Subject Matter Project Management, contract management

KAREN SATTERFIELD

281-***-**** *****@*********.*** Houston, TX LinkedIn

SUMMARY

Innovative and open-minded transformational leader skilled at streamlining processes, reducing costs, and driving positive organizational change. Certified Six Sigma Black Belt and LEAN practitioner with experience leading large teams and managing cultural shifts to meet and exceed business objectives. Adept at overseeing multi-million-dollar development campaigns, advancing project initiatives, and guiding teams of subject matter experts. Proficient in budget ownership, resource planning, hiring, and financial modeling, ensuring the successful scaling of portfolios. Highly collaborative, with an emphasis on fostering a positive and inclusive team environment, and skilled in managing diverse internal and external stakeholders across cross-functional teams.

COMPETENCIES

• Cost & Operational Improvements

• Cross-Functional Leadership

• Continuous Process Improvement

• Project Management

• Team Leadership

• Community Partnerships

• Negotiation & Persuasion

• Exceptional Communicator

• Agile Methodologies

• Financial Acumen

• Solution Oriented

• Organizational Impact

• Strategic Planning

• Change Management

• Partner Relations

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Director - Operations (National Role) SATTCOM, LLC Houston, TX 2023 - Present

Founded and led a successful startup specializing in telecommunication construction. Work directly with telecommunication providers and other contractors to plan, direct, coordinate, and oversee operations activities in the organization, developing efficient operations and cost-effective systems to meet current and future needs. Develop and evaluate business strategies.

Achieve 100% revenue growth through strategic partnerships.

Lead a team of 5 employees and 20 contractors, overseeing all aspects of operations, including budgeting, resource allocation, and performance management.

Establish and maintain strong relationships with key vendors, suppliers, and clients, negotiating favorable contracts and ensuring high-quality service delivery.

Mentor employees fostering a culture of coloration, trust, innovation, and continuous improvement.

Principal Technology Tower Strategist (National Director) AT& T Wireless Houston, TX 2021 -2022

Work directly with leadership and external partners to develop strategies to lower $4B in lease costs for cell towers while also improving service. Recommended strategic network architecture planning and network evolution policy decisions. Evaluate network performance criteria and measurement methods and prepare short- and long-term capacity analyses for wireless and wireline infrastructure.

Lead for Project Maximus which will result in rent savings of $200-$400M by 2023 by collaborating with the engineering team to ensure equipment is optimized.

Negotiate with tower vendors for favorable pricing with a savings opportunity of $20M.

Subject Matter Expert on an agile team developing new system architecture for leasing review.

Principal Technical Project Manager (Regional Role) AT& T Wireless Houston, TX 2016 – 2021

Responsible for controlling leasing costs, ensuring company charges were correct, and overseeing all cell site modifications. Led a team of seven direct reports in six markets over 13 states.

Leveraged technical, process, and domain expertise to drive effective execution of multiple projects across various team members and divisions while elevating new and existing partnerships with vendors.

Implemented project and resource scheduling controls that resulted in annual cost savings and avoidance of $100M.

Developed a lease routing tool that resulted in cost avoidance of over $11M.

Automated a manual process by eliminating a paper-based system that used email signatures and implemented a software solution that took the cycle time from five days to one.

Negotiated wireless cell tower modifications with all tower vendors to reduce $20M in capital expenditures.

Establishing meaningful relationships within the market.

Senior Real Estate and Construction Manager AT& T Houston, TX 2013 – 2016

Reported to the chief of real estate and construction engineering staff for the five-state Southwest Region, overseeing site acquisition vendors to minimize costs, increase cell coverage, and improve cycle times. Managed a $200M budget.

Handled escalated business and individual customer complaints, resolving concerns and retaining business through remediating issues and communicating progress in a transparent manner.

Drove effective partnerships with internal and external stakeholders to achieve annual project strategy for wireless growth.

Exhibited expert knowledge of lease content and successfully negotiated contracts to align with business expenditure needs.

Performed reviews and became familiar with over 600 leases per year.

Improved cycle time of securing tower acquisition sites from 240 days to 210 days to expedite ROI.

Six Sigma Black Belt AT& T Houston, TX 2011 – 2013

Empowered project team members using Six Sigma methodologies to execute sustainable practices in process and performance optimization across AT&T’s wireline and wireless networks.

Improved wireless trouble alarm notifications and reduced cell tower outage time by 50%.

Reduced cycle time from 380 days to 187 by implementing accelerated Define and Measure phases.

Area Manager, Construction & Engineering AT& T Houston, TX 2008 – 2011

Led a team of over 100 contract and construction experts to ensure full adherence to quality and regulatory standards while driving innovative practices to meet business needs effectively.

Implemented a positive cultural shift by enhancing AT&T and contract partners' level of accountability for construction damages.

Developed a simplified, web-based work request for timely and efficient invoice review, securing $630K in annual savings.

Introduce a Volume Bids Program to the Houston Market, resulting in cost savings of $1M.

Created a best-in-class process for a standard contract to eliminate repetitive work in bidding process, achieving cost improvements, eliminating customer complaints, and streamlining work cycle time.

Partnered with I/R department to improve bill payment time by 20% and decreased contractor costs by 10% YoY.

EDUCATION

MASTER OF BUSINESS ADMINISTRATION, FINANCE • Sam Houston State University

MASTER OF SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY • Sam Houston State University

BACHELOR OF SCIENCE, CHEMISTRY • Sam Houston State University

CERTIFICATION & AFFILIATIONS

Six Sigma Black Belt

LEAN Certified

Women of AT&T: Chief Financial Officer & National Board Member National Mentoring Committee Member

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