Karen K. Loftis

**** * **** ******

Overland Park, KS 66207

402-***-****

Email: ablhet@r.postjobfree.com

SKILLS:

Market / Policy / Economic Research

Business Case Development

Project Management

Internet / Business Systems Development & Deployment

Written Communication and Presentation

Product Marketing

EDUCATION:

Master of Community & Regional Planning/Public Administration

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Emphasis in Economic Development.

Thesis: <Thesis Title: >The Internet: A Tool for Business & Community

Development

Bachelor of Arts, Public Administration

University of Nebraska-Lincoln, Emphasis in Economics and English

Intern, Congressman Doug Bereuter

EXPERIENCE:

Director, Client Experience 2006 - present

H & R Block - Kansas City, MO

H & R Block is the largest tax preparation firm in the United States. In

addition to retail tax operations in communities though out the US, the

company produces software supporting customers who prefer to prepare their

own tax return.

. Responsible for defining client experience as they interact with company

channels and products

. Manage "voice of customer" research and ensure products solve customer

needs

. Translate customer needs and IRS regulation into technical requirements

for application development

. Lead cross-functional product team (product, marketing, development,

sales, support)

. Represent product to media and customer base

Product Manager 2004 - 2006

Intuit Software - Omaha, NE / San Diego, CA

Intuit Software produces consumer and business tax and financial management

software including TurboTax, Quicken, and ItsDeductible.

. Serve as product manager responsible for TurboTax and ItsDeductible

software development and profitability

. Manage "voice of customer" research and ensure software products solve

customer needs

. Translate customer needs and IRS regulation into technical requirements

for software development

. Lead cross-functional product team (product, marketing, development,

sales, support)

. Represent product to media and customer base

Sr. Software Engineer, Management Information Services 2002 - 2003

DTN (Data Transmission Networks) - Omaha, NE

DTN specializes in satellite broadcast information services

. Served as technical liaison for corporate Peoplesoft CRM 8.4 Release of

Sales & Support installations

. Managed installation, customizations, and configuration settings of

Peoplesoft CRM application driven by changing business requirements

. Managed business process reengineering efforts within Sales, Marketing, &

Support

Sr. Manager, Information Services 2000 - 2002

Primedia Business Publishing - Kansas City, MO

Primedia Business Publishing is a publisher of vertical trade journals and

producer of conferences with revenue in excess of $300 million annually.

. Served as Information Services liaison to business units; acted as

internal technology consultant and drove business process reengineering

efforts

. Developed return on investment equations for enterprise tradeshow, sales,

and marketing technology product proposals

. Evaluated technical and business feasibility of third party solutions;

negotiated vendor contracts

. Project managed development and implementation of enterprise sales

systems including internal and externally focused information portals and

direct marketing database tools (Customer Relationship Management/Sales

Force Automation)

Product Manager, Web Hosting & E-Commerce, 1998 - 2000

Birch Telecom - Kansas City, MO

Birch is a competitive telephone company (CLEC) operating in multiple

Southwestern Bell markets. The company provides full service communications

solutions targeted toward small to medium sized businesses.

. Primary line of business manager with responsibility for understanding

economics of internet applications product line and ensuring

competitiveness and profitability - from market launch through sales and

support

. Defined business requirements for web hosting and e-commerce products and

project managed development of offerings

. Conducted market research; evaluated technical and business feasibility

of third party solutions; negotiated vendor contracts; developed and

defended business plans for internet application service offerings

Consultant - Web Manager, 1997 - 1998

ACT - Iowa City, IA

ACT, Inc., is a non-profit association specializing in assessment testing.

My responsibilities required both technical and business/product management

expertise.

. Planned and implemented web-based commerce registration solution.

Application served as new operations channel and significantly reduced

expenses associated with processing of paper registrations

. Supervised staff of graphic artists, web programmers, and clerical

support. Redesigned corporate website based on appealing to key interests

of diverse core audience groups - improved quality and quantity of

website hits

. Managed department budget and performed cost/benefit analysis of proposed

Internet projects.

Consultant - Marketing Technology Trainer, 1996-1997

Jackson National Life Insurance Company - Lansing, MI

Jackson National specializes in both life and annuity products.

. Created curriculum and trained nationwide sales force to implement

database-marketing strategies using customer relationship management

(CRM) tools. Represented sales/marketing on corporate team charged with

development of custom CRM system for sales force - legacy database of

client history and personal information management system

. Built cross-department problem solving teams; negotiated technology and

product marketing needs with vendors and senior management.

Business & Technology Program Coordinator & Trainer (Nebraska EDGE

Program), 1992-96

University of Nebraska, Center for Community Development - Lincoln, NE

The Center for Community Development is a research center linked to the UNL

Department of Agricultural Economics. In addition to working full-time, I

attended graduate school. My masters' degree thesis served as the basis for

an outreach Internet business training program.

. Introduced the Nebraska FastTrac Entrepreneurial Training Program, now

known as the Nebraska EDGE

. Managed entrepreneurial and Internet technology training programs,

statewide and within US West 14 member state region

. Identified business market needs, developed curriculums and programs,

wrote grants, implemented business training programs, and managed program

budgets

. Coordinated activities for statewide advisory network of business,

education, and government representatives

. Evaluated program effectiveness using focus groups, written surveys, and

other market research techniques

Administrative Assistant - Public Information & Legislative Specialist,

1988-92

State of Nebraska Ethanol Board - Lincoln, NE

. Supported gubernatorial appointed Board and project managed scheduling of

public meetings

. Assisted agency director with drafting and lobbying economic incentives

legislation ($.20 per gallon produced in Nebraska)

SKILLS/TRAINING/EXPERIENCE:

Customer Scenario Mapping - Business Process & Applications Requirements

Gathering Technique

Product Management - Gated Development Methodology

Business Plan & Feasibility Study Training

CRM Software: Peoplesoft, Siebel, Oracle, SalesLogix, GoldMine, ACT! ;

Marketing Automation: Aprimo, Siebel

Database Software: SQL, Oracle, Sybase, Access

Numerous political, campaign, and civic organization positions

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