Contracts Manager

Melissa R. McDonald

*** ****** **** *****, ******, GA 30157 Mobile: 678-***-**** ******************@*****.*** Legal Operations & Contract Management

Contract Management Contract Drafting Contract Negotiations Risk Mitigation Ethics & Compliance Due Diligence Sharp, driven legal professional with proven experience in drafting, reviewing and negotiating commercial and government contracts with a demonstrated ability to manage complex legal transactions. Specialized ability in sitting first-chair in contract negotiations with Fortune 100 companies and achieving favorable contractual outcomes. Collaborative management style with strong leadership instincts and ability to excel independently. Adept in processing and maintaining regulatory filings and maintaining corporate records with a proven track record of project management and creating corporate process improvements methods. Proficient and compassionate about corporate compliance and risk mitigation.

Professional Experience

Sr. Manager, Contracts, L3Harris Aviation Products, Inc. (Military Displays), July 2019 to present. Role includes drafting and negotiating complex government contracts (DoD); overseeing proposal negotiations, compliance and cradle-to-grave contract administration for over

$200 million year contract awards; managing the business proposal and quote pipeline of active opportunities from submission preparation to leadership reviews to negotiate the award; principal business Federal Acquisition Regulation (FAR) advisor for program managers covering regulatory, compliance, profit and funding guidance, data and IP rights considerations, internal policies and practices, as well as operational process improvement; serving as subject matter expert to advise on FAR/DFAR regulations, terms and conditions, resolution of contract disputes, client communications and legal regulatory implications. Director, Contract Administration, CCA and B, LLC, January 2018 to July 2019. Role included drafting and negotiating complex commercial and TPP contracts (see Contract Experience); mitigating risk; ensuring corporate compliance (registrations, contract compliance, EEOC and employment based compliance, et al.); RFPs; financial analysis for contractual negotiations and re-negotiation; P&L reporting; managing legal disputes, holds, disposition, and discovery processes; conducting legal research and providing insight on case law review; maintaining annual registrations for all entities; coordinating internal claim management and insurance policy efforts to include health insurance, workers compensation, general liability, and automotive liability to include oversight of third party insurers; working closely with various departments to ensure seamless execution of all contracts and negotiations. Director of Legal Affairs & Corporate Registrar, Vivex Biomedical, Inc., February 2016 to December 2017 (on retainer through July 2018). Role included drafting federal, commercial and TPP contracts/subcontracts and negotiating legal and financial terms; developing a contract intake and management process; RFPs; cost analysis for contractual negotiations and re-negotiation; P&L Reporting; ensuring corporate compliance (registrations, contract compliance, EEOC and employment based compliance, et al.); coordinating and procuring contractor and business licenses; maintaining annual registrations for all entities; coordinating internal claim management and insurance policy efforts to include health insurance, workers compensation, general liability, and automotive liability to include oversight of third party insurers (including review of policies for Independent Representatives and Contractors); managing all shareholder records; assisting with budgets and finance including targets, forecasts and quarterly reports; and attending Board of Director’s meetings to provide status of corporate compliance, contractual and P&L activities. Managing Paralegal, STEM Immigration, Fragomen, Del Rey, Bernsen & Loewy, LLC, May 2012 to February 2016. Role included drafting and reviewing client contracts and negotiating fee schedules with P&L analysis; RFPs; supporting global mobility for clients in the areas of science, technology, engineering and mathematics and/or education; managing Assistant Paralegals and reviewing a wide range of government contracts for filing with USCIS and CBP; drafting corporate contracts to agencies and clients; using client management system/integration database; I-9 Verification; coordinating with attorneys and clients to gather and organize supporting data; and preparing forms and writing supporting argumentation (RFEs). Project Manager, Legal, Quintiles Laboratory, January 2012 to May 2012. Role included developing commercial IP contracts; preparation, administration, and negotiation of contracts and legal documentation for IP litigation; project scheduling, proposal submissions and meeting funding requirements; billing (accounts payable/accounts receivable/pay roll); studying and monitoring the theoretical background and goals for pharmaceutical clinical research trials; maintaining a high quality precision of documentation during set-up; attending sponsor investigator/study coordinator meetings for assigned protocols; conducting assessment audits per FDA and sponsor requirements; reporting, monitoring and tracking of complaints and serving as a liaison between the research facilities and the pharmaceutical sponsors; using client management system/integration database.

Laboratory Manager, KSU – Genetics Research Laboratory, December 2009 to January 2011. Role included hiring laboratory personnel; reviewing and writing grant proposals; preparing grant proposals and constructing contract policies of federal and private sponsors following code of federal regulations with government agencies (including R01, R43, and NIH and FDA, NIH); planning, budgeting and managing projects and experiments; coordinating multiple projects simultaneously; working with cross-functional teams in relation to laboratory management; data entry and statistical analysis of results, meticulous record keeping, and lab inventory/maintenance. Operations Specialist (Clinical), Kennestone Hospital & Grady Hospital, August 2008 to December 2009. Tasks involved creating best practices for operational excellence in connection with filing medical records; implementing patient care for multiple patients; data entry; filing medical paperwork; performing clinical tasks according to hospital policies; interacting with various departments regarding patient care and utilizing strong analytical skills in recording data and maintaining sensitive patient documentation; developing strict SOPs according to federally outlined hospital policies; maintaining meticulous data and patient information; and legal copying and filing of FDA documentation. Vendor Compliance Specialist (Operations), National Automotive Parts Association, July 2004 to July 2008. Role included collecting and analyzing data and providing feedback to key stakeholders on best practices to improve metrics collection; analyzing vendor relationships to determine how operations could be altered to better cater to consumer needs; evaluating operational metrics to ensure compliance safety standards and developing a system in which employees can report hazards; and working with business leadership to audit vendor legal documents.

Contract Expertise

Nondisclosure Agreements (NDA/PIA); Master Services Agreements; Procurement Agreements; Licensing Agreements; Distributor Agreements; Manufacturer Agreements; Sales/Purchasing Agreements (MPAs); Property and Equipment Lease Agreements; Real Estate Purchase Agreements; Lending Agreements; Merger and Acquisition Agreements; Asset Purchase Agreements; Employment Agreements; Independent Representative Agreements; Consultant Agreements; SaaS Agreements; Software Developer Services Agreements; Agency Agreements; Purchase / Sales Order Contract and Memorandum of Understanding (MOU/LOI) Letter Agreements; UCAs; Critical Research Agreements; Teaming Agreements.

Education

Emory University, School of Law Continuing Education, Atlanta, Georgia, Transactional Law Courses, 2012 to 2013. Kennesaw State University, Kennesaw, Georgia, Bachelor of Science in Biology, Minor: Statistics, 2006 to 2011. Organizations and Honorary Societies

California Bar Association; Georgia Bar Association; Certified Notary Public, State of Georgia; NALA Certified Paralegal; Genetic Society of America TriBeta – National Biological Honor Society Computer Skills

SalesForce, SharePoint, StockTrack, WorkDay, Microsoft Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Windows, Mac, SPSS, Livelink ECM Suites, Manage, JD Edwards, PeopleSoft, LotusNotes, CarpeDiem, IHP Navigating, Cost Point ERP, Typing speed: 90-100 WPM Honors and Awards

Kennesaw State University President’s List (7 Semesters); Kennesaw State Universities Dean’s List (6 Semesters); President’s Undergraduate Research Award; The National Science & Mathematics Access to Retain Talent Grant; Undergraduate Research & Creative Activities Grant. Presentations and Publications

Schwieterman, A. A., Steves, A. N, Yee, V., Donelson, C. J., Bentley, M. R., Santorella, E. M., Mehlenbacher, T., Pital, A., Howard, A. M., Wilson, M. R., Ereddia, D. E., Effrein, K. S., McMurry, J. L., Ackley, B. D., Chisholm, A. D., and Hudson, M. L. (2016). The C. elegans ephrin EFN-4 functions non-cell autonomously with heparan sulfate proteoglycans to promote axon outgrowth and branching. Genetics, 202, 639-660.

Wilson, M., Howard, A., Sarraf-Mamouri, S., and Hudson, M. (2012). A possible role for TRY-2/plasminogen during C. elegans embryonic development. Proceedings of International C. elegans Conference. Howard, A., Wilson, M., Yee, V., Chisholm, A. D., Ackley, B. D and Hudson, M. L. (2012). C. elegans axon branch formation is regulated by multiple heparan sulfate proteoglycans. Proceedings of International C. elegans Conference. Wilson, M., Hembree, C., Francis, E. G., Smith, T. and Hudson, M. L. (2011). Expression analysis of EphR/ephrin family members in a stem cell to- forebrain differentiation model.

Poster presentation at Kennesaw State University Symposium: 04/2011 Presentation at International C. elegans Conference UCLA: 06/2011 Key Speaker at Kennesaw State University Symposium: 11/2011

* Publications under maiden name: Wilson, Melissa Rose Media and Projects

Scout Elf Productions, Inc. (CCA and B, LLC, Elf on the Shelf): Elf Pets: Santa's St. Bernards Save Christmas (2018), Animation, Short. Role (credits): Legal Counsel Elf Pets: A Fox Cub's Christmas Tale (2019), Animation, Short. Role (credits): Legal Counsel Elf Pets: Santa's Reindeer Rescue (2020), Animation, Short. Role (credits): Legal Counsel

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