L Diane Cooke (She/Her/Hers) Email and Phone Number

Reporting to the CEO, I successfully perform in a pivotal senior executive leadership position overseeing the human resource organization for a publicly traded $3.6B energy company with 3.3K employees, operating in two states. I coach executives, create and execute human resource strategies, leverage human resource technologies, and lead executive succession planning and talent development.➥Oversees succession planning, recruitment, and onboarding of executives which has included CEO succession, Board of Directors and executive-level professionals. ➥Leverages business intelligence and deep expertise to transition the human resource practice into a flourishing organization partnering on the business strategy and objectives, advancing human capital solutions and services and providing data and insights for actions and decision making. Successful implementations and change management of initiatives to modernize work architecture, prioritize skills based strategy and implement a new HRIS, Workday. The implementation was cited as one of the best change management executions of a new system.➥Provides thought leadership and contributions to Company's ESG commitments. Embeds diversity, equity, and inclusion across the enterprise and incorporates ESG into incentive designs. Hosts Day of Understanding events and connects with ESG investors to tell our story. Work resulted in the advancement of a culture of inclusion and belonging and diversity representation in the organization.➥Lead role in navigating actions and decisions in response to the pandemic, balancing business needs, safety and risks with employee experience. Re-imagine workspaces to adapt to changes of hybrid work and in support of company culture. Created Connection week events as the catalyst to demonstrate value for in person connections.➥Deliver strong reduction in safety lost time incident rates and severity rates through the addition of an occupational nurse, new processes and practices.

I served as a strategic C-Suite executive leading all people strategies and day-to-day operations. Additionally, I built a high performing executive leadership team, executed a robust human capital management system, and strengthened the talent bench for succession planning and sustainability.➥Served as the C-Suite executive sponsor of the ESOP Committee focused on transitioning the workforce to an ownership mindset, accelerating awareness, and educating the entire workforce on ESOP principles.➥Led the flawless implementation of an innovative HRIS and payroll system increasing efficiency and best practices.

Here, I was internally recruited to function as a key executive leading a pivotal transformation of an underperforming team into a thriving organization. Additionally, I turned the largest manufacturing plant around by shifting the culture into a positive environment and enhanced human resource practices such as hiring and retention.➥Driving force restructuring of the human resource organization decreasing resources by 33%, propelling human capital strategies, and establishing strong business plans to champion the mission and strategic vision.➥Created and executed new practices, developed a multi-day onboarding experience, and detected opportunities to improve workforce planning while decreasing headcount requirements by 5%.

Responsible for developing and executing human capital strategies for the $1B+ retail division of a privately held consumer packaged goods organization with national frozen food brands and a large DSD (direct store delivery network) encompassing 2,500 employees that were responsible for retail sales, merchandising and distribution and delivery of products. ➥Developed and executed strategies to foster a culture of ownership mindsets and a passionate focus on the customer and consumer. ➥Led a team of 17 professionals including generalists, recruiters and training and development staff. Drove a talent acquisition and development strategy that enabled promotion from within the company. ➥Developed and guided change management for significant initiatives with broad company and employee impacts. ➥Built strong talent and succession within the HR team including the successor to this VP HR role. ➥Hired and assimilated several senior leaders across all disciplines and partnered on organizational design to create nimble, effective and strong teams.

Responsible for design, communication and administration of enterprise-wide compensation and incentive programs for 3 business units, global supply chain and corporate services, encompassing 15k employees. ➥Provided analysis, recommendations and presentations to the Compensation Committee of the Board of Directors. ➥Re-engineered the enterprise-wide job architecture, resulting in improved harmonized job titles, descriptions and pay grades across entire company and guiding principles to support an optimized job architecture and compensation structure. ➥Responsible for HRIS which included the design and implementation of a new salary planning software tool which had been all paper based. Lead HR operational efficiency initiatives. ➥Responsible for annual strategic planning process of a multi-billion-dollar corporation with multiple business units. Facilitated the development and reporting of the key performance indicators as part of the company's balanced scorecard.

Championed corporate-wide business improvement initiative, focused on cost reductions and operational improvements and efficiencies. Navigated and influenced matrix structure to leverage synergies and develop standard and consistent processes and reporting. Team identified a progressive approach to our retail distribution model, reducing heavy capital expenditures and improving flexibility for changing business dynamics. Recommended and implemented a fuel card program that saved millions on mileage and fuel costs each year.

Trusted business adviser to the Head of Sales, responsible for the development and management of planning, processes and communication for a 1500+ disseminated sales force. ➥Responsible for leading a $300M business unit integration for previously acquired business.➥Planned and directed a $132M operating expense budget; developed, managed and implemented standardized sales processes, policies, contracts and reporting for sales organization. Developed and managed sales planning process, timelines and templates. ➥Developed and administered sales incentive programs and processes to drive profitable revenue growth and other key initiatives. ➥Delivered lowest ever product shrink, damage and returns. ➥Led the design and execution of national sales meetings. ➥Built a comprehensive communication approach to ensure two-way communication between corporate and field locations. Improved the timeliness and relevancy of headquarter communication to the retail sales organization. ➥Managed the sales organization thru product recall requirements.

Managed a team of 6, providing trade promotion system, process and reconciliation leadership for a large retail division with significant trade promotion investment budget. Responsible for operationalizing and improving effectiveness and processes of a new trade software system to include financial accruals and expenses. Hired and trained new team members when the function was relocated to Minneapolis.

Responsible for selling and managing multi-media, film, video and event planning services for a media production company. Created and implemented marketing campaigns and employee communications and training. Designed and presented presentations and business proposals and managed day-to-day client relationships and budgets. Generated 65% of new client business and prospected, pitched and won the top three new clients.

Responsible for sales, marketing and general management for three Midwest branch offices and over 70 employees at a national IT consulting service company. Provided business and technology solutions and services for Fortune 1000 clients in various industries and delivered over $9MM in annual revenues. Established business plans, rate cards and sales channel partnerships. Recognized for top 10% national performance for profitability. Successfully delivered targeted 35 – 40% gross margin results.

Responsible for leading software conversion projects and implementations for banks across the U.S. requiring 40% travel and a strong knowledge of all banking applications and operations. Developed the project plan and timelines, delegated team tasks and responsibilities and accountable for delivering projects successfully on-time and on-budget. Conducted follow-up operational and efficiency reviews with clients.

Performed special accounting, including retail performance reports and projects. Provided assistance to the Controller in preparing yearly budgets by cost center, met with department vice-presidents to evaluate forecasted income and expenditures. Performed compliance audits and trained staff on new bank regulations; coordinated and led internal audit work.