Denise A.

DLS HR Solutions LLC partners with organizations during pivotal moments when they need additional HR expertise, structure, or leadership to move forward with confidence. We assess your current HR operations, identify opportunity for improvement, and build the systems and processes that support long term success. Our approach blends strategic guidance with hands on execution, allowing us to operate as a true extension of your leadership team.

• Lead HR operational assessments and implement process improvements, including SOP development, workflow redesign, and scalable People infrastructure.
• Provide interim People leadership support to organizations navigating growth, change, and workforce challenges across industries, with a focus on structure, execution, and stability.

ADWEEK is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. First published in 1979 and owned by Shamrock Capital since 2020, ADWEEK’s award-winning coverage reaches an engaged audience of professionals across platforms including print, digital, events, podcasts, newsletters, social media and mobile apps. As a touchstone of the advertising and marketing community, ADWEEK is an unparalleled resource for leaders across multiple industries who rely on its content to help them do their jobs better.

• Spearheaded HR strategy, reported to three CEOs, and collaborated with executive leadership to execute talent management, compliance, and culture initiatives impacting 140+ employees driving engagement and retention.
• Directed HR strategy and operations for 140+ employees, including a PEO transition that reduced benefits costs by $400K and a seamless 401(k) migration.
• Partnered with the CEO, Board, and senior leaders across Editorial, Product, Marketing, Finance, and Sales to align HR strategy with business goals, driving cross-functional growth.
• Managed multi-state employment law compliance, employee relations, and workforce adjustments, supporting employees with care and empathy during transitions to maintain morale and engagement.
• Collaborated with the CFO and Legal on compensation planning, benefits design, and total rewards strategy.
• Analyzed HR metrics to drive data-informed decisions on engagement, retention, and organizational effectiveness, increasing retention in key roles.

ADWEEK is the leading source of news and insight serving the brand marketing ecosystem. First published in 1979 and owned by Shamrock Capital since 2020, ADWEEK’s award-winning coverage reaches an engaged audience of professionals across platforms including print, digital, events, podcasts, newsletters, social media and mobile apps. As a touchstone of the advertising and marketing community, ADWEEK is an unparalleled resource for leaders across multiple industries who rely on its content to help them do their jobs better.

• Scaled HR operations from 90 to 140 employees during rapid PE-backed growth, unifying policies, and onboarding across acquisitions.
• Implemented 15Five as the company’s first centralized performance management system, introducing continuous feedback and biweekly check-ins to improve engagement and accountability.
• Directed leadership development programs to strengthen manager capability and improve retention.
• Led COVID-19 policy rollout, balancing safety, compliance, and business continuity.
• Streamlined leave administration (FMLA, STD, LTD, ADA) and optimized processes through PEO and HRIS integration.
• Utilized Compease for job evaluations, salary benchmarking, and pay equity adjustments.
• Audited payroll and benefits processes to ensure accuracy, compliance, and operational efficiency.
• Launched cultural initiatives that reinforced a people-first workplace and improved overall employee experience.

Founded in New York City in 2007, Johannes Leonardo is an independent creative agency that was created on the belief there will always be a new media, there will always be new tech, but power in the hands of people will never change. By generating communications platforms that make consumers the medium, the agency solves complex business challenges and build long-term partnerships that deliver effective results for its roster of clients including, adidas originals, Volkswagen, Instagram, Uber and Kraft-Heinz. Johannes Leonardo was recently recognized as #3 on Ad Age's 'Top-Ten' A-List in 2020, Adweek’s 2019 Breakthrough Agency of The Year and Effie’s 2019 2nd Most Effective Independent Agency in North America.

• Improved retention and morale by partnering with the Chief Talent Officer to elevate engagement and performance during organizational and market transitions.
• Reduced regrettable turnover through data-driven insights from exit interviews and people metrics, enabling targeted retention and development strategies.
• Cut administration costs by 12% through strategic vendor negotiations and led a seamless Q1 open enrollment in ADP Workforce Now, ensuring transparent communication and rapid issue resolution.

CoCreativ is an integrated group of companies specializing in creative production across traditional and AI-driven workflows. Our brands include Industrial Color, a creative production agency; Smashbox Studios, world-class studios and equipment; and Globaledit, a creative production technology platform. For over 30 years, CoCreativ has partnered with industry-leading brands across entertainment, fashion, retail, pharma, technology, and beauty. We deliver end-to-end creative solutions—from strategy and AI-enhanced content creation to execution—helping clients expand their creative capacity and elevate their output through quality-focused collaboration.

• Directed the relaunch of ADP Workforce Now benefits and timekeeping modules, leading open enrollment strategy while partnering with leadership to optimize plan design and reduce costs.
• Delivered manager training, compliance reporting, and clear employee communications that streamlined HR operations, enhanced the employee experience, and enabled scalable, tech-driven HR solutions aligned with business goals

The people of Memorial Sloan Kettering Cancer Center (MSK) are united by a singular mission: ending cancer for life. Our specialized care teams provide personalized, compassionate, expert care to patients of all ages. Informed by basic research done at our Sloan Kettering Institute, scientists across MSK collaborate to conduct innovative translational and clinical research that is driving a revolution in our understanding of cancer as a disease and improving the ability to prevent, diagnose, and treat it. MSK is dedicated to training the next generation of scientists and clinicians, who go on to pursue our mission at MSK and around the globe. One of the world’s most respected comprehensive centers devoted exclusively to cancer, we have been recognized as one of the top two cancer hospitals in the country by U.S. News & World Report for more than 30 years.

• Led resolution of critical Workday benefits system issues and conducted thorough audits to ensure data accuracy, compliance, and smooth enterprise-wide operations.
• Collaborated cross-functionally to streamline processes, drive automation, and implement data-informed benefits administration strategies aligned with organizational goals and employee needs.

ANZ is among the top 4 banks in Australia, the largest banking group in New Zealand and Pacific, and among the top 50 banks in the world.

• Served as HR Business Partner to the International and Institutional Banking business unit, liaising with legal counsel on employment, contracts, and immigration matters.
• Directed benefit plan design and open enrollment on ADP Workforce Now; launched the first U.S. company wellness program, increasing employee engagement.

UNIQLO is a brand of Fast Retailing Co., Ltd., a leading Japanese retail holding company with global headquarters in Tokyo. UNIQLO is the largest of eight brands in the Fast Retailing Group, the others being GU, Theory, PLST (Plus T), Comptoir des Cotonniers, Princesse tam.tam, J Brand and Helmut Lang.

• Served as Workday HCM subject matter expert, delivering Tier 3 technical support and driving system optimizations that improved user experience and boosted HR operational efficiency.
• Developed comprehensive global Workday training materials and collaborated with HRIS teams to implement system enhancements, enabling scalable, data-driven HR practices aligned with business goals.

Tory Burch is an American luxury lifestyle brand founded in New York in 2004. What began with a boutique in Manhattan and an e-commerce site has since grown into a global business with 400 stores across North America, Europe, the Middle East, Latin America, Asia and Australia. In addition, the brand is available at more than 3,000 department and specialty stores worldwide. Tory Burch started her company with a clear purpose: to build a global luxury brand and a foundation that would advance women’s economic power. Designed in her New York atelier, the collection includes ready-to-wear, handbags, shoes, accessories, beauty and home. The Foundation was established in 2009 to provide women entrepreneurs in the United States with access to capital, education and community.

• Managed Workday and ADP Workforce Now as system administrator, overseeing onboarding, separations, employee data changes, new store setups, HRIS reporting, and payroll mapping for all U.S. locations.
• Supported HR operations across multiple international markets including the U.S., Canada, the UK, Puerto Rico, Italy, and Germany, ensuring a consistent and high quality HR experience across all regions.

The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. is one of the world’s leading manufacturers, marketers, and sellers of quality skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products, and is a steward of outstanding luxury and prestige brands globally. The company’s products are sold in approximately 150 countries and territories under brand names including: Estée Lauder, Aramis, Clinique, Lab Series, Origins, M·A·C, La Mer, Bobbi Brown Cosmetics, Aveda, Jo Malone London, Bumble and bumble, Darphin Paris, TOM FORD, Smashbox, AERIN Beauty, Le Labo, Editions de Parfums Frédéric Malle, GLAMGLOW, KILIAN PARIS, Too Faced, Dr.Jart+, the DECIEM family of brands, including The Ordinary and NIOD, and BALMAIN Beauty

• Led HR operations and strategic initiatives by serving as an HR Business Partner, building strong cross-functional partnerships, and supporting leaders through organizational change and workforce initiatives.
• Drove HR systems and process improvements, including serving as a selected Power User for a major HR transformation initiative focused on operational efficiency, workflow enhancement, and user adoption.