Eustache Cummings
Charlotte,USA
Summary
Dedicated professional with 20 years of experience in human resources, specializing in employee empowerment, grievance proceedings, and strategic event planning. Demonstrated expertise in retail, healthcare, manufacturing, and technology sectors, with a strong track record in People Leadership and Retention. Proven ability to identify and resolve issues affecting internal controls and procedures to enhance operational efficiency. Committed to leveraging skills to drive organizational change and maximize resource utilization.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Principal Consultant (Contract CHRO)
The Cummings Group
Savannah, GA
03.2017 - Current
- Created and maintained positive working relationships that maximized effectiveness during engagement
- Establish talent philosophy, principles, and policies to enable effective implementation of global talent management solutions
- DEI leader who designed strategies, metrics, learning and development, training, employee focused groups, community engagement and leadership liaison for financial services, technology, manufacturing, logistics, and transportation
- Collaborated with leaders to set goals/targets in work streams that elevate DEI
- Partners with leaders in the business on HR strategies and strategic projects including performance management, DEI, career development, succession planning, workforce planning
- Develop Brand, business strategies, and global workforce plans in line with business strategies, mission, vision, and values
- Accountable for driving organizational effectiveness, organizational change, and establishing organizational strategies
- Manage workforce plans during the budget cycle while partnering with Regional HRBP to understand regional strategies and global recruitment efforts
- Lead global business collaborations through large-scale people and/or change management initiatives including business transformations, organization design/evolution/development, restructuring, etc
- Design global brand organizational strategies based on business priorities and channels of distribution while partnering with Regional HRBP to ensure Local and Regional relevancy
- Coach Managers in leading global/regional teams, living corporate values, and aligning to global standard policies/processes
- Led global HR operations and strategies for one hundred franchises, generating over $40 million in revenues
- Supported private equity startup real estate company with $18 million budget, $28 million in payroll, total rewards and benefits programs
- Enabled operational change led to a $4.3 million reduction in HR costs
- Redesigned core business operations of 1 fast-track company achieve its goals
- Executed flawless workforce assimilation into core business operations by integrating 40+ staff in the aftermath of 4 acquisitions and contributed profitable revenue with >$2M in first-year savings
- Responsible for the design, implementation, and ongoing evaluation of the organization's compensation programs, including base pay, incentive pay, and performance management programs
- Leads client's compensation function and works with senior management to ensure the compensation strategy and programs support the organization's business objectives, meet all legal requirements, and deliver value and equitable pay
- Lead the evaluation, design, and implementation of talent and performance management strategies for clients, including programs for employee assessment and performance improvement, leadership and employee learning and development, career pathing and employee mobility, high-potential talent identification and retention, and reward and recognition efforts in line with the company's strategic initiatives and fundamental values
- Lead a team of HR Business Partners who contribute to the development and execution of strategic people programs and serve as thought partners to the business to effectively align people and company strategy
- Designed and led global performance management processes to drive greater performance accountability and outcomes, including effective department, team, and individual goal setting practices
- Established, optimized, and lead succession planning and talent review processes necessary to build and strengthened bench and pipeline of leaders, focusing on critical roles with the highest impact
- Managed leadership 360 and coaching engagements, leveraging internal and external capabilities to support development of successors and high potential leaders through six and nine box matrixes
- Provided diligent oversight relative to maximizing our support levels for our external and internal customers
- Identified operational efficiencies and developed action plans for management review, provided project management support to executives and other leadership
- Coached and developed non-exempt and exempt level direct reports on quarterly goals and development plans
- Created performance management tools for drive analytics and KPIs to drive organizational success
Regional Human Resources Manager
Nordic Cold Storage
Pooler, GA
03.2015 - 03.2017
- Reduced costs for employers over two years through cost-cutting and reduction programs
- Administered all facets of personnel policies and procedures, including conception, modification, and approval of professional staff additions, multi-Unit role
- Addressed employee conflicts with appropriate urgency, following all corporate procedures
- Collaborated with the entire human resource department to discuss new ways to recruit top talent
- Mediated between multiple business divisions to improve communications
- Structured compensation and benefits according to market conditions and budget demands
- Coordinated implementation of people-related services, policies, and programs through departmental staff
- Planned, monitored, and appraised employee work results by training managers to coach and discipline employees
- Support delivery of cyclical HR processes e.g., performance management, salary & bonus review
- Utilized business acumen and experience to achieve a positive environment for engaged employees
- Communicated performance expectations in accordance with job descriptions for each position
- Conducted investigations into employee complaints and concerns to determine resolutions
- Managed employee lifecycle processes by handling onboarding, employee performance, and discipline tasks
- Supported efforts of department managers in managing staffing budgets for direct and indirect labor
- Studied legislation, arbitration decisions, and collective bargaining contracts to assess industry trends
- Developed and administered comprehensive and compliant HR workplace policies and training
- Analyzed and modified compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and comply with legal requirements
- Developed and administered special projects in areas such as pay equity, savings bond programs, daycare, and employee awards
Regional Human Resources Manager
Sears Holdings Corporation
Savannah, GA
10.2013 - 03.2015
- Addressed employee conflicts with appropriate urgency, following all corporate procedures
- Leaver management: ensure prompt and accurate processing of leavers and generate documentation, data management, and file management
- Developed and conducted talent development centers to support continuous development
- Assist with staff communications and tracking activities for annual staff surveys, compensation pack, performance management processes, etc
- Oversee and manage a performance appraisal system that drives high performance
- Assist in conducting and cooperating with a quarterly group of companies' HR manager meeting
- Collaborate and participate actively in the development of HR solutions with line managers
- HR Partner: maintains strong client focus by working with line management to deliver HR solutions in support of business objectives and HR strategies
- Coordinated implementation of people-related services, policies, and programs through departmental staff
- Conducted annual salary surveys and developed, analyzed, and updated company salary budgets
- Established evaluation and performance management policies and measurements
- Analyzed and modified compensation and benefits policies to establish competitive programs and comply with legal requirements
- Performed difficult staffing duties, including dealing with understaffing, refereeing disputes, firing employees, and administering disciplinary procedures
Senior Human Resources Leader
JCPenney
Macon, Georgia
10.2012 - 10.2013
- Promoted internally from Human Resources Leader to Senior Human Resources Leader, implemented new policies and procedures, initiated coaching and career planning tools through succession planning for internal talent, and developed talent and leadership development programs for exempt and non-exempt team members
- Led HR function for six hundred employees across two locations and one warehouse
- Realigned hourly HR roles and responsibilities to increase visibility and performance
- Executed training and development cycles in collaboration with site management teams
- Responsible for district recruitment programs consulting with the corporate office
- Established district external branding materials to assist with the attraction of talent
- Talent/Performance Management design: Designed to bring people up to speed faster through optimizing productivity, identifying gaps in skills, actively training people to develop opportunistic skills, identifying best ways to engage employees, and lastly designing effectively retained talent to stay productive
- Implemented successful incentives plans along with market salary structures to ensure competitive and increased retention by 78% and reduced turnover by 72%
- Led companywide culture change process that resulted in a reduction in turnover by 69%
- Designed departmental policies and procedures to manage customer complaints and employee relations
- Designed human capital scorecard to ensure tracking metrics and KPIs were major focus to ensure aligned with strategy, vision, mission, and values of the organization
- Strategic partner to corporate projects and worked on talent/performance management and workforce planning designs and strategies
- Coordinated and worked with management on performance evaluations, supervisory practices, dispute resolution, and employee accountability
- Maintained an 'open door' policy to encourage employee communication and resolution of issues
- Reduced expenses by analyzing compensation policies and implementing competitive programs while ensuring adherence to legal requirements
- Created spreadsheets using Microsoft Excel for daily, weekly, and monthly reporting
- Achieved regulatory compliance with no adverse audit findings for facilities, documentation compliance, or safety
- Implemented a behavioral-based performance management system to define expectations, standards, and key performance areas
- Designed five employee engagement strategies to improve morale, retain talent, and maintain business continuity
- Provided management with information and training related to interviewing, performance appraisals, counseling techniques, and documentation of performance issues
Senior Director of Human Resources
Camp Pathways
Savannah, Georgia
02.2002 - 09.2012
- Developed all facets and programs due to Human Resources in its infancy
- Created HRIS system for applicant tracking, payroll processing, management and employee profiles, performance management and talent management planning, and metric tracking systems
- Developed annual plan to determine human resources 'service commitment' requirements
- Executed training and development cycles in collaboration with site management teams
- Created human resources budgets and worked with CFO on planning to ensure gain on revenues and net income
- Payroll processing: Audit W-4s, payroll balance sheets, YTD earnings and prepare payroll for a large team
- Manage and guarantee weekly disbursement of multi-state payroll, including garnishments, benefits, and taxes consistent with federal and state wage and hour law
- Monitored budgets of $500,000 - $550,000 monthly for seven years, reconciling discrepancies and preparing financial reports for management
- Developed organizational structure, KPIs, and Human Capital Scorecard and overall performance-based modules for the organization
- Maintained an 87% retention rate and voted best HR Leader for hiring high-performing team members
- Designed policy and procedures manuals, worked heavily in compensation analysis, designed performance/merit appraisal process, and monitored and managed company Risk Management
- Streamlined HR efficiencies, coordinated new hire orientations, and provided onboarding and training for one hundred new employees
- Briefed new hires on essential job information, such as company policies, employment benefits, and job duties
- Provided updates on HR policy changes to employees to satisfy compliance and state laws
- Administered or changed benefits, health plans, and retirement plans by request or during open enrollment periods
- Drafted and implemented policies, procedures, and employee handbook for over 150 employees
- Identified, created, and implemented formal performance management guidelines to reduce inconsistencies by 59% and increase productivity by 87%
- Searched for matching potential candidates for current openings by using advertisements and scouring job boards
- Worked with recruitment agencies to source candidates for specific job positions
- Implemented HR programs to meet strategic goals and business objectives
- Developed and administered comprehensive and compliant HR workplace policies and training
- Conferred with board members, organization officials, and staff members to discuss issues, coordinate activities, and resolve problems
- Prepared budgets for approval, including those for funding and implementation of programs
Education
Master Of Science - Human Resources Management
Walden University
Minneapolis, MN01.2021
BBA - Business Administration and Management
South University
Savannah, GA01.2019
Skills
- Labor Relations and Negotiation
- Operational Budgets Preparation
- Compensation design
- Measuring
- Strategies
- Americans with Disabilities Act (ADA)
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Competency modeling
- Performance Management Systems
- Human Resources Oversight
- Hiring Trends and Analysis
- AI-enabled workflow
- Human Capital Management (HCM)
- Industry-Specific HR Regulations
- Compensation and Benefits Administration
- Recruitment and selection
- Equal Employment Opportunity (EEO)
- Performance optimization
- Analytical and critical thinking
- PD framework and experience in designing and measuring
- Collective User Experience
- Strategic planning
Certification
Professional in Human Resources
Timeline
Principal Consultant (Contract CHRO)
The Cummings Group
03.2017 - Current
Regional Human Resources Manager
Nordic Cold Storage
03.2015 - 03.2017
Regional Human Resources Manager
Sears Holdings Corporation
10.2013 - 03.2015
Senior Human Resources Leader
JCPenney
10.2012 - 10.2013
Senior Director of Human Resources
Camp Pathways
02.2002 - 09.2012
Master Of Science - Human Resources Management
Walden University
BBA - Business Administration and Management
South University