, College of Education
Florida State University
08.2020 - 12.2022
- - Directed all HR operations including policy development, labor compliance, DEI initiatives, and faculty relations.
- - Introduced HR analytics for engagement tracking and performance metrics.
- - Acted as liaison between academic leadership and central HR to align hiring, retention, and promotion practices with institutional goals.
- - Led HR integration across academic departments during restructuring, ensuring minimal disruption to staff.
- - Collaborated with legal counsel on faculty labor disputes, ensuring fair and compliant resolutions.
- - Streamlined onboarding and performance review processes for academic and non-academic personnel.
- - Developed mentoring and leadership pathways for underrepresented faculty talent.
- Coordinated and worked with management on performance evaluations, supervisory practices, dispute resolution, and employee accountability.
- Maintained optimal staffing levels by tracking vacancies and initiating recruitment and interview processes to identify qualified candidates.
- Negotiated favorable contracts with vendors, maximizing the value of HR services received while minimizing costs.
- Oversaw benefits administration, ensuring compliance and cost-effectiveness of offerings.
- Collaborated with legal and compliance teams to review paperwork, obtain feedback, and procure available information for new training processes.
- Liaised between multiple business divisions to improve communications.
- Instructed senior leaders on appropriate employee corrective steps.
Human Resources Manager
FedEx Ground
06.2017 - 07.2020
- - Led multi-site HR operations, including labor relations, staffing, timekeeping audits, and incident investigation.
- - Built frontline management development programs to reduce turnover and improve supervisory engagement.
- - Supported rapid hiring and safety training for high-volume distribution teams.
- - Drove compliance initiatives in high-risk operational environments, resulting in zero audit penalties.
- - Partnered with logistics and safety teams to reduce workplace incidents by 30%.
- - Piloted digital timekeeping rollout across multiple terminals, increasing payroll accuracy.
- - Mentored junior HR team members and promoted three into management-level roles.
Leader
Apple Inc.
10.2010 - 05.2017
- Provided strategic performance coaching, succession planning, and leadership development across large, high-performing retail teams.
- Led talent reviews, internal mobility, and onboarding for over 200 employees, ensuring a seamless employee lifecycle and rapid team scaling.
- Partnered with corporate HR to implement diversity, equity, and inclusion (DEI) programs and culture-building initiatives across regional store locations.
- Directed change management initiatives during major product launches, retail re-orgs, and shifts in customer engagement models.
- Designed and facilitated over 150 individual development plans to help team members advance into leadership and specialist roles.
- Monitored team-level KPIs and deployed individualized coaching strategies, consistently driving stores to exceed aggressive sales and customer satisfaction targets.
- Acted as HR liaison for cross-store collaboration, talent sharing, and special regional initiatives, supporting alignment and consistency across markets.
- Resolved complex employee relations matters, minimizing legal exposure and preserving Apple’s people-first culture.
- Developed comprehensive employee training and compliance programs that enhanced operational efficiency and frontline capability.
- Advised store leadership on corrective action, coaching techniques, and performance documentation to ensure fair and consistent outcomes.
Education
BBA - Human Resources Management
Nova Southeastern University
Associate Degree - Accounting
Miami Dade College
Skills
- Organizational Development
- HR Transformation
- Global Employment Law
- Employee Experience
- Talent Acquisition Strategy
- Workforce Planning
- Regulatory Compliance
- Policy Development
- Performance Management
- M&A HR Integration
- 1099 Compliance
- Visa & International Workforce Support
- Conflict Resolution
- DEI Strategy
- Technology Implementation (Acumatica, HRIS)
- Compliance management
- Benefits administration
- Human resources administration
- HR software proficiency
- Workers' compensation oversight
- Dispute mediation
- Payroll coordination
- Benefits programs
- HRIS management
- Human resource management software HRMS
- EEO reporting
Certification
- SHRM-SCP – Senior Certified Professional
- Forklift Operator & Safety Compliance (OSHA)
Timeline
Director of Human Resources
SWCORP
01.2023 - Current
HR Director, College of Education
Florida State University
08.2020 - 12.2022
Human Resources Manager
FedEx Ground
06.2017 - 07.2020
Leader
Apple Inc.
10.2010 - 05.2017
Associate Degree - Accounting
Miami Dade College
BBA - Human Resources Management
Nova Southeastern University