ELENA GONZALEZ
Arlington,VA
Summary
Hardworking and creative professional with over a decade of hands-on experience in grants & project management. A natural problem solver and team builder who always sees the bigger picture. Organized, detail-oriented, and reliable self-starter - able to strategize and prioritize effectively to accomplish multiple projects under strict deadlines and stay calm under pressure.
Overview
19
19
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Grants Management Specialist
USDOT
01.2021 - Current
- Oversee grant projects for the Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) that sums over $1B in federal grant funding
- Experience managing multiple grant life cycles: pre-award, award, post-award, and close-out
- Ensure grantee expenditures (SF-270) and reports (QPR, SF-425) are consistent with relevant Federal grant regulations
- Resolve complex issues related to the financial and administrative aspects of grant programs
- Assist in policy guidance, provide training to various applicants & grantees – including state, local governments, government sponsored authorities, and railroads via webinars and Teams meetings
- Support Monitoring Lead with reviews of checklists & reports, and provide technical assistance with webinars in relation to Monitoring; provide meeting minutes and serve as back-up in absence of Monitoring Lead
- Perform virtual & on-site Monitoring reviews of the financial and administrative operations of DOT grantees
- Successfully draft & finalize Monitoring reports for review and approval well ahead of 90-day window; set personal deadlines
- Write grant analysis documents and agency decisions, prepare staff documentation, brief management officials, and communicate with a variety of levels of the agency to present information in regard to grant programs
- Process GARF amendment requests; Perform pre-award reviews and draft pre-award authority letters for Supervisory approval; Review grant Attachments by providing feedback and prepare files for RCC review; upload documentation in Grant Solutions
- Assist Chief of Grants with creation and editing of Notice of Funding Opportunity (NOFO) and ensure language is correctly captured by working with RCC to meet the necessary time frame of NOFO release
- Conduct spot checks for invoices that are in Autopay within Delphi system
- Upload concurrence memos & documents in PMT
- Maintain proper records and documentation via PMT website and internal R drive
- Creation of SOPs & training documentation for future reference in areas such as policy, outcomes, and guidance
- Six-month detail with RRD-11 Policy team; manage federal register files by uploading to SharePoint, provide guidance with new NOFOs by co-leading webinars, and following up with applicant questions; provide debriefs for unselected applicants
- Chairperson and evaluations reviewer for FRA grant programs; ensure applications meet requirements as set forth in the NOFO, upload applications in ARM/Grant Solutions system; provide feedback and assist in managing grant program spreadsheet tracker with Policy team; Assist in intake/eligibility for application submissions
- Apply grant analysis principles and program requirements to evaluate, assess, and make recommendations related to the review of grant proposals
- Manage the FRA Grants Inbox, respond to inquiries and creation of SOP for best practices
- Knowledge of Federal grants management laws, administrative rules, policies, and regulations
- Understanding of OMB Circulars, 2 CFR 200, NOFOs/Federal Register, Policy, etc.… Attending courses to obtain Project Management Master Track Certification via Management Concepts.
Transportation Industry Analyst
USDOT
07.2022 - 12.2022
- Detail Rotational Assignment with the Rail Program Policy & Performance Division (RRD-11). Served up to six months as a Transportation Industry Analyst by providing Project and Grants Management expertise.
- Supported the Division Chief in implementing the evaluation, selection and debriefing process for FRA’s competitive grant programs by drafting notices of funding opportunities, providing technical assistance to prospective applicants, evaluating applications submitted for review, and preparing briefing materials for Departmental leadership to review during selection briefings.
- Assisted in the creation of the Notice of Funding Opportunity for the newly created Railroad Crossing Elimination Grant Program. Upon release of notice, managed intake/eligibility reviews of applications submitted in preparation for grant program evaluations.
- Provided debriefs to applicants via Teams meetings whose CRISI grants were not awarded. Obtained reasoning by reviewing evaluations and sharing high-level feedback to applicants.
- Co-lead webinars for the Railroad Crossing Elimination, including discussing the Nuts & Bolts, and best practices for applying for a grant.
- Reviewed and analyzed Congressional activities related to rail and transportation matters and identified opportunities for engagement.
- Worked with the Office of Government Affairs, Chief Counsel, and other FRA offices to assist in responding to requests from Congress for technical drafting assistance.
- Monitored and provided subject matter input to advance FRA’s interests during the annual appropriations process and other rail-related legislation.
- Researched and developed responses to formal and informal requests for information received from Congressional offices, the Government Accountability Office, the Office of Management and Budget, the Office of the Secretary, State and local governments, railroads, and other interested parties.
- Continuously monitoring and evaluating relevant policy and financial developments related to the passenger rail industry, other transportation modes, other public sector financial assistance programs, and other countries to identify best practices, lessons learned, and program enhancement opportunities.
- Improved team productivity with efficient workflow management and regular progress updates.
- Nominated and awarded the 49th Annual Honorary Award for being part of the 2022 Discretionary Grant Program NOFO Development and Outreach Team.
Senior Grants Project Manager
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
03.2015 - 12.2020
- Managed up to 300 grant projects totaling over $500M from pre-award through close-out phases
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals
- Served as Acting Supervisor when previous Supervisor left the agency by overseeing Grants & Accounting teams, including approval of timesheets and providing grant agreement signature for grant obligations
- In the role of Senior, developed comprehensive training program for new hires, significantly reducing learning curve and integrating them into team quickly
- Knowledge of procurement & budget administration relating to State, Federal, and Private Grants (DASNY, DOT, FEMA, etc.)
- Coordinated with cross-functional teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks. Responsible for obtaining NEPA and CE approvals by working with Environmental and SHPO teams
- Approved contract books for grant compliance & language; attended pre-bid scope, pre-construction & bid opening meetings ensuring State & Federal requirements were implemented
- Monitored project progress, identified risks, and took corrective action as needed. Managed site inspections per grant agreements; maintained record keeping of pictures & site evaluations related to annual monitoring
- Skilled in the use of the City’s Financial Management System (FMS). Created monthly reconciliations and yearly financial audit reports for all Federal & State obligated grants with the use of FMS
- Track and approve/reject accounting payments (city & grant funds) at Level 3 or 5 in FMS. Provide monthly reporting to the Deputy Chief of Budget on all expenditures
- Liaison between Legal, Commissioners, Grantors, and other agencies such as OMB, Comptroller’s office, etc. by providing grant status, deliverables, and discussing conflict resolution
- Experience with OMB’s Capital Grants Management System (CGMS) and GMS (Grants Management System)
- Represent the agency at various Borough Commissioner meetings, City Hall, Procurement Fairs, and Agency Headquarters in Central Park, NYC
- Developed strong relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in the team's ability to deliver results
- Managed risk assessments and implemented mitigation strategies to minimize potential issues during project execution. Creation of SOPs, flowcharts, meeting minutes & status reports explaining details, expenditures, shortfalls
- Developed comprehensive risk management plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, minimizing project delays and unexpected challenges
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion
- Achieved high levels of team engagement and morale by promoting a collaborative and inclusive work environment
- Ensure legal compliance with Federal, State, and City rules & regulations
- Served on interview panels for recruiting Junior Grant Project Managers. Provided rating and feedback on candidates who matched agency requirements
- Appointed to Civil Service title – Administrative Community Relations Specialist. Scored 100% in NYC exam
Grants Analyst
Polaris Solutions
03.2012 - 03.2014
- Managed grant lifecycle from pre-award to closeout by overseeing up to seven pharmaceutical clients (Shire, Endo, Biogen, etc..) totaling well over $1B in grant funds
- Interacted directly with Domestic & International requestors to troubleshoot the use of Grants Management Systems
- Ensured expenditure submissions were acted upon in a timely, efficient, and compliant manner. Reviewed and approved expenditures for appropriate spending on grants
- Served as Project Manager ensuring projects and systems were completed on schedule and within budget. Performed testing on systems internally and User Acceptance Testing (UAT) with clients. Logged detailed documentation of issues and resolutions to SharePoint
- Conducted thorough risk assessments for potential grantees, minimizing financial loss due to non-compliant projects
- Maintained accurate records of all grants awarded, allowing for efficient tracking and reporting on outcomes
- Mentored junior staff members in best practices related to grants analysis and administration techniques
- Served as a liaison between the organization and external partners, fostering strong relationships that supported ongoing collaboration
- Facilitated successful project implementation by providing ongoing support and technical assistance to grantees
- Generated comprehensive reports on portfolio performance and risk assessment. Reviewed and analyzed grant spending throughout the grant project life cycle
- Confirm grant compliance and requirements were met during grant closeout, ensuring deliverables and reconciliations were completed. Verify with the requester the successful completion of grant objectives
- Maintained full compliance with internal policies, government federal rules, and regulations
Graphic Designer
Landmark Print / Corporate Reproduction Center
10.2005 - 03.2012
- Responsible for overseeing the Design Department and supervised a staff of 2 desktop publishers
- Supported 6 staff members comprised of sales & production, ensuring service requirements were met within budget & on time
- Oversee graphic design projects from beginning (discussion of what client envisioned) to end (print work) by tracking projects in Excel; provide ad-hoc reports of project status and costs to office manager as needed
- Managed multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring timely completion of deliverables while maintaining high-quality standards
- Utilized Adobe Creative Suite and Microsoft Office Suite to develop creative designs. Selected PMS colors for the creation of illustrations, typography, and layouts. Created booklets, postcards, brochures, stationery, newsletters, and other collateral design materials which were then prepared, and sent to the printing team in Connecticut via FTP
- Collaborated with multiple clients (MACYS, Citibank, NFL, etc..) and other designers to create visually appealing graphics for a range of print and digital media
- Established trusting relationships with designers, vendors, and key clients to offer better technical support and high-level solutions
- Conceptualized unique logo designs for startups, establishing strong visual identities that resonated with target markets
- Met with customers to present mockups and collect information for adjustments. Completed final touches for projects such as image sizes and font selection
- Created visual concepts for special events that increased participant engagement
- Streamlined project workflows, ensuring timely delivery of design projects
Education
Associates Degree in Applied Science - Digital Media Arts Technology
Technical Career Institute
New YorkBachelor of Professional Studies - Computer Information Systems
DeVry College of New York
Long Island CitySkills
- Microsoft Office Suite, Project, Visio, Teams, Zoom
- Adobe Creative Cloud Suite, Adobe Acrobat
- Delphi, PMT, Grant Solutions, SharePoint
- Mac OS X, Windows
- Project Management, Process Development, Reporting
- Quality Assurance, Time Management
- Government Administration, Fiscal Compliance
- Verbal and written communication
- Supervisor, Senior Project Manager
- Bilingual (Spanish)
Websites
Certification
- Department of Transportation Aspiring Leader Cohort 10 Certificate, March 2023
- Federal Grants Management Certificate – Federal Track, March 2022
Accomplishments
- DOT Leaning into Leadership Event 2024, June 2024
- Recipient of FRA’s 2022 Discretionary Grant Program NOFO Development and Outreach Team award, April 2023
Timeline
Transportation Industry Analyst
USDOT
07.2022 - 12.2022
Grants Management Specialist
USDOT
01.2021 - Current
Senior Grants Project Manager
NYC Department of Parks & Recreation
03.2015 - 12.2020
Grants Analyst
Polaris Solutions
03.2012 - 03.2014
Graphic Designer
Landmark Print / Corporate Reproduction Center
10.2005 - 03.2012
Associates Degree in Applied Science - Digital Media Arts Technology
Technical Career Institute
Bachelor of Professional Studies - Computer Information Systems
DeVry College of New York
- Department of Transportation Aspiring Leader Cohort 10 Certificate, March 2023
- Federal Grants Management Certificate – Federal Track, March 2022
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