LAURIE A. ERNST
******.*******@*****.***
KEY COMPETENCES
Results based leadership
Client relationship development
Project management
Detail orientation
Team collaboration
EDUCATION
Grand View College, Des Moines, IA
Bachelor of Arts Degree in Mass Communications and Radio/Television
WORK EXPERIENCE
Spruce Finance, West Des Moines, IA
Project Manager
January, 2016-January, 2017
•Manages day-to-day operational aspects of a project and scope
•Leads multi-person teams at different levels within the company
•Gathers resources required for the completion of a project by utilizing the available resources or obtaining new ones
•Prepares a schedule for the completion of a project in a systematic manner
•Understands and uses project management software and applications for efficient scheduling
•Keeps a tracker of all stages of the project by documenting and recording the outcome
•Holds regular status meetings with project team when appropriate
•Effectively communicates relevant project information to superiors
•Resolves and/or escalates issues in a timely manner
Lightedge Solutions, Des Moines, IA
Project Manager
August, 2014-December 2015
•Manage day-to-day operational aspects of a project and scope
•Lead multi-person teams at different levels within the company
•Review deliverables with the team before relaying them to the client
•Facilitate team and client meetings effectively
•Hold regular status meetings with project team when appropriate
•Minimize our exposure and risk on a project
•Understand our pricing model and billing procedures
•Resolve and/or escalate issues in a timely manner
•Manage day-to-day client interaction and expectations
•Create and execute project work plans
•Manage the installation of all MAC, general access, voice and basic hosted services contracts signed by our customers
•Manage all aspects of the project including but not limited to contract entry, facilities orders, team management, scheduling and billing accuracy
•Main point of contact for customers whose contracts they are assigned until such time as it is handed off to our NOC or SAC department
•Ensure project documents are complete, current and stored appropriately
•Enter all features from the contract accurately into the billing software
Wells Fargo Home Mortgage, West Des Moines, IA
Account Manager/Client Relations Consultant
April, 2012-December, 2013
•Process management
•Deadline achievement
•Process improvement to best practices standards
•Knowledge of all aspects of originating, processing and closing loans
•Support the senior Home Mortgage Consultant and serve as a contact point for borrowers and realtors
•Gather information from borrower and realtor needed to close a loan on a deadline
•Assist in processing and meeting close date deadline
•Act as a liaison between the senior Home Mortgage Consultant and processing center to coordinate submissions and closings
•Act as a liaison with the realtors to allow the senior Home Mortgage Consultant to generate new business
•Identify potential problems with loan applications and provide solutions prior to submission to processing
•Manage pipeline, including updating the senior Home Mortgage Consultant on pipeline status and updating borrower, realtor and builder on status of loan
•Provide a high level of customer relations to borrowers to make the loan process as easy as possible
SourceHOV, Urbandale, IA
Project Manager
August, 2011-April 2012
•Manage and organize a team of 35 people to ensure they reach their goals daily
•Serve as a leader for the internal staff to ensure clients deadlines are met
•Maintain a work schedule and delegate to the team and change work roles as see fit
•Present training materials to class of new team members
•Train and assist new team members to ensure understanding of their job duties
Image Ink Promotions, LLC, West Des Moines, IA
Client Services Manager
June, 2010-August, 2011
•Coordinate events and services for clients on a deadline
•Work closely with clients and sales representatives on inventive ideas for events and/or tradeshows
•Proactively sell marketing concepts and advertising specialties to new and existing clients by phone and in person
•Manage and support six sales representatives in sales incentives and order placement
•Place and track orders for sales representatives to ensure client receives product on their deadline
•Work closely with vendors to ensure product is accurate with what the client has requested
Academy Mortgage Corporation, Urbandale, IA
Account Manager/Client Relations Consultant
December, 2009-June, 2010
•Knowledge of all aspects of originating, processing and closing loans
•Support loan officers and serve as a contact point for borrowers and realtors
•Gather information from borrower and realtor needed to close a loan on a deadline
•Assist in processing and meeting close date deadline
•Act as a liaison between loan officer, branch and processing center to coordinate submissions and closings
•Act as a liaison with the realtors to allow loan officers to generate new business
•Identify potential problems with loan applications and provide solutions prior to submission to processing
•Manage pipeline, including updating loan officer on pipeline status and updating borrower, realtor and builder on status of loan
•Provide a high level of customer relations to borrowers to make the loan process as easy as possible
Brackett Media & Event Services, Urbandale, IA
Client Relations Coordinator
June, 2001-December, 2009
•Coordinate all aspects for commercial advertising productions
•Manage key customer relationships, including the aspects related to sales and marketing
•Serve as the primary point of contact with accounts regarding project status, sales forecasting, billing, account receivables, and other business related activities for assigned accounts
•Participate in event and promotional planning for company and tradeshow events
•Working closely with clients on inventive ideas for events and/or tradeshows
•Implement marketing strategies and tools to obtain new business
•Organize promotional items to create awareness of a new business service line
•Identify new market potential and competitive posture