Senior Project Manager bringing highly credible technical leadership to direct multi-functional project teams engaged in full system development and implementation in high tech environments. Experienced overseeing diverse teams of developers, analysts and quality professionals engaged in complex projects with budgets up to $12 million. Solid understanding of project management tools. Project Management Professional and certified in Agile methodology (CSM, CSPO, and SAFe). Results-oriented Program Manager enthusiastic about taking on new challenges. Strategic planner and clear communicator with an adaptable approach.
Hi, I’m
Heather Farris
Bastrop,Texas
Summary
Overview
30
years of professional experience
4
Certification
Work History
SteampunkTysons Corner
Program Manager
09.2022 - Current
Job overview
- Identifying design gaps in existing and proposed delivery & implementation, recommend changes or enhancements
- Serving as a delivery leader, accountable for completion of team delivery efforts including quality oversight, visibility into delivery targets, and client acceptance
- Supporting delivery operations, building, and maintaining client relationships, fostering and promoting innovative thinking across the client environment
- Developing and leading teams through solution prototyping, development, and deployment - from hands-on proposal technical support to prototyping client implementations and complete production deployment
- Manage budget, time, and resources for delivery team
- Handling challenging client situations and offering guidance & direction to client executives
- Overseeing new development and maintenance teams supporting current Enterprise Data Warehouse (EDW) and AWS Cloud migration through Data Lake implementation.
AccentureAustin, TX
Project Manager
03.2017 - 09.2022
Job overview
- Responsible for managing the end-to-end delivery of complex system solutions through both Waterfall and Agile projects
- Coordination and completion of projects on time within budget and within scope
- Oversaw all aspects of projects, including multiple scrum teams
- Set deadlines, assigned responsibilities, and monitored progress of project
- Prepared reports for senior management and client regarding status of projects, including risk and issue mitigation
- Worked closely with client to prioritize work in the backlog
- Functioned as Product Owner Liaison and Scrum Master as needed for scrum teams reporting to me
- Supported various Portal applications including PEMS, PA on the Portal, LTC Online Portal, and other Provider/Member applications
- In addition, provided support for projects including Compass21and claims processing including cross vendor projects.
AccentureAustin, TX
Business Solution Architect
03.2017 - 06.2020
Job overview
- Prepare high level estimates
- Work with technical architects in solutioning and documenting projects
- Participate in MITA workgroup meetings
- Actively work with the project team to identify scope creep and identify potential risks through the lifecycle of the project
- Coach and mentor business analysts on both the project and project deliverables/lifecycle.
AccentureAustin, TX
Associate Project Manager
09.2015 - 03.2017
Job overview
- Manage projects with and without project manager oversight
- Participate in weekly resource planning and management
- Work with BSA to understand scope changes
- Manage resources and client relationships to mitigate project risk
- Schedule and participate in change management through the Change Control Board
- Actively manage work plan to ensure milestones are met and resources are allocated appropriately.
AccentureAustin, TX
Senior Business Analyst
05.2011 - 09.2015
Job overview
- Created Charter, Functional Design, and testing documents in project development
- Lead testing efforts for assigned projects and develop test cases
- Work with customers to elicit requirements, develop project requirements, and identify potential risks
- Communicate with developers, architects and other internal SMEs on business and functional requirements and elicit feedback on the project
- Lead Community of Practice that develops SMEs in Medicaid claims through development of business process documentation and knowledge sharing.
ACS, Inc.Austin, TX
Business Analyst
09.2008 - 05.2011
Job overview
- Coordinate and execute changes in Reference Files for the Texas Medicaid account
- Assist in drafting policies with the State and medical policy
- Provide research and recommendations on how to implement policy changes in the Compass 21 claims engine
- Draft Charter, functional design and test plan to present to the State customer for changes to the system
- Create and execute test plans and execute test cases
- Update the Compass 21 system with changes identified in both maintenance and modification projects.
Humana MilitarySan Antonio, TX
Regional Claims Analyst
08.2007 - 09.2008
Job overview
- Review problematic provider and beneficiary claims for accuracy and completeness, making corrections when necessary
- Resolve highly complex claims problems
- Coordinate program integrity referrals for the region
- Coordinate bulk recoupments for the region
- Coordinate with PGBA on difficult-to-resolve claims and other systems and policy issues
- Coordinate Program Integrity referrals from Market Offices to Corporate.
Humana MilitaryAustin, TX
Provider Relations Rep
11.2004 - 08.2007
Job overview
- Respond to providers regarding payment, contracting, and credentialing inquiries
- Initiate claims adjustments on behalf of providers
- Provide one on one training and provider education seminars
- Complete contract and demographic changes for providers
- Negotiate and set up contractual agreements.
Amil InternationalAustin, TX
Provider Relations Team Lead/Representative
09.2001 - 11.2004
Job overview
- Supervise 3 employees in the Provider Relations Department
- In addition, I functioned in a provider relations representative role in negotiation of hospital, ancillary, and professional contracts.
- Conducted performance appraisals for team members, providing feedback and identifying areas of improvement.
- Respond to providers regarding payment, contracting, and credentialing inquiries
- Responsible for contract negotiations and delivering contracts to providers.
USI AdministratorsLas Vegas, NV
Claims Processor
04.2001 - 08.2001
Job overview
- Process medical claims for several self-funded accounts.
- Reviewed and verified insurance policy information to assess coverage and determine appropriate claims processing procedures.
- Processed a high volume of incoming claims in accordance with established policies and procedures.
Circus CircusLas Vegas, NV
Claims Processor
02.2001 - 04.2001
Job overview
- Process medical claims for Mandalay Resort groups.
- Processed a high volume of incoming claims in accordance with established policies and procedures.
- Reviewed and verified insurance policy information to assess coverage and determine appropriate claims processing procedures.
Anthem BCBSDenver, CO
Team Leader/ Customer Service Rep.
04.2000 - 01.2001
Job overview
- Oversee all daily activities of customer service reps
- Troubleshoot specific problems/issues
- Perform quality audits and silent monitoring
- Able to perform in all complex functions; provide leadership and training to area
- Assist in inventory reduction plan
- Successfully helped to reduce inventory from 12,000 pieces to 5,000 pieces on hand in December
- Assist customer service with irate calls.
Insurance Overload SystemsDenver, CO
Customer Service
01.2000 - 04.2000
Job overview
- Assist customer service in priority projects
- Assist manager with call backs and research
- Work directly with provider networking and provider relations to educate providers
- Assist Customer Service with irate calls.
J I Specialty ServicesAustin, Texas
Claims Specialist/ Customer Service
08.1998 - 12.1999
Job overview
- Processed payments for valid claims according to established procedures.
- Reviewed and analyzed insurance claims to determine validity, completeness, accuracy, and eligibility for payment.
- Maintained detailed records of all claim activities including notes about conversations with claimants or representatives.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of TexasAustin
Customer Service Rep.
05.1998 - 08.1998
Job overview
- Provided excellent customer service to resolve customer complaints in a timely manner.
- Answered customer inquiries and provided accurate information regarding products and services.
Insurance Overload SystemsBothell, WA
Insurance Analyst
04.1997 - 04.1998
Job overview
- Reviewed health claims for accuracy and completeness to ensure compliance with applicable laws and regulations.
- Analyzed claim data and other information to determine appropriate payment amounts.
- Processed payments for health insurance claims according to established guidelines.
Kelly Temporary ServicesEverett, WA
Administrative Assistant
02.1997 - 04.1997
Job overview
- Work closely with comptroller to create budgets and expenditure reports.
- Provided administrative support to the executive team, including scheduling meetings and managing calendars.
Electronic Data SystemsAustin, TX
Support Staff Analyst/ Customer Service Rep/ TDY Departmental Trainer
06.1994 - 02.1997
Job overview
- Researched problem referrals from provider service reps and team leaders for resolution
- Worked closely with leaders to identify training needs for the area and developed training for the customer service reps.
- Resolved customer inquiries in a timely manner.
Education
Waldorf College
Bachelor’s degrees in Organizational Leadership and Business Administration
06.2014
University Overview
Skills
- Proposal Development
- Enterprise Resource Planning
- Business Development
- Strategic Planning
- Talent Recruitment
- P&L Management
- Resource Management
- Project Management
- Vendor Relationship Management
- Team Development
- Personnel Management
- Customer Service
- Remote Team Management
- Presentation Creation and Delivery
- Work Delegation
- Risk Analysis and Management
- Detail Oriented
- Team Leadership
- Process Engineering
- Requirements Writing and Documentation
- Budget Coordination
- Attention to Detail
- Team Management
- Vendor Management
- Critical Thinking
- Performance Monitoring
- Problem-Solving
- Resource Allocation
- Decision-Making
- Agile Projects
- Project Coordination
- Employee Scheduling
- Relationship Building
- Work Planning and Prioritization
Certification
- Project Management Professional (PMP), Project Management Institute
- Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), Scrum Alliance
- Certified Scrum Master (CSM), Scrum Alliance
- SAFe Agilist, Scaled Agile
- Lean Six Sigma, Green Belt, Xerox (2010)
References
References
Available Upon Request
Affiliations
Affiliations
- March of Dimes lead fundraising representative at Accenture (2010-2018)
- Loving Austin volunteer serving various nursing facilities
References
References
References available upon request.Timeline
Program Manager
Steampunk
09.2022 - Current
Project Manager
Accenture
03.2017 - 09.2022
Business Solution Architect
Accenture
03.2017 - 06.2020
Associate Project Manager
Accenture
09.2015 - 03.2017
Senior Business Analyst
Accenture
05.2011 - 09.2015
Business Analyst
ACS, Inc.
09.2008 - 05.2011
Regional Claims Analyst
Humana Military
08.2007 - 09.2008
Provider Relations Rep
Humana Military
11.2004 - 08.2007
Provider Relations Team Lead/Representative
Amil International
09.2001 - 11.2004
Claims Processor
USI Administrators
04.2001 - 08.2001
Claims Processor
Circus Circus
02.2001 - 04.2001
Team Leader/ Customer Service Rep.
Anthem BCBS
04.2000 - 01.2001
Customer Service
Insurance Overload Systems
01.2000 - 04.2000
Claims Specialist/ Customer Service
J I Specialty Services
08.1998 - 12.1999
Customer Service Rep.
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Texas
05.1998 - 08.1998
Insurance Analyst
Insurance Overload Systems
04.1997 - 04.1998
Administrative Assistant
Kelly Temporary Services
02.1997 - 04.1997
Support Staff Analyst/ Customer Service Rep/ TDY Departmental Trainer
Electronic Data Systems
06.1994 - 02.1997
Waldorf College
Bachelor’s degrees in Organizational Leadership and Business Administration
Similar Profiles
Anthony ThomasAnthony Thomas
Release Manager at SteampunkRelease Manager at Steampunk
Dominique EdwardsDominique Edwards
Salesforce Functional Analyst at SteampunkSalesforce Functional Analyst at Steampunk
Matin BahramyMatin Bahramy
Test Engineer- USDA-Druid Project at SteampunkTest Engineer- USDA-Druid Project at Steampunk