ABOUT ME....

About me.. VIDEO

HR Leadership and People Operations

Looking for bold People Operations and HR Leadership strategies to elevate your business? You've come to the right place.

As an accomplished and trusted HR Leader based in New York City, I bring over 20 years of experience helping businesses across diverse industries thrive. I specialize in designing tailored HR strategies that harness your company’s strengths, address its challenges, and capitalize on opportunities. Together, we’ll ensure your business stays competitive, successful, and positioned for growth.

NOT YOUR AVERAGE HR EXECUTIVE! I believe in putting the ‘human’ back in Human Resources by unlocking the potential of employees and managers. It’s not just about policies and procedures; it’s about understanding people, building trust, and driving performance. My colleagues often commend my intangible relationship-building skills, which enable me to resolve conflicts and provide clear direction, empowering teams to succeed.

I’m passionate about creating dynamic company cultures and enhancing employee engagement through a unique blend of approachability and professionalism. My track record includes leading key HR initiatives, developing team-building programs, and implementing management training that aligns with business strategies to drive growth.

My expertise extends to transforming sales talent for the digital era, integrating acquisitions, and recruiting top executive talent. Whether it’s scaling businesses, launching innovative HR programs, or collaborating with leadership to achieve business objectives, I’m here to help.

Let’s connect and discuss how I can add value to your organization and help you reach new heights.

DME.HRLEADER@gmail.com

Empowering HR Solutions
MY HR PHILOSOPHY

I believe that Human Resources should always prioritize the "human" element. It’s about building relationships, empowering people, and driving growth through strategic, yet hands-on HR leadership. My approach integrates compliance and structure with empathy and understanding, ensuring that policies and processes align with the unique culture and needs of each organization.

Core Principles:

People-First Culture: At the heart of any successful organization are its people. I aim to foster a workplace environment where employees feel valued, heard, and supported. By understanding the motivations, aspirations, and challenges of individuals, I create tailored HR solutions that drive engagement and enhance the employee experience.
Strategic Business Partnering: HR should act as a strategic partner to the business, not just a support function. I work closely with senior leadership to align HR initiatives with broader business goals, ensuring that talent strategies drive growth, improve performance, and create a competitive advantage. I bring a holistic perspective that balances strategic vision with tactical execution.
Compliance Without Compromise: While compliance is a fundamental responsibility, I approach it as an opportunity to protect and enhance the employee experience. With extensive experience navigating complex regulations, especially in challenging markets like New York and California, I ensure that the organization remains compliant while maintaining flexibility and agility in its HR practices.
Empowerment Through Performance Management: A robust performance management system is key to unlocking potential and driving development. I emphasize continuous feedback, career development, and leadership training to cultivate a culture of high performance. I view performance management not just as a process, but as a tool for employee growth and organizational success.
Adaptability and Innovation: As a generalist, I thrive on versatility and adapting to various industries and workplace cultures, from publishing and live entertainment to advertising and non-profit sectors. I embrace change, view challenges as opportunities for improvement, and seek innovative solutions to meet evolving business needs.
Data-Driven Decision Making: While I prioritize the human side of HR, I also rely on data and analytics to guide decision-making. I use metrics to measure the impact of HR programs, identify trends, and make informed choices that support the company’s growth objectives.
Building and Sustaining Culture: I believe in actively shaping a positive company culture through employee engagement initiatives, open communication, and programs that align with the organization's core values. Creating a sense of belonging and purpose is essential, particularly in industries where creativity and passion are key drivers of success.

My philosophy blends strategic leadership with a "roll up my sleeves" attitude, reflecting my belief that HR should be a dynamic force for positive change. I’m committed to driving meaningful HR initiatives that not only meet compliance requirements but also resonate with employees and propel organizations forward.

CONTACT

Where I have worked

ADAPT Community Network, formerly United Cerebral Palsy of New York City, is the leading human service not-for-profit and a pioneer in providing cutting edge programs and services for people with disabilities. Every day, we build a more inclusive world for thousands of New Yorkers through education, technology, health, residential and recreational programs in all five boroughs and throughout the Hudson Valley.

TMP Worldwide Advertising Marketing LLC (now RADANCY) ADVERTISING leading cloud-based talent acquisition software provider SaaS

JGO is the leading developer, producer, distributor and marketer of Broadway theatre worldwide. Its family of companies includes Broadway Across America, Broadway.com, Group Sales Box Office, BroadwayBox.com, Broadway Channel and Broadway Classroom. Its productions span Broadway, Off Broadway, London's West End, Japan, Canada and 45 domestic markets. It has won Tonys in every producing category.

Reed Business Information (RBI) global B2B Publisher part of Reed Elsevier now known as RELX plc is a British multinational information and analytics company headquartered in London, England. Its businesses provide scientific, technical and medical information and analytics; legal information and analytics; decision-making tools; and organize exhibitions.

Questex Media, formerly part of Advanstar Communictions was formed in 2005 as a carve-out B2B Publisher and Trade Show producer in the Beauty, Travel, Hospitality and Technology spaces

KEY ACHIEVEMENTS

Strategic HR Integration

Organizational Design & Effectiveness

Cultural Transformation Architect

At ADAPT Community Network, led the seamless integration of a 600-employee agency into UKG, enhancing HR operational efficiency.

HR Function Pioneer

Instrumental at John Gore Organization in developing the HR function for a growing organization, facilitating the successful onboarding and assimilation of staff from various acquisitions

Compliance Guru

As an expert in FLSA and Independent Contractor Compliance, I played a key role in developing practices for John Gore Organization that helped the organization avoid a DOL audit and potential non-compliance lawsuit. My expertise and attention to detail ensured that the organization was able to operate in compliance with all relevant regulations and laws.

Successfully led initiatives in Organizational Design and Effectiveness (OD&OE), focusing on aligning structures and processes with strategic objectives to enhance overall performance. My approach involves developing frameworks and tools rooted in research-based methodologies to create agile, efficient organizations.

Key achievements include:

Implementing Strategic Workforce Planning: Developed enterprise-level strategies that effectively identify and address workforce needs, optimizing resource allocation and talent management.
Enhancing Organizational Structures: Designed and refined organizational structures to improve clarity in roles and responsibilities, facilitating better communication and collaboration across teams.
Driving Change Management: Successfully led change initiatives during mergers and acquisitions, such as the transition to Questex, focusing on employee engagement and minimizing disruptions.
Utilizing Data-Driven Solutions: Leveraged qualitative and quantitative data to diagnose organizational challenges, delivering tailored interventions that improve effectiveness and efficiency.

These efforts have consistently resulted in increased employee engagement, improved performance metrics, and a culture of continuous improvement within organizations.

At TMP Worldwide, developed and implemented a mentor program for newly acquired employees, fostering a cohesive culture during critical post-acquisition phases.

M&A Startup

At Advanstar, played a key role in integration of 26 acquisitions in 2 years growing NYC office from 80 - 350 employees

At Questex, Played a key role in ensuring the successful launch of Questex after splitting from Advanstar Communications. Transitioned 400+ employees to the newly created organization

Immigraton Law

At JGO and TMP, I was responsible for managing all immigration law matters, including obtaining and renewing visas for our international employees. With my expertise, I ensured that all employees were compliant with immigration regulations and able to work legally in the United States

Core HR Competencies:

Technical Skills & Systems Expertise:

HRIS Applications: UKG Ultipro, ADP Workforce Now, Epicor, PeopleSoft, Oracle HR
Compliance Tools: XPertHR & Compliance HR Navigator Suite (Independent Contractor & FLSA)
Talent Management Systems: iCIMS ATS, SuccessFactors
Microsoft Office: Proficient in Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook

PEER RECOMMENDATIONS

I am pleased to recommend Diane Evans for any HR leadership position. Diane served as the Vice President of Human Resources at ADAPT Community Network, where she demonstrated exceptional skills in handling all aspects of HR, with a focus on administration, data entry, records management, performance evaluations and HRIS management.

During her tenure, Diane consistently exhibited a strong work ethic, attention to detail, and a deep understanding of human resources best practices. Her dedication to streamlining HR processes, implementing effective data entry systems, and optimizing HRIS functionality significantly contributed to the overall success of our organization.

Diane is a strategic thinker with a passion for fostering a positive work environment and supporting the professional growth of employees. Her ability to effectively manage HR operations and address complex HR challenges sets her apart as a valuable asset to any organization.

I have no doubt that Diane will excel in any HR leadership role she undertakes, and I highly recommend her for any future opportunities in the field of human resources.

I can wholeheartedly recommend Diane. As an HR exec, she was somewhat atypical in that she actually gets involved in strategy. Considering that in the publishing world, your only real assets go home every night, its key to build, maintain and motivate excellent teams. Diane doesn't sit by passively and put our fires. she's proactive, and ensures that the "human factor" is never overlooked when planning strategy and executing plans. She'd be a great asset, who will take care of great assets.

Kerry Cannon, Group Publisher, Travel Agent

Questex Media Group

Gary Dreyfuss former SVP HR ADAPT Community Newtork

Diane is a seasoned HR professional who is not only prompt in addressing employee concerns but also adept at deftly handling challenging situations. She played a key role in handling employee issues during the Reed Business divestment efforts.

Karthik Krishnan , Vice President Interactive Media & Sales Management , Reed Business Information (A division of Reed Elsevier)

I’ve had the pleasure of knowing Diane while at TMP. I was always impressed with Diane's ability to seamlessly lead HR across business lines, countries and cultures. She was essential in the support of my team, providing insight and guidance during hiring, performance reviews and change management. Diane is a true asset for any organization requiring expertise in human resources and I look forward to our paths crossing again!

Cathy Doyle Estabrooks Senior Director Sales Enablement TMP Worldwide (now RADANCY)

I have had the pleasure to work with Diane for the past 7 years during my role as an Executive Relationship Manager. During that time I see the value Diane brings to her organization. She is always looking for ways to improve the HR process. Her vision is very strategic while keeping her employees top of mind. She is results driven and organized. This is evident as she has begun implementing a paperless process for her new hires as well as he existing staff. She is always looking to increase employee engagement while keeping an eye on the bottom line. She is a true asset

Andrea Geiger, SHRM-CP, CPP ADP

“Diane was VP, Human Resources of Questex a company that began as a buyout in May 2005, with 5 primary business units acquired and 400 people in six locations. From the outset Diane was instrumental in establishing the HR function, policies and procedures within the new company as a key member of the senior executive team. She brought the perspective of an HR executive from larger scale organizations and was able to apply that talent to our business. She participated in strategic planning and guided division and department heads on aligning their talent with company and group business objectives. She was adept at strategic partnering, relationship building, conflict resolution and demonstrated an ability to influence, train and develop managers through programs she led the HR team to develop. -Overall a pleasant and skilled professional HR executive.”

Kerry Gumas, President & CEO, Questex Media Group, Inc.

I had the pleasure of working with Diane for many years and would, without hesitation, recommend her for any opportunity she is considered for. Diane is a smart, no-nonsense, caring executive. She always took the time to listen thoroughly to our employees, regardless of the scope of the issue. She would then carefully balance empathy for the employees along with the concerns of the larger company. And she always seem to get that balance right. She's a great find and would make any organization better.

Matt Kupchin President at Broadway.com

I had the great pleasure of working with Diane for the last 7 years. She is a true professional and a person of high moral character. Diane helped us through a period of rapid growth at JGO, remaining focused on the well-being of the ever-expanding number of employees. Diane is approachable and discreet, both qualities that are essential for the job of a Vice President of Human Resources. I would unreservedly recommend Diane for a similar role and think that any company would be lucky to have her on their team.

Jerome Kane Co-CEO Broadway.com

As an HR leader, Diane Evans has that intangible relationship building skill of being someone both managers and employees feel comfortable talking with to resolve conflict and improve performance in the workplace. It has been a pleasure to have worked with Diane at Broadway Across America.

Rich Jaffe Co-Chief Executive Officer at Broadway Across America

Diane is a person who has elevated the term Human Resources. Sure, while there are nuts and bolts responsibilities associated with the field -- and Diane could handle them blindfolded--Diane's insights into tricky situations and her sensitivity and caring for the people she served made her a special person in the corporate mix. As busy as she could be, she always found time to listen and offer suggestions and information as appropriate -- and so often I found her perspectives right on target. She was always a valuable contributor and resource in the years we worked together.

Jim Alkon Publisher and Editor-in-Chief, MFI, Advanstar and Questex

Case Studies

Mergers & Acquisitions (M&A) Integration at Advanstar Communications

Situation:
At Advanstar Communications, a leading B2B publishing and event company, I joined as part of the HR team during a period of aggressive growth. Within my first two years, the company completed 26 acquisitions. The New York office experienced rapid expansion, growing from 80 to 350 employees due to these acquisitions. This dramatic growth required effective integration strategies for new teams, company cultures, and operational procedures.

Action:

Led the HR integration efforts for all 26 acquisitions, ensuring a smooth transition for newly acquired employees, aligning them with Advanstar's values and practices.
Developed comprehensive onboarding programs tailored to acquired companies, focusing on training, benefits alignment, and cultural integration.
Implemented a structured communication plan to ensure transparent updates about the acquisition process, minimizing employee uncertainty and improving engagement.
Scaled the HR infrastructure to support the influx of employees, including expanding the team and HR processes to accommodate the increased headcount.

Results:

Successfully integrated over 270 new employees into the New York office, scaling the team from 80 to 350.
Reduced employee turnover during the integration process to under 10%, significantly lower than industry averages for M&A scenarios.
Streamlined the onboarding process, reducing time-to-productivity for new employees by 30%.

HRIS Implementation at John Gore Organization (JGO)

Situation:
The John Gore Organization, a leader in live entertainment and Broadway ticketing, needed a modern HRIS platform to improve automation, streamline processes, and utilize analytics for strategic decision-making. The existing HRIS system, UltiPro, was outdated and no longer met the company's needs for scalability and integration. I was responsible for overseeing the transition from UltiPro to ADP Workforce Now, a platform better suited for the company's growth.

Action:

Led the complete HRIS implementation process, including vendor selection, contract negotiation, system configuration, and user training.
Migrated all employee data, payroll records, and benefits information to the new system, ensuring data accuracy and compliance.
Added multiple modules post-implementation, including time tracking, talent management, and analytics, to optimize the system's capabilities.
Utilized analytics tools in ADP Workforce Now to identify cost-saving opportunities, automate manual tasks, and drive data-driven decision-making.

Results:

Reduced administrative time spent on payroll processing by 40% and improved data accuracy by 25%.
Achieved a 35% increase in HR productivity by automating processes that previously required manual intervention.
Leveraged analytics to identify cost-saving measures, resulting in a 15% reduction in HR operating expenses.
Improved employee satisfaction with HR services, as reflected in a 20% increase in internal HR service ratings.

Performance Management Transformation at Questex Media

Situation:
Questex Media, a media and event company focused on the hospitality, travel, and lifestyle industries, was carved out from Advanstar Communications. Following the carve-out, Questex needed a robust performance management system to drive accountability and development in a sales-focused organization. The existing performance management approach was inconsistent and lacked alignment with the company's strategic goals.

Action:

Implemented a web-based performance management portal to create a more structured approach to employee evaluations, goal setting, and development planning.
Designed the system to enable quarterly reviews, making it easier to track performance progress and identify areas for development.
Integrated sales metrics and KPIs into the performance management process, emphasizing accountability and linking individual performance to business outcomes.
Trained managers on providing effective feedback and using the system to foster a culture of continuous improvement.

Results:

Increased participation in performance reviews from 60% to 95% within the first year of implementation.
Improved alignment between employee objectives and company goals, resulting in a 20% increase in sales team productivity.
Boosted employee engagement scores related to career development and feedback by 30%.
Enabled data-driven insights into talent management, supporting better succession planning and employee development strategies.