Sharon Stewart Cole, Ph.D., MBA

**** ******** ***, *** ****, San Antonio, TX 78230 210-***-****

(Home) 301-***-**** (cell)

Email: aceqo0@r.postjobfree.com

PROGRAM MANAGER

Program Manager with a successful record of launching, directing and

managing of large scale programs in a firm by performing management

functions such as planning, scheduling, organizing, tracking processes,

ensuring a systemic approach to making an organization's workflow more

effective, efficient and capable of accomplishing organizational goals.

Key Skills and Strengths include:

. Leadership-Adept at leading/managing cross-functional programs.

. Ability to identify and implement necessary changes to business

processes.

. Capable of leading high performing teams under tough deadlines, to

meet expectations of multiple customers

. Strong communicator skills (verbal and written).

. Problem solver-using creativity and forethought in solving complex

project issues.

. Organizational ability, attention to detail, and multi-tasking skills.

. Service orientation-"People person" and a team player.

Objective Statement-Provide leadership to plan, direct and manage program

activities, business processes, and key projects.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Grants Management Services, LLC

Senior Program Manager (May 2014)

Consulting to the Railroad Research Foundation (affiliate of the

Association of American Railroads) to provide continuity for close out of

fie federal coperative research agreements projects valued at $15,081,000

and support of foundation ongoing business processes.

Key Initiatives and Achievements:

. Collaborate with management team to deliver assigned programs

. Assessed/identified potential bottlenecks in each project/program

process

. Develop and initiate internal processes to improve program delivery

within specific timeframe

. Manage teams working on different programs and smoothed out any area

of possible conflict

. Ensure that all programs are executed within established time period

with completed scope of work

. Maintain working relationship with federal funding agencies (FRA, EPA

& TSA).

Railroad Research Foundation (Affliate of the Association of American

Railroads)

Sr. Program Director (February 2011-June 14, 2013)

Responsible for the overall leadership and direction of the Railroad

Research Foundation (RRF). Member of the senior level leadership team and

reports to Management Committee of the Board of Directors (VP of Operations

and Treasurer and VP for Finance and Administration) also, served as

Assistant Secretary to the Board of Directors (officers of the Association

of American Railroads). Managed Foundation's annual operating budget of

$331,000 and federal cooperative research agreement project valued at

$52,669,648. Managed five program managers (matrix project operations) and

two full time staff direct reports.

Key Initiatives and Achievements:

. Identified need for better financial reporting tools and implemented

accounting outsourcing for project based financial reporting system

. Guided new projects through design, development, proposal, award and

implementation stage

. Collaborated with stakeholders and management teams to improve

business processes and grants management compliance

. Oversaw key employees

Continued-

SHARON STEWART COLE, PH.D., MBA, PAGE 2

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. Developed and initiated internal processes to improve program delivery

within specific timeframes

. Established goals and milestones for the operations of the program

management office

. Improved communication between staff members

. Evaluated the timely performance of different aspects of the project

management office and reduced 18-month work backlog to current

timeline.

. Assisted project directors in documenting the project results and made

changes in as needed

. Ensured that all projects were executed within established time period

and complied with the defined scope of work and final reporting

requirements

. Maintain working relationship with federal funding agencies project

management and grants management offices.

. Developed detailed work plans for grants management staff.

XL Associates, Inc.

Program Manager (November 2009-September 2010)

Maintained full accountability and oversight of a broad range of

specialized management services in federal grants and cooperative agreement

management. Managed grant awards and grantees, maintained grant files,

performed technical reviews, fund grant proposals for 40 grants awarded to

colleges and universities totaling approximately $96 million. Led,

evaluated, and motivated a 6-member team of Grants Management Specialists

in pre-award, post-award administration, reporting, and close out of that

administered over $300 million in American Recovery and Reinvestment Act

funding. Team managed a wide range of awards to universities, state and

local governments, and on-profit entities. The grants covered many

activities including scientific experiments, building construction and

technology planning and installation. Utilized the NIST specially designed

Grants Management Information System (GMIS) for data collection and grant

award generating.

. Successfully managed the teaming of myself and six other contractors

Grants Management Specialist for the administration of nearly 170

grants awarded under the American Recovery and Reinvestment Act (AAR

of 2009. Also, individually managed 40 awards to research

universities nationwide.

. Required knowledge of OMB Cost Principles such as A-21, A-122, A-87, A-

133, ARRA Regulations, and the Department of Commerce Financial

Assistance Standard Terms and Conditions, and the U.S. Department of

Commerce Financial Assistance Special Award Conditions.

. Issued Financial Assistance Award document (CD-450) and modifications

to awards (CD-451).

. Performed data analysis to assure compliance under stringent

requirements of the Federal Financial and Transparency Act Reporting.

. Tracked project scope, financial performance and made resource

adjustments as necessary

. Assisted client in the implementation of project activities and

coordination of team activities with the Department of Commerce ARRA

team members.

. Implemented business processes and procedures required by the Office

of Management and Budget oversight of funds.

. Provided strategic counsel and senior leadership to NIST on policy and

priorities while contributing to strategic initiatives.

. Developed detailed work plans for team members in NIST business

processes.

Real Street Staffing - Contractor to Federal Emergency Management Agency

(FEMA)/Dept. of Homeland Security

Funding Specialist (2008-2009)

Proactively supported the Emergency Support Function #14 (ESF#14) of FEMA

for Indiana Flood and Hurricane Ike in Texas. Demonstrated communication

skills in liaison with clients: community leaders, committee members, and

government officials. Served as the Technical Advisor and Community

Development Team Member to assist in planning and recognizing funding for

community long-term recovery.

Continued-

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. Assisted local government officials and community leaders in

establishing long-term community goals and objectives and counseled in

grants funding processes and procedures.

. Authored and submitted a comprehensive grant writing guidance manual

to assist communities in Indiana and Texas in preparing grants

proposals for long-term community recovery.

. Located funding sources for 187 projects for disaster recovery in

Southeast Texas that were approved by community steering committees.

. Developed and conducted three training work shops on grant writing for

local non-profit organizations

. Trained in ESF#14 operations and procedures

Nevada Cancer Institute

Grants Specialist (2006-2008)

Successfully performed grants and cooperative research agreement

solicitation and post award administration. Assiested with project

development and electronic proposal submissions proposals to NIH, DOD,

American Cancer Society, and other medical research foundations receiving

approximately $16 million in new awards. Worked with a team of ten medical

research physicians in a matrix team environment. Monitored awards for

compliance to sponsor regulations and guidelines such as DOD and NIH Grants

Policy, OMB Circulars A-122 Cost Principles for Non-profit organization,

2CFR Part 215 Uniform Administrative Requirements for Grants, and A-133

Audits of States Local Governments, and Non-Profit Organizations. Specific

duties involved preparing, assembling and submitting proposals to NIH;

preparing, reviewing and analyzing budgets; coordinating with appropriate

personnel to resolve issues associated with meeting NIH requirements;

submitting financial assistance proposals; preparing certification packages

and budget formats to solicitation requirements; performing compliance

matrix on solicitation requirements; and communicating and training medical

staff on proposal preparation policy and practice.

. Mentored 10 medical Faculty (P.I.) in proposal development and

submission processes. Increased proposals submissions for cancer

research by 60% with an 85% funding rate. Increased funded projects by

$16 Million in two years. Major funding agencies were NIH, DOD and the

American Cancer Society.

. Assisted with Clinical Trails funding and reporting and regularly

requirements for human subjects testing.

Oklahoma City University

Sponsored Programs Director (2003-2005)

Established new office with responsible for day-to-day operations and

implementation of new business practices including the development of

policies and procedures. Managed two staff assistants and five program

managers through a matrix project system. Accountable for compliance to

all federal requirements, regulations, and award terms and conditions.

Performs both pre award (solicitation process) and post award

administration, financial and compliance management. Organized and managed

grant application process, submitted proposals. Signature authority to

granting agencies, negotiated agreements, and joined numerous

councils/committees. Proposals submitted to DHHS, HUD, DOJ, and DOE.

Designed and implemented Microsoft Access Grants Database.

. Worked with Faculty (P.I) to facilitate the substantial increase in

number of awards from $100,000 to $2.5 million in two years.

. Monitored for audit compliance and advised Faculty (P.I) on applicable

federal regulations including OMB Circulars A-122 and A-110.

. Worked with the Dean of Nursing to obtain funding from DHHS for a

Nursing Education program of $750,000 to the School of Nursing.

Submitted proposal and managed the award under DHHS regulations.

Continued-

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University of Houston 1989 -2003

Assistant Director/Proposal Manager (2001 -2003)

Management of central business office to include oversight of training

facilities to include equipment ordering and installation supervision.

Collaborated with university research Faculty (P.I) throughout France,

Greece, Russia, and China to implement a support service for a new research

center, including grants management, finance, HR, material resources,

travel, and maintenance. Organized and managed electronic grant

application process. Submitted proposals and maintained grant files.

Utilized eRA Commons, PeopleSoft Financial System (Grants Transactions,

Payroll, Invoicing and Purchasing Management).Submitted proposal

applications and managed funded projects.

Senior Contracts & Grants Administrator (1989-2001)

Managed $50 million ingrants and cooperative research agreements: Approving

and processing grant transactions, managing award billing, managing award

revenue, managing and reporting cost sharing, managing the award close out

process, and creating federal financial reports (SF425), and compliance to

OMB A-21, A-110, A-133. Utilized eRA Commons, NSF FastLane for management

of awards and reporting. Provided advice and guidance to 250 faculty

members (P.I.'s) concerning the full range of grant/agreement

determinations; providing expertise in negotiation, and technical reviews

of proposals for NSF, NIH, NASA, DOD and others. Organized and managed

electronic grant application process. Submitted proposals and maintained

grant files. Utilized eRA Commons, PeopleSoft Financial System (Grants

Transactions, Payroll, Invoicing and Purchasing Management).

. Member of team that tested the transition to the PeopleSoft

System for the Grants Management processes. Tested the system

for suitability to the Office of Sponsored Research needs for

data collection and reporting, and made suggestions for

improvement. Used the completed grants management module.

Career Note: Additional experience as a Staff Auditor for Metropolitan

Transit Authority of Harris County, TX (1983-1989) developed audit programs

for operational and compliance to policies and procedures. Also performed

contract performance reviews. Reported results of audits and made

recommendations for improvements.

EDUCATION

Ph.D., Professional Studies in Education, 2006 (Higher Education

Administration)

Capella University (On-line University) (Graduated with Honors, GPA: 4.0)

Dissertation Topic: Federal Funding Success Factors-A Replicated

Quantitative Analysis

M.B.A, Accounting and Economics, 1979, Oklahoma State University, 3.0 GPA

B.S., Business Education, 1972, University of Oklahoma 2.9 GPA

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Certified Research Grants Administrator - University of Houston

Certified Grants Management Program - Management Concepts

Project Management Professional Certification Course - Virginia Tech

Northern Virginia Center

Training - CITI Course in the Protection of Human Research Subjects

DHHS Security Clearance: Public Trust, expired January 2012

TECHNICAL and COMPUTER SKILLS

Typing Speed: 80 wpm, 10-key by touch, Microsoft Office: Word, Excel,

PowerPoint, Publisher, SharePoint, Project, Access, Outlook; PeopleSoft

Grants and Financial Modules. Grants Management Information System (GMIS),

grants.gov, NIH eRACommons, NSF FastLane, CDMRP eReceipt System, proposal

CENTRAL, DOT Grants Solutions and eDelphi Invoicing

. Continued-

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PUBLICATIONS

. Cole, S. (2010). Reframing research administration. Article appeared in

the Symposium Proceedings, and subsequently was presented at the 2008 SRA

International meeting in National Harbor, Maryland. Published in the

Journal of Research Administration, 2010 spring issue.

. Federal Emergency Management Agency, Department of Homeland Security

(2009). Grant writing guide: A process to request recovery assistance.

[Government Publication distributed in the State of Texas].

. Cole, S. (2008). United States grants to universities: Factors for

success in obtaining funding. Germany: VDM Publishers.

. Cole, S. (2007). Research administration as a living system. Journal of

Research Administration, 38(2), 14-27.

. Cole, S. (2006). Researcher behavior that leads to success in obtaining

grant funding: A model for success. Research Management Review, 15(2),

1-12.

REFERENCES SUPPLIED UPON REQUEST

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