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Sr. IT Management Consultant

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Andy
Specialties:
Process Improvement
Agile Software Development
IT Governance
Vendor Solutions
Experience:

Andy’s work experience in higher education began as an adjunct faculty member at three institutions, teaching twenty sections of eight different courses in Technology, Management, and Business over nine academic years. During this time, he also held the position of Director of Program Management of the College Division of the book publisher Houghton Mifflin Company where they oversaw the development of digital products for higher ed., including online course content (Black Board, WebCT) as well as interactive PDFs, websites, and disc based content. Andy later went on to work at Harvard University as a senior project manager and business process consultant, working on university wide initiatives in the area’s research administration (Effort Reporting, IRB, COI), finance (escheatment, endowment management), and Business Intelligence.

Resume:

Sr. IT Management Consultant
Specialist in process improvement, program-project management, and education.
QUALIFICATION HIGHLIGHTS
  • Management Consultant leading many organization-wide business improvement initiatives analyzing people-process technology, recommending operational improvements, and implementing organizational changes.
  • Program-Project Manager of numerous enterprise level, multi-million dollar, multi-year, transformative technology initiatives utilizing a combination of traditional (waterfall) and iterative (Agile) methodologies.
  • Adjunct faculty member at three institutions of higher education, teaching twenty sections of eight different full-credit courses in technology, management, and business.
    • ENDORSEMENTS
  • “Andy facilitated a highly sensitive and politically charged [initiative] and developed critical documents such as IT capital & expense budgets, IT job descriptions, IT Vision Statement, IT policies and procedures…”
    Patrick McGinley, Vice President, Board of Directors, JEOL USA, Inc
  • “Andy brought a sense of confidence to our organization . . . and provided the project management skills that resulted in the timely launch of our new product . . . within the strict deadlines that we presented him with.”
    Mimi Jesperson, Controller, US & European Operations, Invention Machine Corporation
  • “Andy did an excellent job by first hiring and organizing a highly qualified project management team, and then rallying this group around very solid and uniform project management processes.”
    Jack Shira, Vice President, Houghton Mifflin
    • EXPERIENCE
    Hasbro, Inc. / Senior Project/Program Manager
    OCTOBER 2014 – PRESENT, EAST PROVIDENCE, RI
  • Currently providing project and program management level support for two parallel global initiatives to bring enhanced automation in support of corporate sponsored travel and expense management
  • Leading team members and executives from multiple times zones (US, Europe, Hong Kong, and others) to define objectives, establish governance, sequence deliverables, and coordinate efforts
  • Led the $6M, first wave of a global, direct-to-consumer, e-commerce re-launch initiative targeting the US and Canadian markets with immediate plans to roll-out to Europe, Asia, and Latin America
  • Partnered with several internal organizations such as Information Technology, Project Management Office, Finance, Tax, Logistics, Marketing, and others to prepare for the transition and ensure adoption
  • Managed activities of major partner-vendors such as IBM Interactive (web design), IBM Software Services (WebSphere implementation), IBM Payment Services (payment gateway), Mulesoft (middleware), Tech Mahindra (SAP development), Ingram Micro Logistics (warehousing), and others
  • Oversaw implementation of Mulesoft’s Cloud Hub solution with API connections between internal systems and several third-party vendors; solution involved numerous Mule applications and services, Mule’s API Gateway, a canonical data model, and complex security configurations with vendors
    • Fidelity Investments / Program Manager
    FEBRUARY 2014 – OCTOBER 2014, BOSTON, MA
  • Led the go-to-market strategy for the firms responsive web initiative, impacting thirty thousand employees and eighteen million customers, the largest single web-site refresh in the firm’s history
  • Drove the dialogue on how to partner with internal stakeholders to ensure widespread adoption and use of the new responsive experience across a large and complex matrix organization
  • Modeled the customer adoption strategy including a comprehensive value proposition that leverages other concurrent initiatives as part of a compelling business case to build energy and excitement
  • Partnered with business, technical, and solution delivery teams to guide the program through a hybrid waterfall / agile approach
    • Harvard University / Senior Project Manager/Management Consultant
    SEPTEMBER 2011 – FEBRUARY 2014, CAMBRIDGE, MA
  • Partnered with faculty & senior administrators to facilitate university-wide systems implementation initiatives to ensure that the voice-of-the-customer was influential in the design of new business processes and the systems that support them. Ran projects in the areas of Research Administration, Finance, and Business Intelligence Reporting (BI)
  • Drove end-to-end processes to define business & system requirements, develop request for proposals, evaluate & select vendors, customize/configure & test, implement solutions, guide business adoption
  • Ran several projects in the areas of Research Administration, Finance & Accounting, and Business Intelligence Reporting
  • As Management Consultant, drive an end-to-end business process assessment of the University’s Gift Accounting / Endowment Management business operations:
    • Worked directly with the University Controller, Director of Financial Reporting, and Director of the Recording Secretary’s Office (RSO) to evaluate university wide gift accounting operations and recommend opportunities for improvement
    • Interviewed Financial Deans in three of the largest schools (FAS, HMS, HLS) as well as several staff members in numerous organizations to understand and document current-state processes as the basis of process improvements
    • Created detailed recommendations for improvement in the areas of people, process, and technology and presented findings to university CFO and Controller for follow-up
    Ropes & Gray, LLC / Senior Project Manager
    APRIL 2011 – AUGUST 2011, BOSTON, MA
  • Managed several concurrent projects ranging in size, complexity, and focus (software development, COTS, infrastructure, process improvement, and operational support)
  • Selected to assist the organization with the introduction of Agile methodologies (including Scrum) and the development of corresponding project management deliverables
  • Contributed on a firm-wide initiative to introduce and promote project management skills
    • Iron Mountain / Program Manager
    AUGUST 2009 – APRIL 2011, BOSTON, MA
  • Worked closely with business & IT leadership to provide Program Management oversight and guidance for a $6M+ portfolio of initiatives spanning multiple product lines and technologies
  • Business owner and lead on project / program budgeting and financing, securing funds via development and presentation of business cases to executive governance bodies
  • Re-engineered the business’ demand-management workflow process and established a business-driven decision making governance body to drive better decision making and communication
    • Axeda Corporation / Management Consultant
    MAY 2008 – JUNE 2009, FOXBORO, MA
  • Worked with founders to develop a comprehensive professional services delivery model including pre-sales, implementation program management, and post-implementation services
  • Managed client engagements and provided consulting and training services to Global 2000 customers in multiple industries including Medical Devices, Manufacturing, Government, and High-Tech
  • Trained clients on program management best practices and provided consulting services in the areas of Strategic Planning, Technology Adoption, Process Improvement, and Commercialization
    • Houghton Mifflin / Project Manager / Director of Program Management
    JUNE 2004 – MAY 2005, BOSTON, MA
  • Project Management responsibility for 3 teams: Digital Asset Management, Tools, and Forms-Based, authoring with local and offshore resources utilizing SDLC & Agile methodologies
  • First Project Manager to introduce Agile-Based Project Management Methodology which led to widespread adoption and expanded Project Management scope to the Program / Portfolio level
  • Promoted from Project Manager to Director of Program Management with direct management responsibility for a team of 5 Project Managers representing a portfolio of over 15 concurrent projects
  • Introduced first Business Analyst role leading to improved relationships with end-user organizations, understanding of business workflows and requirements, and application acceptance and usage
    • iSaria, Inc. / Engineering Manager
    JULY 2003 – JUNE 2004, SEEKONK, MA
  • Managed all technical operations involved in maintaining on-line, front-end Time & Attendance, Benefits, and HRIS system with interfaces to Ceridian back-end systems
  • Management responsibility over local and off-shore teams consisting of business analysts, application developers, quality assurance engineers, and other technical staff
  • Implemented stricter standards for feature / issue ticket reporting, ticket selection, and development & test environment usage, leading to 50% improvement in overall productivity
  • Introduced other operational improvements such as application monitoring, development standards, automated test tools, and source control which further improved application reliability
    • All Systems Integration / Management Consultant
    SEPTEMBER 2002 – JULY 2003, WOBURN, MA
  • Managed and performed consulting engagements for clients exploring the use of technology (ERP applications and infrastructure) to drive better operational performance
  • Interviewed staff from C-Level executives to individual contributors to extract business requirements and to provide the basis for recommended improvements in people, process, and technology
  • Developed all internal and client facing consulting materials and deliverables and made final presentations to executive management to present findings and recommendations
    • Invention Machine Corporation / Management Consultant
    MARCH 2002 – SEPTEMBER 2002, BOSTON, MA
  • Successfully led the company’s most significant product launch initiative (a fault-tolerant, 24×7, application hosting environment) by managing scope, time, quality and cost
  • Represented the company with technology vendors and guided them through the selection of appropriate value-added services, saving the firm $125K in the first week
  • Managed internal initiative to rebuild failing IT infrastructure including networking, application-web-file servers, FTP, email, backup, and voice systems
    • Vibren Technologies / Interim Director of IT / Management Consultant
    NOVEMBER 2000 – MARCH 2002, BOXBOROUGH, MA
  • Managed a sensitive and politically charged initiative to rebuild a failing IT Department and rebuild trust and respect among the end-user community
  • Managed a critically important internal initiative to identify, select, and implement an enterprise issue tracking system for world-wide deployment
  • Was first IT Management Consultant on professional services team and led client engagements to implement process improvements and restructure a decentralized IT function into a centralized model
    • Mercury Business Planning Services, Inc. / COO / Engagement Manager
    JANUARY 2000 – NOVEMBER 2000, CAMBRIDGE, MA
  • Recruited to work with founder on client organization initiatives providing staff augmentation for start-up ventures including executive coaching and support of their technical and business challenges
  • Collaborated on, created, and/or edited business plans, pro-forma financial statements, competitive analysis, staff recruiting, business valuation analysis, and investor introductions for clients
  • Built strong relationships with founders of primary client, All Systems Integration, leading to follow-on business dealings
    • Barbeau Associates / Principal
    JUNE 1998 – JANUARY 2000, MANSFIELD, MA
  • Managed a team of resources of a manufacturing client on a project to evaluate a proprietary MRP / ERP application for adoption, result was a strong no-go decision based on unmet base-line requirements
  • Managed a team of resources of a bindery client on a project to define requirements, identify, select, and implement an ERP application, result was a successful deployment and improved operations
  • Managed a team of resources of a catalog sales client on a project to define requirements, identify, select, and implement an ecommerce application, result was a no-go decision due to cost
  • Supported numerous client system platforms and back-office applications including Order Entry, Inventory, General Ledger, Payroll, Receivables, Payables, Check Reconciliation, and others
    • Cornerstone Computer Services / Technical Project Manager / Programmer
    JULY 1995 – JUNE 1998, BERLIN, MA
  • Recruited from Commerce Insurance (below) to join a startup consulting firm providing systems implementations, application development, and support services
  • Acted as interim MIS Director for several multi-million dollar clients using IBM AS/400 and Novell platforms in the manufacturing, distribution, and finance industries and provided application development, integration, and end-user support services
  • Designed, developed, and project managed the implementation of an integrated application suite including Point-of-Sale, Bar-Coded Inventory Control, Order Entry, Billing, and Receivables. Reduced annual inventory variance from $1M to less than $1K, providing 100% project ROI in less than 1 year, exceeding management expectations
  • AS/400, RPG-III, CL (split-screen, subfile processing), PDM, SDA, RLU, DFU
    • The IBM Computer Center / Store Manager
    JULY 1988 – JUNE 1990, HANOVER, MA
  • Managed all retail and service operations for an IBM PC dealership including staff recruiting and training, purchasing, advertising, sales, order fulfillment, service, and finances
  • Was trained on and resold Real World accounting software to small and medium size businesses, including Order Entry, Inventory, General Ledger, Payroll, Payables, Receivables, and others
  • Worked closely with company owners throughout divestment proceedings and managed staff placement, disposition of assets, and final settlement of customer accounts
    • Needel, Welch, & Stone, P.C. / Management Consultant
    JULY 1988 – JUNE 1989, ROCKLAND, MA
  • Recruited from Synon Corp. (below) to become a charter member of the Management Advisory Services department of a well respected CPA firm and received Management Consulting training
  • Conducted comprehensive operational assessments of clients’ manual and automated systems to identify internal control weaknesses and made recommendations to improve efficiency and controls
  • Prepared and presented detailed findings reports, process and work flow diagrams, prepared request for proposals (RFPs) for systems automation initiatives and provided vendor review and selection for most back-office applications: Receivables, Payables, General Ledger, Payroll, and others
    • Synon Corporation / Programmer / Analyst
    JUNE 1987 – JULY 1988, FRAMINGHAM, MA
  • Supported mid-range & desktop application development, hardware, and software (OS & utilities) needs for a diverse base of clients in manufacturing, high-tech, and other industries
  • Designed & developed interactive and batch programs to interface CNC/PLC equipment to PCs and PCs to Mid-range systems that allowed transactional billing data to be captured, transmitted, aggregated, and uploaded into back-office applications to eliminate paper handling and significant data entry, reduced error rates, and improved cash flow via same day billing
  • Data General Systems (COBOL, AOS/VS, RDOS), IBM Compatible PCs (DOS, batch files, PC Basic), Communications (RS-232, Modem)
    • Middlesex Community College / Adjunct Faculty Member
    JANUARY 1988 – AUGUST 1988, BEDFORD, MA
  • Taught evening section of course in COBOL Programming
  • Taught evening section of course Introduction to Business
    • Dean College / Adjunct Faculty Member
    JANUARY 1992 – AUGUST 1996, FRANKLIN, MA
  • Taught seven sections of course in Microcomputer Applications
  • Taught two sections of course Introduction to Computers
  • Taught two sections of course in Microsoft Excel
    • Roger Williams University / Adjunct Faculty Member
    JANUARY 2002 – DECEMBER 2005, BRISTOL, RI
  • Taught four sections of course in Enterprise – Entrepreneurship
  • Taught one section of course in Management Principles
  • Taught two sections of course in Computer Applications in Business
    • EDUCATION
    Bryant University / BS
    1987, SMITHFIELD, RI
  • Bachelor of Science in Business Administration, Computer Information Systems
    • Babson College / MBA
    1998, WELLESLEY, MA
  • Masters of Business Administration
    • Walden University / PhD Candidate
    BEGUN 2015, MINNEAPOLIS, MN
  • Doctor of Philosophy in Management, Information Systems Management
    • ADDITIONAL INFORMATION
    Certifications:
  • PMP, Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute, Newtown Square, PA
  • CSM, Certified Scrum Master, Advanced Development Methods, Inc., Ken Schwaber
    • Organizations:
  • Project Management Institute
  • Project Management Institute, Ocean State Chapter
  • Scrum Alliance
    • Volunteer work:
  • Project Management Institute, Ocean State Chapter, Program Lead for Project Recognition Award, 2015
  • Entrepreneurial Coach & Mentor, Start-Up Weekend, U-Mass Dartmouth, April 2015

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