LaWanda Smith

***** **** ***** ***** · Sterling Heights, MI 48312

Mobile: 248-***-**** · E-mail: ad4gmc@r.postjobfree.com

LinkedIn Profile: www.linkedin.com/in/lawanda-s-92039b205

ENTERPRISE IMPLEMENTATION AGILE TRANSFORMATIONS HEALTHCARE MODERNIZATION

EXECUTIVE PROFILE SUMMARY

Dynamic and results-oriented Information Technology (IT) professional with over 20 years of experience spanning from IT delivery management, systems analysis, and Agile transformation coaching. Proficient in comprehending organizational structures, business values, and models to pinpoint improvement opportunities and provide data-driven insights for strategic decision-making. Demonstrated success in collaborating with diverse cross-functional teams to streamline processes and boost operational efficiency. I am eager to leverage my expertise in data analysis, requirements gathering, and project management to make substantial contributions to a forward-thinking organization. Recognized for my ability to deconstruct complex processes, identify optimization opportunities, and deliver actionable insights that inform decision-making.

IT Delivery Strategist: Collaborate closely with leadership, IT engineers, architects, and software developers to devise innovative solutions and re-engineer processes for enhanced efficiency. My role involves steering the strategic direction of project development from conception to delivery, ensuring that technology solutions align with business goals and deliver maximum value. I leverage my expertise to foster a culture of continuous improvement, driving the adoption of cutting-edge technologies and methodologies such as Agile and DevOps. Through meticulous planning and collaboration, I facilitate the transformation of complex systems into streamlined, scalable, and secure solutions that propel organizational success.

IT Project Management: Comprehensive experience in leading IT implementation projects on an enterprise scale within both public and private sectors, I offer a deep reservoir of expertise in overseeing budgets that span from $550K to $5M. I have directed project portfolios, maintaining rigorous compliance with budgetary constraints, timelines, and scope definitions. My engagement with the Senior Project Sponsor and pivotal stakeholders, including the EPMO, was crucial in aligning project governance with the overarching strategic objectives. I have adeptly communicated project milestones and the general health of projects to senior executives and key stakeholders through various methods and metrics, including status updates, performance measures, checkpoints, portfolio summaries, and scorecards.

Organization Change Management Agent: As a proactive problem solver, I thrive in tackling intricate business issues head-on. My ability to dissect challenges, identify root causes, and propose innovative strategies has consistently led to streamlined processes and improved outcomes. I'm confident that I can contribute to identifying opportunities for growth and optimization within your organization.

Agile Transformation Coaching, Comprehensive Training, and Ongoing Support: With a decade of specialized expertise, I have played a pivotal role in guiding Fortune 500 and Fortune 100 companies through the complex journey of agile transformation. This process has involved transitioning from traditional methodologies to agile frameworks that significantly enhance the delivery of products, solutions, and services to customers. My approach is holistic, encompassing not just the adoption of agile practices, but a fundamental shift in organizational culture and mindset towards agility.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Karmanos Cancer Institute, Southfield, Michigan October 2023 to Present

Anchored by the Karmanos Cancer Institute, one of only 53 National Cancer Institute-designated comprehensive cancer centers in the U.S. is a fully integrated health network committed to quality, evidence-based patient care with locations in Michigan and Indiana, and includes 13 hospitals in Michigan, ambulatory surgery centers, imaging centers, a primary and specialty care physician network, commercial and Medicaid HMOs, home health, infusion and hospice providers, pharmacy services, a clinical laboratory network and a wholly owned medical malpractice insurance company. As a Patient Coordinator, I play a critical role in quality service is provided to KCI patients.

Position & Division: Patient Coordinator Central Scheduling Unit

Efficiently rescheduled patient appointments as necessary, utilizing Electronic Medical Records (EMR) and our Scheduling System. This process includes the careful coordination of available slots and resources to accommodate patient needs while minimizing disruptions to scheduled care.

Utilize Electronic Eligibility Systems and third-party payer websites to verify patient insurance coverage.

Skillfully navigated insurance verification processes and adeptly prioritized the information needs of each caller for prompt and precise support. My attention to detail ensures accurate entry of demographic and insurance information into our scheduling system, reinforcing the financial health of our institution.

Record new patient information and insurance details into Cerner/CIS Access computerized scheduling program, adhering to stringent data accuracy standards. This involves obtaining comprehensive insurance information for all patient appointments in line with established practice protocols.

Provide support and coordination, ensuring a smooth, efficient, and compassionate scheduling experience for patients, thereby contributing significantly to the overall patient care experience at the Karmanos Cancer Institute.

BCG Healthcare Consulting Group, Detroit, MI March 2023 to September 2023

BCG specializes in custom solutions to drive global organizations' digital transformations, healthcare services, and IT solutions. Within BCG's IT Solution Services, we bridge the gap between business and technology, fostering collaboration. Our Healthcare Service Solution practice at BCG offers outsourced call center support and independent verification (IV) assistance to healthcare clients worldwide.

Position & Division: Business Systems Analyst IT Service Division

Conducted comprehensive analysis of healthcare workflows, identifying inefficiencies and opportunities for improvement to enhance operational performance, streamline processes, and optimize resource utilization. This involves collaborating with stakeholders, collecting, and analyzing data, and developing strategic recommendations aligned with organizational goals and regulatory requirements.

Leveraged expertise in operations, IT systems, and industry best practices to facilitate the implementation of innovative solutions and drive continuous improvement initiatives across the healthcare organization.

Developed comprehensive reports to visualize key performance indicators, facilitating data-driven decision-making at all organizational levels.

Facilitated user acceptance testing (UAT) and provided ongoing support and training to end-users to maximize system utilization and efficiency.

Served as a liaison between IT teams and healthcare stakeholders, translating technical requirements into user-friendly solutions and vice versa.

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Slalom Consulting, Detroit, Michigan September 2022 – March 2023

Client: Consumer Energy (CE)

Slalom Consulting help companies tackle their most ambitious projects and build new capabilities that includes digital product delivery and organization wide agile transformations. As an Agile Coach my responsibilities included coaching, training, supporting, and mentoring software development and product engineering teams on new ways to efficiently and effectively delivery products, solutions, and services to customers using a more scaled agile approach. As well as engage, train, support, and coach senior leaders around new ways to align vision, strategy, and outcomes to measurable results (OKRs).

Position & Division: Agile Delivery Coach Business Advisory Services (BAS)

Spearheaded a transformative shift towards an agile culture, fostering a mindset that values continuous improvement, enhanced product delivery, top-notch quality, cost-effective strategies, and operational efficiency to elevate the customer experience.

Provided inspirational leadership to a diverse range of 10+ product delivery teams, catering to both digital product development and internal IT infrastructure enhancements.

Successfully managed geographically distributed teams, seamlessly integrating co-located and offshore members to collaboratively execute projects on large-scale corporate and governmental platforms.

Worked closely with Agile teams to help them understand and implement Agile principles and practices.

Guided teams in adopting and adapting Agile methodologies such as Scrum, Kanban, or SAFe.

Facilitated Agile ceremonies such as daily stand-ups, sprint planning, sprint reviews, and retrospectives.

Encouraged cross-functional collaboration, open communication, and self-organization within teams.

Offered comprehensive coaching, guidance, and support to Portfolio Managers and Product Owners, facilitating effective development and prioritization of Epics and Features, as well as devising insightful roadmaps for future deliveries.

Coached and mentored product teams on embracing the agile mindset, principles, values, techniques, and the evolving landscape of efficient product delivery, crucial to the organization-wide transformation.

Belzora Consulting Group (BCG), Detroit, MI June 2022 to August 2022

BCG provides tailored solutions to support organizations agile and digital transformations by bringing the business and technology closer together, enabling them to work in a more agile and collaborative way. As a Product Coach my role included coaching, training, and mentoring partners, leadership, and digital product delivery teams on business and technological agility.

Position & Division: Agile Product Coach Digital Product Delivery Division

Led teams through an impactful Agile transformation, achieving a remarkable 40% improvement in time-to-market and boosting customer satisfaction by 20%.

Created and implemented tailored training programs for over fifteen teams to foster a unified approach and mastery of Agile methodologies.

Conducted targeted strategic planning workshops to ensure product roadmaps were perfectly aligned with corporate goals, sharpening product focus and efficacy.

Provided coaching and mentorship to six Scrum Masters to optimize sprint planning, backlog refinement, and sprint execution processes.

Worked closely with product owners and engineering teams to craft precise and effective user stories, significantly improving product quality and maximizing customer value.

Dedicated to continual growth in Agile expertise, actively seeking new knowledge and strategies to benefit both the teams and the wider organization through shared learning and application.

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V2Soft, Incorporation December 2018 to May 2022

Client: Ford Motor Company, Dearborn, MI

Ford Motor Company, a leader and pioneer in the vehicle manufacturing aspiration is to become the world's most trusted mobility company, building smart vehicles for a smart world. This aspiration transformation included moving teams to the new Product Driven Organization (PDO) model where the focus shifts on delivering business value faster, with higher predictability and in smaller batch sizes.

Position & Division: Agile Coach Manufacturing Technology Division

Led the drive for excellence by establishing a culture of continuous improvement, using data-driven evaluations to pinpoint optimization opportunities and elevate team performance.

Utilized empirical evidence as a strategic tool, guiding teams in enhancing their Agile practices, accelerating their delivery speed, and discovering untapped areas for growth, thereby achieving remarkable leaps in productivity.

Ensured team activities were tightly aligned with organizational goals, particularly during the critical quarterly Program Increment (PI) Planning sessions, resulting in a significant 40% increase in delivery efficiency.

Crafted elite teams that combined technical expertise with advanced methodologies, including Code Refactoring, Test-Driven Development (TDD), Behavior-Driven Development (BDD), and Pair Programming, to foster innovation and efficiency.

Engaged with key stakeholders—ranging from business executives to product managers and end-users—to ensure a cohesive vision and expectations, leading to aligned and successful outcomes.

Designed and facilitated targeted training programs, workshops, and resources to deepen the organization's Agile knowledge, fostering a robust Agile culture.

Empowered teams to adopt and excel in Agile practices such as crafting compelling user stories, effective backlog management, and strategic release planning, enhancing overall agility and project success.

IRIS Software, Incorporation May 2018 to November 2018

Client: TD Ameritrade, Ann Arbor, MI

This project includes modifying/enhancing TDA’s Think or Swim (TOS) platform to accommodate regulatory and legal compliance guidelines. Participate in Enterprise Agile transformation and coordinated Agile adoption for teams across multiple US sites.

Position/Division: Senior Scrum Master TOS Core Investment Management Service Group

Conducted daily scrum sessions, sprint rituals, and critical retrospectives, bridging the gap between visionaries and builders to ensure every project milestone is crystal clear and achievements are in lockstep with company ambitions.

Championed the Agile crusade, embedding Scrum virtues deep within the team’s, fostering an ecosystem where continuous enhancement, proactive problem-solving, and a relentless pursuit of excellence are the norms.

Leverage deep technical acumen to navigate through the digital thicket, steering the team past intricate technical puzzles, streamlining project pathways, and arming the brigade with the cutting-edge tools and wisdom needed to conquer the software frontier.

Served as the pivotal nexus between the wizards of code and the realms of business, guaranteeing that the solutions not only soar on technical merit but also land with business precision, maximizing impact while minimizing time and treasure spent.

Monitored the pulse of project vitality, marrying data-driven insights with strategic foresight to fine-tune the sails of project ventures, ensuring the journey is on course and the treasure trove of outcomes is rich with success.

Cultivated a team sanctuary where innovation thrives, accountability is embraced, and every member is engaged in the quest for digital domination, collectively elevating the craft and setting new benchmarks for software development glory.

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USAA, San Antonio, TX November 2016 to November 2018

Client: United Services Automobile Association (USAA)

This project included making modifications to USAA brokerage investment services web applications to comply with the Department of Labor (DOL) regulatory requirements. The second phase included API development using SOAP/REST, Web API for USAA trading and options and managed brokerage accounts platform.

Position/Division: Senior Scrum Master Financial Advisory Service Group (FASG)

Spearheaded Agile ceremonies including Daily Standups, Sprint Planning, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives for cross-functional teams, fostering collaboration, and ensuring adherence to Agile principles and practices.

Facilitated the resolution of impediments and blockers for development teams, ensuring a smooth workflow and timely delivery of sprint goals and commitments.

Championed continuous improvement initiatives by coaching teams on Agile best practices, encouraging experimentation, and implementing feedback loops to enhance productivity and delivery efficiency.

Acted as a servant leader, supporting the team's self-organization, empowerment, and accountability, while also shielding them from external distractions to optimize focus and productivity.

Collaborated closely with Product Owners and stakeholders to prioritize and groom the product backlog, ensuring alignment with business objectives and maximizing the value delivered by the team.

Provided mentorship and guidance to team members on Agile methodologies, Scrum framework, and technical practices, fostering a culture of learning and growth within the organization.

Implemented Agile metrics and reporting mechanisms to track team performance, identify areas for improvement, and drive data-driven decision-making processes.

Led cross-functional teams in adopting Agile engineering practices such as test-driven development (TDD), continuous integration (CI), and automated testing to improve code quality and accelerate delivery cycles.

Cultivated a collaborative and transparent environment by fostering open communication, trust, and respect among team members, promoting a culture of accountability and shared ownership.

Tata Consultancy Services (TCS), Incorporation August 2014 to October 2016

Client: PSCU Financial, Saint, Petersburg, FL

Engaged as a Senior Business Analyst spearheading a critical project focused on fortifying the Bill Pay application and Access Point application to seamlessly align with stringent legal, regulatory, and compliance mandates.

Position/Division: Sr. Business Analyst Information Technology Solutions Group

Collaborated with the Product Owner to deeply comprehend business requirements, transforming them into dynamic user stories with integrated acceptance criteria, driving transformative changes within the Access Point credit unions application system.

Engaged closely with Infrastructure Architects, Business Analysts, Project Managers, and the development team to overhaul intricate infrastructure, contextual frameworks, and network diagrams, ensuring seamless operational efficiency.

Orchestrated pivotal Daily Standup, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Planning, Sprint Reviews, and Sprint Retrospective meetings, fostering an environment of agile excellence and continuous improvement.

Fostered alignment across product teams by meticulously defining business and functional requirements within user stories, orchestrating refinement sessions to crystallize the team's collective vision for successful delivery.

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TEK Systems, Southfield, MI August 2011 to July 2014

Client: State of Michigan Unemployment Insurance Agency Division, Detroit, Michigan

Engaged as a Senior Consultant for the State of Michigan (SOM) Unemployment Insurance Agency IVR enterprise-wide implementation project. This was a two-phase project. The first phase of this project included a legacy platform upgrade, and the second phase included the integration of an enterprise-wide Genesys Voice Platform (GVP) that integrated with the online tax and benefit system.

Position/Division: Senior Business Analyst State of Michigan UIA Division

Collaborated with stakeholders across various State government departments to gather and document business requirements for both internal and external products/projects.

Conducted requirements gathering sessions with clients to gather insights for IT solutions, identifying affected business processes and determining optimal process and IT solution integration.

Acted as a liaison between the Genesys Voice Platform (GVP) development team, senior architects, and stakeholders, ensuring alignment with State of Work (SOW) contract guidelines and technical feasibility.

Developed comprehensive user acceptance test cases, executed testing procedures, and documented and communicated test results, providing weekly status reports to the project management team.

Facilitated requirement gathering workshops aimed at eliciting, analyzing, communicating, and validating requirements for certification IVR and claims processing application systems.

Delivered public information sessions on unemployment insurance regulations, procedures, forms, and necessary details for completing the filing process.

Better Minds Consultancy, Carnegie, PA November 2010 to July 2011

Client: PNC Bank a Division of PNC Financial, Miamisburg, OH This project included identifying gaps in the current state business processes in accordance with the DOJ and OCC regulatory requirement. The second phase included identifying risks according to the BASEL II guidelines. As a Systems Analyst/Solutions Architect, I Proficient in analyzing complex data sets, leading cross-functional teams to achieve departmental objectives.

Position/Division: Senior Business Analyst Default Operations Division

Worked with key stakeholders in identifying gaps or inefficiencies in current business processes to comply with the Basel II Capital Accord requirements.

Led a team of junior analysts, providing guidance and mentorship to ensure the successful completion of projects and initiatives.

Conducted comprehensive analyses of market trends, competitor performance, and customer behavior to inform strategic decision-making processes.

Developed and maintained robust financial models to forecast revenue, identify cost-saving opportunities, and support budgetary planning.

Collaborated with stakeholders across departments to gather requirements, define project scopes, and prioritize deliverables according to business objectives.

Utilized advanced data analytics techniques to identify patterns, correlations, and insights from large datasets, facilitating data-driven decision-making.

Presented findings and recommendations to executive leadership, offering actionable insights to support key business initiatives.

Implemented process improvements and streamlined workflows to enhance operational efficiency and drive continuous improvement within the organization.

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ERSA Group, Plymouth, MI August 2007 to October 2010

Managed very large and complex technology projects ranging from conception through launch. Worked closely with the Regional Management Team, Technology Partner/Program Manager to deliver effective communications and manage relationships with key stakeholders at executive and direct reports' levels across the project client base and technical community, ensuring continued buy-in to the project.

Position/Division: Project Manager Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO)

Oversaw the planning and execution of IT projects, including software development, system upgrades, and network implementations, ensuring alignment with business objectives and technical requirements.

Collaborated with key stakeholders to define project scope, objectives, and success criteria, establishing clear deliverables and timelines to meet project goals.

Managed project budgets, resources, and timelines, tracking progress and identifying risks and issues to proactively address challenges and minimize disruptions.

Utilized project management tools and techniques to monitor project performance, analyze data, and report on key metrics to stakeholders and leadership.

Facilitated regular project meetings and communication channels to keep team members informed, engaged, and accountable throughout the project lifecycle.

Conducted post-project reviews and lessons learned sessions to capture insights, identify areas for improvement, and apply best practices to future projects.

Ensured cost changes have accurate and timely approvals and follow corporate and department standards, policies, and procedures.

Managed technical vendor team, and tracks and reviews vendor deliverables.

Ensures support areas are engaged to drive effective training and turnover of technical solutions.

EDUCATIONAL ATTAINMENT

Master of Business Administration (MBA)

University of Phoenix

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science (BSc.)

University of Phoenix

Certified Agile Coaching Certification (ICP-ACC)

Certified Scrum Master Certification (CSM)

Certified DevOps Coaching Certification (DevOps-COA)

Certified Scrum Product Owner Certification (CSPO)

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