John McElwee
Mullica Hill,NJ
Summary
Accomplished Senior Program Manager, now retired, specializing in scope management and stakeholder engagement. Successfully led interdepartmental teams to deliver complex projects, driving continuous improvement and operational excellence. Specialized in making existing subway stations into accessible stations.
Overview
46
46
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Program Manager, Transit Facilities
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Philadelphia, PA
04.2018 - 04.2025
- Led cross-functional teams to develop and implement strategic transportation initiatives.
- Managed project timelines, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations.
- Coordinated resources and budgets for multiple large-scale programs, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Developed comprehensive program documentation, facilitating communication among stakeholders and improving transparency.
- Mentored junior program managers, fostering professional growth and enhancing team performance.
- Analyzed project outcomes to identify areas for improvement, driving continuous enhancement efforts.
- Conducted risk assessments to identify potential issues early in the project lifecycle, mitigating potential delays or setbacks.
- Mentored junior staff members, contributing to their professional growth and fostered a positive work environment.
- Enhanced team collaboration by implementing methodologies and practices for better project execution and adaptability.
- Tracked and reported program results to facilitate change management activities.
- Mentored and supported the Transit Facilities Department employees to create strong workplace culture.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, resulting in successful on-time delivery of multiple programs.
- Cultivated strong relationships with internal and external partners, ensuring effective collaboration on joint projects and initiatives.
- Established key performance indicators to measure program success and ensure accountability across teams.
- Ensured compliance with industry regulations and organizational policies throughout the program lifecycle, mitigating potential risks or liabilities for the company.
- Engaged with customers, partners and constituent groups to create positive, trusting and professional relationships.
- Promoted adoption of new project management software, enhancing team collaboration and productivity.
- Optimized resource allocation, ensuring projects were delivered within budget and scope.
- Fostered culture of continuous improvement, encouraging team feedback and implementing best practices.
- Interacted well with in-house customers to build connections and nurture relationships to facilitate optimal conditions for construction.
- Recruited, hired, and trained personnel, working to establish key internal functions and outline scope of positions for the department.
- Tracked employee attendance and punctuality, addressing repeat problems quickly to prevent long-term habits.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
Senior Project Manager
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Philadelphia, PA
01.2010 - 04.2018
- Led interdepartmental teams to deliver complex projects on time and within budget.
- Monitored project progress using advanced project management software, ensuring timely issue resolution.
- Implemented project management best practices to enhance workflow efficiency and team collaboration.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, outlining scope, timeline, and resource allocation strategies.
- Facilitated stakeholder sessions to gather requirements and align project goals with organizational objectives.
- Conducted risk assessments and developed mitigation strategies to minimize project disruptions and delays.
- Maintained schedules to meet key milestones at every project phase.
- Directed changes to project scope and cost and implemented appropriate change management processes to keep project on track.
- Mentored junior project managers and team members to enhance their skills and career growth.
- Communicated project plans and progress to key stakeholders and project contributors.
- Developed comprehensive project plans, identifying risks and mitigation strategies for timely completion.
- Developed and maintained project budgets to control costs and meet organizational and project goals.
- Led inter-departmental teams for successful project delivery within scope, schedule, and budget constraints.
- Established and managed change management processes to fulfill successful project transitions.
- Managed budgets exceeding $1 million while effectively controlling costs through diligent financial oversight.
- Conducted post-project evaluations to identify areas of improvement and implement corrective actions for future endeavors.
- Established and maintained relationships with internal and external stakeholders, ensuring smooth project execution and new business opportunities.
- Reported regularly to managers on project budget, progress, and technical problems.
- Analyzed project performance data to identify areas of improvement.
- Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
Project Manager
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Philadelphia, PA
06.1996 - 01.2010
- Developed project timelines, ensuring alignment with organizational goals and stakeholder expectations.
- Implemented risk management strategies to proactively address potential project challenges.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings to communicate project progress and gather feedback for continuous improvement.
- Analyzed project outcomes to identify lessons learned, driving future strategic decisions for enhanced operational effectiveness.
- Successfully managed multiple projects simultaneously by prioritizing tasks according to urgency, resource availability, and alignment with organizational goals.
- Planned, designed, and scheduled phases for large projects.
- Established effective communication among team members for enhanced collaboration and successful project completion.
- Developed comprehensive project plans with clear timelines, milestones, and budget requirements, ensuring timely delivery of high-quality results.
- Monitored progress against established goals, adjusting schedules and resources as needed to keep projects on track.
- Developed relationships with stakeholders through regular communication updates, fostering trust and confidence in the team''s ability to deliver results.
- Coordinated with interdepartmental teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
- Managed projects from procurement to commission.
- Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
- Negotiated and managed third-party contracts related to project deliverables.
- Effectively managed scope creep by establishing clear boundaries on requested changes while keeping projects aligned with original objectives and budgets.
- Maintained compliance with industry standards and regulations, conducting regular audits and updates to project practices.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to stakeholders.
Project Engineer
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
Philadelphia, PA
07.1988 - 06.1996
- Coordinated interdepartmentalteams to ensure alignment on project objectives and deliverables.
- Streamlined communication protocols to improve collaboration among stakeholders throughout project lifecycle.
- Provided technical expertise throughout all phases of the project, ensuring accurate execution of designs and specifications.
- Maintained records for each project and engineering discipline.
- Monitored installation of materials and equipment for compliance with drawings and specifications.
- Completed construction tasks while providing safe working conditions, staying on budget and meeting project deadlines.
- Ensured quality control for all aspects of the project, reducing defects and rework.
- Developed detailed project plans to ensure timely completion and deliverables were met.
- Reviewed contractor proposals to determine favorable partnerships for on-time and under-budget project completion.
- Reduced project timelines with proactive planning and close monitoring of progress.
- Implemented quality control procedures, elevating standard of project deliverables.
- Documented and developed engineering procedures and processes.
- Collaborated with other departments to facilitate successful project completion.
- Created detailed reports on engineering activities and findings.
- Developed comprehensive engineering documents for all projects.
- Performed complex calculations to analyze and optimize engineering processes.
- Developed and implemented procedures to verify compliance with engineering standards.
- Analyzed and interpreted data to identify trends and recommend improvements.
- Assisted in developing cost-effective solutions to engineering problems.
Project Manager
Professional Services Group Inc.
Narberth, PA
04.1979 - 07.1988
- Identified plans and resources required to meet project goals and objectives.
- Collaborated closely with senior management to align project objectives with strategic company initiatives, ensuring that efforts contributed to overall business growth.
- Coordinated with external stakeholder teams to resolve project issues and mitigate risks.
- Monitored project performance to identify areas of improvement and make adjustments.
- Provided detailed technical and operational direction in project challenges, consistently meeting deliverables according to deadlines.
- Prepared detailed reports on project status for stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with objectives.
- Fostered a culture of innovation and creativity within the project team, leading to improved problem-solving capabilities and enhanced outcomes.
- Completed projects within tight deadlines, coordinating team efforts and prioritizing tasks effectively.
- Enhanced team performance with targeted training programs, addressing skill gaps and promoting professional development.
- Ensured projects aligned with strategic objectives, working closely with senior management to refine project goals.
- Maintained open communication by presenting regular updates on project status to customers.
- Scheduled and facilitated meetings between project stakeholders to discuss deliverables, schedules and conflicts.
- Developed and implemented project plans and budgets to ensure successful execution.
- Recruited and oversaw personnel to achieve performance and quality targets.
- Facilitated workshops to collect project requirements and user feedback.
- Monitored project progress, identified risks and took corrective action as needed.
- Provided detailed project status updates to stakeholders and executive management.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Pittsburgh
Pittsburgh, PA12-1980
Skills
- Scope management
- Problem-solving skills
- Project leadership
- Change management
- Risk management
- Best practices implementation
- Implementation planning
- Client interfacing
- Deployment plans
- Project coordination
- Decision-making
Timeline
Senior Program Manager, Transit Facilities
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
04.2018 - 04.2025
Senior Project Manager
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
01.2010 - 04.2018
Project Manager
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
06.1996 - 01.2010
Project Engineer
Southeastern Pennsylvania Transportation Authority (SEPTA)
07.1988 - 06.1996
Project Manager
Professional Services Group Inc.
04.1979 - 07.1988
Bachelor of Science - Civil & Environmental Engineering
University of Pittsburgh