Melissa R. Lohaus

Home: 703-***-**** Cell: 301-***-**** Email: acros6@r.postjobfree.com

TELECOMMUNICATIONS PROFESSIONAL

A top-performing telecom professional with 20+ years’ experience who manages daily technical operations for overall network and associated cable plant. Strong expertise in developing and implementing cost effective and highly reliable enterprise network strategies. Serves as key resource to review root cause analysis for severe issues and to plan for service improvements. Highly accomplished in providing expert-level support and consultation services for the entire network infrastructure system. Effectively functions as primary manager on a number of complex technology projects including all elements of project leadership, management, and administration of system-wide technical issues.

AREAS OF EXPERTISE

KEY SKILLS ASSESSMENT

NETWORK OPERATIONS – Develop and implement effective strategy and drive profitable business activities. Supervise Technical operations and provide high-level support and consultation for the overall network. Manage complex projects and maintain an expert understanding of all technical issues. Review failure causes and implement revised processes to insure service improvements deliver a high level of customer satisfaction.

PROJECT MANAGEMENT – Responsible for assuring that all goals and requirements to achieve deliverables are met. Faithfully maintain budgets and schedules. Provide leadership and project administration. Interface with all stake-holders and function as primary manager.

Professional Experience

SPRINT COMMUNICATIONS, Reston, VA 2005 - 2014

Network Development Engineer

Managed the implementation of new MVNO customer projects. Documented project issues, facilitated trouble shooting efforts and tracked through resolution.

Worked across multi-functional director teams to implement new network products and services supporting commercial pricing initiatives.

Facilitated and managed director level calls reviewing overall communications architecture updates needed by new projects entering the network pipeline

Documented team processes to streamline communications and level of effort across impacted organizations

Led communication with stakeholders regarding product goals and progress made

Responsible for delivering software and hardware upgrades, while maintaining change documentation, to meet customer deliverables in a cost-effective/timely fashion

Designed, implemented and maintained a working test environment that simulates the live network with all features and functionalities

o Responsible for providing Lab infrastructure support for the Ensemble Provisioning Test Team.

o Responsible for maintaining the iDEN lab as well as being the sole iDEN Network Development SME supporting all Boost and iDEN design/development and testing.

Responsible for testing all new network interconnect switching technologies and features to ensure their interoperability into existing network infrastructure prior to release into the national network.

Implemented the environment for testing the USP (Universal Signaling Point) coexistence feature to ensure project feasibility before release into the live network

Tested MTX15 upgrade features and provided FIT support

Upgraded the Lab switch and HLR to Nortel's release GSM18

Tested new features and the integrity of the customer experience

Upgraded and tested the addition of Atlas memory cards from 5+1 to 9+1 into the Lab MSC's prior to introduction in live network switching elements

Upgraded the lab and network Xcipio to LIS 3.0 to support FBI and Calea requirements

Tested Huawei, ZTE and Samsung WSS, MGW and EMS elements in preparation for Network Vision

Performed all designing, testing and implementing of features and services to maintain the integrity of the iDEN and Boost customer experience

NEXTEL TECHNOLOGY LABS, Reston, VA 2003 - 2005

Test and Integration Engineer

Responsible for providing Test Approach, Test Execution and Risk Assessment documents to outline and detail project tests and status before First Office Application (FOA).

Provide and maintain a working test environment that simulates the live network with all features and functionalities. Responsible for testing all new network interconnect switching technologies and features to ensure their interoperability into existing network infrastructure prior to release into the national network.

Assist in the capture of messaging and standard call flows to aid in the development of testing automation.

Responsible for providing Lab infrastructure support for the Ensemble Provisioning Test Team.

Implemented the environment for testing HLR (Home Location Register) Multiple Point codes (MPC) feature to ensure network integrity and project feasibility before release into the live network.

o MPC allows the ability to send specified messaging over a specific route set to the same HLR to allow for the implementation of a larger subscriber base.

Upgraded the Lab switch and HLR to Nortel's release GSM17.

Provided assistance in testing new features and the integrity of the customer experience.

Upgraded and tested the addition of Atlas memory cards from 3+1 to 5+1 into the Lab MSC's and HLR's before introduction to live network switching elements.

Provided the environment for testing the EIR IMSI tracking feature.

Using the MGTS to simulate the EIR device I tested the basic functionality and project feasibility of IMSI tracking with SIM based and SIM-less handsets.

Installed, implemented and tested the Motorola UDSI system to ensure the Nextel and FBI requirements to support Calea monitoring were met.

NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, Reston, VA

Sr. Project Engineer 2003

Managed a group of project based engineers and delegated NTST projects to the team based on their specific network competencies while concurrently managing my assigned projects.

Provided NTST project status updates to the management team and notified them of any project delays or issues that would effect project schedules.

Supported and assisted other project engineers to ensure timely and successful completion of their assigned project responsibilities.

Assumed ownership of all special projects assigned to NTST by the management team.

o Duties included evaluation of projects for level of effort and network implementation feasibility.

Acted as an escalation point for all NTST projects and routine activities.

Acted as Tier 3 support for project engineers, NTST translations engineers and regionally located engineers for network performance issue guidance and resolution.

The Tijuana Project.

o Designed, developed and assisted in the implementation of the network feature to allow customers from Nextel International's Northern Mexico market to roam to and from the Nextel National Network allowing for full interconnect functionalities and the ability to direct connect.

The Prepaid Project.

o Designed, developed and implemented translations to support prepaid services. This allowed Nextel to target younger consumers with a prepaid product. This product is transparent to the existing customer base opening up many service plan options between prepaid and postpaid services.

SIM Base Prepaid Project.

o Worked to design and develop translations to support a SIM based prepaid product to assist Nextel with cost savings.

Least Cost Routing.

o Designed and developed a standard routing scheme to allow for multiple routing changes to introduce Nextel to the most significant cost savings between long distance carriers.

NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, Reston, VA

Sr. Data Translations Engineer 1999-2003

Provided daily translations support and code additions for 25+ MSC's and 5+ HLR's in the North East region of the Nextel network.

Provided translations support for all 4 regional STP (Signaling Transfer Point) pairs.

Responsible for insuring the implementation and functionality of all new network SMS's in 28 nationally supported HLR's.

Managed and executed numerous Network HLR migrations.

Tier 3 escalation point for other NTST group members and regional translations engineers.

Worked to develop and maintain HLR migration support documents that improved HLR migration activities.

o Support documentation helped other NTST engineers in completing migration activities and improved the first attempt migration success rate.

o Coordination of documentation also helped reduce the amount of time that was required to support HLR migrations.

Developed and implemented the "+" dialing scheme and all international call forwarding translations standards for the Nextel Network.

o Necessary to support the launch of Nextel World Wide roaming to provide services to all of network Nextel International roamers.

Worked to develop, implement and maintain International Roaming translations for the Nextel National Network.

o Added and maintained translations in 83 MSC's and 27 HLR's.

o Coordinated and implemented supporting changes to the 8 network STP's.

Worked on the core Nextel International deployment team to develop, implement and maintain the Nextel to Nextel International network interoperability.

Designed, developed and implemented translations to support the First Office Application of E-911 Phase 2.

Created and maintained a national New Switch Support (NSS) document.

o The NSS document allows national translations support team maintain a standard for implementing New MSCs into the network and was used as a checklist to ensure each new node was current with all services, features and standards.

NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONs, Mclean, VA 1998 - 1999

NTST Data Translations Engineer

Code additions and translations support for up to 25 MSC's, 5 HLR's and 2 STP's in the North East region.

Provided daily Inter-switch MSC translations support and general MSC functionality support.

Provided regional STP global title translations and PCSSN routing support.

Acted as an escalation point for NNTSG and the local markets to help in the identification and correction of Local, National and International roaming MSC translations and call completion troubles.

Provided Network and MSC switch support for the STP expansion project that added 6 new STP's to the network.

Provided roaming translations support for all network VMS migrations.

Supported all new MSC additions to the network by reviewing and updating the Nortel MSC database questionnaire and datafill documentation to reflect the needs of the network to ensure successful MSC implementation.

Member of the core team that participated in the FOA, testing and conversion of all inter-network roamer voicemail traffic from IMT's to Sprint LD trunks.

NEXTEL COMMUNICATIONS, Silver Spring, MD 1997 - 1998

Mobile Switching Office Technician

Managed and maintained the BAWA MSO daily

o Identified, isolated, and resolved MSC issues.

o Provided preventive maintenance, local and switch to switch datafill management.

Cell Site datafill support, trouble identification and management.

Cell Site OMC monitoring, support and management.

PSTN and Internal telco trouble identification and resolution from DS0 to DS3 levels.

Support DAP and Dispatch network.

Maintained iDEN network BSC and speech XCDRs SS7 link management and SS7 translations support.

Responsible for maintaining and trouble resolution of all MSO network elements.

Installed and maintained all on site T-1 and DS3 based transmission equipment to include the Tellabs 532L.

Supported all BAWA MSC translations and trunk installation.

Supported all Cell Site (EBTS) network additions including the construction and maintenance of EBTS datafill.

Maintained all MSO network documentation.

UNITED STATES AIR FORCE, Hill AFB, UT 1993 - 1997

Digital Switch Technician

Performed preventive and corrective maintenance on a 10,000 line DMS 100/200 Telephone Switch and a 5,000 line remote switch.

Maintained and performed corrective actions on a Telephone Plant Automated Record System (TelPARS).

Programmed, operated and maintained a 5,000 line capable Voice Mail 300 Exchange (VMX300).

Assisted in Batch Change Supplements (BCS) applications in pre-testing and monitoring during upgrades.

Identified and corrected problems within the DMS 100/200.Coordinated with Nortel Technical Assistance Support (TAS) for referral action.

Utilized switch performance monitoring system, operational measurements and logs to identify problem areas and determine corrective actions.

Responsible for the application and removal of software patches.

Programmed and modified translations to provide support for customer needs.

Installed and maintained T-1 carrier system between host and remote switching centers.

Maintained Autovon and FTS trunking.

Isolated and corrected telephone system faults on the system network and network peripheral units.

Utilized the Servord utility to initiate and update customer records.

Recognized for providing exceptional customer service and trouble shooting skills at the base telephone trouble

desk.

Provided support for the AFMC Product Management Horizons conference.

Provided telecommunications support for a headquarters staff move from one facility to another.

Promotion to Sr Airman Below the Zone, 6 months prior to scheduled promotion, for continual outstanding performance.

Education

Huawei Core Network Training

ZTE Core Network Training

Samsung Core Network Training

SmartEdge R6 System Training

Digital Switching Systems Technician Course: 48 Credit Hours; Jan '94

Hitachi HCX 5000 System Maintenance Course:80 Hours; Sept '94

IDEN Operations and Maintenance System Training Courses 1, 2, And 3: 80 Hours; July '97

IDEN Mobile Switching Center and Home Location Registry Translations Course: 40 Hours; Oct '97

IDEN Metro Packet Switch Training Course: 40 Hours; Nov '97

IDEN Inter Working Function Training Course: 16 Hours; Nov '97

DMS-MSC SS7 Translations Course: 40 Hours; May '98

IDEN GT4 Translations Course: 8 Hours; June '99

TK100 SS7 Protocol Course: 8 Hours; Nov '00

TK110 Eagle STP Overview: 24 Hours; Nov '00

DMS-HLR Service Datafill Course: 40 Hours; Nov '00

Lucent 5ESS Switch Operations and Maintenance Course: 80 Hours; May '01

Lucent 5ESS Switch Database and Recent Change Course: 40 Hours; May '01

Telcordia Technologies Wireless Number Portability Course: 16 Hours; May '02

Global Knowledge Course, Understanding Network Fundamentals: 32 Hours; Apr. '05

Global Knowledge Course, Mastering TCP/IP: 32 Hours; June '05

Global Knowledge Course, Fundamentals of VOIP: 16 Hours; Aug. '05

Global Knowledge Course, Implementing VOIP: 24 Hours; Aug. '05

Attended Strayer University and completed 54 credits toward my Electronic Systems Technology Degree.

Additional Skills

Competent with Microsoft Office Products: Outlook, Word, Excel, Project and Power Point

Remote access/X-term software: ProComm Plus and WRQ reflections

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