Susan Y. Bernstein

Founder and Principal Consultant, Brilliant Ideas HR Consulting

“You have so many brilliant ideas!” With that one statement, Brilliant Ideas HR Consulting was born. As I was brainstorming names for my new venture, my father–Walter–said this to me. Brilliant Ideas sounded like a great name for a consulting business.

Prior to starting my own consulting practice, I served as practitioner in the field of human resources and administration for 20 years in a variety of industries throughout the Tampa Bay region. My career as an entrepreneur began in the 1980s, with a successful babysitting enterprise.

After graduating high school, I studied Mass Communications and Public Relations at the University of South Florida. After graduation, I was hired by the Florida Chamber of Commerce as a Membership Representative to advise business owners of their legislative rights. With a decade of experience supporting businesses in diverse industries, I attended Keller Graduate School of DeVry University, earning an MBA and a Master of Human Resource Management. I am also a graduate of the Tampa Jewish Community Center & Federation’s 2014-2015 Jewish Leadership Training Institute class.

My experience includes developing employee handbooks, conducting organizational assessments and risk assessments/compliance reviews, conducting searches, implementing human resources information systems, and conducting satisfaction surveys. Throughout the years, I have also provided consulting to many organizations with minimal or no human resources within the organization. I am a member of the Society for Human Resource Management, HR Tampa, the American Management Association, the Administrative Consultants Association, Tampa Bay Business Owners, The Centre Club, and the Freelancers Union.

Professional Affiliations

• Society for Human Resource Management
• HR Tampa
• Tampa Bay Business Owners
• Administrative Consultants Association
• Centre Club Tampa

Community Involvement

• Tampa Bay Job Links presenter
• RCN Food Bank volunteer
• Served Thanksgiving meals to veterans and their families at the Haley VA Hospital Polytrauma Unit
• Tampa Jewish Community Center & Federation’s 2014-2015 Jewish Leadership Training Institute Class

Education

• BA, University of South Florida
• MHRM, Human Resources, Keller Graduate School of Management
• MBA, Keller Graduate School of Management