Years of professional business experience
Hi, I’m
DARLENE BROWN
Summary
Senior business professional with more than 30 years of diverse federal and private sector program management experience. Currently a senior program manager of FHWA/NHI course promotions and knowledge of the impending Blackboard Learning Management System. Experience implementing projects exceeding $25 million, while providing excellent leadership and guidance to a multi-disciplinary and diverse team. Excellent written and oral communications and client engagement with both federal senior executives, internal and third-party contract vendors. Valued for my ability to streamline tasks, meet project delivery timelines within budget, ensure technology platform reliability and data integrity. Known for providing innovative ideas that ensure contract compliance. Relevant experience includes: Information Technology contract management Large-scale program management Problem solving & task prioritization Performance Assessment Reports Resource acquisition and allocation System life cycle development Business process analysis Technology evaluation Information systems and Association Management Systems Business Requirements Management Records management support services General Ledger Cost benefit analysis Strategic planning and development IT program management of technology vendors Consensus building among stakeholders Proven change management skills Excellent oral & written communication skills Experienced Program Manager skilled in managing functional operations and projects related to supplies and logistics. Advanced understanding of organizational strategies, financial management, procurement and contracting. Expertise in logistical analysis, inventory and supply chain performance, development and standardization. Thorough understanding of inventory management, procurement and acquisition regulations.
Overview
18
1
Certification for Emotional Intelligence
Work History
Spatial Front, Inc
Program Manager/Delivery Manager
06.2019 - Current
Job overview
- Provide guidance and direction to the FHWA/National Highway Institute on technology for their Blackboard Learning Management System that interfaces with Adobe Connect, their website and Content Management System
- Provide leadership and support for various levels of senior management and stakeholders to ensure the development of strategies which serve to improve the delivery of the NHI training course programs and the organizational performance, specifically with oversight and leadership to the marketing, systems, media, and training project management support teams
- Provide direction with the business functional areas, business and enterprise planning, training, program performance, tracking and reporting
- This includes the scope of services, communications management, and budget management
- Lead meetings to ensure the effective delegation of task assignments to the appropriate resources as identified within the awarded task order for systems, media, marketing, and training project management teams to ensure program success
- Develop and manage the Integrated Master Schedule utilizing Microsoft Project and prepare monthly program status reports, monthly burn-down budget reports and submission of monthly invoice
- Writing Statement of Work and responses to RFPs
- Improve client and third-party vendor communications through document version control, adherence to Department of Transportation standards and accessibility through the NHI SharePoint site
- Deliver PowerPoint presentations and Visio flow charts to stakeholders and senior executives
- Lead weekly meetings with the Contracting Officer Representative (COR) and federal team for project status updates, risk awareness and risk mitigation
- Effectively manage a team of 12 resources for 4 task orders
- Effectively manage personnel resource schedules and the approval of expense reimbursements, vacation time requests and professional development training requests
Blueprint Consulting Services Group
Program Manager/Delivery Manager
08.2018 - 06.2019
Job overview
- Provided guidance and direction to the client on cloud-based technology and the development of all project management offices required documents to include leading stakeholder engagement meetings and communicating with executives regarding policy
- Lead team of 9 direct reports to ensure adequate support for various levels of management, stakeholders, and leadership to ensure the development of strategies that serve to improve the program and the organizational performance
- Utilized Agile to ensure the project met stringent timelines and performance metrics that supported project objectives while mitigating unforeseen risk
- Provided support in the business functional areas business and enterprise planning, training, program performance, tracking and reporting
- This included the scope of services, communications management, and acquisition management
- Effectively delegated task assignments to support the Enterprise Data and Analytics Modernization Initiative Program and provided detailed transfer of knowledge to team leads to ensure project success
- Developed and managed the Integrated Master Schedule utilizing Microsoft Project
- Prepared monthly project status reports and submitted project invoices for review and approval
- Improved client and vendor communications by ensuring document version control, adherence to DHS standards and accessibility through SharePoint
- Facilitated presentations utilizing PowerPoint and Visio to stakeholders and executives
- Lead weekly meetings with the contracting office representative and federal team for project status updates
- Wrote two proposals that resulted in additional agency contract awards
- Strong leadership utilized to manage client expectations for deliverable within the project timeline.
Benel Solutions
Project Manager
06.2016 - 08.2018
Job overview
- Technology implementations for non-profit organizations utilizing association management systems, specifically netFORUM
- Increased client engagement with the company because of technical presentations to prospective clients resulting in contract extensions and new contracts
- Documented gap analysis and risk assessment
- Gathered business requirements and translated into practical business flows and technical solutions
- Developed documentation for content utilized for the learning management system and criteria for training effectiveness evaluation
- Management of allocated funds for ensuring project is within cost
- Liaison between client and developers to support client desired technology solution
- Monitored project for scope creep and documented gaps which lead to additional task orders.
Prince George's Community College
Program Manager
08.2010 - 06.2016
Job overview
- Developed training documents on the automated acquisition process and changes to the federal acquisition regulation
- Provided an accurate budget forecast for seven years, while ensuring that all costs allocated for seven different general ledger cost centers were exhausted within the fiscal year per the federal acquisition regulation
- Managed funds allocated for all technology projects through general ledger for the entire institution
- Improved communications with contractual client through ensuring clarity on statement of work and prompt approval for vendor invoice payments
- Mitigated technology risk through double-point approval and allocation of funds for all technology hardware, software and professional services purchased throughout the entire institution
- Maintained current statistical and demographic information related to student and higher academic data for use in contract grant proposals and statement of work documents
- Led the annual technology contract review process, which resulted in a two percent cost reduction of consulting services, equating to more than 150 annual contracts totaling three million
- Approved vendor quotes for the acquisition of all technology hardware, software and consulting services, ensuring compliance with county and state contract procurement regulations
- Reviewed and approved technology RFP's and SOWs submitted for approval to the Vice President of Technology Services prior to moving forward to the procurement department
- Reduced telecommunications cost for capital expansion projects on the campus by 3
Workforce Development
Program Manager
04.2009 - 08.2010
Job overview
- Continuing Education - ‘Team Builders'
- Prepared monthly statistical reports to ensure grant compliance
- Developed curriculum for soft-skills training and communication
- Developed all curriculum materials and the internal process required for acceptance into the green construction-training program, a community-based workforce development grant funded program
- Managed internal and external stakeholder engagement to ensure program success, technology equipment, job placement, and housing
- Developed community partnerships to facilitate secure employment for participants at the successful completion of the program
- Managed participants ‘Career Development Plan' and to assist with employment eligibility
- Facilitated soft-skills training for job readiness on "effective communication, ‘self-esteem building,' ‘resume writing and interviewing skills
- Engaged participants in cognitive and critical thinking skills development to improve decision-making.
Character Education Partnership
Business Manager
06.2007 - 04.2009
Job overview
- Communicated with customers and vendors positively with particular attention to problem resolution.
- Created, managed, and executed business plan and communicated company vision and objectives to motivate teams.
- Assisted with hiring process and training of new employees.
- Processed vital documentation, completed forms and obtained appropriate insurance verification and authorization for services.
- Supported business management projects by monitoring and tracking risks, issues and action items.
- Improved business profits through innovative cost containment and revenue generation techniques.
- Anticipated financial impact from operational issues and worked with leadership to develop solutions.
Education
Strayer University
BS from Computer Information Systems
Central Texas College European Campus
Associate from Business
Skills
- Solid technical skills as a Project Manager,
- Automated processes
- Agile
- SCRUM
- Customer Relationship Management
- ITIL
- Quality Assurance
- Microsoft Project
- PeopleSoft, Deltek, QuickBooks, EZ labor,PayExpert, Peachtree
- QuarkXpress, PageMaker, Adobe Illustrator, Adobe Suite, Adobe Captivate
- Canva
- Visio, Visio Professional, Visual Basic,
- SharePoint
- Smartsheet
- netFORUM
- JIRA
- InfusionSoft
- Oracle, UNIX, Enterprise Resource Planning systems
- Blackboard Learning Management Systems
- Business Growth and Budget Development
- Employee Scheduling and Performance Monitoring
- Business Acumen and Operational Procedures
- Community Outreach and Engagement
- Budget Forecast and Strategic Direction
- Project Scope Evaluation and Process Improvement
- Software Documentation
- Program Leadership
Certification
Tracom Social Styles (Emotional Intelligence), Seven Habits of Highly Effective People, The Fred Factor, The Institute for Management Effectiveness and Leadership for Higher Academia Administration
Timeline
Program Manager/Delivery Manager
Spatial Front, Inc
06.2019 - Current
Program Manager/Delivery Manager
Blueprint Consulting Services Group
08.2018 - 06.2019
Project Manager
Benel Solutions
06.2016 - 08.2018
Program Manager
Prince George's Community College
08.2010 - 06.2016
Program Manager
Workforce Development
04.2009 - 08.2010
Business Manager
Character Education Partnership
06.2007 - 04.2009
Strayer University
BS from Computer Information Systems
Central Texas College European Campus
Associate from Business
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