Lauren Leffakis
East Liverpool,OH
Summary
Dedicated leader with well-rounded experience in functional areas of HR including compliance, employee relations and performance management, conflict resolution, and developing strategy. Thrives on coaching teams to increase productivity, improve employee satisfaction, and achieve business goals. Excited to transition to a role as a Human Resources Business Partner.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
Work History
Owner/Trainer
Kindness Unleashed LLC
01.2023 - Current
- Manage day-to-day business operations for 20+ unique clients
- Manage and oversee company website and social media pages
- Creating SEO content for blogs, social media, email campaigns and other marketing needs
- Develop branded educational materials for clients
- Perform training and behavior modification
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Lifesaving Officer
Animal Friends. Inc
06.2019 - 12.2022
- Oversaw day-to-day operations and activities of 60 staff and 100+ volunteers with emphasis on employee relations and aligning organizational objectives with employees and management
- Created, implemented, and oversaw strategic plans and business strategies for short and long-term organizational objectives including recruitment and retention of talent, reduction in workplace injuries, and performance management processes
- Engaged in cross-department collaboration to develop and implement DEI strategies
- Served as point of contact for workplace injuries across all operations teams
- Compiled, analyzed, and presented metrics and reports on head count, time to productivity, new hire turnover, and employee satisfaction
- Created and implemented policies and programs to engage staff and support morale and culture, resulting in 2% reduction in staff turnover
- Collaborated to create and distribute training materials such as employee handbooks, SOPs, and presentations for staff and volunteers to increase performance
- Led recruitment and development of strategic alliances to maximize utilization of existing talent and and promote staff development
- Conducted efficient and objective workplace investigations in response to complaints and determine appropriate outcomes
- Developed comprehensive talent strategy to identify high performers and engage in effective performance management, including implementation of performance improvement plans
- Refined organizational structure to consolidate, streamline, and delineate necessary functions
Director of Admissions & Behavior Services
Animal Friends, Inc
09.2018 - 06.2019
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of Admissions, Transfer, and Behavior Departments, managing 1500-2200 animals each year
- Created and conducted training programs for new and existing staff to increase efficiency and ensure quality and safety
- Collaborated with staff to develop KPIs to evaluate performance and promote employee growth
- Conducted investigations on all animal-related incidents and injuries including interviewing witnesses, reviewing video footage, and determining appropriate outcomes
- Developed tracking systems for animal bites, scratches, and other injuries to ensure safety and compliance and assess training gaps
- Led, executed, tracked, and closed out various projects such as kennel renovations and software transitions
- Conducted regular SWOT analyses to improve program impact and increase employee retention and satisfaction
Director of Placement Services
Animal Friends, Inc
01.2017 - 09.2018
- Oversaw day-to-day operations of Admission, Adoption, Foster, and Transport Departments, managing 2500 placements per year
- Developed and implemented training programs for client-facing teams with emphasis on understanding cultural awareness, implicit bias, and social vulnerability to increase non-judgemental support of clients
- Conducted gap analyses to improve performance and achieve departmental goals
- Recruited, onboarded, and trained new hires
- Developed formalized training strategy for placement teams to identify competence and ensure adequate support
- Created employee recognition programs to highlight high performers
Admissions & Foster Care Coordinator
Animal Friends, Inc.
08.2015 - 01.2017
- Managed teams overseeing intake of 2500 animals each year
- Restructured Foster Care programs to align with industry best practices, achieving an increase in program volunteer participation and 35% reduction in animal illness within the program
- Engaged in training and coaching of admissions staff to increase efficiency and achieve program goals
- Created job descriptions for various support roles
- Conducted screenings and interviews for new staff
- Collected all necessary documentation for new hires
- Oversaw training and performance management of staff in the Admissions Department
Admissions Counselor
Animal Friends, Inc.
03.2014 - 08.2015
- Provided information on supportive services such as pet food pantries, low-cost veterinary services, and other pet retention efforts
- Managed 50+ phone calls daily
- Documented all phone conversations, animal histories, and other information to ensure compliance with applicable animal welfare laws and regulations
- Provided support during large-scale rescues, transfers, and other intakes
- Participated in trainings for customer services, animal handling, shelter best practices
Education
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
Carlow University
Pittsburgh, PA12.2013
Skills
- Managing Employee Relations
- Coaching Leadership
- Optimizing Performance
- Data Analytics
- Dispute Mediation
- Onboarding, Training, and Development
- Health and Safety Programs
- Compliance
- Project Management
Timeline
Owner/Trainer
Kindness Unleashed LLC
01.2023 - Current
Chief Operating Officer/Chief Lifesaving Officer
Animal Friends. Inc
06.2019 - 12.2022
Director of Admissions & Behavior Services
Animal Friends, Inc
09.2018 - 06.2019
Director of Placement Services
Animal Friends, Inc
01.2017 - 09.2018
Admissions & Foster Care Coordinator
Animal Friends, Inc.
08.2015 - 01.2017
Admissions Counselor
Animal Friends, Inc.
03.2014 - 08.2015
Bachelor of Arts - English Literature
Carlow University
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