Stephanie Ayala Email and Phone Number

• Accountable for managing the strategic development and ongoing administration and communications of the benefit programs for the Americas, Canada, Mexico, and Brazil. • Oversees strategic development, administration, and communications for all benefit and wellness programs with focus of market-competitiveness, cost effectiveness and organizational strategy alignment. Primary focus is on the U.S. with smaller employee populations in other parts of the Americas.• Select and manage relationships with external brokers, benefit providers, and vendors including oversight of contract negotiations, benefit administration and service agreements.• Regularly benchmark company programs and monitor external trends.• Lead the annual benefit strategic planning process and guide the team providing company benefit program recommendations to senior leadership.• Coordinate with third party 401(k) fiduciary to assist with leadership of 401(K) committee.• Leads and drives the execution of benefit annual renewals and the open enrollment process, including system requirements and management.• Manage the effective communications of benefits and wellness programs. • Effectively manage Benefits Team by assigning and delegating accountabilities and by providing ongoing guidance and direction.• Ensures benefit plan legal compliance (e.g. ERISA, ACA, COBRA, HIPAA, 401(k)) of laws and regulations in all countries and by recommending and implementing any needed actions to ensure compliance. Coordinates with broker and legal counsel to ensure plan documents are updated and 5500’s are completed in a timely and accurate manner. Also, coordinates with 401(k) recordkeeper to ensure non-discrimination testing is done.• Manages paid time off/leave programs.• Develops and updates benefit polices ensuring alignment with company strategic plans and objectives and legal compliance.• Serves as lead for due diligence and integration activities for acquisitions.

Reporting to the VP of Total Rewards, responsible for leadership and supervision of the benefits administration functions. Assists in developing and executing large scale roll-outs of benefits and wellness programs affecting all associates. Provides benefits consultation and guidance to HR business partners, management and associates.• Establishes, coordinates, administers and oversees benefits processes to deliver health and welfare and retirement benefit programs. Manages annual benefits open enrollment for US and Canada. Responds to and resolves escalated associate concerns.• Manages co-sourcing partner in administering benefits processes. Includes oversight of scheduled processes, ongoing review of process documents to identify opportunities for efficiency and consistency in administration, audit of completed work and records to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.• Manages health and welfare and retirement vendors to ensure best in class customer service in administering Michaels benefits plans as set out in our plan documents. Ensures vendor support systems and integrations are operating properly mitigating errors and service issues.• Ensures data integrity related to the health and welfare and retirement plans including accuracy of payroll deductions, collection of premiums and integration between systems both internal and external through establishing, coordinating and conducting ongoing audits.• Ensures compliance with provisions of ERISA. Supervises preparation of reports and applications required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies, such as Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, insurance commissioners, and other regulatory agencies. Reviews and analyzes changes to state and federal laws pertaining to benefits, and reports necessary or suggested changes to management. Coordinates company benefits, with federal and state sponsored programs.• Oversee the companies workers compensation plan.

Reporting to the Director of Benefits, responsible for leadership and supervision of the benefits administration functions. Assists in developing and executing large scale roll-outs of benefits and wellness programs affecting all associates. Provides benefits consultation and guidance to HR business partners, management and associates. • Establishes, coordinates, administers and oversees benefits processes to deliver health and welfare and retirement benefit programs. Manages annual benefits open enrollment for US and Canada. Responds to and resolves escalated associate concerns. • Manages co-sourcing partner in administering benefits processes. Includes oversight of scheduled processes, ongoing review of process documents to identify opportunities for efficiency and consistency in administration, audit of completed work and records to ensure compliance with federal and state regulations.• Manages health and welfare and retirement vendors to ensure best in class customer service in administering Michaels benefits plans as set out in our plan documents. Ensures vendor support systems and integrations are operating properly mitigating errors and service issues. • Ensures data integrity related to the health and welfare and retirement plans including accuracy of payroll deductions, collection of premiums and integration between systems both internal and external through establishing, coordinating and conducting ongoing audits. • Ensures compliance with provisions of ERISA. Supervises preparation of reports and applications required by law to be filed with federal and state agencies, such as Internal Revenue Service, Department of Labor, insurance commissioners, and other regulatory agencies. Reviews and analyzes changes to state and federal laws pertaining to benefits, and reports necessary or suggested changes to management. Coordinates company benefits, with federal and state sponsored programs.

Manage all wellness and absence management programs for 26,000 employees.•Drive the execution of Petco’s well-being strategy to inspire and drive a culture of health and well-being through the Service Centers, Distribution Centers and Stores. •Design, develop and implement proactive health promotion strategies, programs and communications to improve workforce well-being and productivity.•Design well-being programs the support physical health and fitness, emotional health, financial health and professional development through behavior change and engagement.•Support other functional areas such as benefits, 401k administration, talent and Action Team to ensure programs are consistent with the corporate well-being strategy.• Design, develop and recommend incentive strategies to positively impact behavior•Serve as the Center of Excellence for personal health/wellness and productivity.•Create metrics to measure well-being program ROI and effectiveness as well as employee satisfaction.•Analyze metrics and report to senior management trends and comparisons to external industry benchmarks.•Analyze vendor reports.•Drive adoption and execution (including communication campaigns) at local levels to build acceptance and engagement in behaviors that support absence management and health/well-being.•Source and develop tools, action drivers and best practices for programs.•Manage a dedicated program budget while allocating resources appropriately for various programs and utilizing existing vendor programs.•Lead efforts to select and manage external vendors including identification, selection, negotiation, scope of work and assessing the vendor’s performance against predetermined objectives.•Lead efforts to aggressively and effectively manage leaves of absence, including intermittent leaves.•Ensure all management policies and procedures are accurate, compliant with all state, federal and local laws and consistently applied across the organization.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 17,000 employees and over 22,000 during peak holiday selling season with direct supervision of two Benefits Coordinators.• Manage the company’s Medical (PPO & CDHP), Dental, Vision, Life, AD&D, STD, LTD, FSA and Voluntary Benefit Plans for new hires and coordinate annual enrollment.• Manage the companies wellness initiative and incentive programns • Manage a benefits budget over $26M.• Research new benefit and compensation offerings to develop strategic programs that are competitive and aligned with the overall business strategy.• Strategic Planning and implementation of the Canadian Benefit Program.• Streamline all benefit processes and managing all data transfers to external vendors, plan providers, auditors, consultants and brokers.• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, HIPAA, Health Care Reform and other governmental regulations as they relate to benefits.• Process all premium payments, weekly claims funding, and reporting to various departments and levels of the organization.• Develop and implement the company’s wellness program and recommend incentives.• Manage relocation program • Oversee leave of absence program.• Develop and implement the San Francisco Health Care Ordinance payment to the city option.• Administer the Commonwealth Choice of Massachusetts Program.• Participate in annual Plan audits and preparation of 5500s.• Company’s HIPAA Privacy Officer and responsible for new hire and annual Privacy, Security and Breach training.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season with direct supervision of a Benefits Coordinator, Compensation Analyst, and HR Assistant.• Manage the company’s Medical, Dental, Vision, Group life, 401(k), Stock Plan, and Flexible Spending Accounts.• Streamlining all benefit processes and managing all data transfers to external vendors, plan providers, auditors, consultants and broker.• Work with vendors to ensure proficient administration of the health and welfare plans. Serve as liaison between benefit carriers and employees to ensure continuity of service.• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA and other governmental regulations as they relate to benefits.• Responsible for the administration of the 401(k) with over $11 million dollars in assets and Employee Stock Purchase Plans.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season with direct supervision of a Benefits Coordinator, Compensation Analyst, and HR Assistant.• Manage the company’s Medical, Dental, Vision, Group life, 401(k), Stock Plan, and Flexible Spending Accounts• Manage company’s annual review process for both field and corporate employees.• Conduct salary analysis and make recommendations to Senior Management. • Oversee the field incentive program.• Complete benefit and salary surveys to determine company’s competitive position in labor market and develop recommendations and cost information for new plans.• Research new compensation and benefit offerings: develop program strategies that are competitive and aligned with the overall business strategy.• Streamlining all benefit processes and managing all data transfers to external vendors, plan providers, auditors, consultants and brokers.• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA and other governmental regulations as they relate to benefits.• Responsible for processing all premium payments, weekly claims funding, and reporting for various departments and levels of the organization.• Responsible for the administration of the 401(k) plan with over $11 million dollars in assets.• Responsible for the administration of the Employee Stock Purchase and Stock Option Plans.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season with direct supervision of a Benefits Coordinator.• Manage the company’s Medical, Dental, Vision, Group life, 401(k), Stock Plan, and Flexible Spending Accounts.• Develop, implement and manage a comprehensive benefit plan that meets the needs of all employees.• Conduct benefit analysis and make recommendations to senior mangement and Broker.• Research new benefit offerrings: develop program strategies that are competitive and aligned with overall business strategy.• Work with vendors to ensure proficient administration of the health and welfare plans. Serve as liason between benefit carriers and employees to ensure continuity of service.• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA and other governmental regulations as they relate to benefits.• Responsible for processing all premium payments, weekly claims funding, and reporting for various departments and levels of the organization.• Responsible for the administration of the 401(k) with over $9 million dollars in assets and Employee Stock Purchase Plans.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season with direct supervision of a Benefits Coordinator.• Manage the company’s Medical, Dental, Vision, Group life, 401(k), Stock Plan, and Flexible Spending Accounts.• Conduct benefit analysis and make recommendations to senior mangement and Broker.• Research new benefit offerrings: develop program strategies that are competitive and aligned with overall business strategy.• Work with vendors to ensure proficient administration of the health and welfare plans. Serve as liason between benefit carriers and employees to ensure continuity of service.• Ensure compliance with ERISA, COBRA, FMLA, HIPAA and other governmental regulations as they relate to benefits.• Responsible for processing all premium payments, weekly claims funding, and reporting for various departments and levels of the organization.• Responsible for the administration of the 401(k) with over $7 million dollars in assets and Employee Stock Purchase Plans.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season. • Coordinate the company’s Medical, Dental, Vision, Group Life, and Disability Plans.• Answer benefit questions for both Home Office and field employees.• Audit plan eligibility, calculate monthly premiums and manage all disability claims.• COBRA Administration to include notifying employees and benefit vendors.• Coordinate benefit orientation for new employees.

Manage all corporate benefit and compensation programs for 5,000 employees and over 6,000 during peak holiday season. • Coordinate training and new hire orientation for new employees and send out booklets.• Coordinate meeting planning, send out materials, confirm reservations and assist department members with various projects.• Maintain job posting for Home Office positions including updating job line and weekly job report.