Lee Smiley

HR Problem Solver | Business Professor | Cat Herder | Ice Cream Aficionado

Skills: human resources, management, leadership development, performance management, strategic leadership, social media, talent acquisition, training, communications, employee relations, employee engagement, creativity, writing

Professional Summary

I'm an accomplished HR leader with 15 years of progressive experience across diverse industries including hospitality, quick-service restaurants, software development, e-commerce, and retail. My career trajectory shows consistent advancement from HR Manager to Director-level positions, with current work as an independent HR Consultant.

Core Strengths:

• Strategic HR Leadership: I've led comprehensive HR operations for organizations ranging from 800 to 4,000 employees, managing everything from talent acquisition to compliance
• Talent Acquisition Excellence: I achieved a 90% reduction in management vacancies at Long John Silver's and successfully recruited for organizations spanning multiple states and international locations
• Employee Engagement: I've led teams to record-high engagement scores (78% at Lowe's, a 37% increase) and reduced turnover by over 50% at The Hut Group
• Systems & Process Implementation: I've selected and implemented HRIS platforms (Dayforce), led technology overhauls, and created scalable HR processes from the ground up
• Multi-State & International Operations: I've managed HR for geographically distributed teams across 10+ states and international locations (North America and Europe)

Notable Achievements:

• Directed staffing for 4,000 employees during Kentucky Derby operations
• Achieved $1+ million in savings through strategic HR initiatives
• Reduced HR costs by 30% while modernizing practices
• Led compensation restructuring and benefits administration initiatives
• Managed union relations, labor negotiations, and complex employee relations matters

Credentials:

• SHRM-SCP certified (Senior Certified Professional)
• MBA in Human Resource Management (4.0 GPA)
• Award-winning educator (Student Success Champion, University of Louisville)

My Sweet Spot: I excel in fast-growth, scaling environments where I can build HR infrastructure from the ground up, implement systems, and serve as a strategic partner to leadership while maintaining hands-on involvement in operations. My experience spans the full employee lifecycle with particular strength in talent acquisition, engagement, and creating scalable processes that support organizational growth.

I have an MBA in Human Resources Management and a Bachelor of Science degree in Management & Organizational Development. Additionally, I have my Society of Human Resource Management - Senior Certified Professional (SHRM-SCP) credential.