Cassandra Taylor
Academic Advisor
Gainesville,FL
Summary
Detail-oriented professional with a love for academia and experience working with a wide range of students and professionals, both onsite and remotely. Working across many locations and industries (including academia and sports) has honed an extensive perspective and cultural sensitivity that help in collaborating well with diverse backgrounds and personalities. A keen listener to discern needs of others, with a goal to deliver timely, accurate solutions and clear communication, while building strong professional rapport.
Overview
23
23
years of professional experience
4
4
years of post-secondary education
6
6
Certifications
Work History
Engineering Manager
Cognizant Technology Solutions
Pensacola, FL
07.2022 - 08.2023
- Scrum Master for Top 3 Pharmacy client on 3 Scrum PODs spread across geographies (USA, India, Canada) managing software development lifecycle (SDLC) for products in various phases of development
- Foster environment that support continuous learning, adaptation, and harmonious working relationships
- Coaching mindset to empower individuals, ensure clear communication, and complete projects on time
- Remotely worked with 30+ cross-functional team members
- Entrepreneurial spirit to work with flexibility to respond to changing priorities and fluctuating workloads
- Coached teams to help remove impediments, resolve risks to deliveries, and achieve sprint goal.
- Prepared capacity planning and sprint planning spreadsheets for Leadership
- Participated in quarterly PI Planning sessions to develop product delivery roadmap of next 5 sprints
- Strong organizational work skills to facilitate daily stand-ups, sprint planning, retrospectives, sprint reviews, grooming/refinement events within each 2-week sprint.
Teacher / Director
Classical Conversations, Inc.
Pace, FL
06.2017 - 05.2020
- Directed academic program for junior high and high school students, planned annual school-wide calendar
- Coordinated annual events (Senior Thesis Defense, Mock Trial, Science Fair)
- Increased student engagement by developing interactive learning content and taught 6 seminars each year (Grades 7, 8, 12)
- Incorporated experiential learning and role play to engage students
- Collaborated with peer teachers to adapt to new situations and identify contingency plans
- Conducted tutor training classes at annual conference, parent workshops, and marketing information sessions
- Technology: MS Word, PowerPoint, Excel, Slack, Trello, Zoom, WebEx
Program Marketing Manager
McClelland Tennis Academy
Pensacola, FL
09.2017 - 09.2018
- Optimized registration by launching new WordPress website, delivering final product on time
- Tested and maintained forms and content on new system, trained CEO on backend administration
- Increased profit margins and brand awareness by developing and executing targeted marketing campaigns
- Created content across social platforms, ensuring accurate engaging content and clean formatting.
- Provided registration assistance to student athletes and families
- Technology: Google Workspace, WordPress, Mailchimp CRM, Stripe, Canva
Homeschool Teacher
Home Life Academy
Pensacola, FL
02.2011 - Current
- Researched, tailored, and taught curricula to teach students at multiple grade levels using the Classical Model of education, Kindergarten - Grade 12.
- Currently supervising in an administrative role one high school student enrolled in an online academy
- Supported students through academic advising to choose core and dual enrollment courses at local university
- Coordinated group events, volunteering, and international travel, resulting in global-minded students
- Maintained transcripts and ensured curricula met state education and reporting standards
- Prepared students for annual exams and college applications
Tutor
Cayman Learning Centre
, Grand Cayman
07.2010 - 12.2010
- Evaluated students and consulted with parents and center director to design individualized teaching programs
- Led Building Blocks program - Taught students and maintained tutoring records to adjust instruction and update parents on student progress
- Collaborated with fellow tutors to develop effective strategies for addressing diverse student needs and abilities
- Provided one-on-one tutoring sessions, tailoring instruction to meet specific needs of each student while promoting independent learning skills.
Adjunct Lecturer, IT
University College Of The Cayman Islands
, Grand Cayman
08.2010 - 12.2010
- Engaged students with insightful projects and classroom discussion of topics relevant to Computer Applications in Business to boost student learning and retention
- Evaluated student performance through projects, exams, and participation to monitor progress and provide constructive feedback
- Technology: Microsoft Office, Blackboard LMS
Systems Manager
A. L. Thompson’s Building Supplies Ltd.
, Grand Cayman
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Formed and supervised IT Department during period of disaster recovery, reconstruction, and rapid business growth
- Reported to CEO, analyzed internal requirements, advising on project roadmap to execute multiple concurrent initiatives across organization
- Trained and provided assistance to 200+ employees across 4 locations on Point-of-Sale functionalities, Microsoft applications, and system deployments
- Facilitated change management activities such as regular leadership meetings and behavioral training, improving transparency across organization and customer interfacing skills
- Coordinated IT infrastructure physical layout planning for store expansion
- Managed redesign of www.althompson.com and install of VoIP Nortel CS1000 phone system
- Orchestrated inventory cycle count procedure, resulting in improved inventory accuracy and cost savings
- Planned and tracked team activity to meet deadlines, always mindful to collaborate with sales, finance, and human resources stakeholders during implementations
- Excellent presentation skills, represented company on live TV to educate community on store expansion
- Consulted on hiring team to hire and train successor / new IT Manager
- Technology: Linux POS servers, Windows Server, Advantage POS, MS Office
System Integrator
GE Energy Management Services
Melbourne, FL
08.2000 - 08.2005
- Maximized integration efficiency by translating customer and business requirements on global SCADA/EMS projects
- Facilitated weekly project engineering team meetings, ensuing all impediments were removed
- Trained clients in-house and on-site in Latvia
- Integrated Oracle databases, code change requests, and customizations
- Configured disks, file systems, users, third-party software, edited dispatcher displays
- Performed manual user acceptance tests at various phases before deployment
- Technology: Rational ClearCase, C, C++, Fortran, Sun Microsystems, Oracle SQL, Unix, AutoCAD, MS Project
Education
Post Graduate Diploma in Education - Education
University College of The Cayman Islands
Grand Cayman 09.2009 - 06.2010
MBA - Information Technology Management
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL 05.2000 - 05.2000
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
The University of Tampa
Tampa, FL 08.1994 - 05.1998
Skills
Educational Planningundefined
Websites
Certification
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
Volunteer Experience
- Gulf Coast Diplomacy, Apr - Dec. 2023, Participate in meetups with global visitors to the Pensacola area; host dinners to share American culture.
- Toastmasters, VP Education, Feb - July 2023, Served as a guide on Toastmasters education program, Point of contact to schedule speeches and create meeting agendas
Timeline
AWS Certified Cloud Practitioner
06-2023
Certified Scrum Master, Scrum Alliance
11-2022
Certified Scrum Product Owner, Scrum Alliance
10-2022
Engineering Manager
Cognizant Technology Solutions
07.2022 - 08.2023
AZ-900 Microsoft Azure Fundamentals
05-2022
Grants Management 101 Certificate, Udemy.com
02-2022
Study Abroad USA: Building Capacity for US Institutions, edX Inc.
01-2022
Program Marketing Manager
McClelland Tennis Academy
09.2017 - 09.2018
Teacher / Director
Classical Conversations, Inc.
06.2017 - 05.2020
Homeschool Teacher
Home Life Academy
02.2011 - Current
Adjunct Lecturer, IT
University College Of The Cayman Islands
08.2010 - 12.2010
Tutor
Cayman Learning Centre
07.2010 - 12.2010
Post Graduate Diploma in Education - Education
University College of The Cayman Islands
09.2009 - 06.2010
Systems Manager
A. L. Thompson’s Building Supplies Ltd.
01.2007 - 01.2011
System Integrator
GE Energy Management Services
08.2000 - 08.2005
MBA - Information Technology Management
The University of Tampa
05.2000 - 05.2000
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
The University of Tampa
08.1994 - 05.1998
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