Project Manager Quality Assurance

VANESSA A. RICHARDS

* **** **** ***** ~ Durham, North Carolina 27713

919-***-**** home *********@**.**.***

919-***-**** cell

PROJECT MANAGER

Telecommunications ~ Information Technology ~ Higher Education

Results-driven Professional with proven success managing high-visibility,

multimillion-dollar global, technology projects within the

Telecommunication, IT, and Higher Education industries on time and within

budget. Proven ability to effectively collaborate with individuals at all

levels from support to senior management and manage vendor and customer

relations.

Additional capabilities include:

( Planning/Scheduling ( Customer Relations

( Vendor Management ( Budget & Resource Allocation

( Meeting Facilitation ( Enterprise Resource Planning -

ERP

( Consulting ( Risk Analysis

( Change Control ( Software Development Life Cycle -SDLC

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Meridian Technologies, Charlotte, NC 03/10-

06/10

Technology Delivery Manager-eCommerce Channel Delivery/Online Banking

Services

Provided Project Management support for Online Banking Services software

development projects relating to information technology implementations,

upgrades, conversion and recovery.

. Managed multiple projects & project teams to include off shore

resources, Quality Assurance, Developers, and IT analysts.

. Communicate effectively any project risks/problem status to senior

management.

. Worked closely with Line of Business Analyst to discuss

Business Requirements for project delivery.

. Collaborated with Integrated Release Management team to

determine time line for project deployments.

. Worked closely with Change Management to record any changes

in project scope, etc.

. Led project team through entire SDLC process.

. Effectively facilitated project meetings & presentations with

project stake holders.

. Managed remote teams within a high matrixed organization,

while working with minimal direction.

. Managed all aspects of project management: resource planning, work

breakdown, risk/issue management, financial management, implementation

planning, testing, & communication etc.

Keane INC, Durham, NC 02/08-

11/08

Cisco IT Project Manager- Technical Services Project Delivery Organization

. Managed multiple projects & project teams to include off shore

resources, Quality Assurance Engineers, Developers, and IT Analyst.

. Managed Project Delivery Process through Project Life Cycle-PLC Gates.

. Led project teams through entire PLC process from ID & Assess through

implementation.

. Managed Project Budget & Resource Allocations w/I +/- 2% cost variance.

. Identified & Communicated Project Risks.

. Managed Change Control Process via internal automated system.

. Scheduled project within defined Resource Management & Environmental

Resource Management Office (RMO & ERMO) monthly & quarterly release

schedules.

. Developed and maintained project plans.

. Communicated project progress, issues and changes in project scope.

. Facilitated and documented cross functional team meetings to include

client business teams.

. Reviewed Business Requirements Document-BRD with Business partner to

identify gaps, needs.

Affiliated Computer Services-ACS, Durham, NC

Project Manager-Enterprise Solution Group Government Solutions

12/04-07/07

Provided Project Management Consulting Services for a major client in

support of North Carolina Higher Education Enterprise Resource Planning

-ERP Implementation project.

. Managed project management activities for ERP Implementation projects

which provide integrated business functions, resulting in improved

departmental workflows, business processes, productivity, and

efficiency.

. Prepared project objectives to facilitate the orderly and efficient

implementation of business and IT solutions, which in turn reduce

project risks, missed milestones and deliverables.

. Evaluated IT staff functions through on site software test sessions

which determine 'go live' readiness for the institution, therefore

reducing the margin for error.

. Managed the change control system and processes as defects arise

during the implementation process.

. Worked closely with management of Deployment group including: setting

priorities, coordinating work efforts, managing project plan,

deadlines and reporting project status.

. Worked closely with other groups within the operational and IT groups

to coordinate plans and activities including: development tasks;

application and operational upgrades; and IT system upgrades.

. Facilitated meetings with various groups (internal/external) to

present status and implications of the implementation process.

. Provided support to external groups in the use of newly implemented

software product.

. Provided consulting support to IT customers (external).

. Prepared monthly reports on the status of implementation projects

under direct control.

. Developed and manage effective working relationships with other

departments, groups and personnel with whom work must be coordinated

or interfaced, while identifying potential business opportunities.

. Defined proactive organizational framework that supports both end-user

and IT with proper balance to maximize benefits of the product.

. Identified ways to measure benefits, particularly productivity-

related, in order to insure value is being added consistent with the

ERP productivity goals.

AT&T, Durham, NC 02/01-05/03

Project Implementation Manager-Business Service Delivery

Provided key project management support for LAN/WAN implementation for

voice and data Managed Router Services client contracts, including testing

and quality assurance.

. Facilitated the implementation of enhanced computer network

applications, which resulted in improved network connectivity time for

client remote site locations of more than 85%.

. Developed and implemented project plans, schedules, presentations and

other scope definition documents for complex client project; that

resulted in adequate resource allocation, successful project

completion ahead of schedule, and under budget.

. Assisted with negotiations of multi-layered contract for international

client, resulting in reduction in equipment exporting costs; and

streamlined internal processes and procedures, which in return

improved communications between client international and US locations.

. Managed vendor performance/relationships, & ordered equipment based on

engineering specifications & compliance. Conducted in-house training

programs for junior-level Project Managers on the usage of PM tools

and internal processes.

Project Implementation Manager (Contractor) - Managed Network Services

01/99-0/201

Provided Project Management support to the Y2K Project Management team and

Network Operations in the planning and installation of voice and data

systems, as well as network augmentation that met requirements for Cisco

and Bay router compliancy.

. Co-led company Y2K Project Management team activities for Cisco & Bay

router hardware and software (HW/SW) upgrades. Project was completed

one month ahead of schedule and under budget resulting in stabilized

computer networks for AT&T and AT&T worldwide customer base.

. Facilitated meetings among cross-functional teams meeting all key

deliverables and milestones. Unsolicited feedback was overwhelmingly

positive on effectiveness of meetings.

BTI, Raleigh, NC 04/96-

01/99

Network Provisioner-Network Engineering

Managed all aspects of circuit order processing/provisioning for network

infrastructure projects and Carrier Sales. Handled timely activation and

testing of circuits, coordinating with BTI field personnel and internal

departments to ensure corporate objectives were met.

GTE, Durham, NC 10/83-09/95

Network Access Ordering Associate-Carrier Markets

07/92-09/95

Handled access service requests for new and existing voice network service.

Held various other positions, including sales and customer call center.

10/88-07/92

EDUCATION AND TRAINING

Courses: PMI PMP Certification Preparation 35 hour prerequisite completed

Bachelor of Science Degree, Business Administration, Saint Augustine's

College, Raleigh, NC

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