Lauren Rothberg

Ensure retail brands get the best talent and customer service by giving expert advice on employee hiring, development, and management. Show clients how to maximize staff performance through effective new hire orientations, comprehensive training programs, employee engagement initiatives, and performance evaluation strategies. Analyze compensation plans, policies/procedures, and employee surveys to identify and capitalize on improvement opportunities. Maximize employee retention for diverse retailers by sharing the best techniques in candidate selection and succession planning. Hire and supervise internal staff.

* Started well-received HR blog called Pen Pals: https://retail-pals.squarespace.com/new-blog-1/

* Minimized headcount by hiring multidisciplined staff while launching new store. Developed employee handbook, policies, procedures, store forms, and job descriptions.

Maximize staffing levels, design policies/procedures, and attract top-level talent for this specialty pet retailer. Represent company at trade shows and capitalize on expansion opportunities.

* Developed the associate handbook and enabled online business to open its first brick-and-mortar shop; designed model that transitioned store from a pop-up shop to a long-term lease.

Championed organization's mission to reduce stress/burnout by offering companies and individuals sustainable, science-based solutions to enhance both well-being and performance. Acted as Senior Retail Consultant, overseeing all aspects of employee hiring/onboarding, customer service, and sales for Arianna Huffington's pop-up retail store.

* Produced detailed employee handbook that covered store operations, vendor bios, and high-impact selling techniques.

• Maximized productivity while running 5 stores that generated 60%+ of the company’s annual sales. Held weekly meetings to evaluate profitability, payroll, employee performance, and staffing needs. Hired/built diverse sales teams who could relate to customers of all types. Developed exceptional leaders; hired entry-level associates and nurtured their growth through thriving careers.

• Retained superior Sales Associates by maximizing their talents, promoting them into management, and enabling them to grow their positions into a higher level. Kept top sales performers engaged and motivated with higher commission brackets.

Opened and directed the flagship store, driving it to surpass its 1st-year objective of $9 million with actual sales exceeding $10.5 million. Managed up to 80 employees, including a commission-based sales team. Recruited, trained, and retained exceptional talent. Performed all employee quarterly/annual performance reviews, and implemented sales strategies, incentives, and contests. Monitored store productivity and determined strengths/weaknesses by classification.

Editor of Legal Developments, Albany Law School Journal of Science and Technology

Bachelor of Arts in Political Science, Cum Laude

Accelerated 6-Year Law and Public Policy Program

Stanley Becker Award for Outstanding Achievement in Political Science

Dana Scholarship for Achievement in Political Science