Project Manager Management

ZAIDA CANTOS

** ***** *** ****** ***# *O ~ Brooklyn, NY 11249

Cell: 917-***-**** Email:

*****.******@*****.***

~ PROJECT MANAGEMENT ~

VISION STRATEGY IMPLEMENTATION LEADERSHIP

Visionary and results-oriented Global Information Technology Specialist and Project Manager with expertise in managing

all phases of project delivery lifecycle for multiple complex project scope; from initial needs analysis and planning

through product development and deployment. Adept in areas including product development, product strategies, problem

resolution, team management and the implementation of creative solutions that meet business, budget, and scalability

requirements. Extensive experience in internal project and program operations, including the planning, design,

implementation and deployment phases. Driven leader skilled in building, nurturing and optimizing cross-functional

organizational relationships resulting in dynamic innovation and growth.

• Project Management • Training & Development • Business Analysis

• Change Management • Best Practices & Analysis • Service Management

• Strategic Planning/Execution • Process Improvement • Systems Analysis & Design

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Warnaco, Inc.

PROJECT MANAGER (Contract Assignment) Milford, CT 9/2012 –

12/2012

Overall responsibility throughout the project lifecycle including requirements definition, business analysis, design,

implementation, testing and deployment

• Worked with Project Manager in implementing Oracle Merchandise Financial Planning, Assortment Planning,

and Size Profile Optimization

• Managed all project tasks including schedules, budgets, and resources, to ensure that quality solutions are

delivered within time and cost constraints

• Actively transformed business requirements into creative business solutions using existing products and new

ideas that demonstrated out-of-the-box thinking

• Worked with senior management to create and maintain portfolio of global projects

Allstate Insurance Company Brooklyn, NY 5/ 2010-

8/2012

OFFICE MANAGER/SALES

Obtained Property, Casualty, Life & Health licensing and managed the cross-selling and support of new products and

services to existing policy holders; respond to customer inquiries and requests relating to insurance products.

• Proactively prospected for new customers, follow up on leads, and effectively close sales.

• Oversaw office projects and operations, enhance the administrative process, and track agency spending and

budget allocation.

Ernst & Young, LLP New York, NY 11/1998-

5/2010

Global professional services organization with more than 144,000 people worldwide focused on information technology

systems related to assurance, tax, transaction and advisory services.

SENIOR SERVICE DELIVERY SPECIALIST ~ Consulting Services (8/2008-5/2010)

Directed and provided oversight to rapid deployment teams in the resolution of LAN issues and provided engagement

support. Led in the delivery of daily technology support to highly mobile and demanding clients of over 1000+

• Developed an innovative service delivery model for Americas IT Sub-Area mobile clients.

• Ensured all processes and procedures are kept up-to-date and accurately reflect Customer environments and

requirements

• Assisted the Client’s IT executives and other senior Management as appropriate in their planning activities as

required

• Provided assistance to the Client in researching new and / or emerging technologies to ascertain their potential

benefits to the Client

• Led project planning, coordination and implementation of event logistics to include national events, special

meetings, conferences, and road/trade shows, including negotiations of sub-contractor and vendor contracts.

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• Oversaw event operations to include facility selection, contract negotiations, pricing, transportation,

accommodations, food/beverage selection, audio/visual service arrangements, technologies and delivery.

• Partnered with event sponsors and internal/external teams on all areas of each event; floor plans, budgets and the

creation of event materials.

• Analyzed and assessed current communication plans, special packages, processes, and the “look and feel

experience” in collaboration with cross-company teams.

TECHNICAL PROJECT MANAGER/BUSINESS ANALYST/PRODUCT MGR NE NEW HIRE COORDINATOR

(3/2006-8/2008)

Led all aspects of the project lifecycle for multiple projects to include planning, initiation, development, rollout,

monitoring, and support; maintained full control over project work.

• Established best practices for the onboarding process and developed technical support policies and the procedural

manual currently in use throughout the firm by EY IT personnel.

• Managed the troubleshooting of account, software and hardware issues for new hires, transfers in/out of the US,

and Expats (network access, single sign-on, access controls, intranet/internet, email set up/forwarding, and

redirecting).

• Created and implemented best practices that increased efficiency, caused accelerated customer satisfaction, and

slashed error rates.

• Continuously met with stakeholders in the development of solutions for problem areas with new hire accounts;

human resources, identity and access management, application security, and directory services.

• Partnered with the Central Depot and Process Improvement team to reduce onsite Quality and Assurance time by

90%; resulted in lower overtime from helpdesk support personnel

• Successfully reworked the password sheet process by implementing a macro and script that effectively reduced

processing time by 80%.

• Acted as the North-East New Hire Coordinator; drove the improvement of existing processes by developing new

business relationships and identifying communication gaps between operational requirements and technical

capabilities.

• Coordinated and established the Knowledge Technology & Learning (KTL) Trainers’ schedule 9 months in

advance; included support staff for the Northeast area.

• Performed due diligence for non-site employees attending a firm-wide orientation in 5 locations.

• Coordinated the onboarding of 360 interns and 180 experienced hires in one week during peak hiring season via

onsite and off-site sessions.

• Created and presented reports to management with statistics detailing change management initiatives.

Recipient of the E&Y High Impact Award ~ for overhauling the technology portion of Firm Wide Orientation.

Received numerous Merit Awards

SERVICE SPECIALIST ~ Consulting Services (11/2005-2/2006)

Acted as the lead technical support person for “Your Master Plan (YMP)” program (an EY MBA Program) during the

spring/summer of 2006, 2007 & 2008; set-up a satellite office for program use at the University of Notre Dame and the

University of Virginia.

• Cisco VOiP implementation, oversaw and actively participated in all aspects of project phases from requirements

gathering to deployment, while maintaining momentum through completion of the project.

• Set up satellite off-site offices for E&Y, where I was responsible for a client base of 300 students.

• Acted as liaison between EY and the universities for all technical and non-technical related issues during a 6-

month on-site assignment.

• Performed technical support needs analysis for program including the completion of the onboarding process.

• Customized best practices for program; developed technical support polices and the procedural manual currently

in use by the program IT personnel.

• Created and facilitated training sessions with clients on new technologies in both English and Spanish.

EXECUTIVE ASSISTANT ~ International Tax/Compliance, Business Risk Services & Personal Finance Groups

(11/1998-10/2005)

Executed all aspects of executive administrative support and project management support.

• Proactively identified under and over-utilized personnel and brought them to the attention of Resource

Coordinators.

• Performed weekly data entry and maintenance of the scheduling database.

• Developed and cultivated relationships with key internal and external client contacts.

• Worked extensively with project management team on special projects to include the creation of deliverables.

EDUCATION & TECHNICAL PROFICIENCIES

PMP Certification in process

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BACHELOR OF SCIENCE ~ BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION (12/2001)

Minor: COMPUTER INFORMATION SYSTEMS

Baruch College, New York, NY

Visual Basic MIS Architecture Web Development Remedy

Content Management Relational Database Design Data Warehousing/Mining E&Y Microsoft CRM

Data Communications Microsoft Office Suite MS Project (including Server) Visio

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