Carolyn Erdman
Rancho Cucamonga,CA
Summary
Multi-talented IT professional consistently rewarded for success in planning and operational improvements. Experience in leadership, project and staff management, strategic and budget planning, and improving business processes that positively impact overall morale and productivity. Looking to secure a challenging position within the field of higher education to fully utilize instructional, operational, and management experience and expand professional development, learning, and knowledge.
Overview
20
20
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Interim Co-Director, Enterprise Applications & Dat
Western University of Health Sciences
10.2022 - Current
- Through co-leading a team of 15 talented IT professionals, fostered an inclusive environment that values diversity of thought, experience, and background among team members.
- Streamlined operations for increased efficiency by identifying areas of improvement and implementing necessary changes.
- Utilized technology tools effectively to automate tasks where appropriate, freeing up time for higher-value activities.
- Developed innovative solutions to complex problems through creative problem-solving techniques and cross-functional collaboration.
- Conducted comprehensive testing processes for quality assurance, minimizing post-deployment issues and improving end-user satisfaction.
- Achieved successful system deployments by coordinating cross-functional teams throughout all stages of development.
- Developed customized reports, meeting specific department needs while ensuring data accuracy and accessibility.
- Managed complex projects from inception to completion, ensuring timely delivery within budget constraints.
- Spearheaded system upgrades to enhance user experience and improve overall functionality.
- Elicited and clearly documented business and system requirements.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to gather requirements, translating them into actionable plans for system improvements.
- Implemented security measures to protect sensitive company information, adhering to industry standards and regulations.
- Championed change management initiatives during major software transitions, effectively managing stakeholder expectations while minimizing disruptions to daily operations.
- Identified opportunities for cost savings, conducting thorough financial analyses of proposed projects.
- Utilized change management techniques to provide smooth transitions during new hardware and software introductions.
- Evaluated vendor proposals for new software implementations, selecting solutions that aligned with company objectives and budgetary limitations.
- Optimized team performance by providing ongoing training on new software applications and best practices.
- Provided and supported implementation of business solutions by identifying business needs and carrying out necessary practices and processes.
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in the team''s ability to deliver results.
- Collaborated closely with senior management to align project objectives with strategic company initiatives, ensuring that efforts contributed to overall business growth.
- Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
- Fostered a culture of innovation and creativity within the project team, leading to improved problem-solving capabilities and enhanced outcomes.
- Led cross-functional teams to successful project completions, improving team cohesion and productivity with effective leadership strategies.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.
Information Technology Training Specialist
Western University Of Health Sciences
09.2013 - Current
- Successfully conveys technical functionality to end-users through developing and conducting training courses for the University's community.
- Offered training seminars include in-person classes, hands-on, one-on-one, walk-throughs, and remote videoconferences.
- Creates, develops, and edits training videos and documentation.
- Technical-related training classes, videos, and documentation include, but is not limited to, the University's calendar system (Resource Scheduler), the latest version of Microsoft Office Suite programs, SharePoint 2016, SharePoint Online, Microsoft 365, Zoom Communications, TeamDynamix (TDX), Ellucian's ERP system (Banner 9), and LinkedIn Learning.
- Acts as a liaison between the University's Information Technology (IT) Department and the University's student, faculty, and staff community through being part of the University Policy Committee's quorum and ensuring that technology is at the forefront of our University's policies.
- Demonstrates keen decision-making skills by suggesting and providing technology-related programs best practice concepts to various University entities.
- Actively operates as a project manager and lead in the implementation of new technology systems to colleges and departments based on their needs.
- Displays effective project management skills through creating project scopes and schedules, managing project team members, assessing project risk, and providing successful project delivery to key University stakeholders.
- Constructs, designs, and delivers prosperous communication plans for our IT Department.
- Prepares and hosts bi-annual IT Expos for both the University's Lebanon and Pomona campuses including, but not limited to, creatively devising all advertising materials such as bulletin boards, pamphlets, and banners, organizing appropriate participation games and raffles, and building prize baskets for attendees.
- Writes, formats, and edits the IT Department's newsletter.
- Assists in reviewing, updating, and editing the University's portal, internal Intranet, and external internet websites.
Operations Coordinator/Scriptwriter
Western University Of Health Sciences
07.2009 - Current
- Designed and edited various advertising materials, including bulletin boards, pamphlets, and banners for departmental use.
- Successfully wrote, created, and edited promotional scripts and videos for the University.
- Acted as project lead for video productions, including, but not limited to, directing, establishing timelines, scheduling video shoots, and ensuring production ran smoothly and videos were created in a timely manner.
- Existed as the point of contact and liaison between the University's technical team and the students, faculty, and staff in order to understand, interpret, and explain their desires and wants as our customers.
- Assisted in reviewing, updating, and editing the University's Internet and Intranet web pages.
- Displayed excellent oral and written communication skills by educating technical functionality to end-users through training by hands-on, walkthrough, remote, and documentation materials.
- Utilizing the University's ERP system (Banner) created and processed all check requisitions, purchase orders, travel arrangements, and online orders for departmental needs.
- Established and administered annual budget with effective controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate and support sustainability objectives.
Operations Coordinator
Western University Of Health Sciences
08.2004 - Current
- Effectively conducted in-class and hands-on training courses for University entities for Resource Scheduler, Microsoft Excel, Outlook, and Access.
- Successfully created and distributed multi-media training materials.
- Consistently designed bulletin boards and banner for departmental use.
- Reviewed University-wide Banner accounts to ensure secure and accountable usage in preparation for yearly audits.
- Utilized the University's ERP system (Banner) to create and process all check requisitions, purchase orders, and online orders.
- Reviewed financial reports each day and investigated variances with accounting staff to keep records accurate.
- Established and administered annual budget with effective controls to prevent overages, minimize burn rate and support sustainability objectives.
Education
Master of Science - English
California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA05.2009
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University - Fullerton
Fullerton, CA06.2002
Skills
- Leadership Skills
- SMART Goals
- Strategic Planning
- Budget Development
- Data Governance
- Change Management
- Project Management Skills
- RACI
- Project Scope
- Project Scheduling
- Project Risk
- Project Delivery
- Information Security and Compliance
- Computer Skills
- Ellucian Products
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Office 365
- TeamDynamix (TDX)
- ClickUp
- Instructor-led Training
- Training Documentation
- Video Production
Accomplishments
Successfully co-leads the Enterprise Applications & Databases (EAD) department, a subunit of the Information Technology (IT) department at Western University of Health Sciences (WesternU).
- Promoted to Interim Co-Director of EAD within nine months of acting as EAD’s Business Systems Analyst/Supervisor, becoming a member of WesternU’s IT Leadership Team (ITLT). As a member of ITLT:
- Actively participated in the Info-Tech Research Group’s IT Strategy Workshop, which shaped the IT Strategic Plan for 2025-2028 and included the formation of WesternU IT’s vision, mission, guiding principles, and goals.
- Helped establish IT’s Business Strategic Plan by providing IT-EAD-related goals that align with WesternU’s overarching strategic themes and goals; proposed a series of future initiatives, including their key deliverables, metrics, and fiscal analysis that promote preparedness for the future and help ensure IT and EAD’s operational effectiveness.
- Assisted in the facilitation of two productive IT Retreats.
- October 2024 – IT Retreat – Big Al’s Bowling and Arcade: Worked with ITLT to organize an enjoyable, team-building event to foster relationships and improve staff morale.
- October 2023 – IT On-site Day – DoubleTree by Hilton: Collaborated with ITLT to lead an entertaining, valuable team development day; crafted and presented two activities to help team members become acquainted and to promote staff inclusion.
- Promoted the excellence of IT-EAD by producing two ISS-sponsored Two-Minute Tuesday videos focused on helping the WesternU community become acquainted with our services and how to request our assistance; oversaw the production of a third Two-Minute Tuesday to introduce IT-EAD’s Business Systems Analyst team.
- As IT-EAD’s Business Systems Analyst/Supervisor:
- Partnered with IT-EAD’s technical team to successfully launch WesternU’s new communication hub, my.WesternU; coordinated the communication and training plan for the induction of my.WesternU; provided go-live support by acting as the liaison between content owners and our technical team to identify and implement revisions, customizations, and optimization.
- Collaborated with WesternU’s Office of Legal Affairs (OLA) to adopt a business process solution for the gathering and storing of signed documents from the University’s hourly staff; designed and maintained a sophisticated DocuSign workflow that resulted in a successfully completed on-time project to keep WesternU in compliance with the legal requirements of acknowledging the newly enforced wage and hour policy.
Certification
Pending Completion – 2025
- Business Architecture Certificate from Business Architecture Center of Excellence (BACOE)
Completed
- Microsoft Office Specialist (MOS)
- HIPAA Certified through Western University of Health Sciences
Timeline
Interim Co-Director, Enterprise Applications & Dat
Western University of Health Sciences
10.2022 - Current
Information Technology Training Specialist
Western University Of Health Sciences
09.2013 - Current
Operations Coordinator/Scriptwriter
Western University Of Health Sciences
07.2009 - Current
Operations Coordinator
Western University Of Health Sciences
08.2004 - Current
Master of Science - English
California State University - Fullerton
Bachelor of Arts - English
California State University - Fullerton
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