Project Manager Quality Assurance

Dan Alcalde

Agile Coach and Project Manager looking for new opportunities

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

Summary

For nearly 15 years I have successfully delivered cutting-edge and innovative software products in a myriad of

environments, from digital agencies and consulting environments to media organizations like The New York

Times, Newsweek, and Major League Baseball Advanced Media.

With a keen focus on improving transparency and communication between technology and business (and

editorial, where appropriate), I've long strived to bridge gap between disparate business units to help create

cohesive and consistent visions and products.

I've utilized many different methodologies and SDLCs, tailoring my methods to the people, product, and

processes as needed as no two situations are the same. That being said, I more commonly lean toward agile as a

recommended approach due to it's waste-reduction and it's benefits to both the business and the customer.

As a coach, I'm well-versed in modern developments in software development and pride myself on being a

successful change agent working toward iterative improvement -- for myself, and for the teams with which I

work.

So if you need help defining or refining your processes, improving production, transforming to an agile

approach, or generally wrangling the chaos of your projects I may be able to help.

Experience

Project Manager at Viggle

August 2013 - September 2013 (2 months)

Director of Project Management at Cinchcast

February 2013 - June 2013 (5 months)

Responsible for implementing and enforcing business and technology processes across multiple technology

and business teams. Coached teams on agile methodologies and improved overall team productivity, working

with both on-shore and distributed teams, so as to ensure consistent and sustainable development of

high-quality software.

3 recommendations available upon request

Agile Coach and Consultant at Valtech

May 2011 - February 2013 (1 year 10 months)

Mentored two junior project managers and provided guidance over client engagements. Implemented Scrum

with the development team for delivery of client services.

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Transitioned to the agile coaching business, helping clients implement and tune agile methodologies to suit

their development needs while informing and training the clients in agile best practices.

Helped formalize business process models that adhere to best practices from various agile methodologies

(Scrum, Kanban, RUP) as needed to provide the most efficient workstreams.

4 recommendations available upon request

Multimedia Technical Project Manager at MLB Advanced Media

October 2010 - April 2011 (7 months)

Introduced agile methodology and best practices to the multimedia development team. Managed the back-end

multimedia development for projects including March Madness and MLB Opening Day 2011.

Senior Project Manager at Newsweek Digital

April 2009 - October 2010 (1 year 7 months)

Acted as the primary liaison between the editorial, business, and technology teams. Oversaw the launch of

2010: A Decade in Review and the Newsweek.com relaunch; the latter included the migration of all content

to a new design, powered by Day Software’s CQ5 CMS, and hosted in the cloud by Amazon Web Services.

Responsible for executive updates and gathering consensus amongst all relevant stakeholders. Acted as

Scrum Master for development team.

2 recommendations available upon request

Technical Project Manager at New York Times

August 2007 - March 2009 (1 year 8 months)

Managed the requirements, scope, and implementation of editorially driven projects such as online coverage

of the 2008 Elections and the 2008 Olympic Games

Assisted in the creation of the Interactive News Team, an agile group of developers based in the news room

Bridged the agile environment of the Interactive News Team and the more traditional development

environment of the New York Times Digital group

Represented the development group to the editorial and product teams

Wrote requirements and documentation as needed

5 recommendations available upon request

Project Manager at CoverClicks LLC

March 2006 - August 2007 (1 year 6 months)

Wrote documentation and specifications for technical marketing projects

Managed the conception, development, launch, and ongoing support of DrivingLeads.com, a lead distribution

system

Managed team of developers, providing guidance, instruction and ongoing prioritization. of tasks

Oversaw all technical and support requests

Participated in top-level business decisions for internet marketing efforts and company direction

2 recommendations available upon request

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Project Manager at Xworld

August 2005 - January 2006 (6 months)

Worked on projects for AOL, American Express, The New Yorker, and United Jewish Communities

Set up and managed e-mail marketing campaigns for clients using ExactTarget and Lyris

Wrote technical documentation, quality assurance documentation, and other internal project documents

Provided copy and content for company website, client e-mail campaigns, and other marketing materials

Advised on information architecture, usability, quality assurance processes, and document management

4 recommendations available upon request

Director at Westhill Partners

December 2000 - January 2005 (4 years 2 months)

Managed both internal and external community, intranet and portal solutions

Spearheaded solutions for John Hancock Financial Services, Diageo, Congressman Dick Gephardt, and other

high profile clients

Participated in the architecture and design process of all key product offerings

Wrote business requirements, technical specifications, help documents, and testing cycles for several client

solutions

Managed development of additional web applications, including polling/survey tool and media tracking tool

3 recommendations available upon request

Customer Service at theglobe.com

2000 - 2000 (less than a year)

Business Center manager at CompUSA

1999 - 2000 (1 year)

Certifications

Certified Scrum Master

Scum Alliance

Skills & Expertise

Scrum

Agile

Internet Trends

CMS

Technical Writing

Agile Project Management

Social Media Marketing

Social Media

Certified Scrum Master CSM

Software Project Management

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Copywriting

Agile coaching

New Media

Online Journalism

Technical Project Leadership

Business Process Improvement

Adobe CQ5

Journalism

Product Management

Team Building

Content Management

Team Leadership

Web Project Management

Program Management

Social Networking

Mentoring

Project Planning

Product Development

RUP

Business Process

Business Process Design

Sprint Planning

Agile Modeling

Agile Leadership

Internet Product Development

Digital Media

Traditional Media

Agile Methodologies

Retrospectives

Management

Information Architecture

Web Applications

SEO

Kanban

Email Marketing

Quality Assurance

Project Management

Coaching

Adobe Creative Suite

Mobile Applications

Education

City University of New York-Hunter College

Philosophy, 2006 - 2019

New York University

English, 1993 - 1994

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Sachem HS

1989 - 1993

Interests

Emerging technologies, social media and online communities, photography, gadgets, philosophy, journalism,

media analysis.

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Dan Alcalde

Agile Coach and Project Manager looking for new opportunities

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

23 people have recommended Dan

"Dan is an exceptional project manager and agile coach. Cinchcast benefited immensely from his leadership

in establishing fundamental changes in our development process. These changes were not only well received

by our team but also significantly increased production rate and quality. It was an honor to work with him."

Dustin Hilgaertner, Director of Engineering, Tech Lead, Cinchcast, worked directly with Dan at

Cinchcast

"Dan is a fantastic partner in finding and fostering a team's processes and culture. Here at Cinchcast /

BlogTalkRadio he did just that. Strategically and organizationally, he is an anchor to lean on. His knowledge

is vast and he is forever open to the new ways and adaptations there are to be found in the sea of challenges

that is product development and business. Dan is a great manager and Agile coach and I recommend him

highly."

Seth Lopez, Director, Engineering, Cinchcast, worked directly with Dan at Cinchcast

"Dan joined Cinchcast / BlogTalkRadio to tame our product development processes. In his tenure he

implemented a multi-faceted agile process (both kanban & scrum) across 5 different teams. We immediately

saw benefits in productivity, quality of life, and product quality. In addition to his passion & unparalleled

knowledge for all things agile, Dan brings an enthusiasm for creating a great digital product. On a personal

level he helped me immeasurably as a product owner managing a roadmap amidst continually shifting

business priorities. I look forward to working with Dan again in the future."

Brian McConnell, Director of User Experience (UX Director), Cinchcast, worked directly with Dan at

Cinchcast

"During the time I worked with and managed Dan, I found him to be an excellent Agile coach, and colleague.

Dan puts a lot of thought and detail into his work, and as part of a team he proved to be a valuable asset for

his critical and innovative thinking, attention to detail, and thoughtfulness. I enjoyed working with Dan and

would not hesitate to recommend him."

Gerald Cadden (CSM, CSP, SPC), Manager Agile Transformation and Education, Valtech Solutions

Inc, managed Dan at Valtech

"Dan is an outstanding Agile coach and mentor, he has great knowledge of the Media and Publishing

industries and products (especially NYC-based). He also has a deft touch with often the sticky political

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situations inside organizations. Dan finds the way to provide the greatest value possible."

Kelly Looney, Principal Process Engineer, Valtech, managed Dan indirectly at Valtech

"Dan is strong team player. That is, he is a strong player, knowing agile methods and (particularly) the

interactive media application area very well. And, he is very strong on being in a team and having a strong,

synergistic team. I enjoyed working with Dan very much. If you have or are building an agile team, and you

*must* get something done, Dan is your man."

Al Goerner, Chief Agile Strategist, Valtech Technologies, managed Dan indirectly at Valtech

"When senior management is unsure how to proceed, Dan has the ability to cut through the confusion and

present a clear roadmap to resolution. Dan helps his team to intelligently strategize next steps ensuring both

happy clients and development team members. He is a pleasure to work with and an excellent mentor. Should

your organization be given the opportunity to work with Dan in any capacity, take it."

Corin Lines, Project Manager - Digital Consultancy, Valtech, reported to Dan at Valtech

"Dan is a rockstar Project Manager with a twist... he's totally unconventional and defiantly positive. I haven't

seen another PM like him, and don't expect to in the future. On Newsweek.com, I could always count on Dan

to know exactly what was going on, who was responsible, and who was needed to get the obstacles removed.

Dan's obvious information addiction makes him an absolute necessity to any growing organization. He's also

a pretty kick-ass writer."

Meshach Jackson, Director of Technology, Newsweek Digital, managed Dan at Newsweek Digital

"As the sole project manager for Newsweek.com, Dan managed to keep the very small, very ambitious team

moving forward on an array of projects. As he guided the Newsweek 2010 micro-site to a successful launch,

he also served as the primary technical consultant for advertising initiatives, prioritized the dev team's

workload and started interfacing with a design firm on the 2010 site redesign. He did this all with an

incredible ability to remain unfazed in a high-stress environment."

Eve Taylor, Product Manager, Newsweek Digital, worked directly with Dan at Newsweek Digital

"I would definitely recommend Dan to anyone looking for a great project manager. In addition to being

highly technical and skilled in various PM disciplines, Dan also has great interpersonal skills that were key to

the successful launch of multiple challenging, complex and highly visible projects."

Michael McCaughan, Senior Technical Project Manager, New York Times Digital, worked directly with

Dan at New York Times

"I had the opportunity to work with Dan previously at NYTimes.com and found him to be an extremely

intelligent and pro-active team player with a can-do attitude that surpassed most. Dan excelled in

problem-solving and never left a project unfinished. It was a true pleasure working with Dan as he was not

only an excellent Project Manager but he was also a pleasure to be around."

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Kasey Jamison, Project Manager - Online Advertising, New York Times Digital, worked with Dan at

New York Times

"Dan is one of the most professional and pleasant individuals I know. He consistently exceeds deadlines and

targets in an ever changing environment. No matter what project Dan's working on, he always keeps the

primary business objectives in mind. I have enjoyed working with him and hope to work with him again in

the future."

Ashwin Singh, Sr. QA Analyst, New York Times, worked directly with Dan at New York Times

"Dan is an excellent project manager with an amazing ability to keep a million different things in order and

under control. Above and beyond his organizational and technical skills Dan is a true pleasure to be around

and an excellent addition to any team."

Mike Foley, Product Manager - News, E-Mail, RSS and Registration, The New York Times, worked

directly with Dan at New York Times

"As is usual in our workplace different projects overlap across many departments and projects. I've worked

with Dan in my previous and current positions within NYT. In Dan's role as Project Manager he's always

been one to recognize priorities, get the necessary people involved, and herd the cats so-to-speak. While I've

worked with Dan on a number of projects in various capacities, the most recent has yet to finish (I can add

specifics post-launch). Dan had just finished PM'ing for NYT's presidential election web coverage (2008) and

came in to provide my project much needed focus and order on top of an already busy work-load. He's always

been one of those good people who combined organizational skills and knowledge of the platform its build

upon."

Michael Donohoe, Developer, New York Times Digital, worked directly with Dan at New York Times

"As Project Manager, Dan was the liaison between the business and tech staff at CoverC licks. As such, there

were many times that he was instrumental in ramrodding revenue generating projects onto the fast track to

completion, thereby creating considerable cost savings. Dan has integrity, ingenuity and drive. He would be

an asset to any firm in which he is emplyeed."

Jack Grodeska, Director, CoverClicks Media, Inc, worked with Dan at CoverClicks LLC

"Dan is an adroit project manager. He excels at keeping staff on task while simultaneously supporting them

and providing the tools and assistance they need. His capability to lead the team in a firm but friendly manner

is among his greatest skills, and it will serve him well in the future."

Nicholas Costa, MD, Senior Software Developer, CoverClicks LLC, reported to Dan at CoverClicks LLC

"Dan is a capable and attentive project manager. We felt comfortable giving him high-visibility and high-ROI

projects. Dan was able to quickly understand the situation and explore multiple avenues to success, and his

focus and ability to manage deadlines sets him apart from other project mangers. In addition to his strong

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work ethic, Dan's energy and enthusiasm are contageous to the rest of his team."

John Hofmann, Director of Technology, Flightpath, managed Dan indirectly at Xworld

"Dan was a pleasure to work with while at Flightpath (formerly Xworld). He brought valuable insights and

information to all who he worked with and shared a fresh perspective. I definitely benefitted from the time

working with him and would take any opportunity to work with him in the future."

Dina Garfinkel, Senior Project Manager, Flightpath, worked directly with Dan at Xworld

"Dan was always a pleasure to work with and always worked to support the team. He was objective in his

analysis and was very successful in building a consensus when there were different opinions about direction.

He always stayed on top technology and industry trends, as well as providing insightful suggestions."

Brent Baisley, Systems Specialist, CoverClicks Media LLC, worked directly with Dan at Xworld

"Dan is the definition of tenacity. Hardest working man in web biz."

John Loscalzo, VP Multiplatform Music Programming Initiatives, MTV, was with another company when

working with Dan at Xworld

"Nothing but the best to say about Dan. Usually operated under tight deadlines, far-less-than-perfect

information and facing unreasonable/uninformed requests - and always kept on an even keel and delivered

great product. As one of the few people at the company who really understood the web - both in terms of its

cultural impact and in terms of its technical underpinnings - he was exceptionally valuable. Moreover, his

professional demeanor and balanced personality allowed him to push projects forward effectively even when

working on a cross-divisional team."

John Franklin, Partner, Head of Media Strategies Group, Westhill Partners, managed Dan indirectly at

Westhill Partners

"I would highly recommend Dan for any position that requires a dedicated, detail oriented worker. My work

experience with Dan was always very positive and I have nothing negative to say about him. He would be a

valuable asset to any company and I wish him the best of luck! Richard Czop"

Rich Czop, IT Manager, Westhill Partners, Inc., managed Dan at Westhill Partners

"Dan Alcalde is one of the few who remains calm even during critical times. He is clear in his communication

and good in managing / delegating work. He is also a good team player, who never gets his position to his

head."

Ganesh Chandrasekaran, Sr. Developer, Westhill Partners, reported to Dan at Westhill Partners

Contact Dan on LinkedIn

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