Experience

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  ANSYS, Inc.

  • Benefits Manager

    • Sep 2010 - Present

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  Education Management Corporation

  • Director of Corporate Benefits

    • Dec 2006 - May 2010

    Responsible for all areas of employee benefit management for over 20,000 employees including plan design, implementation, administration, financing, contract negotiation, and employee communication. Successfully led team that negotiated a $5 million dollar savings in fixed administrative costs. Recipient of Executive Management Team award for setting long-term strategy for benefits programs. Recipient of 2007 MarCom Platinum Award and 2008 Award of Distinction (International Academy of Visual Arts) for open enrollment campaign. Benefit programs include all health/welfare/retirement/wellness plans for both union and non-union employees.

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  The Hartford

  • Assistant Manager

    • Nov 2004 - Aug 2005

    Managed all aspects of service for group life, disability, and voluntary benefit clients including presenting finalist presentations, and developing plans for account managers to meet service goals. Supervised a staff of ten account managers and support representatives.

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  Dick's Sporting Goods

  • Corporate Benefits Manager

    • Mar 2000 - Jun 2004

    Responsible for developing and implementing a long-term corporate benefits strategy aligned with and supporting the corporation’s overall business goals by designing, analyzing, administering and communicating programs that include:Medical, dental, basic life and supplemental life, dependent life, disability, employee assistance (EAP), adoption assistance, tuition, employee stock purchase, stock options, incentive bonus, defined contribution, rewards and recognition, college savings (529), company newsletter, total compensation statements, and executive benefit programs. Lead team of 10 benefit professionals. · Development of annual $45 million fringe benefit budget. · Awarded the 2003 International Association of Business Communicators (IABC) Award of Excellence in Employee Benefits Communication. Awarded 2004 Matrix Award by Association of Women Communicators in category of Internal Marketing Campaign (2nd place) for program to introduce newly developed HR Benefits Service Center. Recipient of the 2000 Dick’s Sporting Goods HR Most Valuable Player Award for contributions to the organization.· Implemented long-term incentive program for manager-level and above to attract and retain quality employees. Designed and implemented employee stock purchase program at IPO.· Developed an employee benefits service center to provide employees with a one-stop shop for all benefit needs and to educate employees on the valuable programs provided by the company.

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  General Nutrition, Inc.

  • Corporate Benefits Manager

    • Mar 1998 - Mar 2000

    Responsible for plan design, contract negotiation, communication, administration, compliance, development and financial planning for all benefit programs for 17,000 employees in the U.S. and Canada. Programs include all health, welfare, retirement plan, and executive plans. Managed a team of five benefit professionals.· Developed communication program which was tied to product image to meet the need of educating employees on the value of effective utilization of the programs. Several of these successful efforts included a benefit newsletter, intranet web site and investment education program. Recognized in an issue of the Pittsburgh Business Times for innovative communications. · Headed project to attract and retain quality associates by lines of business. Successful outcomes included enhanced qualified plan benefits, selection and implementation of new 401(k) vendor, accelerated benefits eligibility, flexible work schedules, casual dress, paid time off bank, flexible spending accounts, tuition reimbursement and commuter choice program. Enhancements financed at no additional cost to company.· Designed “Return to Work” program which resulted in increased employee satisfaction for those returning from leaves of absence. Lowered claim costs by 25%. Negotiated contract with disability and life carriers for a cost reduction of 30% annually. Redesigned prescription drug program to produce savings of 30% and increased employee satisfaction. Re-engineered premium payment processes which resulted in savings of $1 million.

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  Legent Corporation

  • Corporate Benefits Manager

    • Dec 1989 - Aug 1995

    · Responsible for all aspects of employee benefit plan management for company with 2,000 global employees. Managed team of six benefits professionals.· Designed and implemented global stock purchase plan for employees in 15 countries. Managed benefits program for Canadian employees including the design and implementation of defined contribution-type retirement program.· Certified trainer in Franklin Covey time management and other training programs. Project team to establish HR strategy in support of company’s business strategy for training and benefits. Team established corporate vision, mission, and value statements and led culture to support those statements.· Developed wellness program to improve morale, assist employees and their families in obtaining information to enhance healthy lifestyle choices, to help better balance work and home life, and to help contain the costs of the various benefit programs.

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  Dollar Bank FSB

  • Human Resources Officer

    • May 1973 - Dec 1989

    Responsible for all aspects of employee benefit plan management including defined benefit pension plan and development of cafeteria benefits plan. Experience also includes recruiting, compensation, and management of the HRIS function.