Lolissa Buford
Memphis,TN
Summary
Well-qualified Human Resources professional with proven success in improving operations and solving problems. Highly proficient in building lasting relationships with key decision makers, customers, and team members to further company goals. Ready to leverage training and experience to take on new professional challenges.
Overview
21
21
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Human Resources
Vanguard Soap LLC
Memphis, TN
12.2023 - Current
- Developed and implemented strategic HR initiatives aligned with organizational goals, contributing to a 25–35% improvement in workforce efficiency and supporting overall business growth.
- Led talent acquisition efforts, enhancing recruitment processes and improving candidate quality, resulting in a 20% increase in new hire retention.
- Designed and facilitated training programs to enhance employee performance and engagement.
- Managed employee relations, resolving workplace conflicts and reducing escalations by 30%, contributing to a more positive and productive workplace culture.
- Ensured compliance with labor laws and regulations, achieving 100% audit readiness and reducing compliance-related risks and incidents by 40%.
- Negotiated vendor contracts, securing 10–20% cost savings annually while enhancing the quality and value of HR services delivered.
- Educated employees on company policies and maintained an up-to-date employee handbook, increasing policy awareness and adherence by 25% and reducing policy violations.
- Partnered with managers to drive policy compliance, improving adherence rates by 30% and strengthening leadership accountability through consistent guidance and process improvements.
Human Resources Generalist
Vanguard Soap LLC
Memphis, TN
10.2023 - 12.2023
- Interpreted and resolved HR inquiries across ADP and Employee Navigator platforms, addressing 90%+ of employee issues on first contact and improving response time and overall employee experience.
- Administered benefits programs (medical, disability, FSA) through Employee Navigator and ADP integrations, achieving 98% enrollment accuracy and reducing benefits-related discrepancies and follow-ups by 25%.
- Streamlined HR operations and workflows within ADP, reducing manual processes and increasing HR team productivity by 25–30%, while improving data accuracy and processing timelines.
- Updated key human resource metrics on turnover and terminations using reporting tools on HRMS database.
- Coached and advised managers on compliance, employee relations, and policy application, reducing workplace issues and policy violations by 30% and strengthening adherence to labor laws and company standards.
Human Resources Generalist
Valley Distribution & Logistics
Memphis, TN
01.2022 - 10.2023
- Provided guidance to managers and employees on talent management, payroll, FMLA, and benefits, resolving 90%+ of inquiries within 24–48 hours and improving overall compliance and employee understanding.
- Led new-hire orientation and supported recruiting efforts for seasonal workforce needs, contributing to a 20% increase in seasonal employee retention and improving time-to-productivity by 15% during peak periods.
- Facilitated employee relations meetings to address performance and conflict issues, successfully resolving 85–90% of cases without escalation and reducing formal disciplinary actions by 25%.
- Implemented and supervised onboarding procedures, reducing onboarding time by 30% and improving new hire readiness and engagement scores within the first 90 days.
- Maintained accurate personnel records and HR data, achieving 98–100% audit accuracy and ensuring full compliance with federal and state regulations.
Pathology Coordinator
IDEXX
Memphis, TN
11.2020 - 01.2022
- Coordinated pathology operations, supporting veterinarians and pathologists by managing case workflows, ensuring timely review, and improving turnaround time by 15–20%.
- Maintained and troubleshot virtual microscopy (VM) systems, enabling remote slide viewing and digital analysis, reducing system downtime by 25% through effective issue resolution with IT, labs, and vendors.
- Organized, tracked, and archived pathology cases, ensuring 100% accurate documentation and compliance with internal protocols and regulatory standards.
- Developed and maintained standard operating procedures (SOPs) for VM systems and pathology processes, improving workflow consistency and reducing errors by 20%.
- Performed administrative and lab support duties, including specimen intake, data entry, scheduling, and coordinating communication between veterinarians, laboratories, and internal teams.
- Collaborated directly with veterinarians and lab personnel to ensure accurate specimen handling, proper case documentation, and timely diagnostic support.
- Identified and implemented process improvements, contributing to increased operational efficiency and enhancing overall pathology service delivery.
IT Recruiter
Aerotek
05.2019 - 04.2020
- Conducted phone interviews to assess applicants relevant knowledge, skills, experience and aptitudes.
- Collaborated with internal teams to continuously improve recruitment processes and execute as efficiently as possible.
- Built strong relationships with internal and external candidates to ensure an excellent hiring experience.
- Utilized various online and offline sources to find talented technical candidates and prepare for screening process.
- Sourced and selected applicants for technical positions within company.
HR Community Liaison
Golden Years
02.2019 - 05.2019
- Networked with local organizations, leaders, and consumers, resulting in establishment of new and lasting partnerships and relationships.
- Communicated with community members to assess concerns or current issues and identify corrective measures.
- Developed long-lasting partnerships with local leaders, management team and peers with active engagement, exemplary communication and consistent issue resolution.
- Surveyed local program participants to ascertain problematic areas requiring improvement.
- Skilled at working independently and collaboratively in a team environment.
HR Generalist
Cummins, Inc
10.2015 - 10.2018
- Reviewed and screened applicant resumes to identify qualified candidates.
- Reviewed existing policies and procedures to make recommendations for enhancing work productivity, recruitment, hiring processes, and talent management.
- Resolved employee complaints and grievances successfully through mediation and collaboration.
- Maintained personnel records and statistical data to establish accuracy and compliance with applicable regulations.
- Oversaw and managed hiring process and assisted human resources.
Client Services Manager/Project Manager
Paramount Staffing
01.2008 - 10.2015
- Managed multi-million-dollar project, consisting of temporary long –term associates processing for Paramount Staffing a weekly payroll in excess of 30,000 billable hours, with an error rate of less than 1%
- Worked in conjunction with Paramount Staffing Regional Manager to counsel, discipline, and terminate employees as needed
- Conveyed good business relationships with clients through frequent open communication with key client contacts and branch management ensuring customer satisfaction with appropriate monitoring of client requirements and follow-up
- Managed and directed Paramount Staffing's employee retention program, while managing the Nike Golf operation
- Successfully reduced employee turnover, which peaked at 65% of which, I reduce it by 40%, which been stabilized and constant for the last 2 years
- Strategically implemented a new tracking system for addressing and reducing payroll errors
- These errors accounted for 90% of employee and customer dissatisfaction
- Through surveying and employee/customer's feedback, errors successfully reduced to 10%
- This dramatically increased employee/customer satisfaction and helped improved employee turnover and retention
- Awarded numerous awards and given accolades for demonstrating the ability to motivate others, maximize productivity, control costs, and to make the best use of available resources.
Senior Recruiter/On Site Manager
Paramount Staffing
06.2005 - 01.2008
- Lead the processes for recruiting functionalities- posted/announced job openings, coordinated job fairs, and prescreened eachapplicant, which included employment reference checks, drug testing, criminal and/or credit background checks
- Maintained clear communication with potential hires regarding the general hiring process as well as job offers
- Managed the staffing agency recruiting environment- this means I built the true relationships with our clients/candidates during thefull lifecycle recruiting process for each open requisition
- Researched the market to find growing Technology, Distribution Center, and other companies within the surrounding North
- Mississippi/ Memphis, TN/West Memphis market areas that could benefit from our services, make connections, build relationships,manage the interview process and help them hire the people they truly needed
- Collaborated with C-Level executives and HR Managers to learn their company values and environment identify/understand theirneeds for new talent, finding candidates the jobs they really want, and find companies the talent they really needed
- Focused on the market and specialized in recruiting critical passive talent for several faceted job areas for distribution, administration,technical and manufacturing environments.
Education
Diploma -
Hardin County High School
Savannah, TNSkills
- Performance Management Strategies
- Background checks
- Onboarding
- Staff Development
- Report Generation
- Human Resources Management
- Employment Law Knowledge
- Employee File Management
- Compensation and Benefits
- HR policy development
- Employee relations
- Talent acquisition
Timeline
Director of Human Resources
Vanguard Soap LLC
12.2023 - Current
Human Resources Generalist
Vanguard Soap LLC
10.2023 - 12.2023
Human Resources Generalist
Valley Distribution & Logistics
01.2022 - 10.2023
Pathology Coordinator
IDEXX
11.2020 - 01.2022
IT Recruiter
Aerotek
05.2019 - 04.2020
HR Community Liaison
Golden Years
02.2019 - 05.2019
HR Generalist
Cummins, Inc
10.2015 - 10.2018
Client Services Manager/Project Manager
Paramount Staffing
01.2008 - 10.2015
Senior Recruiter/On Site Manager
Paramount Staffing
06.2005 - 01.2008
Diploma -
Hardin County High School