AI Case Study: UPS – Turning High-Volume Hiring into a Strategic Advantage

Timothy J. Bartl is Chief Executive Officer of CHRO Association the nation’s leading public policy association of senior human resource executives, representing nearly 400 of the largest companies operating within the United States and globally. The Association focuses on the development of U.S. human resources and employment public policy, primarily at the federal level. At the same time, the Association uses the collective strength of its membership to facilitate chief human resource officer education and enrichment, and achieve market-based improvements in HR practices as well as developing unique member offerings such as its Retiree Health Access program.

Mr. Bartl joined the Association in 1997, and prior to helping found its Center On Executive Compensation in 2008, he served as the Association’s Assistant General Counsel and Vice President of Corporate Affairs, concentrating on executive and employee compensation, government relations, employment rights and retirement security matters.

Mr. Bartl served as Chief Executive Officer of HR Policy Association’s Center On Executive Compensation, a research and advocacy organization comprised of more than 130 HR Policy Association members dedicated to providing a reasoned perspective on executive compensation. In that role, he oversaw the Center’s operations, policy and best practice development and federal advocacy activities involving executive compensation design, disclosure, governance and taxation. He is also a frequent writer and speaker on the subject.

In addition to his work with the Association and Center, Mr. Bartl is also a Partner of Tributary LLP, an association management firm specializing in health care, employment, compensation, benefits and labor law.

Mr. Bartl formerly served as Legislative Director and Counsel to former Rep. Steve Gunderson (R-WI), and is a graduate of Marquette University and the University of Minnesota Law School. He was elected a fellow of the National Academy of Human Resources in 2017.

Darrell Ford serves as Executive Vice President (EVP) and Chief Human Resources Officer (CHRO) for UPS. Prior to joining UPS, Darrell was the CHRO at DuPont. In addition to leading DuPont’s H.R. functions and activities, Darrell was integral in helping shape the company’s culture, with a focus on talent to increase customer and shareholder value. He achieved similar results in previous roles with Xerox, Advanced Micro Devices, Shell and Honeywell in his 30-year career.

Darrell has numerous board roles, including independent director for Illinois Tool Works, advisor for the HR Policy Association and member of the Executive Advisory Board at SemperVirens Venture Capital. He is a long-time partner and a member of the Advisory Board for the Center for Executive Succession at the Darla Moore School of Business at the University of South Carolina.

Elected to the Executive Leadership Council (ELC) and recognized by several professional organizations and magazines as one of the most Influential Executives globally, Darrell earned his bachelor’s, MBA and Juris Doctor degrees from Rutgers University

Dan Hawksworth leads the human capital strategy for the operations and air teams in the U.S. He is responsible for the onboarding and staffing of the US small package and global airline business unit comprised of 300,000 UPSers spreading across 1,800 locations. He oversees a team of 600 HR professionals.

Prior to joining UPS, Dan was vice president of human resources at DuPont, where he was responsible for global talent acquisition, HR planning and strategy, and corporate and international HR.

Dan’s previous experiences include working as an executive search and leadership consultant for Russell Reynolds Associates, one of the premier leadership advisory and executive recruiting companies in the world. Dan was an advisor to several companies related to recruiting and assessing top HR executives for chief human resources officer roles. He spent over a decade working in various senior HR leadership positions with Honeywell International, including as vice-president of global talent acquisition, and vice president of HR for Europe, Middle East and Africa.

Dan earned his bachelor’s degree from Ripon College and a master’s degree in business administration from the University of Arizona.

Jesus Sanz is Vice President of Global Talent Acquisition at UPS, where he leads global talent acquisition strategy and transformation initiatives focused on modernizing recruiting operations, enhancing the candidate experience, and enabling business growth through innovative workforce solutions. In his role, he is responsible for driving enterprise-wide talent acquisition programs, leading large-scale transformation efforts, and advancing the integration of digital technologies and artificial intelligence into recruiting processes.

With extensive leadership experience in human resources and talent acquisition, Jesus has helped organizations navigate complex workforce challenges while building scalable, data-driven recruiting capabilities. He is passionate about transforming talent acquisition from a transactional function into a strategic business partner that delivers measurable value through operational excellence, technology adoption, and workforce innovation.

At UPS, Jesus is spearheading initiatives that leverage AI, automation, and process standardization to improve hiring outcomes, increase efficiency, and support a globally connected workforce. He works closely with business leaders and strategic partners to develop future-ready talent strategies that align with organizational priorities and evolving workforce expectations.

Jesus is a recognized advocate for responsible AI adoption in talent acquisition and frequently collaborates with leaders across HR, technology, and operations to explore how emerging technologies can enhance recruiter effectiveness, improve candidate engagement, and create more agile talent organizations.

Chris Bartlett is Vice President of Global HR Operations Service Enablement at UPS, based in Atlanta, Georgia. He has held the role since January 2026, following nearly six years as VP-HR Center of Expertise, People and Culture.

Earlier in his HR leadership career at UPS, Bartlett served as VP-HR Compliance and Employee Relations and Director, HR Compliance, Strategy and Audit, building a track record in HR governance, compliance, and organizational risk management.

Before moving into compliance leadership, Bartlett spent several years at the intersection of HR and communications. As Human Resources Liaison to Public Affairs, Labor Relations and Sustainability and Employee Communications Director, he partnered with UPS’s Strategy, Labor, Growth, Public Affairs, and Service teams to engage employees in initiatives ranging from internal publications to major multi-year strategies.

With more than three decades at UPS spanning frontline operations, communications, labor relations, compliance, and human resources leadership, Bartlett brings a rare ground-up perspective to his current role leading global HR operations service enablement.

Bartlett graduated from Cleveland State University with bachelor’s degrees in English Literature and Philosophy.