April S. Read, Psyd, Shrm-Scp, Prosci Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il, Us

Chicago, Il, Us

At Empowers Consulting, I specialize in driving impactful change and growth with individuals and organizations by aligning leadership development, organizational psychology, and strategic talent initiatives. As the Founder and Chief Organizational Psychologist, my role is to guide organizations through transformative processes that unlock their full potential. From 1:1 coaching to fostering inclusive workplace cultures, I partner with clients to create environments where teams feel empowered, engaged, and equipped to thrive.My responsibilities include:-1:1 Coaching: Providing personalized coaching sessions for leaders, focusing on enhancing strategic thinking, emotional intelligence, and effective decision-making to support personal and professional growth.-Strategic Leadership Development: Designing and implementing leadership programs that empower leaders to navigate challenges, foster collaboration, and inspire growth within their teams.-Organizational Development Consulting: Offering tailored strategies that align organizational goals with effective structures and processes to support long-term success.-Change Management Expertise: Leading organizations through change with empathy and resilience, providing frameworks that help employees adapt and flourish.-Team and Culture Building: Creating inclusive, psychologically safe environments where diverse teams can perform at their best.At Empowers Consulting, I am committed to helping organizations and individuals grow through innovative solutions, personalized strategies, and a deep understanding of workplace psychology.#LeadershipDevelopment #OrganizationalPsychology #ChangeManagement #1on1Coaching #TeamBuilding #EmpowersConsulting #TalentStrategy #InclusiveWorkplace

As the Director of Organizational Development at UI Health, I lead the strategic development and implementation of comprehensive OD initiatives impacting 5,000 employees. My responsibilities include overseeing areas such as Goal Setting, KPIs, Performance, Talent, Succession, Leadership Development, Executive Coaching, Change Management, Career Development, and Learning Management programs. I've built and managed a dynamic OD team, recruiting and developing 5 FTEs within two years, with plans for further strategic expansion. Additionally, I spearhead change management strategies and oversaw the implementation of the Cornerstone learning and talent management system, ensuring seamless integration and adoption across the organization. Leveraging data-driven insights, I continuously evaluate the effectiveness of OD initiatives and recommend improvements to drive organizational growth and success.

Chicago, Il, Us

Teach Organizational Behavior & Design Curriculum to Master level and undergraduate students in person. This course explores organizations at the individual and team level, examining the relationship between employees and managers, and employees and teams. It examines the factors that drive productivity and success in organizations including motivation, diversity, work stress, conflict and negotiation, decision making, personality, and attitudes.

Chicago, Il, Us

Experienced Masters Program Adjunct Instructor practiced at teaching classes aimed at students concentrating in Business and Psychology. Personable, creative professional with expertise in helping students develop creative talent and persevere through educational and professional challenges.• Utilize variety of technologies (Canvas, ePortal) and instructional methodologies to keep courses fresh and engaging.• Work with individual students to improve understanding and course grades.• Help students develop talent through range of exercises, readings, and discussions.MA I/O Classes taught:Performance AppraisalsStrategic Human Resource ManagementOrganizational Behavior and Design

Austin, Texas, Us

As a Senior Solution Engineer, I specialized in Oracle HCM products and solutions, continuously enhancing my expertise to deliver optimal solutions to clients. Leveraging my technical prowess, I develop and present compelling demonstrations and presentations to potential customers and partners, highlighting the value and benefits of Oracle's offerings. I excel in collaborating with cross-functional teams to gather requirements and deliver solutions aligned with business objectives. Additionally, I actively contribute as a taskforce member, spearheading internal strategies to enhance employee engagement within the HCM Solutions Engineer team.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Interim, HR Manager (Mar. 2020 – Jan. 2021) COVID RIFOrganizational Effectiveness Consultant (Feb. 2017 – Jan. 2021) COVID RIFTalent Management Consultant (Sept. 2014 – Feb. 2017)Advancing in leadership and project scope within the Rush system, I oversaw a comprehensive range of Organizational Development/Effectiveness initiatives, including Culture, Recognition, Performance, Talent, Succession, Coaching, Change Management, and Career Development programs impacting 16,000 employees. Collaborating closely with internal partners such as HR Business Partners, Leadership Academy, Diversity & Inclusion, Chief Wellness Officer, Patient Safety, Nursing, and C-Suite Organizational leaders, I translated strategic objectives into actionable plans, ensuring initiatives delivered measurable value through meticulous data analysis. Leading cross-functional road mapping processes, I identified and updated priorities based on data insights, emphasizing solutions that enhanced Rush's overall work experience. Managing end-to-end program and large-scale change management efforts across multiple functions, I facilitated the execution of initiatives aimed at improving organizational culture and effectiveness, ultimately increasing employee engagement and manager effectiveness. Additionally, I conducted resource gap analyses, researched and established company-wide best practices and tools, including organizational design resources for HRBPs and leaders, while also drafting communications and presentations for various stakeholder engagements.

Chicago, Illinois, Us

Sub-contractor clients; Addison Search, CGN Global and The Center for Workforce Excellence Industries; Higher Education, Oil & Gas, Transportation, Transit, Corporate, Consumer Packaged Goods, Public Sector.• HR Transformation project lead for organizational culture change, change management, and leadership improvement efforts impacting 23,000 employees. • Develop and implement strategies to attract, retain, and develop top talent in a highly competitive market to enhance morale and reduce turnover.• Design and implement HR policies and procedures specific to the unique needs of clients ensuring compliance with federal and state regulations.• Assessed, designed, developed, implemented, and evaluated (ADDIE) training programs specific to the needs of clients, enhancing their skills and knowledge to improve their performance and productivity.• Developed and implemented succession planning strategy, tools, and resources aiding the organization with a data driven approach to identify early retirement eligibility, identify internal talent, and create talent pipeline.Measurable Results Decreased number of unqualified applicants by 98% within four months.  Decreased scheduling of interview times by eliminating unqualified applicants during prescreening and increased onboarding time by six months. Created a pipeline of potential employees for hard to fill positions. Analyzed data inclusive of span control. This data and recruitment effort planned to compensate for 33% of retiring staff in six months. Updated CDOT retirement policy.

Doctor'S Degree, Business Psychology

M.A., Clinical Psychology

B.A., Business Administration And Psychology

Diploma, General