Christopher Thomas
Mocksville,NC
Summary
Dynamic leader in enterprise PMO operations with a strong emphasis on governance, risk management, and operational excellence. Proven track record directing high-stakes projects that drive revenue growth and expand market presence. Expertise in stakeholder engagement and strategic communication ensures alignment with organizational goals, while adeptness in managing cross-functional teams fosters collaboration and innovation. Committed to delivering impactful results and cultivating a culture of success through meticulous analysis and tailored planning approaches.
Overview
25
25
years of professional experience
Work History
ENTERPRISE PMO SR. PROJECT MANAGER
Vystar Credit Union / TEKsystems
Charlotte, NC
05.2024 - Current
- Senior Management Team consultant for clients, VyStar Credit Union responsible for implementation of Contact Center Fraud Authentication solution. The project implemented a security process to verify the identity of callers, preventing fraudulent activities by confirming the identity of the caller, by using Voice Biometrics, Automatic Number Identification (ANI) Validation, and Outbound Call Spoofing to authenticate their identity before accessing sensitive information. Enhanced authentication security for our members’ accounts when calling into the Contact Center. Standardize the authentication process at the Contact Center. Reduce Credit Union Fraud losses. Eliminate ID Theft, reducing fraudulent loans, hours of manual unwinding debt as well as credit reporting postings in error. The successful implementation of the project reduced manual authentication average from almost 30 seconds per call to just over 6 seconds per call resulting in a positive ROI in the first year.
IT PMO SR. CONSULTANT
Ascension Healthcare / TEKsystems
Charlotte, NC
08.2022 - 05.2024
- Senior Management Team consultant for clients, Ascension Healthcare responsible for transforming how patients communicated with their doctors at Ascension for Appointment Canceling and Scheduling. The project created a 43% cost savings for the hospital and created a much better patient experience across the entire hospital system. Implemented Genesys Cloud Platform to introduce efficiencies to call flow builds and user management. Migrated from on-premises traditional PBX to Genesys Cloud Platform. Managed architect team that designed auto-attendant applications, and all of workplace collaboration features. Implemented contact center included telephony services for call functionality. Ensured project goals and objectives were met within the agreed upon time, scope, and budget. Created and managed overall project schedule, developing detailed task plans, resource alignment, reporting on critical milestones, managing issues and risks, communicating project status and progress with key stakeholders.
SR CYBERSECURITY XSOAR IMPLEMENTATION CONSULTANT
Trinity Health Systems/S3
03.2022 - 06.2022
- Senior Management Team member who provided leadership while designing, implementing, and overseeing enterprise XSOAR Cybersecurity implementation. Assisted customers with their Incident Response efforts leveraging Cortex XSOAR for Security Orchestration Automation and Response. Documented customers’ business requirements and the threat landscape that was most applicable to their industry’s vertical sector. Lead Cortex XSOAR technical implementation/operations in a customer environment. Communicated effectively in crisis situations with all levels of an organization from Engineering/Operations to CIO/CISO audiences. Created documentation for Palo Alto Networks Cortex XSOAR playbooks. Managed and coached the Project Management team, providing guidance and playbook on Project Management of Cortex XSOAR.
DIRECTOR IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
US Radiology Specialists
12.2019 - 02.2022
- Senior Management Team member who provided executive-level leadership while designing, implementing, and overseeing the IT Program Management Office consisting of six (6) Senior Project Managers. Completed thirteen (13) M&A’s in a 32-month period. Revenue increased from $200MM annually to $1.5 Billion annually. Held responsibility for development, maturity, and continuous improvement of hybrid (Waterfall & Agile) methodologies for program and project management, which allowed governance of all projects, staffing, and funding for success. Established complete transparency by instituting a centralized Project Portfolio Management (PPM) software system that provided project management governance, Executive Level visibility, KPI and time tracking. Created a Corporate Governance Committee, which provides direction, approval, or denial of enterprise-level projects. Tasked with managing company’s IT Merger and Acquisition (M&A) integrations. Ensured large-scale projects adhered to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards by effectively managing the use of best-in-class project management techniques.
IT PMO SR. CONSULTANT
Erie Insurance, Bank of America / TEKsystems
Charlotte, NC
08.2018 - 12.2019
- Senior Management Team consultant for clients, Erie Insurance and Bank of America, responsible for the PMO processes and functions, and served as a conduit for communication between project managers and the executive who make the strategic decisions for enterprise projects. Responsible for enterprise, cross functional, high impact strategic initiatives by ensuring delivery of business outcomes. Strong business centric mindset with ability to utilize sound business judgment and tailor approach to drive optimal business outcomes. Serves as primary contact to Executive management for critical change initiatives depending on scope and impact of business supporting. Communicates, influences, and negotiates both vertically and horizontally to obtain or leverage necessary resources.
DIRECTOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DELIVERY
KCI Telecommunications
10.2017 - 07.2018
- Senior Management Team member responsible for the overall project management function, providing leadership, coordination, and management of the PMO processes and functions, and served as a conduit for communication between project managers and the executive who made strategic decisions for enterprise projects. Responsible for establishing the PMO organization as a center of excellence. Defined the project management process, standards, deliverables, and operational cadence necessary to ensure consistent project execution. Managed project scope and deliverables through a structured change management process to ensure customer expectations were met, while protecting revenue objectives. Responsible for the budget for multiple departments within the Professional Services areas.
REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO MANAGER AMER
SCHOTT, North America
08.2011 - 09.2017
- Senior Management Team member who provided executive-level leadership while designing, implementing, and overseeing the IT Project Management Office for the AMER Region. Managed Corporate IT Project Portfolio consisting of multiple technology projects ranging from $250K to $5M per project concurrently from initiation through closure at twenty-one (21) sites in North America, Latin America, and South America. Implemented Regional Disaster Recovery / Business Continuity Program for North America, Latin America, and South America. Supervised seventeen (17) project management reports covering fourteen (14) North American facilities and seven (7) South American facilities. Managed Global Data Center Consolidation Project for North America, Latin America, and South America, reducing the number of physical Data Centers. Migrated Active Directory Server to hub, virtualizing remaining local systems to Cisco Server / NETAPP / VMWARE Platform. Full accountability for managing day-to-day network changes, including VPN and security system changes and hardware or software modifications.
DIRECTOR ENTERPRISE PMO
HealthSmart Holdings, Inc.
04.2015 - 06.2017
- Senior Management Team member who provided executive-level leadership while designing, implementing, and overseeing the Enterprise Program Management Office. Completed eight (8) M&A’s in an 18-month period. Revenue increased footprint from a three (3) state area to a thirteen (13) state area. Held responsibility for PMO, which allows governance of all projects, staffing, and funding for success. Established complete transparency by instituting a centralized project management discipline. Created a Corporate Governance Committee, which provides direction, approval, or denial of enterprise-level projects. Effectively used both detail, drill-down and exception-based reporting methods while obtaining, analyzing, preparing, and presenting complex information. Ensured large-scale projects adhered to deadlines, budgets, and quality standards by effectively managing the use of PMI techniques. Built and managed Enterprise Program Management Office (PMO) disciplines in a Federated Model.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Columbia Southern University
Orange Beach, Alabama, United States12.2026
Bachelor of Science - Management Information Systems
Alderson-Broaddus College
Philippi, West Virginia, United States05.1996
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Alderson-Broaddus College
Philippi, West Virginia, United States05.1996
Skills
- C-Suite Business Acumen
- Stakeholder Communication
- Client relationship management
- Cross-functional collaboration and communication
- Multi-project management
- Team leadership
- Interpersonal communication
Accomplishments
- Completed thirteen (13) M&A’s in a 32-month period, Revenue increased from $200MM annually to $1.5 Billion annually
- Completed eight (8) M&A’s in an 18-month period, Revenue increased footprint from a three (3) state area to a thirteen (13) state area
Certification
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM) – Scrum Alliance
- Project Manager Professional Collegiate
- PROSCI Change Management Practitioner
- Six Sigma Overview Training (DMAIC)
- Cadence Leadership Training (John Maxwell)
- ITIL Training
- Sarbanes-Oxley Compliance Training
Work Availability
monday
tuesday
wednesday
thursday
friday
saturday
sunday
morning
afternoon
evening
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Interests
Member, National Senior Professional Rodeo Association, Professional Songwriter, Board of Directors, Son Sound Studios and Tire Swing Records
Affiliations
- Project Management Institute
- SCRUM Alliance
Quote
Nearly all men can stand adversity, but if you want to test a man’s character, give him power.
Abraham Lincoln
Work Preference
Location Preference
RemoteImportant To Me
Company CultureWork-life balanceTimeline
ENTERPRISE PMO SR. PROJECT MANAGER
Vystar Credit Union / TEKsystems
05.2024 - Current
IT PMO SR. CONSULTANT
Ascension Healthcare / TEKsystems
08.2022 - 05.2024
SR CYBERSECURITY XSOAR IMPLEMENTATION CONSULTANT
Trinity Health Systems/S3
03.2022 - 06.2022
DIRECTOR IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT OFFICE
US Radiology Specialists
12.2019 - 02.2022
IT PMO SR. CONSULTANT
Erie Insurance, Bank of America / TEKsystems
08.2018 - 12.2019
DIRECTOR PROFESSIONAL SERVICES DELIVERY
KCI Telecommunications
10.2017 - 07.2018
DIRECTOR ENTERPRISE PMO
HealthSmart Holdings, Inc.
04.2015 - 06.2017
REGIONAL TECHNOLOGY PORTFOLIO MANAGER AMER
SCHOTT, North America
08.2011 - 09.2017
MBA - Business Administration
Columbia Southern University
Bachelor of Science - Management Information Systems
Alderson-Broaddus College
Bachelor of Science - Business Administration
Alderson-Broaddus College