Perry Sholes

Executive Director of CILI (Corporate Internship Leadership Institute)

Perry Sholes is President of Progressive HR Strategies, Inc. Perry is a certified talent optimization consultant and business executive who successfully creates economic value through Human Resources leadership. He helped drive profitability at complex global organizations, which include private equity portfolio companies, large public companies, and private-owned businesses.

Perry has a unique background in human resource management and operations. He began as an hourly employee and General Manager at McDonald's Corporation, District Manager at Taco Bell Corporation, and Target Stores all roles which required P&L, operations, training, and people development responsibilities.

Perry developed his Human Resources skills in the consumer products (CPG) industry at Nabisco Foods Company, Inc. and Kraft Foods, Inc. He was responsible for various corporate functions in both domestic and Latin America. During his time in CPG, he recruited MBA talent at some of the country’s best schools and led internship summer programs for domestic and international students for several corporate functions. He also represented both companies at National Black MBA initiatives. 

Perry has held several roles leading the HR function and guiding company culture including:

  • VP Crew Resources, Raising Cane's team as VP Crew Resources

  • VP HR at Thomas and King, Inc., (a privately-owned operator of Applebee's and Johnny's Carino's brand)

  • SVP HR at Last Call Operating Company, Fox & Hound, and Champps Sports Grill brands (private equity owned)

These roles have enhanced his ability to lead through course changes, operate within slim margins, grow the organization's talent development infrastructure, and build highly capable and service-oriented HR teams. Perry has a legacy track record of transforming HR departments, improving processes, and creating a service-oriented culture in many areas including:

  • talent acquisition

  • training design and facilitation

  • leadership development 

  • talent management

  • succession planning 

  • benefits strategy & administration

  • compensation

  • employee engagement 

  • diversity & inclusion

  • risk management 

Perry received an executive MBA from the University of South Florida and a B.S. in Marketing from Tampa College. He is a certified HR professional (SPHR and SCP), Myers-Briggs Practitioner, DISC and Certified Talent Optimization Consultant. 

Perry has held several board positions with multiple associations including:

  • Women Foodservice Forum

  • Multicultural Foodservice & Hospitality Alliance

  • Girl Scouts Louisiana-East

  • Society Human Resource Management (SHRM) Kentucky and Louisiana

He is also President and Founding Member of the Kraft Foods Alumni Network and CPG Professional Networks, President of NOLASHRM 2020, Diversity Director at the Louisiana State SHRM Council 2020/21, and a member of the New Orleans Regional Black Chamber Board of Directors. Perry is a 2019 graduate of NORLI and Urban League's ULead Program. Finally, he is active as a business coach for the Urban League of Louisiana Scale Up! Program and Women's Business Resource Center.