JENNIFER LYONS

Streamlined business processes by analyzing and identifying areas for improvement, reducing inefficiencies and boosting productivity. Established strong relationships with internal clients to better understand their needs and expectations related to process improvements. Identified opportunities for cost savings through streamlined processes while maintaining quality standards. Collaborated with upper management to drive strategy and implement new processes. Implemented new process automation tools to enhance overall workflow and increase operational efficiency. Maintained strong working knowledge of LMS and business intelligence tools and operational features. Led workshops for stakeholders to gather feedback on proposed process changes, fostering a collaborative approach to optimization efforts. Managed project timelines and deliverables associated with business process improvements, ensuring successful completion within established timeframes. Conducted thorough research on industry trends and best practices, incorporating findings into process improvement initiatives. Leveraged technology solutions to drive efficiency gains within processes, embracing innovation and staying current with industry advancements. Created dashboards to monitor and track key performance indicators. Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution. Reported regularly to managers on project budget, progress, and technical problems. Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts. Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers. Tracked project and team member performance closely to quickly intervene in mistakes or delays. Facilitated workshops to collect project requirements and user feedback.

Responsible for facilitating and driving the planning, execution, and delivery of complex, large scale projects to achieve strategic business goals, operational objectives, and program-level requirements. Collaborated with key stakeholders, vendors, and project teams to identify mutually beneficial outcomes for competing priorities and negotiated timelines to ensure objectives were met. Adhered to Enterprise Project Management Office (EPMO) processes, procedures, controls, standards, tools, and templates.

• Coordinated the strategic planning and execution of a $60M annual capital budget supporting six high-priority application portfolios, enhancing architecture and resilience services for SaaS and software development for complex, large-scale projects.
• Delivering agreed outcomes from projects using appropriate management techniques, collaboration, leadership, and governance.
• Implemented enterprise-wide automation, achieving a 30% increase in user satisfaction and a 25% reduction in issue response times. Tracked and communicated project progress, risks, and dependencies to ensure successful outcomes.
• Led AI strategy development by identifying 55 program-specific use cases and establishing governance frameworks to foster agency-wide innovation.
• Designed a strategic enterprise application roadmap for 300+ applications, driving a 40% increase in product engagement.
• Spearheaded Agile practices, reducing project delivery time by 20% while maintaining high-quality standards.
• Delivered a customer relationship management system (CRM) for the Texas Unified Licensing Information Portal, collaborating with 10+ cross-functional teams. Facilitated regular program increment (PI) planning sessions to align teams on objectives.
• Secured $49M in legislative funding for an Electronic Health Record (EHR) system, projecting a 49% efficiency boost and a 32% cost reduction.
• Reduced IT operational costs and improved decision-making using data analytics, KPIs, and Power BI dashboards. Continuously improved processes to enhance product capabilities and efficiency.
• Communicated project updates effectively to stakeholders and executive leadership.
• Navigated a dynamic environment and worked collaboratively with cross-functional teams to coordinate the product vision and strategy.
• Successfully led initiatives to manage and leverage vital organizational knowledge, creating significant value and driving strategic growth.

As a Business Relationship Manager (BRM) for the IT division at TxDOT, I was responsible for bridging the gap between IT and the business units, ensuring that IT services and solutions meet the needs of the organization. Fostered strong relationships with key stakeholders, facilitated communication, and aligned IT initiatives with business goals. Provided strategic thinking with strong technical knowledge and exceptional interpersonal skills.

• Led a team of 10+ engineers and 5+ cross-functional teams to implement six compliance initiatives, reducing construction contract responses and saving $2 million annually. This initiative supported our overarching goals of process and strategic optimization. Basic knowledge understood of CAD software: AutoCAD and Autodesk.
• Directed objectives and key results planning and dependency management across engineering and non-engineering teams, standardizing processes to enhance planning cycles. These efforts ensured alignment with business requirements and strategic goals.
• Spearheaded comprehensive risk evaluation and analysis, significantly reducing operational risks and safeguarding organizational stability. This proactive approach aligned with the continuous improvement philosophy.
• Directed a team of 13 engineers in an enterprise-wide automation initiative, identifying opportunities for business automation and process improvements, increasing efficiency by over 20%. This project emphasized the importance of innovative and scalable solutions.
• Elevated project delivery efficiency by an average of 30% by leading a team of project managers and setting new benchmarks in project management. Increased stakeholder satisfaction by an average of 20% through meticulous project scoping, planning, and leadership. These achievements reflected my commitment to operational excellence.
• Collaborated with cross-functional leaders on strategic plans, ensuring synergy and propelling goal achievement and strategic alignment. This collaboration was key to fostering innovation and driving product and process improvements.
• Created advanced dashboards using MS Project, Tableau, and Power BI, revolutionizing decision-making accuracy and efficiency. These tools enhanced our ability to measure success and identify areas for improvement.
• Engineered process optimizations transforming workflows and boosting operational efficiency and productivity. This initiative demonstrated my ability to identify and implement impactful process improvements.
• Developed and analyzed performance metrics that consistently exceeded organizational standards. These metrics drove continuous performance improvement.
• Implemented ServiceNow ITSM for the traffic management program, reducing incident response times by an average of 20% and transforming service delivery efficiency. This implementation supported our objective of providing a world-class experience for our users.
• Conducted structured problem-solving that enhanced decision-making efficiency and provided actionable insights. This approach was essential for driving continuous performance improvement.
• Strengthened internal communication effectiveness through clear and compelling communications, ensuring transparency and alignment. This effort was crucial for building trust and fostering a culture of collaboration.
• Led a team of 13 engineers in an enterprise-wide automation initiative, identifying opportunities for business automation and process improvements, increasing efficiency by over 20%.

After my tenure from the United States Air Force, I relocated to the Austin area. During my career hiatus, I dedicated myself to advancing my education and acquiring new skills. I earned an MBA from the University of Phoenix in September 2014. Following my culinary arts passion, I completed my studies at Le Cordon Bleu and undertook an externship at the Monument Cafe until September 2015. Additionally, I pursued a Project Management certification at the University of Texas, which I received on November 19, 2015.

As an Operations Center Manager, specializing in emergency management and global operations, I was responsible for overseeing the coordination and execution of emergency response activities and ensuring the operational readiness of the operations center. Provided exceptional leadership, strategic planning, and crisis management skills to effectively manage complex emergency situations and support global military operations.

• Program Oversight: Managed the 24/7 base nuclear emergency operations center, optimizing processes and ensuring regulatory compliance.
• Team Leadership: Led a team of 22+ emergency controllers with strategic scheduling and training, enhancing overall readiness.
• Financial Management: Masterminded budget planning and fund allocation, achieving efficient end-of-fiscal-year spending and establishing financial benchmarks.
• Operational Efficiency: Elevated nuclear operational efficiency and reliability by 45% through strategic program management and metrics analysis.
• Readiness: Planned and led regular exercises, ensuring 110% readiness for global nuclear operations.
• Mass Notification: Directed the AtHoc Mass Notification Alerting System, delivering notifications for over 7,000 personnel and enhancing system reliability to 79%.
• Stakeholder Communication: Briefed base battle staff on incidents and training progress, ensuring transparent communication and strategic alignment.
• Process Optimization: Enhanced service strategy alignment with organizational goals through training, performance metrics, and technology automation.