R I C H A R D M O R R O W 2732 Wrexham Court Herndon, VA 20171 Phone: 703-244-8534 E-mail: rickmorrow@yahoo.com SUMMARY Proven Director of business strategy and analysis accustomed to leading high profile projects and working with senior executives at a customer-centric, Fortune 500 company. Fifteen years of experience includes: business strategy development, data / cost analysis, consulting, project management, market research, written / verbal communication, customer service, quality assurance, benefits, compensation, and leading teams. EXPERIENCE Marriott International, Corporate Headquarters – Bethesda, Maryland March 2004 – Present Director, Benefit Strategies (July 2007 – Present) Develop and present benefit strategy recommendations, business analysis, and decision support to senior executives and regional market leadership. Lead projects for complex quantitative and qualitative data analyses, cost modeling, reporting, competitive benchmarking, and market research. Interpret and synthesize results of analysis/research to develop unique insights and concise executive summaries for senior management. Conduct ad-hoc analyses and research to resolve questions from corporate, regional, and field leadership. Serve as subject matter expert on Health Care Reform and other complicated government mandates, producing cost analyses and legislative synopses to convey the company impact and recommend appropriate action. Manage and mentor junior analysts. Deliver presentations and webinars to executive groups. Lead requirements definition for program changes and develop necessary communications. Design ad-hoc benchmarking surveys for competitive set. Represent Marriott on Employee Benefits Committee at US Chamber of Commerce. Manage multiple projects simultaneously under tight deadlines, coordinating with external consultants and vendors and internal departments such as Finance, Legal, Government Affairs, and Acquisitions. Directed teams of analysts on numerous successful projects, such as annually delivering hundreds of hotel cost analyses to guide senior leadership on medical subsidy strategy and testing medical prices for over 80,000 employees before each Annual Enrollment. Chaired Steering Committee for Hotel Industry Benefits Survey to improve survey process/quality and planned annual meeting for survey participants and consultants. Coordinated the hiring and training of analysts and participated on interview teams for other positions. Led Request for Proposal processes to select vendors for Life/Disability, Subrogation, Pharmacy Benefit Manager, and Health Management Consultant, achieving cost savings and service enhancements. Developed medical cost modeling to help win the Gaylord Hotels bid and formulated strategy to transition their employees onto Marriott’s plans and prices. Senior Manager, Benefit Strategies (September 2006 – July 2007) Achieved total compensation goals by assisting with development of plans and strategies for health and welfare benefits. Assessed plan options and costs to communicate and implement benefits changes. Manager, Benefit Strategies (August 2005 – September 2006) Developed cost analyses for changes to plan design and company benefits subsidy. Collected and managed data to support benefit strategies and measure performance against competitors. Senior Analyst, Benefit Strategies (March 2004 – August 2005) Conducted analyses to appraise benefits plan designs and costs. Completed special costing projects for various hotel properties, such as changing benefits eligibility requirements and paid leave policies. IXI Corporation (division of Equifax) – McLean, Virginia December 2001 – March 2004 Data Analyst Provided marketing research, customer prospecting, and market share data to financial services firms. Ensured accuracy of databases by analyzing clients’ data submissions and resolving quality issues. Incorporated new clients into databases by explaining specifications and testing sample data. R I C H A R D M O R R O W 2732 Wrexham Court Herndon, VA 20171 Phone: (703) 244-8534 E-mail: rickmorrow@yahoo.com McLagan Partners (subsidiary of Aon Hewitt) – Stamford, Connecticut July 2000 – September 2001 Compensation Analyst Offered compensation consulting to firms in the financial services industry. Ensured quality of compensation surveys by reviewing clients’ submissions and addressing data concerns via telephone and e-mail. Prepared presentations for management to deliver to executives of client organizations. Completed ad-hoc client requests for special compilations of industry compensation data. Hewitt Associates (now Aon Hewitt) – Norwalk, Connecticut January 1999 – July 2000 Business Analyst Performed quality assurance for software systems that administer clients' 401(k) and defined benefit pension plans. Fulfilled clients’ needs by analyzing requirements documents, writing test plans, and testing systems using various proprietary software tools, such as graphical user interface, interactive voice response, web browsers, and mainframe tables. Participated in successful systems implementations for three 401(k) clients and one defined benefit client. Trained colleagues in the use of software testing systems. South Trust Bank (now Wells Fargo) May 1993 – December 1998 Project Analyst – Birmingham, Alabama (June 1997 – December 1998) Presented consulting and project management services to senior executives at the corporate headquarters. Performed market research, assessed risks and opportunities, wrote status reports, and created cost analyses for various projects. Reviewed and synthesized vendor proposals to recommend a partner in the Data Warehouse Project. Conducted needs assessments of bank divisions and evaluated software vendors to transition from paper-based to electronic processes for the Purchasing Department. Intern – Guntersville, Alabama (Summer 1996) Provided administrative support to the Director of Marketing and Personnel in departmental operations. Wrote and produced monthly newsletter for the County’s bank branches. Organized events for quarterly meeting. Teller – Arab, Alabama (Summers 1993 – 1995) Developed customer service and interpersonal communication skills by facilitating account transactions for customers. Maintained up to $10,000 and balanced the cash remaining at the end of each day. Babson College, Alumni Department – Wellesley, Massachusetts September 1993 – May 1997 Phonathon Student Manager (September 1996 – May 1997) Directed up to 13 student callers in the telephone fund-raising operation, helping achieve goal of $4.5 million. Interviewed, hired, trained, and conducted performance reviews of callers. Phonathon Caller (September – May, 1993 – 1996) Developed fund-raising and communication skills in telephone calls to alumni. Personally acquired over $30,000 in pledges to the college. EDUCATION Babson College – Wellesley, Massachusetts Bachelor of Science, May 1997 Majors: Finance, Investments, and Communication Graduated summa cum laude and achieved Dean’s List every semester September 1993 – May 1997 MARRIOTT TRAINING COURSES: Foundations of Leadership; How Marriott Makes Money COMPUTER SKILLS: Microsoft Word, Excel, Access, Power Point, Outlook, Internet Explorer