Phyllis Guiser

acwn4x@r.postjobfree.com Midlothian, VA 23112

http://www.linkedin.com/in/phyllisguiser 804-869-9091A resourceful and results-driven Project Management Leader with 15+ years experience in the financial services industry across multiple consumer product lines. Creative problem solver with a proven record of accomplishments in developing and managing products, relationship building, assembling and managing cross-functional teams, project planning and execution, strategy development and implementation, process review and improvement, and effective communications across multiple levels of an organization.

Core competencies include:

Leading and Developing Teams

Project Management/Execution

Process Review and Development

Communication

Vendor Management

Relationship Building

Career Experience

Genworth Financial Services, Richmond, VA 2012 – June 2016

Strategy Implementation Project Manager, US Life Insurance Companies

Project management responsibility for planning and executing on the strategic initiatives of the annuity business. Projects included new annuity product introductions and enhancements, several pricing changes, 10+ process improvements and the implementation of 15+ compliance required changes. Projects were managed primarily using the waterfall method with Six Sigma tools utilized as appropriate. Worked with stakeholders to ensure their needs were accurately represented to the project team. Responsible for obtaining answers for any questions, removing impediments and keeping the team focused on the project. Maintained Connect sites for project documentation. Collaborated with IT, operations, training, marketing, sales, risk, compliance, vendors, and sales support to ensure implementations were executed flawlessly with a focus on our customers’ experience. As needed, I acted as a subject matter expert for product, IT, operations, marketing, risk, and compliance.

Key Accomplishments:

Defined and managed project scope, timelines, 20+ cross-functional resources, and deliverables for 5 to 7 product launches each year. Project timelines averaged 6 to 9 months in length. Developed and maintained all required project documentation including charters and risk logs. Leadership resulted in critical projects being delivered on time and within budget.

Co-leader of an Agile project to revamp the Index Institute website based on customer feedback, user statistics, and a UX review and user survey. Team included 2 Agile coaches/contractors.

Co-developed a new producer incentive program. Consulted with Compliance and Legal and worked with Operations to map out a process that complied with those requirements. Managed the program launch, on-going communications, incentive payments and quarterly program reviews. Designated budget was $500K.

Led a team to launch an application processing platform, Firelight by Insurance Technologies, in a pilot with a few of Genworth’s broker dealers. Developed plans for launch, met with pilot agencies, worked with the vendor on Genworth’s requirements and collaborated with operations on back office processes. Established a list of risks and worked to mitigate them.

VACO Resources, Richmond, VA 2011 – 2012

Project Manager (Contractor) at Capital One

Managed all aspects of various deposit product and treasury management projects and teams. Responsibilities included project planning and design, implementing strategic and tactical initiatives, and ensuring, through project management practices, that the final product met the original project requirements. Utilized Capital One processes to obtain approval and resources, to ensure compliance and to obtain prioritization for projects. Projects included both customer and branch communications, tracking and reporting responses for an internal audit and preparing for Phase 2 of a scorecard development project.

The Treasury project team consisted of team members from each of the Capital One banks plus the implementation team. The project goal was to map all of the processes, determine best practices and then standardize the vault system and vault management processes across the banks.

Affinion Loyalty Group (Connexions Loyalty), Richmond, VA 2011 – 2011

Client Solutions Manager

Acted as the primary pre-sales resource responsible for identifying the business objectives of new and existing clients to create a client program that leverages Affinion’s capabilities and offers a unique marketing opportunity for the client. Worked with Sales, Product Development, Solutions Analysis and Operations to identify a solution and map out a proposal for the client.

Genworth Financial Services, Richmond, VA 2006 – 2011

Product Development Analyst, Retirement and Protection

Product and project management responsibility for LifeHarbor (LH), a new-to-the industry SEC-registered guaranteed income annuity product built in collaboration with Genworth Financial Wealth Management. Product build, including system development, took 3 years to accomplish. Developed an operating model and the supporting workflows for all stages for the LifeHarbor product lifecycle. Additionally, I managed product development for on-going system build and enhancement prioritization, revisions to advisor and client communications, operational processes, and prospectus updates. Evaluated and determined the most efficient way to implement regulatory changes that impacted the product. Subject matter expert for sales, IT, operations, communications, risk, marketing, legal, and compliance.

Key Accomplishments:

Defined and managed project scope, timelines, 40+ cross-functional resources, and deliverables for product launch. Leadership resulted in critical projects being delivered on time and within budget.

Created and implemented advisor and client communications for each touch point, managed the creation of web content, marketing brochures, and developed and delivered product training.

Led the project team for the build and implementation of a new fixed annuity product in early 2010, including system build and enhancements, operational processes, and client communications.

Collegiate Funding Services (JP Morgan Chase), Fredericksburg, VA 2002 – 2006

Director, Partnership Management (2004-2006)

Led the day-to-day and overall relationship for the company’s largest student loan broker and their 20 partners. Direct management of volume forecasting, dispute resolution, and volume commitments. Conducted process reviews and managed re-engineering projects with cross-functional teams. Implemented company and regulatory changes and enhanced workflow to ensure that the broker channel was efficient and cost-effective. Established and reported monthly on the key performance indicators for the broker channel.

Key Accomplishments:

Grew the broker business volume from $100mm annually in 2003 to over $760mm in 2005.

Worked with IT to re-engineer the e-signature platform to allow the broker partners’ usage.

Assisted in the development of a contract, negotiated contracts with 11 partners, and managed the implementation of each partner. Served as a key leader in effectively managing cost reduction by negotiating new pricing each year.

Product Manager, Education Credit Products (2002-2004)

Overall product development and management responsibilities for the company’s private, credit-based student loan products. Provided competitive analysis, system and credit criteria enhancements, strategy development, and new product launch for a Private Label loan product. Managed a direct mail campaign, a loan purchase agreement, and the workflow re-engineering for the PLUS program.

Additional Work Experience:

Harland Financial Solutions, Portland, OR 1999 – 2001

Product Specialist

Accompanied 30+ sales professionals on sales calls to financial institutions to demonstrate consumer loan application processing software. Prepared customized presentations, assisted in the development of pricing proposals and RFP responses. Trained 30 national sales representatives and 20 customer service representatives on any software enhancements, product capabilities, and competitive advantages annually.

Crestar Bank (SunTrust Bank), Richmond, VA 1989 – 1999

VP, Product Development/Sales Manager, Automobile Dealer Portfolio (1994-1999)

Directed product and program development and sales management for the Auto Dealer Business across 6 geographic regions and 680+ dealerships. Managed and coached 5 Dealer Relationship Managers to build a team that consistently achieved their goals.

Key Accomplishments:

Designed, staffed, and managed a Dealer Assistance Unit.

Created and introduced a private label Debt Cancellation Program and Dealer Reward Program.

Grew receivables in the portfolio $100mm in 12 months and expanded into 4 new markets.

VP and Senior Product Manager, Dealer, Marine, Student and Installment Portfolio (1989-1994)

Managed the pricing, competitive analysis, product development, business performance reporting, and marketing communications for the Dealer, Marine, Student and Installment Loans portfolios. Executed several home equity media and branch promotions with $1MM+ budgets.

Mellon Bank, Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania

Product Manager – Line of Credit Products

Management of the $1B portfolio of unsecured and home equity line of credit products for Mellon’s 7 banks. Executed the standardization of the line of credit products across the acquired banks. Introduced “teaser” rates in a successful direct mail and newspaper advertising campaign in all of the Mellon markets.

Certification

Scrum Master Certified

Education & Training

Bachelor of Arts in Journalism Communications – Park Point College

Six Sigma Green and Black Belt Training Program

Maintained VA Life Insurance license through CE completion

Lean Certified by Genworth’s Lean Team

Technology Qualifications

MS Office Suite - Adobe - Outlook - MS Project - Visio

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