PAT ROSS FERRY

2167 Lake Pointe Drive, Avon, Ohio 44011 - 440-934-0192

- pfdee164@westpost.net
HUMAN RESOURCE LEADER
Creative Human Resource leader offering over 20 years of diverse
background in retail, healthcare, banking, and consulting with a
demonstrated ability to drive change and solve critical business
issues through positive operational partnership and influential and
creative human resources leadership. Demonstrated accomplishments in:
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Employee Relations
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Performance Management
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HR Business Partnership/Planning
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Policy Development/Administration
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Succession Planning
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Training Development /Delivery
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EEO Compliance / Audit Management
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Diversity and Inclusion Leadership
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Budget Management
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Talent Acquisition and Retention
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
AMERICAN GREETINGS CORPORATION, Cleveland, OH 2004 TO 2010
$1.2 Billion manufacturer of greeting cards and related consumer
products. The largest publicly owned distributor of social
expressions products.
 MANAGER, EMPLOYEE RELATIONS (2006 to 2010)
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Created, staffed, implemented and lead the Employee Relations
function greatly improving interaction with employees and driving far
fewer external charges and complaints.
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Counseled all levels of management on ER issues; effective problem
solving and issue resolution utilizing a newly designed coaching and
counseling process.
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Developed a five-year implementation strategy for a diversity and
inclusion initiative and implemented it to optimize employee
socialization and management buy-in.
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Responsible for policy administration for the entire corporation,
including 8,000 regular employees as well as a team of 13,000
merchandisers located throughout the U.S.
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Developed and delivered multiple training programs on relevant
employment concerns.
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Responsible for corporate EEO Compliance; successfully negotiated
two compliance audits.
MANAGER, HUMAN RESOURCES - FIELD SALES AND OPERATIONS (2004 to 2006)
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Hired and developed all levels of field operations and sales
professionals and support staff.
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Developed business unit human resources plans in line with business
unit goals and strategies.
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Employed sophisticated recruitment techniques to source, recruit and
hire high quality talent.
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Lead succession planning and talent development efforts as well as
facilitating Executive Development Reviews.
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Coordinated reinvention of the performance management process
employing technology and utilizing measurable, objective criteria.
Redesigned the field performance review process.
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Counseled all levels of management on a variety of issues concerning
effective problem solving and issue resolution.
 JENNINGS CENTER FOR OLDER ADULTS, Cleveland, OH 2003 TO 2004
Provider of health care and supportive services to older adults,
with a special concern for those with limited means and/or cognitive
challenges.
DIRECTOR, HUMAN RESOURCES
Responsible for all aspects of human resources at this faith-based,
continuum of adult care campus
OFFICEMAX, INC., Cleveland, OH 1999 TO 2003
$5 billion leader in both business-to-business office products
solutions and retail office products
DIVISIONAL VICE PRESIDENT, FIELD HUMAN RESOURCES (2002 to 2003)
Counseled management on employment and legal issues and managed a
staff of 4 corporate human resources professionals and over 30 field
personnel supporting 24,000 associates in 1,000 retail locations.
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Implemented a career/succession planning program.
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Implemented a soft-skills management development program for the
field resulting in dramatically lower turnover and improved
management effectiveness.
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Budgetary responsibility in excess of $5 Million annually.
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Coordinated reinvention of the performance management process
employing technology and utilizing measurable, objective criteria.
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Worked with curriculum designers, developing in-store training
options for store management and associates designed to a culture
focused on customer interaction and selling
DIRECTOR, CORPORATE HUMAN RESOURCES (RETAINING SALES AND CALL
CENTERS) (2001 to 2002)
DIRECTOR, HR COMMERCIAL SALES AND CALL CENTERS (2000 to 2001)
MANAGER, FIELD HUMAN RESOURCES (1999 to 2000)
PERSONNEL STRATEGIES, INC., Avon, OH 1993 TO 1999
Owner/ President of Human Resources Consulting firm specializing in
compliance, EEO, and Affirmative Action; wrote, marketed and
facilitated training; various outsourced HR services.
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Developed over 130 affirmative action plans annually for clients
such as Ferro Corporation and General Electric; helping customers
connect with what they could be doing better for their people.
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Served as interim Director of Affirmative Action Office at major
State University.
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Stepped in as Director of HR to resize a publishing company in
central Ohio for 8 months.
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Wrote and facilitated training programs on topics such as Sexual
Harassment, Diversity, Employment Laws like the ADA and FMLA, and the
Manager's Role in Affirmative Action.
CHARTER ONE BANK, F.S.B., Cleveland, OH 1998 TO 1999
Transitional contract at this regional bank, operating in a 5-state
area in the Great Lakes Region with $15B in deposits.
EEO / AFFIRMATIVE ACTION CONSULTANT
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Developed and implemented 11 affirmative action plans covering over
6,000 employees, successfully negotiating a difficult OFCCP
compliance review.
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Responded to EEOC and multiple State Civil Rights charges.
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Educated management and regional human resources personnel on
employment regulations.
EDUCATION / PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
HUMAN RESOURCE DEVELOPMENT, Notre Dame College, Cleveland, OH
National Coalition Building Institute a" Certified Diversity
Facilitator
Diversity Center of Northeast Ohio a" Lead Diversity Program

PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS
Board Member a" Cleveland Reads, Literacy Coalition
Greater Cleveland Partnership a" Commission on Economic Inclusion
Board Member
Member of Society of Human Resources Management
Recipient of the 2010 Lead Diversity Alumni of the Year Award from
the
Diversity Center of North East Ohio