Christy Kovelan
Summary
Dynamic transformation leader with a proven track record, specializing in enterprise transformation, mergers & acquisitions integration, and change management. Expert in driving enterprise-wide corporate initiatives and optimizing processes for significant cost efficiencies. Adept at strategic planning and fostering collaboration, delivering consistent results through innovative solutions and strong program management.
Overview
28
28
years of professional experience
Work History
Founder, Transformation Expert
Bold New Direction
Kansas City
01.2023 - Current
- Transformation Mastery: expert in turning organizational complexity into clarity. Instituted a proven approach that transforms overwhelming challenges into achievable milestones, backed by strategic insight and practical execution plans that keep everyone moving forward.
- Change Architecture: we don't just manage change — we design it. Like skilled architects, we create tailored blueprints for transformation that respect your organization's unique structure and culture. Our adaptable framework ensures your bold ideas have a solid foundation, while our expertise guides the building process from groundwork to completion.
- Predictable Brilliance: we make the extraordinary routine. While transformation is inherently challenging, our methodical approach turns it into a predictable journey. We combine strategic thinking with reliable execution to deliver consistent, on-time results that meet or exceed expectations — taking the uncertainty out of organizational change.
Vice President, Process Engineering & Project Management Office
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2021 - 01.2023
- PMO Expertise: Designed an enterprise-wide Project Management Office and Process Engineering practice post-corporate transformation.
- AI/Automation Experience: Stood up Robotics Process Automation and Intelligent Automation Center of Excellence and supporting development processes to drive $5-10M per year in cost efficiencies.
- Change Leadership: Led 75 direct and indirect reports focused on leading transformation and business critical initiatives in support of annual revenue and cost take out enterprise objectives.
- Portfolio Management: Maintained a portfolio of all strategic initiatives for the company, ensuring target business outcomes were achieved and initiatives were aligned with corporate strategy.
- Lean Champion: Created and maintained an enterprise-wide Lean champion and certification program dedicated to building change champions throughout all job levels and organizations.
- Technology Transformation: Completed large-scale ERP implementation, reducing number of financial systems by 80%, and a cost reduction of over $55M.
Executive Director, Transformation Leadership Office
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2018 - 01.2021
- Transformation Leadership: Promoted to a newly created role designed to lead a multi-year, $220M corporate transformation, successfully aligning employees across process, technology, physical location, product, and customer interaction changes.
- Programmatic Approach: Stood up the operating rhythm, program portfolio, and organizational processes to ensure transformation work delivered against financial plans, reported quarterly to the street.
- Operational Excellence: Scaled and sustained the operations of the transformation office with strong program management skills and thought leadership.
- Acquisition Leadership: Played a key role in the $900M acquisition of First American Payment Systems, largest acquisition in enterprise history that has also exceeded revenue and EBITDA targets.
- Value Realization: Realized $79M in initial cost takeout, and over $200M in total value by driving the execution of strategic initiatives including technology, real estate, and operational transformations.
- Customer Interactions: Drove the go-to-market strategy for new solutions and enhancements in alignment with the newly segmented company.
Chief of Staff, Executive Director Product Management & Operations
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2016 - 01.2018
- Executive Leadership: Acted as an extension of the CMO of the Marketing Solutions division responsible for managing the performance of the business intelligence, client services, and product management teams.
- Integration Excellence: Built and executed an integration plan for four individual businesses to come together under one organization, now known publicly as the Deluxe Data segment. Delivered growth of over 22% within 3 years of integration.
- Organizational Effectiveness: Led and developed 60-80 direct and indirect reports with ownership over a $35M organizational budget. Aligned leadership across four distinct companies to common goals and cultural norms.
Executive Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Integration
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2014 - 01.2016
- Promoted to the role that designed and led the M&A integration office including the development of the change management organization for the enterprise.
- Built the M&A playbook that established the standard for post-acquisition activities in a high volume acquisition environment of diverse targets that were geographically dispersed.
- Collaborated across the Financial Services segment to drive priorities and alignment, ensuring business cases were developed accurately.
- Unified stakeholders to a commitment of excellence with high-energy and creative problem-solving.
- Stayed true to the enterprise strategic plan while providing outside of the box thinking and bold ideas.
- Managed 30+ direct and indirect reports, ownership of the $100M P&L.
- Used data and research to identify, diagnose, and prioritize the initiatives with focus on highest impact.
- Served as the key liaison between customers, vendors, staff, and leaders through complex integrations.
- Optimized the delivery of client services and products through alignment of acquired solutions.
Director, Project Management & Process Operations
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2012 - 01.2014
Director, Client Services & Operations
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2009 - 01.2012
Principal Lean Consultant
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.2007 - 01.2009
Senior Project Manager
Deluxe Corporation
Minneapolis, USA
01.1998 - 01.2007
Education
Master of Management Information Systems -
Friends University
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
Friends University
Skills
- Enterprise & Digital Transformation
- Program & Portfolio Management (PMO)
- Change Management & Organizational Design
- Mergers & Acquisitions Integration
- Process Engineering & Optimization
- Go-To-Market & Product Strategy
- Cost Optimization & Value Realization
- Business transformation
- Strategic planning & Facilitation
Credentials
Master of Management Information Systems, Friends University, Bachelor of Science – Computer Information Systems, Friends University, Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute, active, Six Sigma Black Belt, Aveta Institute, active, Lean Six Sigma (LSS), Villanova University, active
Selected Programs
- People-First Transformation, Aligned people at every level of the enterprise to understand their needs through a 4 year, $220M corporate transformation by building and executing a programmatic approach that ensured employees were prepared for changes in process, technology, physical location, and customer interactions.
- Corporate Development & Integration, Led or supported the full lifecycle of M&A activity for a publicly traded company including the creation and deployment of the best practices integration playbook.
- Deal Experience, Complex and strategic acquisitions of US and global targets of $50M - $1B.
- PMO Stand-up, Concepted the capabilities, created the tools, built the team, and launched the enterprise PMO through a period of rapid change to facilitate standardization across the enterprise.
- Portfolio Management, Technology and operational projects with teams, budgets of $1M - $150M.
- Go-to Market & Product Strategy, Partnered with the C-Suite to create the roadmap of the rapid growth division including the design of metrics and utilization of data to facilitate adaptation through launch.
- Capabilities Launched, Fintech, payments, marketing services, real estate, new verticals.
- Organizational Development, Applied change management methodologies to create buy-in and served as the trusted advisor to leaders across the enterprise to sustain incremental and transformative changes.
- Impact, Launched change management playbook used at the enterprise level, designed enterprise learning summit.
Timeline
Founder, Transformation Expert
Bold New Direction
01.2023 - Current
Vice President, Process Engineering & Project Management Office
Deluxe Corporation
01.2021 - 01.2023
Executive Director, Transformation Leadership Office
Deluxe Corporation
01.2018 - 01.2021
Chief of Staff, Executive Director Product Management & Operations
Deluxe Corporation
01.2016 - 01.2018
Executive Director, Mergers & Acquisitions Integration
Deluxe Corporation
01.2014 - 01.2016
Director, Project Management & Process Operations
Deluxe Corporation
01.2012 - 01.2014
Director, Client Services & Operations
Deluxe Corporation
01.2009 - 01.2012
Principal Lean Consultant
Deluxe Corporation
01.2007 - 01.2009
Senior Project Manager
Deluxe Corporation
01.1998 - 01.2007
Master of Management Information Systems -
Friends University
Bachelor of Science - Computer Information Systems
Friends University