Project Manager, Senior Project Manager, Project Coordinator

Project Manager

Project Management Resource Management Portfolio Management

Certified Project Manager with a proven history of completing projects on schedule, within budget, and aligned with customer expectations. Fifteen years of experience in PMO, Portfolio, and Project Management. Track record of managing multiple projects concurrently with domestic and global teams. Results-driven focus with a highly collaborative approach that unifies efforts among Business and IT Teams to accomplish strategic goals.

Areas of Expertise

Project Management Office: Developed and institutionalized project/portfolio management process, tools, and templates.

Project/Portfolio Management: Managed and delivered business and IT cross-functional projects on time and on budget.

Resource Management: Created and maintained resource management tools that abet resource leveling, capacity constraints, and prioritization.

Core Competencies

Project Management

Client Implementations

Budgeting & Cost Control

Resource Management

SaaS Implementations

Team Building

Stage Gate & Project Reviews

Training & Coaching

Process Improvement

Professional Experience

Project Manager/Enterprise Resource Lead

Portico Benefits Services – Minneapolis, MN 2019 - 2023

Delivered multiple cross-functional projects associated with employee benefits and retirement programs. Developed and maintained the enterprise resource management tools and associated processes that highlighted resource allocations.

Promoted to New Client Implementation Project Manager with ownership for planning, scheduling, and executing all stages of customer implementations. Monitored progress to meet deadlines, standards, and cost targets.

Developed and institutionalized project management tools and templates including Senior Management project status reporting.

Institutionalized a Smartsheet PPM tool and provided training and coaching for users.

Created and maintained an enterprise resource management tool that highlighted resource over/under allocation. Assisted with resource leveling, capacity constraints, and prioritization.

Managed a corporate wide process improvement initiative that defined pain points and documented mission critical processes.

Accomplishments

Removed redundant implementation tasks and developed a client report to help ensure all required deliverables needed from clients were received timely, resulting in a labor savings of 25% and a 50% cycle time improvement.

Identified and presented critical process pain points to the organization that contributed to executing 20 major improvements resulting in over 700 hours of labor savings.

Project Manager - Contractor

Object Technology Solutions Inc - Kansas City Power & Light – Kansas City, MO 2015 - 2019

Managed all aspects of IT projects throughout the project lifecycle ensuring that deadlines, quality standards and customer expectations were met. Successfully managed the business and IT tasks throughout multiple concurrent projects.

Led and implemented Planview Project Portfolio Management PPM Tool. Managed third party coordination, testing, training, and organizational change management.

Created and provided training on project management processes, tools, and templates.

Successfully lead a variety of projects including Customer Relationship Management / Marketing Automation Platform (CRM/MAP), Human Resources Peoplesoft Time & Labor upgrade, SharePoint Utilization, and People Hub.

Monitored and reported on capital spending and performed monthly budget reconciliation with Finance.

Developed reports, coordinated, and facilitated monthly Senior Management commitment meetings for new project discussion and approval.

Accomplishments

Improved project delivery by eliminating redundant tasks/deliverables and standardizing processes and documentation.

Implemented a project initiation process that included Senior Management approvals to move forward so that only the key projects were approved and worked on. This reduced back-door efforts and provided more accurate resource allocation data.

Provided project information and data to Senior Management for new and in-flight project status and stage gate decision making.

Project Portfolio Manager

Lifetouch – Eden Prairie, MN 2011 - 2015

Managed all efforts in the project portfolio including processes surrounding project initiation, project delivery and metrics/reporting.

Led and delivered mission critical projects that allowed customers to view their images prior to ordering and receiving their pictures online.

Developed and institutionalized a Software Development framework.

Monitored and reported on capital spending and performed monthly budget reconciliation with Finance.

Successfully managed and implemented 50+ projects, coordinated deployment and training.

Developed and institutionalized Senior Management project status reporting and resource management.

Assisted with the integration of acquired businesses into Lifetouch systems and facilities.

Accomplishments

Coordinated Process Improvement teams, resulting in $120K + savings.

Standardized project management templates and deliverables that improved project communications, eliminated many questions, thereby improving delivery success and reducing project delays.

Education, Certifications and Training

George Washington University, Masters Project Management

Project Management Professional (PMP 302965)

Technologies: Smartsheet, Planview, SharePoint, Google Docs, MS Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint)

Inclusion and Diversity training – Bridgeworks Leadership Immersion Program

Community Involvement

LINK – Provide transportation and assisted in social events for challenged children and adults.

Foster Care Provider: Respite – Provide short-term care services for challenged individuals when their primary caregiver is absent or needs relief.

Gary Mester, PMP

Chisago. MN 651-***-**** ad5dre@r.postjobfree.com www.linkedin.com/in/gary-mester-pmp

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