SUMMARY:

Expertise in project, agile and program management, strategic communication, quality, change and risk management. Successfully manage projects from beginning to end, analyze data, present solutions to management, and work collectively with the team to resolve issues. Possess advanced level MS Office Suite skills, experience with MS Project, SharePoint and Clarity. Work independently, within a PMO, in a team environment and can adapt to change and help others to see the big picture. Collaborate with the project resources and senior leadership to create contingency and mitigation risk plans. Establish good relationships with the project team and management which has been a benefit in getting objectives accomplished. Was instrumental in assisting Department of Defense to become CMMI level 2 certified. To continue my education and process knowledge, I’ve acquired my Information Technology Infrastructure Library (ITIL) Certification, Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification and as of May 2017, became a certified Scrum Master.

TECHNICAL SKILLS:

Development Tools: Languages HTML

Hardware: Operating Systems Microsoft Windows/XP/7

Middleware: Databases Mainframe, Oracle, AIX 6.1, Cisco, IBM

Tools: Microsoft Office Suite, Microsoft Project, Microsoft Visio, SharePoint, Clarity

Project Management Tools: Risk Register, Issue Log, Estimation Worksheet, Project Schedule, RACI, Project Gate, CAB

Methodologies: SDLC Waterfall and Agile

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:

Project Manager

Confidential,Downers Grove,IL

Responsibilities:

• Accomplishments: Managed a finance project to ensure revenue was re - directed to the appropriate application. This helped identify incoming revenue. Retired Adobe Print Manager to Jasper, which saved the company $500K, maximized maintenance support and performance
• Optimized resource assignments across projects and streams to maximize resource allocation and project priorities
• Developed and monitored project schedules, including project charters, scope, project management approach and dependencies. This helped to identify connection with other projects
• Took a proactive approach when managing risks, utilized issue management tools and worked with the project team to explore options for mitigation. Also presented options to leadership for engagement and final concurrence on decisions
• Established and managed expectations with external vendors to ensure service/products were delivered in a timely fashion
• Collaborated with Finance to ensure funding was being tracked and forecast vs actual was aligned
• Conducted quality reviews to ensure documents and products were quality driven and provided customer satisfaction
• Liaison between business and technical team to safeguard communication flow and ensured information shared was clear and concise
• Project team members were internal, external, onsite and offshore; therefore, the ability to work in a virtual environment has been key

Project Manager

Confidential,Chicago, IL

• Accomplishments: Implemented global migrations throughout North America and Latin America, IT and business projects (simultaneously). Drove process and best practices
• Saved the organization $1M in maintenance and license costs by decommissioning then implementing projects where entities were migrated onto the same platform/application (LionBox)
• Interacted with stakeholders, both internal and external to gather requirements and act as liaison between customer and technical team
• End-to-end project management includes project initiation, estimating, planning, execution and closing
• Took a proactive approach to risks to prevent issues and used lessons learned to help mitigate
• Made sure established policies and procedures were being followed by business process owners and identified areas where process updates were needed
• Generated and consolidated detailed project status reporting (including critical path impact, dependencies, milestones, resources, work breakdown structures, etc.)
• Successfully managed teams across streams and virtual was key

Project Manager

Confidential 

• Accomplishments: Migrated data from Pervasive, SQL and Cold Fusion to Informatica. This helped move data onto a supported and scalable application. Upgrade and enhanced Multiplans customized applications
• Effectively communicated changes and/or delays to team members, key stakeholders and mentored resources through change control process
• Accomplished successful implementations by driving and maintained accountability for commitments, while managing the success of the project from beginning to end with a focus on stakeholder relationship, timeline, quality, scope and budget This accomplishment helped save the organization revenue by delivering migration/integration projects in a timely fashion
• Understood CMS to better serve/understand projects
• Conducted quality reviews to ensure artifacts were to standards and requirements adhered to
• Centralized project documentation in SharePoint
• Monitored forecast vs. actual on a weekly basis using Clarity and communicated variance
• Acquired resources and mentored/coached them through the project lifecycle
• Created SDLC (Waterfall) and Agile project/program schedules for all projects, identified dependencies, used risk management tools and performed quality reviews to ensure communication, engagement and success
• Managed offshore activities, leadership, vendor and stakeholder expectations and relationships

Advisor Project Manager

Confidential,Buffalo Grove, IL

• Accomplishments: Completed projects that generated $5M+ in revenue for 2015 and cost savings for clients by completing business and infrastructure projects that enhanced and/or produced new processes/functionalities.
• Managed responsibility for performance, cost, scope, schedule, quality and using PMO processes and best practices to manage projects, stakeholders and sponsors effectively. Managed multiple projects (7-9) simultaneously to project success and managed schedules using Microsoft Project
• Customized CVS applications, implemented business processes and managed vendor hardware/software projects (new IBM servers, Cisco routers and switches were installed).
• Demonstrated leadership qualities, customer interface/relationship skills to build trust and level set and manage expectations with stakeholders and vendors
• Escalated risks, presented options for mitigation. This help prevent risk from becoming an issue
• Build and lead effective teams and serve as a mentor to other project managers
• Monitored forecast vs. actual using Clarity and made appropriate changes based on the budget
• Ensured knowledge sharing and leverage lessons learned for future or similar projects

Project Manager

Confidential,Bloomington, IL

• Accomplishments: Subject Matter Expert and coach in lessons learned facilitation and next steps. This helped prevent the same mistakes made during previous projects. Translated leadership’s vision to action and use strategic thinking to ensure there are no loose gaps in processes
• Learned and understood client/business processes to ensure they were adhered to and understood by the project team/resources and supported PMO to ensure project/program success, while managing projects through full life cycle
• Assured stated and federal regulations were implemented
• Managed business projects that supported implementation of 24/7 service to State Farm clients
• Utilized effective communication skills (verbal and non-verbal) and strong leadership skills, which helped drove results
• Managed dependency, risks and issues to project completion
• Presented information to leadership using Word, Excel and PowerPoint to help with decision making
• Collaborated with project team, externals and leadership to ensure project success and problem resolution

Senior Consultant 

Confidential

• Accomplishments: Managed and successfully implemented infrastructure (new hardware/software) project in 60 locations with different time zones. This project helped support the business and saved time when processing new recruits. Saved the client $2M by successfully migrating data from mainframe to AIX server within the planned schedule and budget . Successfully upgraded Oracle 10g to 12g. Installed finger scan, printers and software in 60 locations. Simultaneously, managed multiple projects (small, medium, large) to ensure projects were implemented within a timeframe. Helped establish standards for PMO. Ensured deliverables/milestones/products were delivered in a timely and professional fashion
• The organization achieved Capability Maturity Model Integration ( CMMI) level 2 certified by utilizing my Project Planning and Monitoring and Control processes, which were audited at CMMI level 3
• Understood the customers need to change with little to no warning and influenced the resistance to see the big picture and how they fit in it
• Helped the Branch Chiefs and the business understand the impact of change and relate it to the impact, cost and other projects
• Managed risks using subject matter expertise, collaboration and risk management tools
• Project Management subject matter expert to Directorates and Branch Chiefs as well as the project team
• D eveloped high-performing project teams, while managing to challenging commitments