PROJECT MANAGER

Dynamic professional with history driving continuous improvements in performance, quality, and overall value of business initiatives and projects in high-pressure fast-paced environments.

• Transform data into high-impact recommendations, spearheading strategic and technical analysis.
• Maximize integrity and accuracy of results, creating streamlined formats, controls, and protocols.
• Translate technical concepts to audiences on all levels, bridging gaps between business and IT.
• Increase productivity and efficiency, continually improving, automating, and streamlining processes.
• Drive seamless and rapid project turnarounds, expertly planning optimal schedules and resources.
• Avert time- and cost-consuming delays, proactively uncovering and resolving potential issues.

Business & Project Analysis | Technical Research | Data Interpretation | Multi-Project Management Policies & Procedures | Troubleshooting | Problem Solving | Risk & Conflict Mitigation
Continuous Improvements | Team Building & Mentoring | Stakeholder & Executive Communications

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Confidential, Chicago, Illinois | 1989 - 2010
1 oflargest and most highly respectedsocial researchorganizations in US.

IT Project Manager | 2001 - 2010

• Served as key member of overall IT leadership at NORC identifying, planning, and preparing for new business and project work.
• Managed team of software engineers, database developers, and business analysts.
• Used Visio to create entity relationship diagrams to lay the foundation for database creation.
• Used Visio to document overall system design.
• Created and directed plans for multiple concurrent complex software development projects.
• Used MS Project to create project schedules and measure progress.
• Coordinated all phases of initiatives including scoping, scheduling, resources, budgeting, execution, and close-out.
• Provided technical guidance and mentoring.
• Resolved conflicts within and between teams.
• Performed risk analysis and mitigation.
• Managed all aspects of database administration, including central database for case management and data delivery.
• Maintained ongoing communication with senior management, and technical and nontechnical stakeholders.

Achievements:

• Instrumental in cultivating high-performance team able to execute complex projects simultaneously, providing hands-on mentoring, and co-developing robust policies, standards, and procedures.
• Uncovered and proactively mitigated potential issues before they arose, increasing and maintaining open lines of communication with IT team, and performing aggressive troubleshooting.
• Recognized as 1st manager in NORC to earn Project Management Professional (PMP) certification.

Key Projects:

• Managed successful completion of numerous concurrent projects worth up to $300K.
• Orchestrated complicated new hardware (upgrades to implement consistency between users' equipment) and software roll-out (upgrade to Windows XP) to 500 employees.
• Directed in-depth social sciences study in Spain for Federal Reserve Bank of Spain.
• Led first use of hand-held scanners, to scan respondent utility bills. This greatly reduced interviewer error and respondent noncompliance. Led integration of this software with other NORC applications.
• On NORC's flagship field study, managed first (and successful) use of respondent subsampling. This involved stopping field work, executing a number of data processing steps in the shortest time possible so as to minimize the field stoppage, and transmitting updated data to field staff laptops. This involved database updates to both the central office database and the database for each interviewer's laptop.
• Managed a project that analyzed ballots cast in Florida for the contested election between George W. Bush and Al Gore. I also wrote the programs that organized the data for easy analysis.

Technical Questionnaire Analyst | 1997 - 2000

Analyzed and automated various questionnaires using industry-specific software. Recommended optimal implementation for computer-assisted interviewing (CAI). Played key role in developing and enforcing departmental and organizational policies, procedures, and standards. Led teams in all phases of questionnaire walkthroughs. Provided guidance for questionnaire testing. Supported all phases of projects regarding questionnaires and collected data.

Achievements:

• Handpicked to analyze and automate some of most complex questionnaires needing implementation for CAI; included multiple large research questionnaires with +300 questions apiece.
• Studied, modified, and automated questionnaire and sample management software to achieve 100% compliance with all internal and external customer requirements.

Key Projects:

• Programmed sample management system to support call center activities; involved teaching self data management language, as well as all associated software.
• Streamlined questionnaire analysis process, pioneering standard form.
• Conducted successful testing of software for Y2K compliance.

Telephone Center Coordinator & Supervisor | 1990 - 1996

• Coordinated and led up to 5 supervisors and 30 interviewers.
• Maintained production reports on each interviewer.
• Troubleshot problems and tested solutions with IT team.
• Performed formal evaluations of interviewers and supervisors.
• Provided recommendations for disciplinary actions as needed.

Achievements:

• Built #1 call center in social sciences community to date based on production standards.
• Ensured optimal coverage of targeted constituents, determining and maintaining calls at most effective times and days of week.
• Standardized production reports in call center for NORC's 1st time.
• Co-created call center policy regarding conduct, dress, attendance, and expectations.

EDUCATION

Bachelor of Science in Business Administration: Project Management
while attending school full-time and working full-time

CERTIFICATION

Certified Project Management Professional (PMP) - Confidential

AFFILIATION

Confidential

Major Projects:

2008 Confidential, Managed implementation of upgraded version of the Case Management System (CMS). Managed development of Java and C# CMS, research questionnaire, SQL database for CMS information, application integration, laptop image to run all of the above, and development of SAS data delivery tools. The IT project field length was approximately 18 months. Approximate IT budget $250,000 unloaded.

2005 Confidential, Introduced and integrated handheld scanners used by field staff. Interfaces had to be built within the CMS to support this. Also managed Java and C# CMS development, SQL database, application integration, laptop image, and SAS development. Approximate IT budget $325,000 unloaded.

2004 Confidential, Managed implementation of subsampling routine executed during the field period. Managed Java and C# CMS development, research questionnaire, SQL database, application integration, laptop image, and SAS development. The IT project field length was approximately 18 months. Approximate IT budget $225,000 unloaded.

2004 Confidential, Managed migration from SAS 6 to SAS 9.1, CMS development, research questionnaire, SQL database, and SAS development. Questionnaire program underwent upgraded coded to ensure it would function with the current version of the software. Managed Java and C# CMS development, research questionnaire, SQL database, application integration, laptop image, and SAS development. The IT project field length was approximately 18 months. Approximate IT budget $225,000 unloaded.

Most of the projects I managed needed development and integration of the applications listed above.