..strategy in action

pps002001Richard C. Needles, SPHR
Founder & CEO

Richard Needles has worked as a consultant and coach with organizations in multiple industries ranging in size from 25 employees to 50,000 employees. In his corporate career, Richard personally hired over 2,000 employees; over 50 at the director and executive level. Richard also founded a corporate university to develop emerging leaders and prepare them to take on expanding roles in a time of rapid growth and change.

Richard has been a key advisor, coach and consultant for many other organizations; he has coached high-performing leaders to improve results; he has coached high-performing teams to achieve better results through goal setting, accountability, improved communications and personal development.

Career Highlights:

  • Fourteen years with Battelle; six as the head of Human Resources for Battelle’s first commercial venture.
  • Nine years with Sterling Commerce (formerly Sterling Software); Four promotions in nine years, including promotion to Senior Vice President, Global Human Resources reporting to the CEO; established Sterling Commerce Leadership Institute; managed HR activities during mergers, acquisitions and divestitures; led HR initiatives during spin-off from parent organization and establishment of Sterling Commerce as an independent NYSE public company. Company grew from 230 employees to 2,300 employees in 21 countries. Revenues grew from $35 million to $700 million with a market value of $3.9 billion.
  • SPHR (Senior Professional in Human Resources) designation from the Human Resources Certification Institute; Member, Society of Human Resources Management; Member, Human Resource Association of Central Ohio.
  • Marshall Goldsmith Certified Executive Coach
  • Certified in the Birkman Method® and the Lominger Leadership Architect Competency Model©.
  • Certified Leadership Coach by Right Management.
  • Adjunct faculty member for Worthington Leadership Tomorrow.
  • Executive Education Series Guest Speaker and Keynote Speaker for Dean’s Leadership Conference, The Ohio State University, Fisher College of Business; Member, WOSU Radio Advisory Panel