Ashley Gooding
About Ashley Gooding
Ashley Gooding is the Benefits & HRIS Manager at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc., where she has worked since 2018. She has extensive experience in benefits management, having previously held roles at Red Roof Inn and TS Tech Americas, and has implemented significant cost-saving initiatives in employee benefit programs.
Work at Advanced Drainage Systems
Ashley Gooding has served as the Benefits & HRIS Manager at Advanced Drainage Systems, Inc. since 2018. In this role, she collaborates with senior leadership to strategize, design, and communicate benefit programs and policies. Ashley leads a team of two senior-level Benefit Professionals, focusing on the creation of monthly executive health and welfare cost summaries and managing the Leave of Absence Program. She develops and maintains benefit communications, including summary plan descriptions and enrollment materials, ensuring clarity and accessibility for employees.
Previous Experience in Employee Benefits Management
Prior to her current position, Ashley Gooding worked as the Benefits Manager at Red Roof Inn from 2014 to 2018. During her tenure, she implemented a self-service Benefit Program for over three thousand employees, which contributed to significant sustainability cost savings. She also held the role of Corporate Human Resources at TS Tech Americas from 2011 to 2014, where she further developed her expertise in employee benefits management.
Education and Certifications
Ashley Gooding studied at The University of Akron from 2003 to 2009, where she gained foundational knowledge in her field. She pursued further education in employee benefits, achieving the Certified Employee Benefit Specialist (CEBS) certification from the International Society of Certified Employee Benefit Specialists between 2013 and 2019. Additionally, she obtained a Certificate in Global Benefits Management from the International Foundation of Employee Benefit Plans in 2014.
Background in Retail Management
Ashley Gooding began her career in retail management, working as a Supervisor at EXPRESS from 2003 to 2005 and as an Assistant Store Manager at Gap Inc. from 2008 to 2010. These roles provided her with valuable experience in team leadership and operational management, which she later applied to her human resources and benefits management career.
Key Responsibilities and Compliance Oversight
In her current role, Ashley Gooding is responsible for overseeing the administration of leave of absence programs, including disability, ADA, and FMLA, ensuring compliance with relevant laws. She evaluates and benchmarks existing benefit plans against competitor offerings to inform her recommendations. Additionally, she assists in the preparation and analysis of financial documents, including 5500s and executive monthly dashboards, while ensuring adherence to federal, state, and city laws related to employee benefits.