Lissa Kurtz
PROJECT MANAGER -
** **** ***** ******** ******* life-cycle from start to finish; ideation,
requirements gathering, scheduling, execution, testing, deployment and
postmortem in Retail, HR, and start-up operations
Cost-conscious expert in assessing, planning, and streamlining processes to
successfully complete project goals while honoring predetermined
constraints in any industry. Keen understanding of business priorities,
genuine team player committed to managing operations and projects
flawlessly while contributing to revenue-producing activities.
Areas of Expertise:
Client/Staff Training Risk Management Upgrades & Deployments
Project Management Benefits Administration Legal Compliance
Methodologies
Change Management Resource Management Vendor Selection
Mergers & Acquisitions Re-Organizing Streamlining Processes
Departments
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE:
Northwestern Mutual 6/14 to Present
Project Manager
Selected Accomplishments:
Using Agile methodology; managed multiple projects and teams for the
Multicultural roll-out beginning with Hispanic Market. This includes
translation of brochures and documentation used by field sales reps
approved by Compliance and the FCC.
Implemented the strategy for a Spanish Lexicon to translate inter-company
emails and escalate where appropriate. Testing and implementation done
within the Lexicon as well as the cloud.
Formed the committee for Employee Resource Groups in each market.
(Hispanic, African American, Women and LGBT)
Assisted in the design of Cultural Competency training and Cultural Bias
for all network offices involved in Hispanic and African American pilot
expansion.
Completed Discovery phase and began Foundational phase of the African
American Market roll out. Submitted strategy for upcoming markets; Women
and LGBT.
Subject Matter Expert for Lync roll-out and training for the Diversity and
Inclusion department and all project related business areas.
Job Duties:
Master project plan across Diversity & Inclusion and pertinent business
areas to ensure deliverables, scope and budget were met.
Created SharePoint process for Adoption & Feedback from field to track
success of program.
Provided training and change management on new platforms, systems and
lexicon.
Presented requirements and recommendations incorporated with needs to
Leadership for approval.
Responsible for weekly and monthly status reports for core and executive
leadership.
Abbvie 3/14 to 6/14
Project Manager (short term project)
Selected Accomplishments:
Managed data migration separation to move Abbott.com to AbbVie.net for US
IT Commercial Ops division.
Coordinated efforts for existing processes, Schemas and Scripts with third
party vendors, technical contacts and application owners for all
migrations.
Conducted planning and operational readiness assessments to provide an
effective transition into new location.
Tracked all aspects of the move groups, scope confirmations and application
procedures for physical to virtual.
Designed marketing tools and banners for project kickoff through
completion.
Job Duties:
Outlook Exchange subject matter expert and facilitator for all of US IT
Commercial Operations migrating from Abbott.com to AbbVie.net.
Coordinated requirements gathering, integrative thinking, process
definition, and deployment of business requirements to information systems
and all application owners.
Created SharePoint Site for project and Subject Matter Expert for
SharePoint Team to input Best Practices for Site templates.
Managed matrixed resources and related relationships within each functional
area
Walgreen's 12/12 to 1/14
Project Manager-HR PMO
Selected Accomplishments:
Implemented Occupational Health & Safety System for 250,000 employees for
OSHA and G/L tracking.
Organized team within HR PMO to test and train for deployment of SharePoint
and Office365. This included Change Management, training, and trouble
shooting with end users.
Partnered with the Director of Diversity to locate a vendor and design
company wide Executive Level Diversity & Inclusion Councils. Facilitated a
two day course to all Executives in four different regions covering forty
states.
Managed process for year-end merit & bonus for 250,000 employees.
Synchronize the efforts of all major initiatives involving multiple groups
and departments.
Constructed a Workforce Planning Share Point site and process for Talent
Management. All HR Business Partners used this for the 2013 Organizational
Design as well as Workforce Planning completion.
Job Duties:
Share Point subject matter expert and facilitator for all of HR Shared
Services.
Guaranteed the attainment of key milestones by proactively tracking
metrics, milestones and project outputs by building WBS and weekly
communications with Business Owners and Stakeholders.
Liaison between Business Owners and IT on requirements, budget & time lines
for external vendors and for each major initiative. Created SOW and
managed vendor team.
Coordinated testing and QA for new vendors on Pay for Performance and
Performance Management..
Staples/Quill 1/12 to 11/12
Project Manager
Selected Accomplishments:
Designed and deployed a mass load system to increase merchandise placement
from 2,000 a year to 200,000 and a master goal of 1,000,000 our first year.
The achievement resulted in an additional 2 million in sales within four
months from the product added.
Built process on image correcting and securing the best content for all
products through a company in India.
Managed matrixed resources and related relationships within each functional
area, including the Merchandising department, Staples Team and Content Team
in India.
Standardized weekly communications and reports for all core teams and
stakeholders.
Job Duties:
Led a team of nine to design, document and implement Mass Load process on
multiple websites for Quill and Staples using project methodologies.
Synchronized the efforts of major initiatives involving multiple groups and
departments to design new web pages and catalog layouts for all new
products.
Partnered with vendors and in house photographers to procure products for
missing images.
Facilitated Excel, Access and Photo shop classes for all employees internal
and external.
Maintained continuous alignment of program scope with strategic business
objectives, and made recommendations to modify the program to enhance
effectiveness toward the business result of strategic intent.
Aspen Water
Project Manager 2/06 to 1/12
Selected Accomplishments:
Spearheaded the setup of the HR Department and national training function,
as well as processes, procedures and HR Management in 8 states.
Managed the installation and deployment of three new software systems with
Share Point and HR Diamond for time and attendance tracking, vacation and
paperless personnel files.
Coordinated the procurement and installation of Biometric time clocks in
all warehouses.
Utilized Share Point to carry out budget preparation, estimation and bids
along with producing various proposals, planning and necessary contracts.
Job Duties:
Coached mentored and led a team of twelve HR Managers and Administrators in
eight states.
Facilitated best hiring practices and management training that reduced
turnover and legal/compliance situations in excess of 50% within 6 months.
Deployed upgrade from Windows XP to Windows 7 in all eight states.
Created and managed trade shows, Marketing and store displays through-out
the US.
Worked directly with all customers to design their displays and/or
installations.
Managed the project to build PeopleSoft additions to bridge the gap for
specialized needs in two companies.
Owens & Minor, Inc.
Area Project Manager 1/04 to 2/06
Selected Accomplishments:
Located, designed and developed a new 80 million dollar distribution
center, including warehouse and offices, in excess of $270,000 under budget
upon completion.
Used Share Point to track our progress, budget, contractors, etc. It was
also necessary for us to bring in 48 employees from across the U.S. for
this move in order to continue deliveries to hospitals during the
relocation of the remaining product.
Directed the coordination of all implementation tasks involving third party
vendors as well as provide consultation to clients on system
implementation.
Managed installation of new T1 phone lines, PBX and upgrades to VOIP.
Installed all hardware and software for the Customer Service Department in
the new distribution center.
Job Duties:
In addition to ensuring employment compliance in 4 states, formulated
position statements and verified responses to charges made against company
as well as participated in EEOC/State Agency mediation and hearings.
Developed company-wide New Hire Training, benefits enrollment and Anti-
Harassment.
Trained additional areas on best practices and assisted with building new
distribution centers in 9 states.
ACS, Inc.
Area Acquisition Trainer/Project Coordinator 2/02 to 1/04
Selected Accomplishments:
Presented periodic Dashboard reports on the current program, future
opportunities, risk and client issues.
Responsible and accountable for the coordinated management of multiple
related projects directed toward strategic business and other
organizational objectives.
Writing training materials, documentation and conducting training classes
and new hire orientations used by staff and management nationwide.
Developed and executed all business plan strategies and documented all
acquisition issues and risks.
Used Project Management methodologies to ensure tracking and completion for
all acquired teams attended mandatory training for both company and legal
compliance.
Job Duties:
Coordinated performance evaluations for existing employees and assembled
evaluation packages for all acquisitions and/or RIF for the West Coast.
Pioneered innovative team building and cross-functional project management
techniques to expedite work flow, simplify processes and reduce operating
costs within my team of six.
Managed ramp ups for newly added customers by hiring 80 to 200 call center
employees at once.
ADDITIONAL ACCOMPLISHMENTS & TRAINING:
IMPACT LEARNING
Corporate Trainer for Team Building and Communications
"Getting to the Heart of Technical Support"
UNIVERSITY OF UTAH
PC TECHNICAL INSTITUTE, INC
PC Administrator
Certified by "Train your Trainer" and Expert for Microsoft Office Suite
(Excel, PowerPoint, Word, Microsoft Project, SharePoint, InfoPath)
Currently enrolled in A+ Certification for Networking and Security
Currently attending Windy City Flyers for Private Pilot License - ETA
Completion 2015
COURSES, SEMINARS & PROGRAMS:
Brassring/Microsoft Project/Planview/SAP/HTML/Dropbox/Google Drive/Photo
shop/Access/PeopleSoft/Project Management Methodologies/WindowsXP and 2000
Administrator/SharePoint/Mindmap
Taleo/Visio/Event Chain Methodology/Ace Project/HR Diamond/Project Master
Post Mortem Best Practice/Train the Trainer/Motivational Team
Building/Recruiting Perfectionist