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    Portrait of Cheryl Lazzaro
    BPI Expert Faculty

    Cheryl Lazzaro

    Vice President, Corporate Director, Human Resources

    DMJM Harris/AECOM Corporation

    Key Takeaways

    • 1.She is recognized for leading HR initiatives in high-technology and engineering firms.
    • 2.Lazzaro has deep experience in guiding organizations through change management, mergers, and acquisitions.
    • 3.She was instrumental in creating a competency-based leadership system at SIAC using external coaching and 360-degree feedback.

    About Cheryl

    Cheryl Lazzaro is a distinguished HR professional and a faculty expert at the Best Practice Institute, known for her deep expertise in organizational development, change management, and executive coaching within high-technology and engineering environments.

    Who is Cheryl Lazzaro?

    Cheryl Lazzaro is a senior-level Human Resources professional with extensive experience across all facets of HR. She has a proven track record, particularly in high-technology firms, where her skills in organizational development, change management, and executive coaching have been instrumental. Lazzaro is recognized for her ability to support diverse business groups from a generalist HR perspective while also possessing specialized knowledge in complex areas like mergers and acquisitions.

    Her career has seen her take on significant leadership roles, including serving as Vice President, Corporate Director of Human Resources at DMJM Harris/AECOM Corporation. She is also a valued faculty expert at the Best Practice Institute, contributing her insights to BPI's mission of advancing best practices in leadership and organizational excellence.

    Quick facts about Cheryl Lazzaro

    | | |---|---| | Role | Senior-level HR professional, Faculty Expert | | Company | DMJM Harris/AECOM Corporation (former) | | Expertise | Change Management, Organizational Development, Mergers & Acquisitions, Executive Coaching | | Notable for | Leading HR initiatives in high-tech and engineering, contributing to BPI's leadership resources | | BPI affiliation | Expert Faculty member |

    What is Cheryl Lazzaro known for?

    • Leading HR in High-Technology Firms: Expertise in navigating the unique HR challenges and opportunities within rapidly evolving technology sectors.
    • Change Management: Successfully guiding organizations through significant transformations, ensuring smooth transitions and sustained performance.
    • Mergers & Acquisitions and Divestitures: Proficient in the HR integration and consolidation aspects of M&A activities.
    • Executive and Organizational Development: Designing and implementing programs that foster leadership capabilities and enhance overall organizational effectiveness.
    • Executive Coaching: Providing targeted coaching to leaders to improve performance and career trajectory.
    • SIAC Case Study: Integral to the development of a competency-based leadership system at SIAC, featuring external coaching and 360-degree feedback.

    What is Cheryl Lazzaro's background and experience?

    Cheryl Lazzaro's career spans significant roles where she applied her comprehensive HR expertise. As Vice President, Corporate Director of Human Resources at DMJM Harris/AECOM Corporation, she managed corporate HR functions for a prominent engineering and transportation firm. Preceding this, she held the position of Managing Director for Organizational Development (OD), Staffing, and HR Integration at SIAC (Securities Industry Automation Corporation), a key technology organization in the financial services world.

    At SIAC, Lazzaro was instrumental in developing a robust competency-based leadership development system. This comprehensive program incorporated external coaching, 360-degree feedback, and individual development planning for all managers, specifically tailored for the information technology industry. Her experience includes working with complex systems and large professional workforces, making her adept at linking HR systems to broader organizational goals such as selection, performance management, and succession planning. Her background underscores a deep understanding of the intersection of human capital strategy with business objectives, particularly in technology and engineering environments.

    What topics does Cheryl Lazzaro speak and write about?

    Cheryl Lazzaro's expertise encompasses a broad range of critical HR and organizational topics. She frequently addresses areas such as change management, focusing on strategies for successful organizational transitions and adaptability. Her insights extend to executive and organizational development, where she emphasizes building leadership capacity and fostering a culture of continuous improvement.

    Lazzaro is also highly knowledgeable in mergers and acquisitions, particularly concerning the human capital aspects of integration and divestitures. Her discussions often include the nuances of executive coaching, providing frameworks and best practices for developing high-performing leaders. Furthermore, her background in technology and financial services allows her to speak on specialized applications of HR principles within these dynamic industries, including strategic planning, learning & development, and employee engagement.

    How does Cheryl Lazzaro contribute to the Best Practice Institute?

    Cheryl Lazzaro serves as a distinguished faculty expert at the Best Practice Institute, sharing her wealth of knowledge and practical experience with BPI members. Her contributions help advance BPI's mission of identifying and disseminating best practices in leadership and organizational excellence. As an expert, she provides valuable insights into critical areas such as leadership development, organizational effectiveness, and talent management, aligning with BPI's core research areas, including the SPARK Model and the Most Loved Workplace® certification.

    Lazzaro's involvement with case studies, such as the SIAC Leadership Development System, provides BPI members with real-world examples and actionable strategies for developing leaders and managing complex HR initiatives. Her expertise enhances BPI's robust resources, offering members access to high-caliber insights that inform strategic decision-making and drive organizational success.

    Where can you learn more from Cheryl Lazzaro?

    To delve deeper into Cheryl Lazzaro's expertise, you can explore the resources and case studies available through her expert profile on the Best Practice Institute website. Her contributions provide valuable insights into organizational development, change management, and leadership strategies.", faqs=[{

    Background & Perspective

    Background

    Cheryl Lazzaro is a senior-level Human Resources professional with a proven track record in high-technology, engineering, and financial services firms. Her career includes serving as Vice President, Corporate Director of Human Resources at DMJM Harris/AECOM Corporation. Prior to that, she was the Managing Director for Organizational Development, Staffing, and HR Integration at SIAC (Securities Industry Automation Corporation). At SIAC, Lazzaro was instrumental in developing a comprehensive competency-based leadership system that incorporated external coaching, 360-degree feedback, and individual development planning tailored for the information technology industry.

    Areas of Expertise

    Cheryl Lazzaro’s expertise covers all facets of HR, with a special focus on guiding organizations through complex challenges. She is highly proficient in:

    • Organizational Development: Linking HR systems to business goals like selection, performance management, and succession planning.
    • Change Management: Guiding organizations through significant transformations and ensuring smooth transitions.
    • Mergers & Acquisitions: Managing the human capital aspects of integration and divestitures.
    • Executive Coaching: Providing targeted coaching to improve leadership performance and career trajectories.
    • Talent Management: Developing programs that foster leadership capabilities and enhance organizational effectiveness.

    Topics Covered

    Lazzaro speaks and writes on a range of critical topics, including strategies for successful organizational transitions, building leadership capacity, and fostering a culture of continuous improvement. Her discussions often cover the nuances of executive coaching, the human capital aspects of M&A, and the specialized application of HR principles within the technology and financial services industries.

    Areas of Expertise

    Change ManagementExecutive CoachingOrganizational DevelopmentMergers & AcquisitionsTalent ManagementFinancial Services TechnologyTransportation Engineering

    Research Topics

    Organization Development & ChangeLeadership DevelopmentEmployee Engagement

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    The report format includes executive summaries, research-backed articles, company examples, methodology notes, and practical implications for retention, hiring, culture, leadership, and employee experience. New research and analysis is published on an ongoing editorial cadence at /workplace-report.