Phase Forward

Company: Phase Forward, Inc., Waltham, MA
Entry Submitted By: CHEN PR
Company Description: Phase Forward is a leading provider of integrated data management solutions for clinical trials and drug safety. Founded by Paul Bleicher, the company's products/services have been utilized in over 10,000 clinical trials at over 280 organizations/agencies worldwide including AstraZeneca, Boston Scientific, Dana-Farber Cancer Institute, Eli Lilly, the FDA, GSK, Merck and Novartis.
Nomination Category: Human Resources Categories
Nomination Sub Category: Human Resources Executive of the Year

Nomination Title: Russell J. Campanello, Senior Vice President, Human Resources and Administration, Phase Forward

Tell the story about what this nominee achieved since January 1 2008 (up to 500 words). Focus on specific accomplishments, and relate these accomplishments to past performance or industry norms. Be sure to mention obstacles overcome, innovations or discoveries made, and outcomes:

Russ joined Phase Forward in March 2008. The company was then and is today a
leader in its market, providing much needed technology solutions and services to
18 of the top 20 pharmaceutical and biopharmaceutical companies. By all measures
– quarter-to-quarter record breaking revenues and low employee turnover by
industry standards – the company was thriving (revenues for 2008 were $170.2M,
up 27 percent over 2007 revenues). But in addition to celebrating success,
employees were voicing concerns and expressing a sense of disconnectedness
throughout the organization. It was clear to Russ that the efforts that had led
to the company’s market success had not translated into employee satisfaction.
His mission was to lead a cultural renewal and to close this gap.

During his first few weeks with the company, the results of an annual employee
“Best Places to Work” survey hosted by the Boston Business Journal were
revealed. In reaction to concerns highlighted within the survey and to gather
additional input, he called several employee and manager-level roundtables to
discuss those issues and areas that needed improvement, and began to match
concerns to new initiatives and improve some outdated policies. And since the
nation’s economy continued on a steady decline, improvements and readjustments
would have to be taken on with limited financial resources.

Subtle as some challenges seemed, a lack of consistent manager-level
communication with regard to goals, responsibilities and performance was a
concern among many mid-level employees. In response, Russ was dedicated to
ensuring better communications and company-wide transparency. To that end, he
launched a new SharePoint communications portal under the theme “Have a Say,”
where employees have access to an executive blog series, online quick polling on
hot topics, newsletters, monthly contests and company meeting summaries for all
offsite employees. The site saw more than 15,000 hits in the first week! The
first contest, implemented to draw more traffic/exposure to the site, asked
employees to indentify senior executive team members from their baby pictures
and Russ and his team received a record-breaking 2000 entries from offices
around the world.

He also published org charts and team goals for all to see and improved the
performance review process. He also arranged for all managers to receive regular
training – and helped to elevate the standard under which all managers are held.
In addition to implementing the new performance review process to maximize
company talent, he worked to improve the hiring process to ensure that all new
employees are a perfect fit. As many companies in these uncertain times are
scaling back, Phase Forward is growing with an eye on the future, understanding
that this is the best time to recruit and hire superior talent.

Russ also helped to manage and oversee the company’s move to its new corporate
headquarters. Phase Forward’s new home is one of the greenest (LEED Gold
certified) buildings in Massachusetts and features a long list of
employee-centric design elements that Russ helped to implement. These include
perimeter windows that allow for better indoor air quality and overall
productivity. From start to finish, Russ worked to ensure that all employees
made a smooth transition to the new and collaborative work space. And the new,
green space has come to represent the company’s new open communications strategy.

The response from employees to date has been overwhelming and results run
throughout the organization:

•             Already low volunteer turnover rate dips even further; from less than 10
percent to under five percent
•             Employee-run events are up. A recent table tennis tournament welcomed 50
participants and more than 100 spectators. Plans for another, as well as a
separate billiards tournament are already underway.
•             Polls and queries before virtually unnoticed are generating response rates of
nearly 90 percent. For example, the minimum number of responses required to
fulfill the request related to the Boston Business Journal Best Places to Work
award – 150 – was received within the first week, versus three weeks under
previous management.

It would be convenient to attribute these shifts to the economy, but as the
leader in its industry Phase Forward is a target for heavy recruiting. As offers
continue to come in at a steady pace, Phase Forward employees are staying put.

“HR is critical in the good times. It defines business in the worst of times,”
Russ said.
During these challenging times, many companies are resigned to do very little to
improve employee moral and are more focused on revenue and the bottom line. But
not Phase Forward under Russ’ HR leadership. Russ will continue to innovate to
support company employees; the industry’s best and brightest. Phase Forward’s
continued success depends on it. 

List hyperlinks to any online news stories, press releases, or other documents that support the claims made in the section above. IMPORTANT: Begin each link with http://, and enclose each link in square brackets; for example, [http://www.youraddress.com]:

Press release announcing Russ’ appointment:
http://investor.phaseforward.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177364&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1119724&highlight=

Press release announcing the new company headquarters:
http://investor.phaseforward.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177364&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1109610&highlight=

Press release announcing the LiveWell wellness program:
http://investor.phaseforward.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=177364&p=irol-newsArticle&ID=1060375&highlight=

Boston Globe article quoting Russ:
http://www.boston.com/jobs/news/articles/2008/11/15/for_employers_a_quandary_speak_of_woes_or_wait/?page=1

Provide a brief (up to 100 words) biography about the nominee:

Before Phase Forward, Russ served as the senior vice president of HR and
marketing at Keane, a nearly $1 billion business process and IT consulting firm
with more than 10,000 employees worldwide. At Keane, he was responsible for
leading the selection, development and retention of the highly specialized
global workforce, and directing the company's investments in advertising,
branding, public relations, direct and online communications and sales support
programs. Prior to Keane, Russ held senior HR roles at NerveWire, Genzyme and
Lotus Development Corporation. Campanello attended Suffolk's Executive MBA
program and holds a B.S. degree in Business Administration from the University
of Lowell.