Arnel Zapata
San Diego,CA
Summary
Accomplished Project Manager offering more than 15 years of experience in systems, network, telecommunications and recent technologies. Successful when leading high-performing teams to sustain product vision, roadmap and business goals. Exceptional technical expertise, leadership and talent for driving stellar, on-target results. Experienced Vendor Management with top-notch implementation and project management abilities. Highly organized, methodical and skilled at overseeing daily milestones across high-performance teams. Well-versed in systems, networks and routers planning and deployment. Instrumental Project Manager bringing 15 years of experience achieving ambitious goals in challenging environment. Diligent, forward-thinking and adaptable to dynamic company, customer and project needs. Successful at motivating teams to meet demanding timelines. Results-oriented Project Coordinator highly talented in overseeing schedule, materials and Carrier and Vendor management. Operate effectively in busy, deadline-oriented settings and work well with all stakeholders. Well-versed in building positive relationships with customers and other stakeholders. Strong requirements gathering, scope development and inventory coordination abilities. Skilled at overseeing complex, high-value technical projects with excellent planning competencies. Talented Carrier Management offering 15 years of experience and top-notch abilities in organizing workflows, solving complex problems and making accurate decisions based on sound judgment and analytical strengths. Experienced with leading teams driving successful and on-time projects. Enthusiastic Network Engineer eager to contribute to team success through hard work, attention to detail and excellent organizational skills. Clear understanding of Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia, CISCO, Juniper and other router and network vendor equipment and training in Microsoft Office including Teams, WebEx, and other online collaboration tools. Motivated to learn, grow and excel in Telecommunications, Systems, Routers and Network technologies. Organized and dependable candidate successful at managing multiple priorities with a positive attitude. Willingness to take on added responsibilities to meet team goals. To seek and maintain a full-time position that offers professional challenges utilizing interpersonal skills, excellent time management and problem-solving skills. Dedicated Engineering and Network professional with history of meeting company goals utilizing consistent and organized practices. Skilled in working under pressure and adapting to new situations and challenges to best enhance the organizational brand. Experienced Project Manager with top-notch implementation and project management abilities. Highly organized, methodical and skilled at overseeing daily milestones across high-performance teams. Well-versed in systems, networks and vendor planning and deployment.
Overview
33
33
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Technical Project Manager
AT&T SERVICES, INC.
Saint Louis, MO
12.2010 - Current
- Served as technical liaison, supporting engineering, management, procurement, sales and marketing, quality assurance and supply base.
- Gathered project requirements through interactions, meetings and walkthrough with potential application users and to develop business requirements documents (BRD), functional requirements documents (FRD) and user mockups.
- Managed design and manufacturing teams to build proprietary process equipment within aggressive cost and time constraints.
- Closely collaborated with project members to identify and quickly address problems.
- Oversaw large portfolio of projects to support teams, report progress and influence positive outcomes for key stakeholders.
- Monitored contracts and service level agreements to identify potential risks and implement mitigation actions to protect development process from unforeseen delays and costs.
- Maintained tactical control of project budgets and timelines to keep teams on task and achieve schedule targets.
- Adjusted project plans to account for dynamic targets, staffing changes and operational specifications.
- Produced reports and updated customers and senior leaders on progress and roadblocks.
- Communicated project plans and progress to key stakeholders and project contributors.
- Collaborated with project owners and team members to set ambitious but achievable goals.
- Identified innovative and automated approaches to routine tasks, making suggestions that were widely received.
- Managed and motivated project teams to promote collaboration and keep members on-task and productive.
- Investigated and corrected or escalated project problems.
- Planned and arranged meetings with external organizations and individuals, enabling parties to meet and discuss project progress.
- Enforced alignment of project strategy with business objectives and made modifications to promote efficient project completion.
- Gathered and disseminated project materials at key points to stakeholders.
- Maintained project schedules by managing timelines and making proactive adjustments.
- Built and utilized reporting systems to keep customers and management in loop with latest information.
- Reduced costs 25% by negotiating process improvements and agreements strategically
- Managed minimum of 6 projects each year while maintaining adherence to budget, schedule and scope requirements
Implementation Project Manager
Kineticom
San Diego, CA
01.2009 - 12.2010
- Monitored contracts and service level agreements to identify potential risks and implement mitigation actions to protect development process from unforeseen delays and costs.
- Designed and implemented key metrics to measure asset inventory accuracy.
- Identified cost-saving opportunities and reduced compliance risk through software license audits.
- Supported business continuity and disaster recovery.
- Documented specialized data and requirements to address business demands.
- Created implementation methodologies to control project costs and meet deadlines.
- Resolved implementation and operation issues with product manufacturers.
- Developed project plans identifying key issues, approaches and performance metrics.
- Led and managed staff of 12 team members engaged in administering complex telecommunications infrastructure
- Increased IT productivity, efficiency, agility and responsiveness, leading team of 10 to design transport and switch high-availability solution
Implementation Network & Wireless Engineer
Wireless Facilities, Inc.
San Diego, CA
02.2004 - 12.2008
- Managed installation, upgrade and deployment projects and provided on-site direction for network engineers.
- Monitored and tested application performance to identify potential bottlenecks, develop solutions, and collaborate with developers on solution implementation.
- Participated in system development life cycle from requirements analysis through system implementation.
- Oversaw development and maintenance of organization computer systems and intranet.
- Managed and monitored installed systems for highest level of availability resulting to lower errors and failures by 15%
- Designed and implemented system security and data assurance.
- Defined enterprise processes and best practices and tailored enterprise processes for applications.
- Built and maintained network infrastructure consisting of Ericsson, Alcatel-Lucent, Nokia, CISCO, Juniper and other wireless related products.
- Carried out day-day-day duties accurately and efficiently.
- Created plans and communicated deadlines to ensure projects were completed on time.
- Actively listened to customers, handled concerns quickly and escalated major issues to supervisor.
- Managed on-site evaluations, internal audits and customer surveys.
- Completed paperwork, recognizing discrepancies and promptly addressing for resolution.
- Performed duties in accordance with applicable standards, policies and regulatory guidelines to promote safe working environment.
Field Support Engineer
UMB
Los Angeles, CA
08.2002 - 01.2004
- Walked clients and internal staff through troubleshooting steps to resolve common software issues.
- Tested equipment performance and demonstrated operation and servicing of equipment to customer.
- Managed maintenance data records and tracked operating information for onsite reference.
- Checked safety practices and integrity of PPE.
- Inspected equipment and processes to reduce maintenance-related downtime incidents and mitigate equipment failures.
- Monitored work performance and quality to maintain standards.
- Provided technical support to troubleshoot, repair and maintain operational efficiencies in wireless network systems.
- Trained personnel to align objectives, strengthen competencies and standardize operations.
- Scheduled service calls according to customer location and urgency of need.
- Recommended design changes, upgrades and replacements to improve systems performance.
- Repaired and calibrated systems and equipment post-installation.
- Facilitated communication between office personnel, subcontractors and customers.
- Maintained tools and equipment, parts inventory and library of machine manuals.
- Performed onsite installation, modification and maintenance of systems and equipment.
- Examined faulty equipment, interpreted reports and analyzed customer complaints to diagnose equipment malfunction.
- Investigated and troubleshot 5 product service issues weekly
- Managed maintenance data records and tracked operating information for onsite reference
- Tested equipment performance and demonstrated operation and servicing of equipment to customer
- Walked clients and internal staff through troubleshooting steps to resolve common software issues
- Monitored work performance and quality to maintain standards
- Trained personnel to align objectives, strengthen competencies and standardize operations
- Oversaw team of 6 Field Engineers resolving 5, 10 and 20 issues
- Investigated and troubleshot 50 field related service issues weekly
- Scheduled service calls according to customer location and urgency of need
- Investigated and troubleshot 25 field-related service issues weekly
- Maintained tools and equipment, parts inventory and library of machine manuals
- Managed administrative tasks such as maintaining customer service logs and internal service records
- Checked safety practices and integrity of PPE
Senior Network Technical Engineer
American Services, Inc.
Dallas, TX
09.2000 - 07.2002
- Monitored data transfer security to detect and prevent intrusion attempts and respond to DDoS attacks resulting to improve network efficiency by 20%
- Initiated and managed network test facilities to verify network hardness and resilience to reduce errors and failures by 10%
- Provided network support services for devices such as hubs, bridges, routers and other hardware.
- Monitored network capacity and performance to diagnose and resolve complex network problems.
- Performed troubleshooting for Juniper, Cisco and packet analysis.
- Provided complete end-to-end engineering and installation of route-based IP network solutions.
- Managed, tracked and coordinated problem resolution and escalation processes.
- Liaised with cabling infrastructure vendors and domestic and international ISPs.
- Configured, managed and troubleshot VoIP and multi-media distributed systems and platforms.
- Provided detailed network diagrams, process flow charts and procedural guidelines.
- Established robust infrastructure and data capacity for new applications and communication between sites.
- Troubleshot complex multi-vendor network service provider issues.
- Integrated fixed wireless connectivity into facilities lacking access to terrestrial high-speed networks.
- Organized frameworks for transferring secure data from internal to external and public networks.
- Collaborated with vendors to select and install Transport and Multiplex Equipment to optimize network performance and uptime
Network Support Engineer
Lucent Technologies, Inc.
Riyadh City, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia
12.1997 - 06.2000
- Diagnosed network problems involving combination of hardware, software, power and communications issues.
- Drafted post-mortem documentation analyzing instances of network system failures and detailing required repair and restoration efforts.
- Supported users in setup and configuration of wireless bridge networks.
- Designed and implemented cloud network infrastructures along with intra- and inter-data center connections.
- Remotely analyzed and diagnosed complex network faults for 5ESS Switches and Transport Equipment end-users, recommending and implementing corrective measures.
- Oversaw junior-level engineers, directing work orders while monitoring performance metrics and consumer feedback.
- Managed and administered load balancing tasks for Switch and Transport networks, routing and shaping traffic to reduce service interruptions and network strain.
- Oversaw patch testing and deployment, script network software pushes and uninstalls.
- Performed network security design and integration duties.
- Monitored network hardware operations to evaluate proper configuration.
- Improved overall user experience through support, training, troubleshooting, improvements and communication of system changes.
- Managed and administered load balancing tasks for transport networks, routing and shaping traffic to reduce service interruptions and network strain by 15%
Carrier Account Manager
Bayantel - Head Office
Quezon City, Philippines
04.1997 - 12.1997
- Identified potential referral sources and developed relationships through presentation of company's services.
- Analyzed monthly reports in local CRM for sales leverage gaps and opportunities.
- Developed and presented sales strategies to increase target market sales.
- Analyzed monthly sales trends to implement identified sales processes and improvement changes.
- Generated additional revenue opportunities by introducing and leveraging company's products and services.
- Updated logs and submitted timely reports detailing activities in line with regulatory standards.
- Evaluated production schedules and orders to arrange required materials and plan staffing needs.
- Managed personnel by implementing company policies, procedures, work rules and disciplinary action.
- Prepared and maintained production reports and personnel records.
- Worked with senior leadership to complete under-budget management on complex issues.
- Trained in and implemented emergency response procedures to protect team members and property.
- Secured necessary permits and renewals to keep operations compliance with legal standards.
- Minimized lags by leading and scheduling personnel, boosting morale and implementing new protocols.
- Utilized proven problem-solving techniques to improve customer satisfaction and vendor relations.
- Implemented knowledge to provide product quality assurance and executed inventory maintenance, optimizing work time.
- Identified areas for business improvements and utilized client feedback to drive developments.
- Planned operations to meet established schedules, factoring in order demands and business forecasts.
- Surpassed company objectives by cooperating with staff and team members to share and actualize processes to accomplish established goals.
- Collaborated with technical and administrative teams to develop and implement successful corrective plans.
- Oversaw routine maintenance programs and scheduled service to keep equipment functioning at peak levels.
- Recognized low-cost suppliers and managed deliveries to cut downtime and save costs.
- Analyzed and determined resolutions to multi-faceted issues that affected management and business objectives.
- Designed departmental budgets to cut company operating costs by 10%
- Devised and administered cost control initiatives saving $100K
- Identified potential referral sources and developed relationships through presentation of company's services
- Analyzed monthly sales trends to implement identified sales processes and improvement changes
- Developed and presented sales strategies to increase target market sales by 20%
Senior Network Engineer
Digital Telecommunications Inc
Pasig City, Philippines
04.1994 - 03.1997
- Established and monitored key performance metrics to verify consistent compliance with important networking standards.
- Oversaw company's entire network and related policies covering use, maintenance and infrastructure.
- Initiated and managed network test facilities to verify network hardness and resilience.
- Provided network support services for devices such as hubs, bridges, routers and other hardware.
- Implemented scalable, efficient and cost-effective network automation framework.
- Recommended network security standards and upgrades to management.
- Backed up support desk team to handle user problems and technical concerns.
- Maintained and expanded vendor relationships through amicable and beneficial interactions with network carriers and business partners.
- Employed strong team management and task prioritization skills to streamline project turnaround times and meet tight deadlines.
- Analyzed existing network and application architectures, presenting findings on possible enhancements and improvements to senior decision-makers.
- Led planning and technical design activities for routine operations and special projects.
- Built and improved network documentation and training procedures to lead successful team completing high-quality work.
- Improved network operation by incorporating new technologies into existing designs.
- Monitored network activities to quickly detect and resolve operational and security issues.
- Managed purchasing and installation of networking equipment such as core routers and switches.
- Planned and implemented effective disaster recovery and business continuity solutions.
- Managed, tracked and coordinated problem resolution and escalation processes.
- Provided detailed network diagrams, process flow charts and procedural guidelines.
- Established robust infrastructure and data capacity for new applications and communication between sites.
Design Engineer
PLDT Makati General Office
Makati City, Philippines
12.1988 - 04.1994
- Supported engineering design development through analysis and simulation of prototypes and previous switching and transport models.
- Conducted research to test and analyze feasibility, design, operation and performance of equipment, components and systems.
- Designed and analyzed switch and transport telecommunications networks and systems.
- Estimated quantities and cost of materials, equipment and labor to determine project feasibility.
- Coordinated technical requirements, scheduling and solution development for engineering design and test issues.
- Interacted with project leaders and stakeholders to define requirements and generate and maintain design development documents.
- Provided technical engineering support and project management for design, engineering and development of telecommunications switch and transport products.
- Worked with product planners and industrial designers to conceptualize and refine product concepts.
- Participated in feasibility and practicality roundtables to determine potential ROI of new project proposals.
- Tested feasibility, design, operation and performance of equipment, components and systems.
- Processed customer-supplied requirements into actionable design plans through critical thinking and independent research.
- Tested models of alternate designs and processing methods to assess feasibility, operating condition effects, possible new applications and necessity of modification.
- Obtained vendor input during projects requiring third-party suppliers, helping to support cohesive operations and development.
- Balanced environmental responsibility and budget parameters in selection of production materials.
- Integrated environment, health and safety regulations into process design and work practices to alleviate risk.
- Collaborated with clients, architects, engineers, contractors and sub-consultants on projects with budgets up to $100K
- Planned and evaluated results of switch and transport analysis, modeling and experiments
- Drafted technical documentation for Telecommunication Networks components and finished products
Education
Bachelor of Science - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
Mapua Institute of Technology
Manila, Philippines04.1998
Skills
- Project budget allocation
- Strategic planning
- Technical project planning
- Risk mitigation
- Vendor relationship management
- Quality assurance
- Agile project management
- Dependency tracking
- Documentation Management
- Waterfall methodology
- Reporting template development
- Multitasking Abilities
Affiliations
- Project Management Institute
- Freemason
Certification
- Certified Project Management Professional, Project Management Institute - 2011
- Certified Six Sigma - Green Belt, AT&T University - 2016
Languages
Arabic
Limited Working
English
Full Professional
Spanish
Limited Working
Tagalog
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Senior Technical Project Manager
AT&T SERVICES, INC.
12.2010 - Current
Implementation Project Manager
Kineticom
01.2009 - 12.2010
Implementation Network & Wireless Engineer
Wireless Facilities, Inc.
02.2004 - 12.2008
Field Support Engineer
UMB
08.2002 - 01.2004
Senior Network Technical Engineer
American Services, Inc.
09.2000 - 07.2002
Network Support Engineer
Lucent Technologies, Inc.
12.1997 - 06.2000
Carrier Account Manager
Bayantel - Head Office
04.1997 - 12.1997
Senior Network Engineer
Digital Telecommunications Inc
04.1994 - 03.1997
Design Engineer
PLDT Makati General Office
12.1988 - 04.1994
Bachelor of Science - Electrical, Electronics And Communications Engineering
Mapua Institute of Technology