KATHY WOOTEN
**** *********** ***** ********* ********, Georgia 30064 (404) 661-
**** ************@*****.***
SUMMARY
A customer focused and forward thinking top senior information
technology executive with a demonstrated track record of achievement
in strategic planning and execution, IT transformation, acquisitions,
divestitures, outsourcing and managed services. Established
capabilities in team building, vendor relationships, contract
management and business process improvement. Adept at aligning
technology with business objectives and vision. A focused, goal
oriented and dynamic leader who inspires organizational change by
delivering effective business solutions providing sustainable
organizational growth and contributing to desirable bottom line
results.
. IT Strategy
. IT Consolidation / Re-organization
. Acquisitions & Divestitures
. Cost Takeout
. Public Entity & Private Equity Experience
. Outsourcing & Managed Services
. ERP / Manufacturing
. Cloud Systems
. Business Intelligence & Analytics
. Governance / Risk / Compliance
EXPERIENCE
CARAUSTAR, Austell, Georgia
Vice President, Information Technology, 2008-2014
Led all aspects of information technology for a leading manufacturer and
reseller of recycled paper and packaging products with 65 facilities
throughout the United States and Canada. Managed and transformed the
information technology department as the organization migrated from a
publicly held entity through bankruptcy to private equity investment and
growth.
. Managed multiple contract re-negotiations, virtualization,
rationalization of hardware/software and other initiatives to reduce
costs and provide improved manageability and return on IT investments.
Reduced IT annual recurring expenses from $13,000,000 to $8,500,000 while
increasing number of users supported by 25% and adding multiple systems
including logistics, business intelligence, CRM and plant control.
. Transformed IT infrastructure, applications and the IT organization to
provide flexible expansion to support company's desire for organic and
inorganic growth. Positioned IT to support company with potential to
double in size, with all aspects designed to support eventual change in
ownership, spin off or public offering.
. Implemented Cognos and Showcase Business Intelligence / Analytics to
enable analysis of various aspects of sales, operating costs and product
/ customer profitability, contributing to savings of $50,000,000.
. Migrated company to Salesforce cloud based CRM system to increase top
line sales and improve contribution and profit margin, improving
visibility to and results for sales funnel.
. Implemented cloud based third party logistics system and provided freight
analytics to support efforts to streamline transportation and reduce
freight cost for ultimate reduction of cost by several million dollars.
. Upgraded order to cash systems and installed plant control systems to
focus on various operational process improvement initiatives aimed at
reducing variable costs and improving productivity. Provided business
tools to track and measure progress on operational and commercial process
improvement initiatives.
. Designed and implemented optimal balance and management of internal,
outsourced and managed services, focusing on potential organizational
growth and desire to position company to respond quickly to changing
ownership, changing priorities and new initiatives, reducing salary costs
by 35% and providing flexibility to absorb various organizational changes
and IT offerings.
. Migrated company to Google cloud-based email, reducing email costs by 50%
while improving email up time and providing anytime, anywhere access,
reducing staffing efforts from 2.0 full-time employees to .25 full-time
employees.
. Decreased JD Edwards managed service costs by $2,000,000 annually over
five year period while simultaneously improving service offering.
Sustained Oracle JD Edwards maintenance with zero annual increase, saving
$300,000 over six years.
. Completed multiple department reorganizations to accommodate changing
business needs, moving IT from 65-person department to 23-person
department with minimal disruption and minimal undesired attrition.
. Engaged and managed off shore service provider, reducing infrastructure
staffing costs by $450,000 per year.
. Implemented virtualization of Windows Servers, reducing maintenance
effort by 25% and improving system availability.
. Consolidated all remote plant iSeries and AIX Servers to one central
Power Series server, reducing on going staff efforts by .5 full-time
employees and ensuring hardware cost avoidance of $200,000.
. Re-negotiated data network, hosting and telecom contracts to achieve 30%
reduction in cost while increasing bandwidth and network performance
across company.
. Migrated voice over IP phone system from leased to owned, saving $130,000
per year while providing upgraded hardware and software with voice to
text, voice over IP and SIP trunking capabilities.
. Negotiated replacement of Power 6 server, providing new equipment and
improved performance at annual savings of $135,000.
Director, Applications, ERP, Co-Directed IT, 2007-2008
Partnered in managing IT department. Handled strategic planning and
execution, budgeting, risk/governance/compliance, vendor management,
contracts and management of IT department. Led and managed all aspects of
company's ERP systems, including oversight of external managed service
provider and internal technical/functional teams. Coordinated and worked
with cross-functional/departmental teams.
. Oversaw all aspects of applications including development,
support/maintenance, third party software and interface integration,
project portfolio, change management, Systems Development Life Cycle,
governance/risk/compliance. Coordinated with the business to meet and
exceed business priorities and objectives.
. Continued cost cutting and reorganization initiatives while
maintaining/improving quality and performance and integrating
acquisitions and wind down of divestitures.
. Adjusted IT strategy to align with changes in business strategy and
frequent changes in business environment.
. Designed and implemented project portfolio prioritization methodology.
. Researched and designed management key reporting package.
Director, Applications Development, Co-Directed IT, 2007
Partnered in managing IT department while overseeing budget
planning/control, strategic planning and implementation, IT alignment with
business strategy, governance/risk/compliance, vendor relationship
management and contracts, employee career path and educational development
and overall department management. Presented to senior management team.
Led all aspects of applications including development, support/maintenance,
third party software and interface integration, project portfolio, change
management and governance/risk/compliance. Coordinated with the business to
meet and exceed business priorities and objectives.
. Implemented supplemental off-shore applications development.
. Migrated development team from legacy languages and tools to JD
Edwards Toolset, Plex, C++ and Java.
. Completed migration to JD Edwards procurement.
Director, Applications Development, 2004-2006
Managed all business applications including financials, payroll / human
resources, 13 different order to cash systems, interfaces from back-end
systems to financials and interface data transactions to/from various
business partners and agencies.
. Consolidated 13 order to cash systems to four systems aligning with
company's four business groups.
. Implemented JD Edwards Enterprise One Payroll/Human Resources and
Financials.
. Functioned as member of project management office and prepared team
for company's implementation of JD Edwards Payroll / HR, Procurement,
Financials, while piloting order to cash and directing three managers
and 23 application professionals.
ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE
Manager, Applications Development, 1995-2004. Led application development,
interfaces and enhancements, maintenance, support and configuration for
financials, payroll/human resources, procurement, EDI, Kronos Timekeeper,
Showcase/Showcase Analyzer and Boomerang Expense Reporting. Oversaw TL2000
Transportation, PC Miler and the custom order processing, manufacturing,
inventory, production, shipping system used by company's composite can
division.
Programmer, Senior Programmer Analyst, Project Leader, 1985-1995. Managed
software development and installation projects while implementing Infinium
/ SSA GT Financials and Payroll. Worked on various accounting, sales,
production, inventory, shipping and invoicing systems.
EDUCATION
Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia
B.B.A., Finance, 1991
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Center for Creative Leadership, Leadership Development, 2008
Leadership Cobb, 2003 Alumni
AFFILIATIONS
Georgia CIO Leadership Association
Society of Information Management