Bill Harness
About Bill Harness
Bill Harness serves as the Vice President of Human Resources at Berry Global, Inc., where he has worked for over 20 years. He has extensive experience in human resources leadership, having previously held positions at Tyco International, Colgate-Palmolive, Frito Lay, General Electric, and Stride Rite.
Work at Berry Global
Bill Harness has been with Berry Global, Inc. since 2004, serving as Vice President of Human Resources since 2007. He has played a significant role in the company's human resource leadership during its Initial Public Offering process. Harness has facilitated vendor selection and implemented a comprehensive Succession Planning, Performance Management, and Goal Setting enterprise system. He has also championed change management initiatives and cultural assimilation efforts within the organization.
Previous Employment History
Prior to his tenure at Berry Global, Bill Harness held several key positions in human resources. He served as Human Resource Director at Colgate-Palmolive from 1997 to 2004 in New York, New York. He worked as Division Employee Relations Manager at Frito Lay from 1987 to 1989 in Hartford, Connecticut. Harness also held the position of Human Resource Manager at General Electric from 1990 to 1993 in Nashville, Tennessee, and was Human Resource Director at Stride Rite from 1993 to 1997 in Louisville, Kentucky.
Education and Expertise
Bill Harness studied at Indiana University Bloomington, where he earned a Bachelor of Arts degree in Social Psychology. His educational background supports his expertise in human resources, particularly in areas such as leadership development, team dynamics, and organizational culture.
Achievements in Human Resources
Throughout his career, Bill Harness has contributed to significant initiatives in human resources. At Berry Global, he developed a strategic competency-based foundation and facilitated the implementation of Berry University and a Learning Management System. He has also developed and instructed various leadership, team development, and legal training programs. Additionally, he facilitated the successful decertification of unions at two key U.S. manufacturing facilities.