Loyola University Chicago

Chief People Officer at Legacy.com

The People Collective

Founding Member

President of the Board during 2020. The Executive Leaders in Transition Exchange’s (ELITE) primary mission is to help senior finance and human resource executives who are in transition to find employment through networking. The group also seeks to support and engage members who have found work through ongoing networking and development opportunities.

ELITE Chicago

Board Member & Past President of the Board

Set strategy and direction for enterprise-wide people initiatives for Legacy.com, a Quantcast top 50 digital media destination, partnering with thousands of newspapers and funeral homes globally and serving over 50MM users each month. 

Partnered and strategized with CEO, CFO, president, and senior leaders on company and departmental goals. Ensured and promoted alignment of people operations and organizational transformation for talent management, retention, and learning and development.

Developed people team in areas of talent management, talent acquisition, employee relations, new manager assimilations, benefits, and payroll. Led processes for four newly acquired sister companies, including benefits, payroll, employee policies, and reporting. Promoted business as member of senior leadership team via networking and speaking engagements at leadership events.

Legacy.com

Chief People Officer

Round the Table Hospitality is a family of companies based in Chicago's West Loop, founded by Blue Plate Catering CEO Jim Horan in 2016. The Round the Table roster includes Larkin Hall, Wild Blue, Blue Plate Catering and restaurants tesori and Park Grill.

Developed strategy and direction for HR initiatives enterprise wide, capturing upwards of 600 employees (entry level to C-suite). Partnered and strategized with senior leaders on departmental and company goals. Promoted business as member of senior leadership team through networking and speaking at leadership events. Planned and conducted annual all-hands meeting, including facilitating presentations with CEO and senior leadership team.

Round The Table Hospitality

Vice President of Human Resources

Skills: Change Management · Employee Relations · Organizational Effectiveness · Collaborative Problem Solving · Strategic Planning · Team Motivation · Talent Management · Compensation & Benefits · Executive Leadership · Coaching · Creative Problem Solving · Internal Communications · Leadership Development · Business Strategy · Performance Management · Retention Programs · Employee Engagement · Team Building · Organizational Development · Employee Benefits · Talent Acquisition · Networking

Blue Plate Catering

HR executive and trusted business partner to CIO, CFO, CSO and General Counsel supporting 400+ exempt corporate and remote employees. Provided HR strategies and guidance to senior leaders in IT, finance, legal, and compliance to include performance management, talent assessment, employee relations, employee experience, recruiting, immigration, benefits, and compensation.  Developed and sustained strategy for organization-wide employee experience.  Served as HR advisor in sensitive matters involving retention, coaching, counseling, and relationship building.  Managed 2 HR business partners, 1 office manager and had oversight of  5 Executive Administrative Assistants. Role was based in Chicago corporate office and reported directly to the Chief People Officer.

•	Strategized with newly appointed C-Level executives in Finance, Strategy and IT in change management initiatives, including on-boarding, organizational design, communication, town hall meetings, and new leader assimilations. Accretive Health experienced 3 different CEOs and 5+ rounds of restructuring between 2012 and 2014, impacting over 40% of the workforce.
•	Led and designed company's first global employee engagement survey in 2013 from implementation to data analysis and executive summary—survey had 85% employee response rate.  
•	Set strategy for Benefits and Wellness initiatives in 2014 using pulse survey feedback in U.S. and India to enhance open enrollment, implement wellness screenings, re-evaluate plan designs and service partner selections. New plan designs provided expanded options for employees in 2014/2015 plan year.
•	Implemented plans to maximize retention of talent during company restructures
•	Created employee experience task force designed to enhance engagement and value proposition, retention and performance.

Accretive Health, Inc.

Vice President, Human Resources

Developed business strategies with senior vice presidents of operations, CIO, and General Counsel. Functioned as HR business partner for vice presidents in operations, finance, legal, and compliance supporting 1000+ exempt and non-exempt employees across multiple states including Illinois, Michigan, Tennessee, Alabama and California. Support included talent management, employee relations, recruiting, benefits, and compensation.  Member of Executive Committee which consisted of CEO and all her direct reports. Role managed 2 HR business partners and was based in Chicago corporate office reporting to Chief People Officer.

•	Devised and implemented employee retention strategies across organization when company stock dropped 50% in one day. 
•	Redesigned HR organizational structure to best support senior leadership across operations and corporate functions.
•	Designed, formalized, and implemented new performance management process to include new feedback mechanism including competencies, formalized merit process and total rewards—salary adjustment and bonus recognition.

Senior Director, Human Resources

Joined Accretive Health, Inc. in start-up and pre-IPO phase as company’s first Human Resources professional and supported 300 exempt and non-exempt employees in U.S. and India. Developed the foundation for sophisticated Human Resources mechanisms through implementation of fundamental tools and processes for talent management, employee relations, recruiting, and health benefits.  Worked w/minimal resources and staff. Directed recruiting strategy to build shared services business.  Traveled extensively to all shared service centers in Michigan during exponential organic growth to partner with regional leadership on building best teams and creating culture of excellence. Managed 1 HR Generalist. Role was based in Chicago corporate office and reported directly to SVP, Operations who served as both Chief People Officer and General Counsel.  

•	Set strategy as well as provided tactical guidance for shared services centers, resulting in 700% hourly employee growth over five years which included recruiting, onboarding, employee relations, leadership development and employee engagement
•	Reduced benefits costs by $600,000 within first year of employment.
•	Developed strategic acquisition of employees in critical markets to grow company’s medical transcription teams.
•	Led implementation of time and attendance system for 300 hourly employees across four shared service centers.
•	Served as member of implementation task force designing and incorporating new HR system (Lawson).
•	Developed and implemented company's first employee handbook enhancing communication to remote employees

Director, Human Resources

Provided strategic direction to early-childhood education company operating in 35 states with 13,000+ exempt and non-exempt employees regarding areas of employee relations, succession planning, legal compliance, talent management, investigations, policy development, employee engagement and recognition. Implemented HR tools and programs to support company’s turnaround phase. Provided guidance to senior management on company reorganizations. Set HR strategy and direction for 5 direct reports to provide consultative HR support to 5 division vice presidents. Role was based in Chicago corporate office reporting to VP of People.

•	Transitioned company's HR department from Kansas City to Chicago—built new teams in Chicago across all functions.
•	Built new team of HR managers to support company.  Streamlined existing policies and developed new policies.
•	Developed three direct reports for senior level HR opportunities as well as cultivated and mentored my successor.
•	Led company's first employee engagement survey in ten years and obtained an employee response rate of 80%.
•	Implemented company's first employee handbook to include benefits information, company policies, and comprehensive code of conduct.

La Petite Academy, a division of Learning Care Group

Director of Human Resources

Partnered with clients to identify their strategic hiring objectives. Assessed candidates to ensure they met client defined qualifications, cultural fit and compatibility.

The Shorr Group

Human Resource Consultant

Provided strategic Human Resources leadership for over 900 stores with more than 20,000 exempt and non-exempt employees and partnered with Operations in a decentralized area encompassing 7 Midwest states. Advised 7 Regional Directors of Operations on matters of performance management, legal compliance, recruiting, team development, succession planning, compensation and benefits. In addition, supported department managers, including Marketing, Finance, Real Estate, Construction and Facilities. Managed a Human Resources department of 11 Direct Reports with an annual budget of $1.2 million. Role was based in Midwest Area office of Burr Ridge, IL reporting to Midwest Area SVP, Operations.

•	Started in Operations working store level management in first year with company and promoted 5 times in 11 year career
•	Counseled Area Senior Vice President on designing individual development plans for Regional Directors 
•	Implemented a recruitment-training tool to be utilized by District Managers which was adopted company wide
•	Led two reorganizations, providing outplacement resources to displaced employees.
•	Secured $50,000 to develop and deliver a Financial Training initiative for over 650 Store Managers
•	Developed a two day District Manager Orientation that was delivered to over 100 new District Managers

Additional Accomplishments
•	Received Annual Human Resources Leadership Award 1996 & 1997
•	Only Director of HR to achieve a 0% turnover of HR team for 4 years straight

Career Progression
•	Manager of Human Resources, Midwest 1996 - 1999
•	Human Resource Generalist 1992 - 1996
•	Regional Recruiter 1991 - 1992
•	Store Manager 1990 - 1991
•	Assistant Manager 1989 - 1991

Rae Ali