IT Project Management Consultant

• Jun 2021 - Present

Managing IT projects involving extensive process mapping, requirements gathering, business case development, and cost-benefit analysis. Advising client staff on modern software and workflow solutions to replace manual processes and antiquated applications. Managing IT projects involving extensive process mapping, requirements gathering, business case development, and cost-benefit analysis. Advising client staff on modern software and workflow solutions to replace manual processes and antiquated applications.

Project Manager, Senior Technical Trainer, IT Strategist

• Mar 2017 - May 2021

Led team of project managers and business analysts to deliver IT infrastructure, endpoint management, and client services projects. Managed IT infrastructure project program and reported to CIO. Developed the IT department's project management office functions, tools, and resources, including a project and portfolio management information system. Conducted PM certification exam preparation courses and practical PM skills throughout the ministry (PMP, CAPM). Guided strategic planning for digital transformation roadmap and software licensing realignment. Advised strategic planning department on PMO practices as organization wide PMO begins to take form. Advised IT staff on software and services selection and implementations. Projects included data center upgrades, business continuity and disaster recovery, cloud-based system selection and implementation, cybersecurity policy and standards assessment and implementation, and service desk software implementation. Served on original team of project and service delivery specialists tasked with implementing process improvement, asset management, vendor management, and service management to mature the ministry’s IT department as an enterprise-scale operation. Show less

Project Management Consultant and Director of Training

• Jun 2012 - Sep 2016

Developed and delivered Project Management Professional (PMP) certification exam prep course for clients such as Ameren, Caterpillar, and Google. Achieved industry-leading pass rates. Trained internal and external project managers in Microsoft Office applications, PM practices and methodologies, and certification content. Provided PM consulting services between training engagements to maintain practical skills and deliver advanced PM capabilities to clients. Engagements included logistics facility and systems development, software and hardware development, cloud services migrations. Participated in software development project using Agile methods and attended PMI-ACP (Agile Certified Practitioner) training. Show less

Workshop Trainer - Professional Development Institute

• Sep 2009 - Dec 2012

Presented day-long workshops on desktop applications including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, Crystal Reports, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Suite and any other offerings requested by PDI clients. Customized outlines by request and created new courses for which off-the-shelf material was unavailable. Instructor ratings were consistently high and student comments were enthusiastic about follow-up classes. Presented day-long workshops on desktop applications including Microsoft Office Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Access, Project, Crystal Reports, QuickBooks, Adobe Creative Suite and any other offerings requested by PDI clients. Customized outlines by request and created new courses for which off-the-shelf material was unavailable. Instructor ratings were consistently high and student comments were enthusiastic about follow-up classes.

Senior Consultant

• Nov 2009 - Jul 2012

Provided infrastructure assessments, strategic consulting, project management, and custom training to small and mid-size firms needing technical and virtual CIO services without the cost of full-time staffing. Provided infrastructure assessments, strategic consulting, project management, and custom training to small and mid-size firms needing technical and virtual CIO services without the cost of full-time staffing.

Adjunct Faculty, Lab Facilitator, Workshop Trainer

• 2011 - 2012

IT Management Consultant

• Jan 2009 - Oct 2009

IT management doesn't have to be frustrating or confusing to non-IT people IF the right person is in the role and can translate tech talk into business English. I have over 20 years of experience as a consultant and IT manager in a variety of industries as well as a business school education. I communicate in ways that keep end-users from feeling stupid when their computer doesn't work and keep executives from dozing off or glazing over when technical buzzwords and three-letter acronyms start flying around the room. Efficiency and effectiveness (E&E) must go hand in hand and the bottom line for the IT department is not how many cool new toys can you install, but how much E&E can you equip the organization with. Show less

Project Manager, Technical and Strategic Consultant

• Apr 2004 - Jan 2009

Planned and managed networking and telecommunications projects for Fortune 50 customer and small to medium businesses. Assessed customer needs, performed gap analysis, and gave technical and business presentations to technical staff and C-suite executives. Advised organizations (up to $1 billion in sales) on IT strategy, infrastructure planning, staffing, disaster avoidance, security, and emerging technologies; often presenting plans and proposals to CXO decision-makers. Cisco silver level partner status, CCNA certification and various supporting credentials for sales and project management in the Cisco ecosystem. * Initiated and sold $2 million Cisco LAN/WAN/VoIP project to multinational customer with 25 facilities and 1,000 employees. Gained buy-in from IT staff, CEO, president, CFO, and multiple VPs. Managed overall project, keeping consulting expenditures within customer’s target range and below estimates. Created, delivered, and transferred custom end-user and administrator training to 700 employees and IT staff. * Conducted IT infrastructure and network assessments at 12 organizations in 8 states and 3 foreign countries in 9 months. * Coordinated network upgrade projects for as many as 6 organizations simultaneously in multiple time zones around the world, while orchestrating telecom circuit installations and system migration schedules with high precision and strict deadlines. * Designed, presented, and led $300,000 network and telephony overhaul for multistate company with 17 facilities in less than 3 months, training over 200 users and coordinating a team of 5 network engineers/consultants. * Managed $500,000 infrastructure overhaul for financial services company resulting in 70% reduction in energy consumption at data center, up to 200% improvement in application response times, Show less

IT Manager/Director

• Dec 1997 - Dec 2002

Performed CIO-level duties for regional division of electronics manufacturer, reporting to and working with executive staff to align IT projects with division strategy and goals. Built department from scratch, established plans to accommodate rapid division growth, and designed flexible infrastructure to support future expansion and emerging technologies. Delivered system uptime and availability improvements exceeding goals. Prioritized in-house development requests and supervised application development and support staff. Advised corporate CIO on new technology evaluations, cost saving techniques, and implementations. Maintained technology refresh plans while staying under budget and facing reductions during economic downturns. * Led ERP assessment to determine suitability to current and projected requirements. Involved users and decision-makers from all departments within the division. * Hired and supervised IT staff with 0% turnover for 5 years. * Planned infrastructure construction in new manufacturing facility and coordinated uninterrupted move from 3 separate facilities to new factory, including wireless WAN, telecommunications, building security, and data center design, while simultaneously conducting Y2K assessments and remediations. * Designed and implemented highly rated service desk tools and staffing. Show less

Analyst

• 1996 - 1997

Consultant

• 1995 - 1996

Owner, Senior Consultant

• Oct 1989 - May 1995

IT Consulting practice providing infrastructure systems, software development, business software support. Specialized in time and billing systems for law firms, marketing firms, anyone who billed for professional services or needed to track time. IT Consulting practice providing infrastructure systems, software development, business software support. Specialized in time and billing systems for law firms, marketing firms, anyone who billed for professional services or needed to track time.

Networking Consultant

• 1994 - 1995

Instructor, Software Trainer

• Nov 1993 - Apr 1994

Taught software workshops for Professional Development Institute (PDI). Also taught intro to Windows and Office Apps for a semester in 1998. Taught software workshops for Professional Development Institute (PDI). Also taught intro to Windows and Office Apps for a semester in 1998.

Network Admin

• 1990 - 1991

Sales Support and Configuration

• 1986 - 1987

Sales and Service Utility Kid

• 1983 - 1986