Enrique (Rick) Rivas
**********@*****.*** 414-***-**** Cedarburg, WI 53012
Senior Project Manager
Specializing in – Leading Multiple Projects Agile/SCRUM Cross-functional Leadership Risk Mitigation Vendor Relations
Successful IT Project Manager with a record of achievement leading and supporting major implementations in multiple business sectors. Well versed in Project Management methodologies including Waterfall/Agile/SCRUM and managing multiple project teams as a Senior Project Manager. Experienced in project planning, roadmaps, team matrix management configurations, stakeholder relationships; gathered customer requirements and presented status updates to the senior team.
Proven track record in System Development Life Cycle execution. Superior budget tracking skills, scheduling/planning staff across multiple functional areas, coordinating outside development resources and leading continuation engineering for existing products. Identified, managed and mitigated project risks and devised contingency plans as needed. Well versed in Microsoft suite of tools.
Additional Strengths and Competencies
Software System Implementations Business Intelligence Application Development Business Continuity Planning Consulting
Project Management SDLC Requirements Gathering Team Building Stakeholder Relations Executive Presentations
Budgets -- Planning and Managing Product Ownership Product Development Supply Chain Logistics Infrastructure
Career History
Senior Project Manager -- Northwestern Mutual (10/2005 – 03/2017)
Implemented cloud solutions, robotic devices, integrated Data Analytics systems and the first enterprise-wide 'Work from Home' system infrastructure.
Mentored and coached junior level project managers as Program Manager of Enterprise Venture Funds projects.
Procured, evaluated and managed third party software providers and contract developer firms.
Performed Product Owner and Scrum Master role under SAFe, several team members were offshore.
Key Achievements
Product Owner and Scrum Master -- delivered several projects for the Enterprise Learning Management program.
Risk mitigation -- Replicated cloud data onto the corporate infrastructure DB2 database for Information Risk Management.
Created and validated a proof-of-concept implemented the Microsoft Business Intelligence Suite for the enterprise.
Project Director -- HK Systems (06/1996 – 10/2005)
Led a team of project managers and engineers in implementing high-performing integrated Warehouse Management Systems (WMS) for Fortune 500 corporations. Delivered several successful WMS within scope, schedule, and budget.
Key Achievements
Led a team of 6 software engineers in the implementation of two Chrysler manufacturing 'Just in Time' plants into production.
oThe two plants (Detroit & Kokomo IN) integrated with Automatic Guided Vehicles and mini conveyor entry and retrieval points.
oAchieved all project goals, met milestones and came in under budget of this $6M project.
Spearheaded a Warehouse Management System (WMS) project for Toshiba Electronics in San Diego, CA.
Additional Experience
Project Director -- Catalyst International
Managed a team of project managers and software engineers in implementations of state-of-the-art Warehouse Management Systems that included early wireless forklift mounted Radio Frequency terminal devices
Key Achievement
Instrumental in assisting employer to go public from a privately held company by implementing their first Warehouse Management System in UNIX for a major paint manufacturer
Systems Engineer
Application Developer and Systems Administrator consultant/contractor
Education & Professional Development
Certification, Scaled Agile Framework for Teams, Milwaukee, WI
Communications Major, Concordia University, Mequon, WI
Systems Design & Programming Certification, MBTI Business Training Institute, Milwaukee, WI
Core Skills Project Management
Waterfall Methodology
Scaled Agile Framework
Sprint Planning/Execution/Refinement
Team Leadership
Tracking Actuals vs Budgets
Scrum Master
Product Owner
Program Manager
Multiple Project Execution/Tracking/Implementing
Systems Migration/Cutover Planning/Back-out Planning
Customer Engagement Management
Requirements Gathering & Documenting
Requests For Proposals
Supply Chain Logistics
Warehouse Management System Implementations
Systems Integration
Business Continuity Planning
Database Design
Microsoft Business Intelligence Suite Implementation
Cloud Application Implementations & Interfaces
Contingency Planning
Risk Assessment
Solution Option Comparisons
Project Estimating – Staffing/Infrastructure/Time
Vendor Management/Negotiating/Tracking
Expanded Project Highlights and Experiences
Experience with managing application projects required with exposure to infrastructure/hosting elements a plus
oRecently implemented a Software as a Service (SaaS) interface to a data analytics provider from another SaaS application at Northwestern Mutual (NM). The “Data Analytics provider” was delivered data from the SaaS source through NM then out to the SaaS Data Analytics provider. NM had Information Risk Management control of the data being fed to both SaaS providers.
Experience with integrated applications/systems and developing overall project plans with cross dependencies
oLed extensive integration project for Chrysler (our client) where our Warehouse Management System (WMS) controlled the assembly line for a Detroit, MI Engine plant (4.7L Jeep) and the Kokomo, IN Transmission plant.
oThe WMS integrated with Photo Eye sensors and Automatic Guided Vehicles as well as Radio Frequency controlled pallet vehicles to execute a Just-In-Time operation at both facilities.
Able to manage a large volume of disparate system projects simultaneously
oAs acting Program Manager and Project Manager for the NM Enterprise Venture Fund (EVF), our team executed projects from a significant array of different technology solutions that were executed upon.
oA sampling of projects I personally led and executed ranged from the implementation of the Microsoft Business Intelligence suite to Lync for the field offices to Presence Awareness robots for the home office to alternatives to Good mobile security software comparisons. The EVF team performed nothing but disparate technology projects.
Self-starter and self-directed with ability to work in an unstructured environment with ambiguity
oThe EVF projects at NM were kicked off by just a short paragraph of a technology idea (somewhat ambiguous to say the least). Our team of project managers were directed to take it from that point and deliver one of three deliverables: 1) Research Recommendation; 2) Vendor Selection, post Proof of Concept or 3) Solution Implementation
Ability to navigate a large matrix organization to determine key contacts
oNM IT averaged a size of 2,000 FTE’s. Execution of projects took talent to navigate and to deliver within budget, scope and schedule consistently, which we did.
Experience with managing content management (SharePoint) solution implementation, upgrades, etc. is a plus
oSharePoint (SP) experience; Owner role
oLed a project that extracted SP ‘Instant Messaging’ data based on user role definition to store and retrieve the messaging data for government compliance rules and audits as needed.
Solid written and verbiage communication with a customer service focus
oI have extensive experience in managing clients like Nestle, Chrysler and Toshiba throughout various national locations as well as collaborating with corporate stakeholders at Northwestern Mutual.
oTimely communication is required and vital to successful implementation of systems and applications as well as with your project team members. Planning, doing, checking and adjusting is a cyclical process to follow and to achieve successful results.