Barbara S. Edwards

**** ***** **** **** *******, GA 30041 678-***-**** ad3208@r.postjobfree.com

Profile

Creative, results-driven professional with extensive experience in operations, program/project management and financial consulting. Extensive background in designing and implementing policies, procedures, metrics and process improvements as well as developing annual business plans and overseeing day-to-day operations. Dynamic, enthusiastic, motivational leader with proven abilities in guiding the efforts of cross-functional and interdepartmental teams; works effectively both independently and collaboratively with all levels of associates and executives. Adept in initiating and developing client relationships. Strategic thinker with ability to design and develop detailed delivery plans. Exhibits solid organizational, analytical, problem solving and oral/written communication skills. Expertise encompasses:

Strategic Planning

Project/Program Management

Operations/Change Management

Financial Analysis/Management

Process/Performance Management

Customer Engagement

Relationship Management

Audit/Compliance/Internal Controls

Budgeting/Business Planning

Highlights

Managed multiple service areas and served as interim Director, Business Services (now Creative Business Solutions), responsible for management and operations of five distinctive internal groups within The Shared Services Division of Coca-Cola; namely, Strategic Meetings & Events, Travel & Expense Management, Entertainment Asset Management, InfoSource (research, content and subscription management), and CreativeSource (creative design, web design and development services, print and video production).

Identified and implemented opportunities worth over $75 million in revenue over a two-year period for banking clients implementing policies, procedures, controls, and systems supporting organizational change.

Led a team of consultants and managers in implementing staffing/scheduling software and related policies, procedures, controls and communication/change initiatives for the retail banking division of a multibillion-dollar Northeastern savings bank with 170+ retail branches; instituted standardized transaction timings and discovered opportunities for reducing operational inefficiencies in both the teller and platform service areas. Implemented sales/marketing platforms to improve sales and enhance customer experience.

Uncovered cost reduction opportunities and provided recommendations for standardizing operational policies and procedures for Wachovia Corporation retail branches; developed, tested, and implemented productivity improvements and developed detailed branch implementation, communication / change plans to improve sales, service and controls.

Created a staffing model to effectively align customer arrival patterns with teller staffing requirements, which improved customer service while reducing staffing expenses. Designed part- and peak-time staffing programs after performing retail branch staffing analyses using branch target staffing and scheduling software. Implemented change initiatives, developed and conducted education/training to executives and power users of the staffing model across the Southeastern US footprint.

Career Track

ChildCare Education Institute (CCEI), A StraighterLine Company www.cceionline.com

Chief Operating Officer May 2019 – Nov 2023

Oversees the management and daily activities of the Operations, Compliance, Admissions, Marketing, Education/ Curriculum, and Information Technology departments within CCEI including, but not limited to:

oPreparing strategic plans, budgets, KPIs and miscellaneous reporting

oConducting business operations reviews, establishing routines, project plans and related deliverables

oDeveloping and managing relationships to optimize customer engagement in the ECE industry

oImproving process efficiency/effectiveness to ensure operational excellence and industry best practices

Manages all personnel related duties including annual performance reviews, onboarding and new hire processes and coaching and on-going feedback.

BASE Consulting

Principal, PMO & Operations Jan 2015 – Apr 2019

Established PMO for clients, including routines, metrics, KPI’s, project agendas, budgets and timelines

Led program/project/change management activities for multiple clients in the financial services arena including identification/implementation of “quick hit” process improvements within the back office support group for a Fortune 500 broker/dealer and related retail banking group. Created/documented new and streamlined current/future state processes and procedures to enhance client service, analyzed data and developed business cases for approval, and implemented new routines, metrics and reporting to provide management with timely actionable feedback. Restructured departments organizationally to appropriately align future state environments with optimal skills and talent by partnering with clients to implement appropriate change management initiatives.

Led process improvement initiative for a major logistics client to convert the vendor payment process from highly manual to automated process/approval flow. Documented current/future environments including approvals and escalation procedures and remediated payment time to vendors from 120 day average payment time to 30-60 day turnaround time. Implemented audit controls to eliminate existing fraudulent activities. Streamlined/documented all related vendor payment processes from RFP to purchase order/invoice receipt, approvals and timely payment.

Led program/project/change management activities for clients as well as performance management and process improvement initiatives.

Partnered with clients to develop communication plans and to restructure their organizations to anchor recommended future state changes into their culture, develop methods to sustain the change, monitor, train and support personnel through organizational change.

Managed daily operations, client service and promote client relationships

Hired, directed and managed project teams for complex cross functional projects within established timeline and budgets

Northside Hospital

Senior Manager. Consultant, ITSM Oct 2017 – Jul 2018

Led project management planning and execution activities for IT teams within Information Systems, responsible for management of entire project lifecycle from project definition/scope through implementation.

Created/implemented complex process improvement initiatives including process strategy plans as well as documented processes, procedures, process designs/maps, gap analyses, and requirements. Created structure/routines/controls/approvals for IT infrastructure projects (Purchase Order Optimization Process, Critical Incident Review Process, VoIP Optimization Process, Enterprise VPN System Conversion/Process Enhancements)

Conducted meetings with stakeholders, business partners, medical/technology teams and vendors to identify and document then recommend/present process improvements, best practices and related tools to senior leadership.

Maintained specialized knowledge of best practices and familiarity with various IT infrastructure technologies.

The Coca-Cola Company

Manager, Performance Management & Operations Mar 2007- Jan 2015

Led the preparation and delivery of the annual business planning process for Creative Business Solutions (CBS).

Provided oversight and program/project/change management to multiple initiatives across the lines of business, leading cross functional project teams, providing direction, leadership and coaching to ensure successful delivery of all projects, including implementation of a global travel policy, strategic meetings management tool and ticket management tool.

Managed day-to-day operations; develop, implement and monitor the use of appropriate standardized processes, tools, metrics, technologies, communication strategies, routines and project management disciplines across each service area within CBS. Responsible for audits, compliance and implementing effective internal controls.

Provided end-to-end project support in organizational restructuring through developing change plans, gaining support, and developing future state organizational hierarchies, managing the change process and providing tools/templates to monitor/track sustained change.

Served as central Communications Liaison and Audit/Compliance subject matter expert for all of CBS.

Managed the Entertainment Asset Management team responsible for vendor management for fulfillment of more than $60 million worth of entertainment assets for business and personal use.

Managed the Performance Management and Project Support teams, responsible for human resource management, metrics, vendor set up, and payment processing, management and tracking of purchase orders annually.

Managed Event Production Managers as well as Information Management department (InfoSource) which provides secondary research, news, and subscription services to internal clients within the Company; responsible for overseeing the hiring, training and evaluation of associates as well as overall relationships with outside vendors.

Served as CBS Change Champion, executing change management initiatives, for Procure to Pay project and maintain department Business Continuity Plan.

World Financial Group (a Marketing Division of Aegon Insurance)

Provisional Marketing Director 2003-2006

Identified client needs and assessed consumer and small business financials to market appropriate investment solutions; provided expertise in savings products, investments, insurance, mortgages, mutual funds, and annuities.

Top 10 producer who recruited and trained licensed sales reps in marketing products and services to the client base.

Carreker Corporation

Principal Managing Consultant 2001-2004

Led consulting engagements for top tier financial institutions nationwide to boost revenues and savings, eliminate waste and increase customer service.

Identified and capitalized on revenue enhancement opportunities to improve each client’s bottom-line performance; prepared comprehensive best practice and business case analyses for each opportunity;

Guided cross-functional project teams in managing projects, from planning through implementation. Conducted interviews with key stakeholders and made final recommendations to senior leadership and board members.

Supported key change initiatives when recommendations resulted in organizational restructuring and alignment, including identifying the need for change, implementing the change across the corporate culture, and providing training, support and reward initiatives for sustaining change.

Accenture (formerly known as Andersen Consulting LLP)

Manager, Financial Services Consulting 1998-2001

Provided leadership to diverse matrixed teams representing varied functional and technical expertise.

Established overall firm wide priorities for local and regional competency unit activities, including capability development, content delivery, knowledge management, communications, status reporting, and issue resolution, to ensure consistency in process delivery among the firm’s executives.

Provided oversight and program/project/change management to multiple initiatives across the lines of business, leading cross functional project teams, providing direction, leadership and coaching to ensure successful delivery of all projects.

Guided a team of consultants and clients in researching, identifying, and documenting business requirements for developing a new business model to transform a private bank area by transitioning non-sales related functions from the sales office to newly created middle offices with supporting technologies.

Headed the development and delivery of internal/external speaker presentations for two global executive meetings; functioned as the primary contact for 40+ global partners, external guest speakers, and production companies to ensure the quality, seamless delivery of presentations in accordance with the firm’s global branding guidelines.

Participated in the recruitment of college graduates and experienced hires. Fostered strong mentoring relationships with peers, subordinates, and clients, providing career development guidance, training plans, and formal written evaluations.

Functioned as the Global Director of Process Excellence for six months.

Credentials

Bachelor of Science in Mathematics / Business Administration (magna cum laude) – Mars Hill College, Mars Hill, NC

Certifications – Previously licensed in Southeast US for Life, Accident & Health, Series 6, 63,and 65; Operational Excellence Associate Certification (2011); Operational Excellence Apprentice Certification (2012)

Technical Skills and Methodologies – MS Office, Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Outlook, Visio, MS Project, Service Now, PMBOK, Six Sigma, Lean, Operational Excellence, ITIL, Lewin

Social Media – LinkedIn, Facebook, Instagram

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