Organized, motivated, detail-oriented and self-initiative Project Manager /Associate with extensive experience tracking,
scheduling, reporting and communicating with multiple levels of stakeholders on high-visibility projects.

• Utilizes MS Project in capturing project plans/scopes and acting as liaison among PM's and various technical groups.
• Technical with analytical skills necessary to be a major contributor to organizations

Core Competencies:

• Project Management
• Process and Procedures
• Business Analysis
• Key Communicator
• AGILE Development
• Effective Relationship Builder

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

MS: Office 9x, 2000, 2003 & XP / Excel / Visio / MS Project & MS Project Server / Word / PowerPoint / Outlook / Lotus Notes / Share Point / Clarity / SAP / Clear Quest / File Marker Pro / Dash Boards /Workflow /Adobe Illustrator/ LAN / WAN / VPN / ISDN / Dial Backup FR / Sonnet & Token Ring/Remedy / Vantive / PRISM /NC3 / SOTS / MetaSolve

PROFESSIONAL HISTORY:

CLIENT: Confidential, Deerfield, IL [contracted employee]
Private Brands Project Specialist - May 2010 - January 2012
Play pivotal role on cross-functional teams involving Merchandising & Packaging Design, planning and coordinating all stages of large to small projects from concept to first production.

• Manage artwork re-branding of grocery and non-food categories, collaborating directly with several professional design agencies in the development and on-time implementation of specific brand guidelines.
• Communicator between Product Development Manager, Category Manager and Design Firms for assigned projects; manages project status communications on a regular basis to all stakeholders; reviews the project progress with team members, and appropriate management. Created weekly dashboard report to for project team and upper management to show progress of projects.
• Manage / track timelines for art development, proofs and final artwork postings to vendors in Workflow.
• Set-up and attend Walgreens-Vendor weekly briefing design meetings to gain understanding of product needs for new packaging.
• Ensure design firms receive required information to start /complete requests and process orders efficiently and correctly. (SKU's, fact statement, nutrition)
• Develop process and procedures and training for other Private Brand Project Specialists.

Client: Confidential, Rolling Meadows, IL [contracted employee]
Associate Project Manager / Jr. Business Analyst - IT PMO - April 2009 - December 2009
Co-lead small to large infrastructure and development scale cross organizational projects including web development for pre K thru 12 grades standardize testing.

• Executed the tasks as defined for multiple project plans in order to achieve project goals.
• Managed resource allocation by ensuring that appropriate resources and tools are assigned to the tasks according to the project plan in order to execute the planned tasks successfully for six Sr. Project Managers utilizing MS Project Server.
• Created and maintain weekly metric reports to monitor key deliverables and project milestones for four Sr. Project Managers. Maintained two weekly dashboard reports for a team of two Directors
• Assisted Sr. Business Analyst with gathering and analyzing business requirements across teams to develop solutions and ensure deliverables meet client requirements while working within Waterfall and Agile methodologies. Ensured the life-cycle of software development adhered within budget and timeframe
• Scheduled UAT testing with Quality Assurance activities to verify delivery readiness requirements have been met.
• Coordinated the planning and scheduling deployment and configuration changes with IT and business team, as well as maintain rolling schedule of releases

CLIENT: Confidential, Rolling Meadows, IL [contract employee]
Project Manager - January 2009 - April 2009
Managed medium size infrastructure and development project for McDonalds McCafe POS.

• Manage resource allocation by ensuring that appropriate resources and tools are assigned to the tasks according to the project plan in order to execute the planned tasks successfully. Utilized SAP for project tracking.
• Obtain project plan and final acceptance approval from the customer/sponsor ensuring delivered products and services comply with agreed scope of work. Ensure customer feedback is captured utilizing lesson learned interview/survey allowing for relationship building with customer(s).
• Monitored progress of ongoing installations through daily conference calls with install partners and clients.
• Communicates with both internal/external organizations by setting expectations in accordance with the project plan to ensure stakeholders and team members are in alignment. Implemented approved process and workarounds for minimizing impact of risks.
• Managed vendor relationships and facilitated web portal implementation and production support.

client: Confidential, Chicago, IL [contract employee]
Sr. Project Specialist - PMO - July 2008 - December 2008
Managed small to large size Waterfall and Agile business development and infrastructure projects within a PMO.

• Created and/or maintained all aspects of: project schedules, consolidation of cross team schedules and programs and issue/risk logs for overseas Project Manager utilizing MS Project and SharePoint.
• Analyzed project schedules for variance from baseline and used information to create weekly dashboard reports for Sr. Project Manager and Director.
• Applied best practices and standards in the development of processes, tools and standards for project and program management, or in support of Program Office procedures.
• Coordinated the planning and scheduling deployment and configuration changes with IT and business team, as well as maintain rolling schedule of releases
• Contributed to development of capacity and demand planning for projects and programs through resource analysis.

CLIENT: Confidential, Northbrook IL [contract employee]
Project Manager PMO - January 2008 - March 2008
Managed small to medium size project development communication plans providing status to three Sr. Manager and Sr. Business stakeholders and project team.

• Developed a complete and realistic project schedule with appropriate tasks, deliverables, resources, dependencies, estimates and dates. Provide rapid resolution and improve likelihood of program achieving stated goals/schedules.
• Managed delivery of components across all departments that are project critical as well as delivery of project closure and lessons learned.

CLIENT: Confidential, Glenview, IL [contracted employee]
Project Manager - June, 2007 - January 2008
Sported cross-functional teams involving Consumer Marketing and Design planning and coordinating of all stages of large to small projects from concept to first delivery in regards rebranding of new labels

• Managed and created project scope, plan, resources, and budgets, by collaborating with Project Manager, Marketing, Management and vendor. Developed contingency plans and communications when timelines are off plan
• Scheduled, coordinate and facilitate re-occurring meetings to ensure prioritization of tasks, status updates and address project timeline.
• Experience in setting up POS & Plano-gram displays which includes placement of particular product.
• Worked with Product Managers and Sales on order forecasting on a monthly basis for use in planning, manufacturing and inventory management
• Worked with in-house firm for scheduling / ordering corrugated box's and ensuring correct product, vendor information, box size, available at warehouse for shipment,
• Develop process and procedures and training material for vendor set-up.

CLIENT: Confidential, Schaumburg, IL [contracted employee]
Project Manager Associate - PMO - December, 2006 - March, 2007
Assist the Program Director and Senior PMO Leads in other capacities necessary to ensure the program is implemented in accordance with the approved requirements, timelines, and budgets. ,

• Managed day to day administrative activities for PMO facilitating and coordinating project activities including project reviews, schedules, analysis and tracking relay; project requirements, procedures, definition, planning, execution, closure and archiving of project documents. Utilized MS Project and SharePoint.
• Coordinated the planning and scheduling deployment and configuration changes with IT as well as maintain schedule of releases
• Communicates with both internal/external organizations by setting expectations in accordance with the project plan to ensure stakeholders and team members are in alignment by facilitating meetings and presentations. Implemented approved process and workarounds for minimizing impact of risks

CLIENT: Confidential, Schaumburg, IL [contracted employee

Jr. Business Project Analyst - October 2006 - November, 2006

Responsible forgathering business requirementsfrom business owners,assembly estimates from the tech team, create project plans,monitor project progress and report project progress to all stakeholders.

• Facilitated the development and ensure completion of the business program through the coordination of tasks, issues and risks through the System Architect and Project Managers on the program.
• Involved in documenting the business process by identifying the requirements as well as in user-training. Tracked Change Control from submission to approval for audit and reporting purposes

CLIENT: Confidential, Northbrook, IL [contracted employee]

Project Manager Associate / Jr. Process Analyst - PMO - October 2005 - July 2006 Created and maintained project schedule, issue/risk logs, project times, project calendars and assigned resources/tasks for Project Management team. Researched and developed business process documentation standards using tools and methods to identify process improvements. Subject Matter Expert for client's ongoing process. Ensured report delivery in a timely and accurate manner to managers, team leads and project managers. Supported and built training schedule and activities associated with release of end-user training delivery readiness.

EARLY CAREER:

Confidential, Chicago, IL Project Manager - September 2004 - September 2005

Confidential, Schaumburg Service Delivery Project Manager June 1997- May 2004

Confidential, Skokie, ILReceptionist / HR Generalist Coordinator - March 1989 - December 1996

Project Management-Certification in progress
Microsoft Project Certification