Karen Carrizo
Morristown
Summary
Results-driven Project Manager with extensive experience at MTA Construction & Development, excelling in project delivery and interagency collaboration. . Skilled at identifying, analyzing and mitigating risks while creating and maintaining a positive working environment.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project Manager
MTA Construction & Development
01.2022 - Current
- Lead full cycle project delivery, including design development, scheduling, cost control, procurement, construction management, installation and closeout phases: commissioning, testing and training.
- Monitor project progress against scope, schedule, budget, and risk metrics; resolve onsite field issues and implement process improvements.
- Collaborate with internal and external stakeholders and internal management to define project objectives, ensuring alignment while optimizing cost and schedule.
- Lead the design and installation of mechanical pumping systems, providing technical guidance, quality control and construction oversight.
- Assess project execution and processes to ensure compliance with safety regulations, quality standards, establish policies, and contractual requirements.
- Administered and Managed Major Maintenance projects valued at $15M.
- Successfully completed multiple Small Business Mentoring Program Construction projects through design, construction and inspection services totaling $10.7 million.
- Queens Midtown Tunnel
Project Engineer
MTA Construction & Development
01.2017 - 01.2022
- Managed multiple phases, accelerated Capital Funded Construction projects, including Drainage and Stripper Pump Replacements across all QMT Pump Rooms and Development of HMI Interface for QMT Drainage Pumps Monitoring system.
- Collaborated with executive management and user groups to plan, scope, and define project requirements.
- Conducted interagency coordination meetings with outside agencies including NYCDOT, NYSDEC, NYCDDC, NYSDOL and NYC Community Affairs to mitigate potential risks and minimize potential schedule delays and operational disruptions.
- Developed and issued RFPs for design, construction management, and construction services, using procurement methods such as Design-Bid-Build and A+B Bidding.
- Evaluated design development to ensure quality, budget compliance, risk mitigation, and errors or omissions.
- Monitored project schedules, reports, and performance data to identify trends, and recommend corrective actions to maintain project objectives.
- Defined scope and reviewed cost estimates for out-of-scope work, evaluating proposed change orders for validity and compliance.
- Effectively managed project close-out activities, resolving punch list items, As-Built drawings, and facilitating turn-over to user groups, ensuring alignment meets established Strategic Business Plan objectives.
- Queens Midtown Tunnel
Project Coordinator
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
01.2014 - 01.2017
- Managed project scoping, procurement, design, pre-construction, construction and closeout activities for Capital, Major Maintenance and Small Business Mentoring Program contracts.
- Coordinated with Public Relations and internal teams to distribute project updates to NYC agencies, community boards, and Authority stakeholders.
- Ensured complete coordination with ongoing facility construction projects, operations and outside agency projects to minimize traffic interference.
- Oversaw MTA, Internal and third-party procurement, quality and safety audits, ensuring timely corrective action.
- Reviewed engineering designs at various developmental phases to maintain compliance with Agency standards and guidelines.
- Created and developed RFP’s, Business Cases, justifications, cost estimates, and scope of work for planned projects.
- Assisted with the development of Mid-Year and Final Operating Budget Forecasts.
- Performed field construction inspections ensuring compliance with contract documents and Agency standards and guidelines.
- Collaborated with user department to establish and define current and future needs.
- Engaged stakeholders and end users to identify and define needs.
- Identified opportunities and made recommendations to improve standard contract documents.
- Supervised contractor and consultant performance, ensuring a well-coordinated project with minimal customer and employee disruptions.
- Queens Midtown Tunnel, L.I.C., N.Y.
Project Manager
Traffic Data Bank
01.2011 - 01.2013
- Reviewed mechanical plans for pump room renovations and HVAC system upgrades.
- Collaborated with internal departments and end users to define project needs and established design criteria.
- Developed construction specifications, scopes of work, plans and schedules.
- Conducted field inspections to ensure compliance with quality standards and contract documents.
- Evaluated change order requests to assess impacts on project budget and schedule.
Construction Manager
Vertical Solutions International
01.2009 - 01.2011
- Managed, coordinated, and supervised construction activities for commercial buildings in a high-production residential environment.
- Maintained 100% on-time product deliverables.
- Conducted detailed inspections ensuring compliance with contractual obligations and building and safety standards.
- Collaborated with Sales and Construction teams to achieve highest customer satisfaction.
- Tracked construction costs and optimized efficiencies by recommending alternatives to manage and control risks, reducing costs of anticipated change orders.
- Reviewed and authorized payments for all construction contracts.
- Building and Construction, NY
Associate Manager
Exit Realty Corporation
01.2003 - 01.2007
- NJ
Project Engineer Intern
Becton Dickinson, Inc
01.2001 - 01.2002
- NJ
Intern
Honeywell
01.2000 - 01.2001
- NJ
Intern
Vollmer Associates
01.1995 - 01.1998
- NYC
Education
BS - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers University
12-2002
Certificate of Project Management -
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Mahwah, NJCertificate of Construction Project Management -
Pace University
New York (City), NYSkills
- Project management and construction oversight
- Cost estimation and budgeting
- Quality assurance
- Team leadership
- Interagency collaboration
- Design-build and design-bid-build methodologies
- Design review
Certification
- 30 HR OSHA Site Safety Training
- Confined Space and Air Monitored Trained
Years Of Experience
17
Key Qualifications
- Project Management
- Construction Management
- Cost Estimation-Budgeting
- Quality Control
- Team Leadership-Interagency Coordination- Design Build-Design Bid Build- Design Review
Timeline
Project Manager
MTA Construction & Development
01.2022 - Current
Project Engineer
MTA Construction & Development
01.2017 - 01.2022
Project Coordinator
MTA Bridges and Tunnels
01.2014 - 01.2017
Project Manager
Traffic Data Bank
01.2011 - 01.2013
Construction Manager
Vertical Solutions International
01.2009 - 01.2011
Associate Manager
Exit Realty Corporation
01.2003 - 01.2007
Project Engineer Intern
Becton Dickinson, Inc
01.2001 - 01.2002
Intern
Honeywell
01.2000 - 01.2001
Intern
Vollmer Associates
01.1995 - 01.1998
BS - Mechanical Engineering
Rutgers University
Certificate of Project Management -
Ramapo College of New Jersey
Certificate of Construction Project Management -
Pace University