Debra L. Cronin
Galesburg,MI
Summary
Insightful Information Technology Director with 22 years of IT leadership experience including oversight of infrastructure, application support and security services. Dedicated to customer satisfaction with focused delivery of technical solutions. Recognized for cost-effective system improvements, operational streamlining and positive leadership style. Highly organized and detail-oriented IT Director who successfully manages projects, plans productions and leads teams. Experienced in budget management and client engagement. Detail-oriented team player with strong organizational skills. Ability to handle multiple projects simultaneously with a high degree of accuracy.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director
Information Technologies, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
Chicago , IL
2021.01 - Current
- Developed training resources for over 200 faculty, students, and staff with integration of innovative technologies.
- Led organization in development of business continuity plan, disaster recovery, incident response.
- Managed vendors for providing server, network administration, and engineering functions.
- Manage teams overseeing desk top support, A/V media, teaching and learning technologies
- Establish multiple educational and technology councils for faculty and students.
- Enhance IT budget development process
- Participate in IT audit and accreditation processes
- Implemented managed services for desktop, help desk, network, and disaster recovery.
- Negotiated contracts for unified messaging system, cloud services, infrastructure upgrades, software and hardware
- Developed and implemented first information security program and data governance strategies, policies, practices, procedures for school’s cybersecurity plan and protocol.
- In collaboration with Admissions Office implemented instance of Salesforce CRM acting as key resource for expanding capabilities and delivery to constituent groups
- Developed methods on enhancing student and faculty technical support on use of learning management system.
- Drafted and distributed reports to assist board members with critical business decisions.
- Worked closely with organizational leadership and board of directors to guide operational strategy.
Client Account Manager
Streamline Healthcare Solutions
Kalamazoo , Michigan
2017.01 - 2021.01
- Maintained client files with sales contracts, records of client interactions, client notes, and other information
- Identified behavioral electronic health products and services to meet needs of customer clients, as well as providing enhancements to existing products and services for customer delivery
- Built client relationships by responding to inquiries, identifying and assessing clients' needs, resolving problems, and following up with potential and existing clients.
- Educated customers on capabilities of electronic health records system capabilities through interactive presentations, training, and documentation
- Managed teams developing new customer environments.
- Negotiated contracts and established product schedules.
- Scheduled and attended meetings with clients and prospective clients as requested.
- Established regional user group to collaborate on technical advances, new regulatory requirements, and new technical standards
- Communications with clients to negotiate contracts, formulate timelines, and firm expectations which led to sales quotas exceeding expectations by 30%+ for four reporting periods
- Customer interactions have generated over $300K in solutions/enhancements to product line.
Information Technology Director
Little City Foundation
Palatine , IL
2015.01 - 2016.01
- Evaluated existing equipment and systems and took action to update processes into modern technologies.
- Established IT Advisory Committee for brainstorming and directing ideas to upgrade IT resources.
- Negotiated contracts for vendor services that resulted in reduction in costs of 50%
- Presented IT improvement recommendations to Little City Foundation Board, who consequently approved large IT investment for infrastructure.
- Implemented mobile device services to provide opportunities to disabled individuals
- Implemented managed services for desktop, help desk, network, and disaster recovery incorporating ITIL management practices.
- Developed, tracked and controlled information technology operating budgets and cost and benefit analyses for IT spending initiatives.
Adjunct Faculty
Malcolm X College - City College Of Chicago
Chicago , IL
2015.01 - 2016.01
- Malcolm X College Courses: Computer Science 101
- Developed and kindled professional relationships with students to better communicate and enhance instruction.
- Evaluated and selected instructional materials and texts to prepare course materials and lesson plans.
- Identified academic strengths and obstacles and developed instructional techniques to accommodate different learning styles.
- Used variety of instructional methodologies and technology to keep CIS courses interesting and engaging.
Information Technology Director
City Colleges of Chicago
Chicago , IL
2012.01 - 2015.01
- Created plans for IT development and managed technology for new campus.
- Developed, tracked and controlled information technology operating budgets and cost and benefit analyses for IT spending initiatives.
- Instituted training and cross training for staff members
- Oversaw IT services and led all technology initiatives for college.
- Developed and delivered communications to college relating to upgrades and new technologies.
- Implemented computer information courses through on-line and face-to-face formats.
- Worked in consultative fashion with other departments, such as finance, student services, marketing, and communications as advisor of technologies to improve their efficiency and effectiveness.
- Increased overall training effectiveness for faculty by involving Instructional Technologists in design, development, and implementation of training activities for college’s learning management system.
- Created, presented, and implemented $16M upgrade to technology services for new campus.
- Developed Multimedia Services Center that provided faculty with access to audio visual, lecture capture, digital media technology to enhance classroom learning experience.
- Provided metrics, performance reviews, and objectives to enhance performance of all IT personnel
- Cultivated highly-regarded technology services organization that sustained culture of respect, collective pride and individual and group professional development.
IT Client Relations and Services Director
Georgia Perimeter College
Atlanta , GA
2010.01 - 2012.01
- Established and managed feedback mechanisms to improve communications and collaboration.
- Recruited, interviewed and hired employees and implemented mentoring program to promote positive feedback and engagement.
- Updated and correlated IT plans and instituted mobile technologies.
- Coordinated with faculty members on IT upgrades.
- Collaborated with upper management to implement continuous improvements and exceed team goals.
- Created faculty and student advisory committees for technology delivery.
- Led design, development, and implementation of SharePoint for faculty websites.
- Led project to revamp Office of Information Technology website.
- Implemented mobile technologies on campus to assist in student engagement and data capture.
- Enabled customer feedback through implementation of surveys, open forums, and social media.
- Efforts increased customer satisfaction by 30%.
Information Technology Director
Oxnard College
Oxnard , CA
1999.01 - 2010.01
- Developed, tracked and controlled information technology operating budgets and cost and benefit analyses for IT spending initiatives.
- Analyzed department and job-related functionality requirements to align technology priorities with college needs.
- Designed and upgraded training programs utilizing Instructional Technology, increasing training opportunities by 30%.
- Upgraded service quality and academic operations using new technology.
- Led planning and implementation of various major technological initiatives, including new helpdesk and inventory tracking system.
- Updated college website using content management system, as well as website design software.
- Implemented, created and tested disaster recovery and business continuity plans and maintained appropriate back-up system.
- Designed Academic Success Academy that offered students space for tutoring, studying , and computer-based training for Math and English utilizing technology.
- Provided metrics, performance reviews, and objectives to enhance performance of all IT personnel.
- Deployed, monitored and maintained system installation, upgrades and network integration.
Education
Master of Arts - Instructional Learning Technology
12.2023
Post-Master of Science - Health Informatics Technology
2014
Master of Science - Computer Information Systems – Executive Management
2011
Bachelor of Science - Organizational Leadership
2009
Skills
- Project Management
- Vendor Management
- Strategic Planning
- Technology Assessment
- Customer Service
- Change Management
- Client Relationship Management
- Disaster Recovery
- Communications Strategies
- Disaster Recovery
- Change Request Processing
- Information Technology Management
- Communications Strategies
- Cybersecurity
Timeline
Director - Information Technologies, Lutheran School of Theology at Chicago
2021.01 - Current
Client Account Manager - Streamline Healthcare Solutions
2017.01 - 2021.01
Information Technology Director - Little City Foundation
2015.01 - 2016.01
Adjunct Faculty - Malcolm X College - City College Of Chicago
2015.01 - 2016.01
Information Technology Director - City Colleges of Chicago
2012.01 - 2015.01
IT Client Relations and Services Director - Georgia Perimeter College
2010.01 - 2012.01
Information Technology Director - Oxnard College
1999.01 - 2010.01
Western Michigan University - Master of Arts, Instructional Learning Technology
University of Illinois at Chicago - Post-Master of Science, Health Informatics Technology
Georgia State University - Master of Science, Computer Information Systems – Executive Management
California Lutheran University - Bachelor of Science, Organizational Leadership
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