Entrepreneurial Business/IT Leader and Change Agent; PMO Lead at BlueCross BlueShield Association
Washington D.C. Metro Area
Entrepreneurial Business/IT Leader and Change Agent; PMO Lead at BlueCross BlueShield Association
Washington D.C. Metro Area
• Entrepreneurial leader with passion for leading people and organizations through processes of change; demonstrated aptitude for:
o Gathering and assimilating information quickly and easily
o Introducing culture change to improve business practices
o Translating complex issues for non-technical audiences
o Identifying and responding to clients’ concerns and fears
• Exceptional presentation and facilitation skills based on unique combination of improvisational theater, teaching, and business experience; proven talent for:
o Engaging audiences in spontaneous, interactive dialogue
o Setting clients at ease, surfacing issues and conflicts, and facilitating problem-solving
o Persuading clients, selling ideas, and creating compelling business cases
• Recognized talent for creative leadership and program-building skills
• MBA, MS Management Information Systems with High Honors
• Diverse, often concurrent experience in multiple functions and industries (consulting, IT, health care, education, etc.)
Presentation, facilitation, change management, health care information systems, program building, process analysis and improvement, teaching, IT strategy, knowledge management, collaboration technologies, making the complex easy to understand
(Hospital & Health Care industry)
March 2008 — Present (1 year 9 months)
Helping the Federal Employee Program establish a business project management office to improve project success and enhance staff skills.
(Non-Profit; Information Technology and Services industry)
May 2005 — November 2007 (2 years 7 months)
As leader of IT consulting practice, closed and led strategic consulting engagements for local, regional, national, and international nonprofits headquartered in DC, including health care, social service, associations, and political organizations.
- Refined and developed consulting and delivery methodologies.
- Dramatically increased service quality.
- Drove 67% increase in earned revenue.
- Sold and led Salesforce.com implementation, technology and infrastructure assessment, application selection, IT staffing, and other strategic and tactical consulting engagements.
- Developed White Papers, sales collateral, client educational materials, presentations.
- Planned and led shift of traditional support business to managed service model.
(Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)
September 2002 — May 2005 (2 years 9 months)
As first strategic technology and marketing officer, built department and infused information technology into culture of 3,200-employee, $130 million health care/social service agency.
- Drafted 3-year communications and technology plan. Devised enterprise information strategy to integrate new and legacy systems, standardize data modeling processes.
- Designed and implemented corporate intranet.
- Closed Electronic Medical Record software development unit, avoiding $2 million cost. Selected and implemented replacement.
- Devised unique time and attendance data collection system to reduce payroll errors by 90–95% and processing time dramatically.
- Introduced IT Infrastructure Library (ITIL) service support and delivery practices.
- Redesigned in-house training curriculum.
- Participated in strategy and business plan development for Closed Pharmacy and Web-based crisis intervention system.
(Public Company; 5001-10,000 employees; DJ; Publishing industry)
2002 — 2004 (2 years )
• Author of online series “Diary of a Job Search” for The Wall Street Journal’s career site, CareerJournal.com. The 13 installments received more than 300,000 unique monthly visitors. The popularity of the column led to the development of the book, Diary of a Job Search, published in October 2003 by Ten Speed Press.
• As Jack Thomas, author of ongoing column “From the Other Side of the Desk” on work and career life.
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Higher Education industry)
September 2000 — January 2002 (1 year 5 months)
· Developed and implemented strategies (marketing, product development, sponsorship) for $3.5 million web-based training initiative targeted at physicians. Recruited and managed relationships with academic medical center deans, other client sites, and pharmaceutical sponsor.
· Led Internet strategy, architecture, and application development; key role in selection of new technology vendor; oversaw migration of web-based courses from proprietary to open technologies to improve reliability, performance, and flexibility. Designed custom Learning Management and Content Management features.
(Non-Profit; 1001-5000 employees; Hospital & Health Care industry)
February 2000 — September 2000 (8 months)
· Designed and conducted feasibility study; drafted business plan for new post-polio clinic and service lines.
· Evaluated international market potential and competition; drafted pricing model and implementation stages.
(Privately Held; 1-10 employees; Broadcast Media industry)
April 1997 — August 1998 (1 year 5 months)
· Created new marketing plan, collateral, and communications; revenues increased 48% in one year.
· Designed and implemented 2 database applications and local area network; specified and implemented accounting systems that increased productivity by 75% in one year.
· Cast, directed, produced, or wrote dozens of commercials and audio programs.
· Conceived and trademarked turnkey radio production subdivision to market creative services and increase employment for regional freelance talent.
(Privately Held; Myself Only; Information Technology and Services industry)
August 1989 — August 1998 (9 years 1 month)
· Redesigned business processes for higher education and corporate clients.
· Developed and implemented 18 mission-critical database systems, including medical malpractice risk management, parking and traffic ticket management, workers’ compensation administration, conference management, and OSHA compliance and reporting.
· Built business on basis of ability to explain complex issues to non-technical users.
· Managed client expectations from needs analysis through user training and maintenance.
(Non-Profit; 1-10 employees; Performing Arts industry)
September 1989 — April 1996 (6 years 8 months)
· Grew reputation and reach of improvisational theater company of 5 performers from local to international.
· Doubled revenue annually 1989–1991; increased annual engagements by 220%.
· Created and directed sales and marketing strategies and collateral design; managed contracts, grants, fundraising, and finances.
· Designed and taught 15 improvisation and creativity workshops annually for trainers and corporate professionals; taught acting and improvisation at Duke University.
(Non-Profit; 10,001 or more employees; Hospitality industry)
April 1986 — September 1989 (3 years 6 months)
· Built and led new department of 7 employees responsible for the coordination of all university services for more than 60 conferences annually.
· Generated $2+ million annually and increased room nights by 35% over three years by creating performance metrics and using results to build pride and enthusiasm across university service departments.
· Computerized operations and interdepartmental data exchanges, resulting in dramatic increases in efficiency and client satisfaction.
· Created staff procedures, marketing plans, budgets, contracts, and sales collateral.
· Named 1989 Outstanding New Conference Professional by Association of Conference and Event Directors–International.
· Recognized by US Olympic Committee for outstanding service as Duke University liaison for 1987 Olympic Festival.
MBA , Public and Nonprofit Management , 1998 — 2000
MS , Management Information Systems , 1998 — 2000
BA , Psychology , 1979 — 1983
writing, technology, film, photography, improvisational theater, teaching, public speaking, swimming, hiking, marketing, graphic design
Beta Gamma Sigma, Boston University MBA, Adat Shalom
Outstanding New Conference Professional, 1989, Association of Conference and Event Directors-International (ACED-I); Beta Gamma Sigma (business school honor society)