Project Manager Scrum Master

THOMAS M. KURZEJA

*** ********* ********* *** ***

Gaithersburg, MD

Mobile: (610) 508 - 9544

***.*******@*****.***

TOP-PERFORMING BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT AND PROJECT MANAGEMENT LEADER

NUCLEAR AND RENEWABLE ENERGY, SOFTWARE, AND POWER GENERATION/DISTRIBUTION

10-POINT VETERAN, SCHEDULE A ELIGIBLE, PRIOR FEDERAL EMPLOYEE

SEASONED EXPERT in the nuclear, renewable and sustainable energy, data center, construction, and information technology sectors with a record of success in business development, consultative and technical sales, and project execution in positions of increasing responsibility and leadership. Deliver results in a driven, fast-paced environment in a highly independent manner.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER/DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

Optimum Power Group 05/2018 - Present

Optimum Power Group is a Service-Disabled Veteran Owned Business (SDVOB) representing emerging renewable energy, energy efficiency and conservation technologies, and information technology solutions into the commercial, industrial, defense, intelligence, data center, hospital, and university markets. Specializing in opening new and emerging markets and technologies.

Originated and managed multiple ongoing solar plus storage and land development projects valued over $200 million.

Perform technology evaluations for confidential clients in all aspects of solar + storage; managed grid interconnections, utility interface, advise clients on state-by-state regulatory environment; make liaison with grid operators to ensure maximum profitability of each installation; advise clients on all financial aspects of installation, including ROI, IRR, and edge computing benefits.

Coordinated merger and acquisition efforts, including valuation and balance sheet analysis, discovery and due diligence efforts, SWOT analyses, and all related activities.

Advised clients on federal and state regulatory environments, including environmental impact studies,

General Contractor’s/Owner’s Agent for three mixed-use land development projects that include utility-scale solar ground-mount and rooftop installations, battery storage, and land development.

Manage all aspects of power distribution projects, including manpower coordination, delivery, testing, commissioning, upgrades, Mission Critical power management, including medium voltage switchgear, automatic transfer switches, emergency power supplies, power distribution units, and all other medium voltage power equipment.

Perform detailed analysis of systems energy usage in large commercial spaces, including HVAC, in-house data centers, IT systems, and produce analysis and reports for energy usage optimization.

Evaluate, test, and commission leading-edge IT and energy technologies for use in existing systems.

Program and Portfolio Manager for Privileged Access Management (PAM) for a confidential client.

Scrum Master, Process Improvement and Project Management consultant, employed Agile methodologies to schedule ceremonies and manage work within the group.

Managed 30+ projects totaling over $30 million and 20 software engineers in PAM.

Provided training in Scrum and Azure Dev Ops for a highly qualified group of software engineers.

Tested and commissioned all data center designs for Fortune 10 client.

Performed takeoffs for data center designs for multiple clients including all electrical distribution and end user equipment.

SALES ENGINEER/PROJECT MANAGER

ABM Electrical Services 04/2017 – 05/2018

125% over quota in first year by developing new business in the Baltimore service area.

Directly supported the Federal Aviation Administration effort to upgrade the electrical equipment in their regional command centers, including an upgrade of the timekeeping system for federal personnel.

Sold ABM’s services, including IT upgrades, arc flash studies, equipment maintenance, acceptance testing, and engineering.

Performed detailed electrical, civil, and mechanical walkdowns of over 20 luxury car dealerships in the greater Washington DC – Baltimore market to place electric vehicle (EV) charging stations on-site.

Prepared detailed electrical, civil, and mechanical drawings and reports to indicate placement of new electrical, civil, and mechanical equipment.

Responsible for all phases of sales cycle into large commercial markets, including project management, negotiation and execution.

PROJECT MANAGER/OWNER

The River Bend Group, L. L. C. 05/2012 – 05/2018

The River Bend Group provides business consulting services in the following areas: business process improvement, design engineering, EPC fulfillment, and Affordable Care Act-compliant health care plans.

Provided start-up IT consultation to a California-based software development company which led to 250% revenue growth with the development of an online store.

Provided start-up consultation services to an Oklahoma-based nonprofit organization that serves disabled veterans, leading to a sustainable, still-functioning organization.

Led a legislative effort with a Delaware-based trade association resulting in $7 million in annual savings.

Led the development of two television properties from initial concept through to funding stage.

Provided consultation and fundraising services to a successful 2014 United States Congressional campaign.

SENIOR PROJECT MANAGER

ENERCON Services, Germantown, MD 06/2014 –11/2015

Directly responsible for proposal development, contract negotiations, contract management, and technical accuracy of Engineering Change Packages for Exelon - Calvert Cliffs Nuclear Power Plant.

Proposal manager for multidisciplinary engineering projects in operating nuclear control room, won $1.7 million in new business with 66% win rate on proposals. Instilled a will to win and restored morale in a struggling engineering team.

Managed all contractual, financial, and personnel issues to turn around a challenged $1.3 million NFPA 805 (fire protection and information security) engineering project.

Monitored all project budget and time constraints and initiated necessary corrective action to ensure budgetary and schedule compliance of projects.

Managed multiple vendors through numerous technical conflicts to ensure on-time, on-budget delivery.

Liaison between technical team, functional team, and customers, instilling a passion to win and pride in work product in team.

Successfully led 13 individual projects with a total value of $2.2 million to on-time, on-budget completion.

Successfully negotiated over twenty contract changes to ensure maximum profitability for ENERCON.

Re-engineered project work process using PMBOK best practices to realign project with client requirements.

Provided hands-on technical guidance to less experienced project team members in order to ensure engineering best practices.

DIRECTOR OF BUSINESS DEVELOPMENT

ARES Corporation, Richland, WA 01/2012 – 02/2013

Won $13.7 million in new business on a $500,000 quota.

Established key partnerships with multiple vendors to establish long-term, highly profitable relationships.

Led ARES into the commercial nuclear market by creating and executing a marketing strategy.

Participated in several Merger and Acquisition efforts, including valuation and negotiation price of targets, balance sheet evaluation, engineering backlog, and future growth potential.

Created unique, tailored penetration strategy for each nuclear utility in the United States.

Advised executive management on all aspects of commercial nuclear market.

Negotiated contract vehicles as ARES agent, managed proposals from development to delivery.

PRINCIPAL ENGINEER

Westinghouse Electric Company, Cranberry Township, PA 09/2007 – 12/2011

Saved $26 million in development costs by eliminating equipment conflicts on AP1000 Nuclear Island.

Recruited, mentored, and led multinational twelve-member process improvement team directed at resolution of with Agile methodology to deliver enterprise IT software package. Coordinated activities on three continents.

Performed surveys and audits of AP1000 radiation-controlled area for potentially activated equipment to determine best operation and maintainability profiles.

Originated, reviewed and/or approved over 700 technical drawings and over 4,500 Design Change Proposals to ensure compliance with the AP1000 Design Control Document.

Assisted in the development of radiation controls and personnel residence times for specific areas of the AP1000 Nuclear Island based on exposure limits and ambient post-shutdown radiation.

Discovered a feature in the AP1000 design that would have made servicing the accelerometers on the AP1000 reactor vessel impossible; wrote the discovery paper that elevated the issue to Westinghouse executive leadership, and assisted in the redesign effort of the reactor vessel module that permitted the plant to operate.

Developed, maintained, and updated training for skilled crafts entering high-radiation areas.

Developed and maintained controlled correspondence system for communication with the United States Nuclear Regulatory Commission and NuStart consortium clients.

Initiated workflows related to resolve AP1000 design issues to ensure resolution of client-generated engineering concerns.

Led technical presentations for AP1000 global business development efforts. Responsible for the content and overall success of presentations to senior government officials and technical staff in European and South American markets.

Developed business processes, policies, procedures, and IT strategy for design organization dedicated to Small Modular Reactor (SMR).

Primary customer relationship manager for NuStart utility consortium.

PROJECT MANAGER/TEST DIRECTOR – GS-0893-12

Naval Ship Systems Engineering Station, Philadelphia, PA 05/2002 – 08/2007

Recruited, trained, qualified, and supervised up to 32 civilian engineers, technicians, and active-duty Navy subject matter experts in a $1.1 million test proving new submarine technology.

Coordinated delivery, inspection, acceptance, and installation of government furnished equipment.

Discovered design flaw in component that led to engineering change and eventual acceptance by Navy.

Project managed and coordinated nationwide, multi-agency efforts during submarine availabilities.

Initiated and directed worldwide recruitment, screening, and training effort of active duty U.S. Navy personnel for test staffing.

Developed budgets, implemented Earned Value Management for budget compliance and successful conclusion of test.

PUBLICATIONS

“Analysis of Recoil Compressive Failure in High Performance Polymers Using Two- and Four-Parameter Weibull Models”, High Performance Polymers Vol. 14 no. 4, 425-434.

“Influence of Thermal Treatment Conditions on the Recoil Compressive Strength of Kevlar-29 Fibers”, High Performance Polymers vol 14 no. 2, 133-143

“Creating Electrical Contacts Between Metal Particles Using Directed Electrochemical Growth”, Nature 389, 268-271 (18 Sept 1997).

EDUCATION

Master of Business Administration: Drexel University, Philadelphia PA

Bachelor of Science, Chemical Engineering: Rowan University, Glassboro, NJ

MILITARY EXPERIENCE

New Jersey Army National Guard, 8/1997 – 1/2003. Army Commendation Medal 12/2002.

United States Marine Corps, 7/1990 – 4/1995.

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