Gwendolyn Smith

Senior IT Project/Program Manager

Over 15+ years’ experience managing processes for retail, energy supply chains and government agencies, supported by expert knowledge of Basel II, RAD, SDLC, SOX 404, security/cyber security compliance, GRC compliance and 302 regulations. Extensive experience in managing multiple projects timelines, resources, vendors, cap/op budgets from start to finish, and tracking their tollgates, deliverables, status updates, issue tracking, communication planning, and stakeholder status. In-depth experience in establishing best practices and guidelines for selecting, developing, and implementing information systems within enterprises. Areas of expertise include the following:

Project Management (PMBOK) Methodology - PMP (Pending)

Six Sigma Green Belt

Multitask to Meet Deadlines

Application and Data Migration

Liaison with Business Side IT & Vendor Service Providers

MS Project, Clarity, HPPM, Open Work Bench, JIRA, Remedy

Excellent Leadership Skills

MS Excel, Word, Access, PowerPoint, Visio,

Organizational & Functional Re-Alignment

SDLC Processes: Waterfall & Agile)

IT Risk Management

Waterfall and Agile Methodology

Excellent Communications

CAB/ARB Review Board

Professional Experience

Pro4ria 05/2023 – Present

Senior Project Manager – Brookfield Renewable Energies

Managed Energy sector SolarWinds acquisition of projects related to Operations technology (ex. SCADA, OSiPI, etc…).

Overall responsible for the management and delivery of technology related projects across various departments and teams

Responsibilities included but noy limited to

Planning and implement large IT projects related to solar winds sites

Direct and lead the work of technical staff

Evaluate new IT strategies and procedures

Ensure deadlines and cost targets are met

Maintain required project documentation

Lead meetings to align with team, business, leadership

Report project status, issues, risk

Serve as a liaison between business and technical aspects of projects

Understands servers and networks

Duke Energy June 2018/July 21

Senior Project Manager – Cyber, GRC, Software, Process

Managed multiple projects within Duke Energy’s Cyber Security focused on corporate initiatives for GRC/Archer Program (Policy Management, MSB, Third Party, Voltage Secure PII Data applications and infrastructure, Fossil Fuel Hydro Firewall Transition. Managed budgets 800k – 10m. Partnered across businesses to collaborate with Project Managers on other projects (FW Tool Upgrade, Policy Management Data, NERCIP Compliance, IToT, GRC (Program), others as assigned)

Responsible for leading, project planning, scheduling, resource planning, reporting matrices and financial planning. Managed all aspects of projects using PPMA, MS Word, Excel, Power Point, and other tools.

Managed deadlines, assigns responsibilities, and monitors and summarizes progress of project

Reported gathered and analyzed information to prepare status reports for Cyber Security PMO Leadership

Managed/defined task assignment and scheduling of work effort with project teams, multiple business, and technical resources

Developed, managed, and maintained project schedule

Worked with corporate resource managers and other project managers to coordinate project staff and manage resource allocation

Managed project financials

Provided direction and support to the project team

Monitor and reported on project progress to stakeholders in a timely manner various levels of management

Developed and implemented Communication Plan

Partnered with external vendors including SOWs, planning, scheduling, and other related project task

Implemented and managed project changes, risks, and issues to achieve project outputs

Performed project evaluations and assessment of results

Sealed Air Corp. 02/2017 – 03/2018

Senior Project Manager – IDM/NAM SSO

Successfully managed the Sealed Aired and Diversey Identity Manager Separation Project focused on business/technology separation for corporate and global IDM system, applications, and global users. Worked with Global Application, Active Directory, Citrix, Infrastructure Server, Networking, Clarity/HPPM PeopleSoft, Google, etc.

Responsible for leading the planning, scheduling, and completion of Identity Management (HPPM/Clarity Tool) SEE / nDIV Separation Project. Managed all aspects of project separation from initiation to successful completion

Key Accomplishments:

Managed deadlines, assigns responsibilities, and monitors and summarizes progress of project

Reported gathered and analyzed information to prepare status reports for Senior SEE/nDIV Program Leadership

Managed/defined task assignment and scheduling of work effort with technical resources

Managed project scope, goals, and deliverables

Developed, managed, and maintained project schedule

Worked with global resource managers and other project managers to coordinate project staff and manage resource allocation

Managed project budget(s)

Worked with SMO leadership to plan, schedule and prioritize project timelines

Tracked project milestones and deliverables

Provided direction and support to the project team

Monitor and report on project progress to SEE / nDIV stakeholders in a timely manner

Communicated project status to varying levels of management

Developed and implemented Communication Plan

Partnered with global internal and external vendors

Implemented and managed project changes, risks, and issues to achieve project outputs

Performed project evaluations and assessment of results

Managed Transition Activities nDIV for turnover to nDIV

Expected to manage multiple initiatives (other projects) concurrently

Delhaize America 02/2016 – 12/2016

Senior Project Manager

Project manager involved with, Information Security Office, Pharmacy, Network, Identity Access Management, Active Directory, Retail, Firewall Operations, S&D, and Infrastructure-related projects. Liaised with Food Lion, Hannaford, and Ahold operations and systems areas for problem resolution and proactive process improvements, including end-to-end new product development/enhancements.

Using Clarity PPM Tool - Lead multiple technical support teams for web front/back-end applications, middleware, and network infrastructure. Research and analyze technical issues reported by customers, business, and technical teams. Manage code deployment releases, bug fixes, enhancements, and business requests for web back-end applications.

Key Accomplishments:

Lead and support multiple project SMEs, project architects, vendor resources, QA test teams, managing budgets (low, med, +$2 million), project timelines for multiple projects.

Responsible for long- and short-term budget forecasts for planning initiatives as well as resource allocation both internal and external.

Work with multiple internal and external vendor partners through VMO office.

Collaborate with executive and senior leadership on strategic planning for 2017 initiatives.

Lowes 04/2014 – 10/2015

I&O Project Manager

Collaborated with solution project managers to develop and maintain a consolidated project work plan, resource planning (including professional services, hardware, and software). Coordinated equipment build activities with I&O engineers and other SMEs. Attended key program meetings, documenting issues, and escalating them. Managed application and data migration projects. Communicated to stakeholders about critical decisions and their timely completion.

Key Accomplishments:

Developed and managed detailed project work plans for assigned projects/programs.

Collaborated with IT senior project managers to update cross-functional milestones and dependencies.

Prioritized and communicated to manage departmental expectations regarding status/timing of resource availability (including hardware and software).

Developed IT engineering option summaries and recommendations to escalate and present to key decision makers.

Documented personal progress in weekly status reports.

Assumed responsibility for resource tracking as well as hardware and software tracking

Updated issues management database IT with engineering input for any required IT SDLC deliverables.

United Healthcare Group 08/2012 – 03/2013

Senior Quality Project Manager (Consultant)

Using Clarity PPM Tool - Developed project plans and goals. Identified resources. Developed schedules and methods for measuring results for multiple projects for UHG, DoD, and DEERS. Managed full SDLC, both Waterfall and Agile projects, including scheduling, estimating, forecasting, coordinating, controlling, managing, and delivering all activities for Tricare West projects and related release initiatives. Managed data migration from legacy systems to new environment. Managed and coordinated testing efforts across multiple platforms for Tricare West initiative. Interfaced with senior executives on overall quality and performance of program.

Key Accomplishments:

Designed test plans, scenarios, scripts, training documentation or procures. Reviewed and documented test system modifications to prepare for implementation.

Developed testing programs for database impacts, software scenarios, regression testing, negative testing, error or bug retests, or usability. Documented software defects using a bug tracking system and reported defects to software developers. Monitored bug resolution efforts and tracked successes.

Planned and documented test schedules or strategies in accordance with project scope or delivery dates. Assessed and interpreted customers’ requirements.

Solved moderately complex problems and/or conducted moderately complex analyses.

Worked with minimal guidance; sought guidance on only the most complex tasks.

Aon Hewitt Associates 02/2011 – 12/2011

Project Manager

Using Clarity PPM Tool - Developed schedules and methods for measuring results for multiple projects for client team at Duke Energy and resolved any outstanding issues. Responsible for overall resource allocation. Communicated project status to fellow program managers. Maintained ongoing communication with the inter-dependent project managers. Responsible for comprehensive business requirements, specifications, processes, and recommendations related to proposed solution. Provided quality and technical guidance to QA test team in their efforts to developed detail test plans test cases (manual and automatic) and other testing deliverables and test execution in accordance with SDLC guidelines per project requirements.

Key Accomplishments:

Ensured delivery against QA department goals and objectives, i.e., commitments and coordinating overall quality assurance schedule.

Provided necessary definition, development, and deployment of product quality assurance strategy, addressing all phases of product development.

Directly supervised project QA team quality assurance testers.

Knowledgeable and experienced in Waterfall and Agile project methodologies.

Managed timelines and key milestone delivery.

Reported weekly status to client team, stakeholders, and key decision makers

Wachovia (CIC, Charlotte, NC) 06/2010 – 01/2011

Senior Project Manager—Wholesale Insurance (Consultant)

Using Clarity PPM Tool - Managed project risk through comprehensive manage mitigation assessment and planning techniques. Maintained ongoing communication with the inter-dependent project managers from the integration project management-level perspective. Ensured IT applications are developed consistently with the software development life cycle. Managed in accordance with the Project Management Guide. Planned the successful roll-out of software and relate hardware. Planned production changes resulting from approve change requests.

Key Accomplishments:

Built effective release packages for the deployment of one or many changes into production.

Tested release mechanisms to ensure minimum disruption to the production environment.

Reviewed preparation for the release to ensure maximum successful deployments.

Deployed the change in line with structure implementation guidelines.

Ensured that IT security certification and accreditation (C&A) requirements were met. Accounted for all EPM deliverables.

Provided quality and technical guidance to QA Test Team in their efforts to develop detail test plans test cases (manual and automatic) and other testing deliverables and tested execution in accordance with SDLC guidelines per project requirements.

Provided necessary definition, development, and deployment of product QA strategy and addressed all phases of product development.

Wachovia (CIC, Charlotte, NC) 11/2009 – 06/2010

Project Consultant—Wealth Application and Development

Ensured project(s) delivery in accordance with the group’s PMO project framework and standards. Developed project plans, goals, and budgets. Identified resources needed. Developed schedules and methods for measuring results. Experienced in cross-functional project management methods and techniques. Served as key participant in team meetings for multiple integration projects. Planned the successful roll-out of software and relatable hardware. Ensured implementations were traceable, secure, and only correct, authorized and test version were installed. Assured enterprise application integration by selecting tools, specifying share data and code resources, defining interfaces and dataflows, and monitoring progress. Performed design reviews across application and collected enterprise architecture performance metrics to assure continuous improvement.

Key Accomplishments:

Raised the project visibility through involvement in PMO, Business, and Technology groups.

Responsible for end-to-end CR process.

Managed risk mitigation through identifying change, analyzing, evaluating, and planning.

Ensured completion of deliverables and technical changes to Wealth Management Technology proprietary applications.

Managed and prioritized development and implementation tasks. Managed workflow and delivered superior work quality in a timely manner.

Ensured that support for around-the-clock information transfer, storage, and processing was timely, efficient, and met the service levels required.

Provided necessary definition, development, and deployment of product QA strategy, addressing all phases of product development. Directly supervised project QA team testers.

Ensured and accountable for delivery of all EPM deliverables.

Bank of America (Charlotte, NC) 11/2008 – 11/2009

Project Consultant, Enterprise Credit Risk (ECR) and Consumer Credit Risk (CCR)

Demonstrated understanding of business objectives and processes by participation in defining requirements and functional definition of systems to support the business. Collaborated with eCris Technology teams, transition project offices, Basel PMO, systems of records teams, and the W technology groups for Countrywide transition. Exposed to regulatory frameworks for credit risk and/or trade products and counterparty credit risk (PFE, EL, credit capital) or market risk methodologies (valuation, monte carlo, option greeks, VaR). Release/Change manager for small projects, managed project scope, track project tollgates, deliverables, status updates, issue tracking, communication planning, stakeholder status. Collaborated with the technical staff in key work groups to build strong technical designs and reports. Using Clarity PPM Tool, Lead and participated in all phases of application development or application integration projects, including feasibility, evaluation, project estimation, requirement recommendations, functional specification, technical design, test planning and test execution, implementation planning, and turnover to production.

Key Accomplishments:

Liaison between the business side of an enterprise and the IT department and external service providers.

Ensured implementations were traceable and secure and that only correct, authorized and test versions were installed.

Collaborated with projects about the exact content and roll-out plan for the release.

Provided regular and frequent status and information to team leads and management.

Maintained and enhanced existing business and system documentation.

Maintained and created a system for documentation for use in regulatory exams and audits.

Demonstrated initiative in identifying and resolving issues relating to business, compliance, and technology, as well as participate on teams and committees.

Coached and mentored less senior BAs in the area of business process engineering, workflow analysis, system analysis, and use case and test plan development.

Authored key documentation and deliverables—BRDs, FRDs, Test Places, Use Cases. Authored key documentation and deliverables—UML Modeling.

Fully acclimated with SDLC processes.

Ensured the accountable for delivery of ECMS deliverables.

Managed timelines and key milestone deliveries.

Duke Energy (Charlotte NC) 07/2008 – 10/2008

Project Release Manager—Power Delivery (Consultant)

Worked directly with the project manager in a technical consulting role. Liaison between the business side of an enterprise and the IT department and external service providers. Collaborated with Change Management Team on the exact content and roll-out plan for the release. Collaborated with senior PM on how issues/risks would be tracked, documented, and communicated. Worked with PMO to identify risk associated with change, reviewed feasibility for change, as well as best practice/approach for change; ensured appropriate change approvals were gathered. Reviewed the technical analysis documentation for functional completeness with the solution architect, including working hands-on with WebSphere and Weblogic. Secured signoffs on the Artifact Approval Summary for Technical Analysis. Worked directly with the designer and/or data analyst to ensure all high-level design documentation was created.

Key Accomplishments:

Track record of increasing responsibility in Internet architecture (WebSphere and Weblogic), systems infrastructure and project management.

Participated as senior BA for multiple web-based projects.

Responsible for BRDs, Test Case, Process Flows, UML Modeling using EA (Enterprise Arch).

Managed request testing environments and development deliverables, and managed and tracked Project Change Requests (PCR).

Ensured Changeman/ChangemanDS packages were created.

Coordinated changes to production code (other projects and/or support PCRs).

Initiated creation of the Implementation/Release Notes (cutover/handover doc).

Ensured project development information documents were created, code reviews were completed (signoff on Artifact Approval Summary), and all SOX considerations were addressed.

Education/Certifications

Bachelors in Business Administration Strayer University, Gradation in 2019

Masters Business Administration, Graduations 2020

Business Management Certification, Harris School of Business, 1997

Completed Project Management Certification, University of North Carolina Charlotte

Six Sigma Green Belt Certification, Central Piedmont Community College

Completed ITIL Certifications at CPCC

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