Dana DeSarno
Summary
Senior management professional, bringing strategic leadership and operational excellence to drive organizational success. Skilled in employee and executive communications, team collaboration, building high-performing teams and process optimization with keen focus on achieving results. Utilizes strong decision-making skills and effective communication to navigate complex challenges.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
Work History
Sr. Manager, Branch Operations Programs & Communication
Navy Federal Credit Union
03.2006 - Current
- Manage all communication campaigns worldwide for over 400 branches
- Up-skilling and re-skilling team to handle change communication efforts and executive communication
- During first 30 days of onboarding in new role, executed communication audit to all field employees, reaching over 4,000 employees to better understand communication preferences followed by focus groups
- Create communication and channel strategy for handling all aspects of information: engagement, compliance, training, process changes and enterprise-wide efforts
- Collaborated with peers and teams in Branch Operations on converting to a centralized intake system
- Revamped executive communication plan to include new tools to improve processes, consistent branding and implement tracking capabilities
- Selected by Branch Operations as the enterprises point of contact for a new philanthropic team
Manager, Security Projects and Process Improvement
Navy Federal Credit Union
12.2023 - 05.2024
- Managed a highly qualified team of 15 Agile, PMP certified, Project Managers and Process Improvement Analysts to deliver enterprise-wide fraud projects
- Partnered with the Enterprise Portfolio Management Office to transition the team to run projects using a structured portfolio management format
- Conducted Fraud summit - agenda included new RACI matrix, role definitions, escalation plan and documentation standards for team
- Partnered closely with Enterprise Technology and Digital team on all large-scale project planning efforts
- Improved member experience in security through monitoring process improvement opportunities when fraud occurs
- Socialized Fraud roadmap with stakeholders to receive buy in for cross departmental projects
- Oversaw partnership with Procurement on vendor contracts and vendor management
- Implemented new structure for two major Security portfolios: “In Line/Real Time and Scaled Operations”
Manager, Human Resources - Employee Communications
Navy Federal Credit Union
08.2016 - 12.2023
- Managed creative team of 42 employees including Communication Specialists/Strategists, Graphic Designers, Digital Media Professionals and Operations
- Managed the project team for a new Human Capital Management (HCM) system and created a communication plan
- Led and executed two large enterprise change communication initiatives: Hybrid and COVID vaccine; including business partner and stakeholder involvement, feedback loops and engagement efforts
- Created and managed communication plans for CEO/COO including executive forums, fireside chats, regular video updates and communication plans
- Produced a monthly short internal news video called The Brief, where I played the “anchor” role, viewership was over 30,000 employees
- Implemented numerous process improvement initiatives under my leadership, some examples include: Automated photo request reform, self-service videos and decreasing written blogs by 30%
- Implemented new channels for leaders and employees including: NFCU Update emails, Campus Update emails and Leadership Link social community and emails
- Increased the Employee Communications engagement score by more than 30% while leading the team
- Introduced leader video blogs to the organization. Expanded the use of video for senior leaders
- Launched a new monthly Manager Forum to inform middle managers on company wide information averaging 1000 attendees a month
- Led the submission of multiple Employer of Choice awards, including the Fortune 100 Best Companies to Work For
Marketing Manager, Marketing
Navy Federal Credit Union
11.2013 - 08.2016
- Managed a team of Corporate Marketing Representatives. Consulted team on enterprise campaigns while coaching team members as needed
- Created marketing plans for all divisions at Navy Federal for external marketing efforts
- Consulted with Senior Vice President and Assistant Vice President of Marketing regarding development of Automated Financial Plan (AFP), Corporate Marketing Plans and marketing campaigns
Project Manager, Lending
Navy Federal Credit Union
06.2008 - 11.2013
- Selected by Lending Senior Vice President to lead marketing efforts for the entire lending portfolio after observing results while in Marketing
- Represented the Lending Department on many special project teams including: Mortgage loan origination system, iPad application, Modernize member communication, Mortgage statement redesign, Credit card redesign and Chat
Corporate Marketing Representative
Navy Federal Credit Union
03.2006 - 06.2008
- Served as primary point of contact with product owners in deploying and implementing marketing strategies.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
George Mason University
05.1999
Executive Development Program (EDP) - undefined
University of Virginia
01.2017
Skills
- Strategic planning
- Cross-functional collaboration
- Data-driven decision making
- Talent development
- Influencing and negotiating
- Team leadership
- Problem-solving
- Operations management
Accomplishments
- President's Excellence Leadership award 2019
- Presented to the Board of Directors (Thirty Minutes) – 2014 & 2015
- Thoreau Middle School liaison for education partnership – 2016-2023
- Greening Up Committee Member – 2020-2023
- Speaker at Ragan Conference on Communication - Culture and Engagement 2023
- Prosci Change Management certification - In process
Timeline
Manager, Security Projects and Process Improvement
Navy Federal Credit Union
12.2023 - 05.2024
Manager, Human Resources - Employee Communications
Navy Federal Credit Union
08.2016 - 12.2023
Marketing Manager, Marketing
Navy Federal Credit Union
11.2013 - 08.2016
Project Manager, Lending
Navy Federal Credit Union
06.2008 - 11.2013
Sr. Manager, Branch Operations Programs & Communication
Navy Federal Credit Union
03.2006 - Current
Corporate Marketing Representative
Navy Federal Credit Union
03.2006 - 06.2008
Executive Development Program (EDP) - undefined
University of Virginia
Bachelor of Arts - Communications
George Mason University
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