Kat Kowalkowski
Bowling Green,KY
Summary
Results-driven Project Manager with over 9 years of experience in leading cross-functional teams, and delivering complex projects on time and within budget. Proven expertise in Agile methodologies, including Scrum and PMI-ACP certified, with a strong track record of optimizing processes and implementing innovative solutions to enhance project outcomes. Adept at stakeholder engagement and communication, I excel in creating transparent workflows, and fostering collaboration to drive project success. Committed to leveraging emerging technologies to improve operational efficiency and achieve strategic objectives.
Overview
10
10
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Senior Project Manager
GoEngineer
Bowling Green, KY
10.2020 - Current
- Maintains and monitors SolidWorks and Dassault software implementations, and custom API development projects, with a focus on frequent product increment deliveries and providing the highest business value for clients.
- Lead project kick-off meetings and regular status calls, effectively communicating milestones and progress updates to stakeholders.
- Develop and implement detailed project plans in DevOps and Smartsheet to meticulously track progress, ensuring alignment with objectives and timelines.
- Championed the implementation of Scrum processes and Agile methodologies across two development departments, significantly enhancing team collaboration, and achieving a remarkable six-month reduction in project durations.
- Facilitate project meetings with internal and external stakeholders, driving engagement, and fostering transparent communication.
- Ensure project success by setting clear customer expectations, proactively managing timelines, and meeting critical deadlines.
- Collaborate closely with project team members to translate and document business requirements into actionable project tasks and user stories, ensuring clarity and alignment.
- Execute process improvements and establish standard operating procedures, resulting in increased efficiency for technical consultants by optimizing team velocity and workload management.
- Assess project risks, and develop proactive solutions and risk mitigation strategies, enhancing project resilience and success.
- Coordinate cross-functional teams, adeptly resolving conflicts, and maintaining a positive work environment throughout the project lifecycle, which contributes to sustained team morale and productivity.
- Evaluated, determined and delegated tasks to staff based on client needs, capacity planning and project-specific initiatives.
- Delivered high level of service to clients to extend relationship and encourage further projects.
- Implemented robust change management processes to effectively address scope creep, resulting in substantial cost savings of hundreds of thousands of dollars by preventing misquoted services.
Project Manager
GOTRAX
10.2017 - 10.2020
- Developed and managed the product lifecycles and releases for all electric rideables, ensuring alignment with launch deadlines and customer demands, while enhancing overall product strategy.
- Collaborated directly with CEOs and stakeholders to define and manage company objectives, business cases, and project plans, driving organizational growth and scalability.
- Implemented process improvement initiatives that increased the efficiency of the marketing team by effectively monitoring velocity and project status through Wrike, leading to streamlined operations.
- Achieved a 3-month reduction in product lifecycle durations by enhancing reporting processes and improving communication between the manufacturing team and U.S.-based departments.
- Served as the primary point of contact for cross-functional teams, including factory operations, IT, sales, customer service, and marketing, to establish project scopes, assess risks, identify dependencies, and define delivery timelines.
- Oversaw the concurrent launch and lifecycle management of 20 to 50 new products, ensuring timely delivery, and providing regular updates and reports to the CEO and stakeholders on project statuses.
- Leveraged a network of 5-10 creative freelancers to reduce marketing operating costs by 20%, optimizing resource allocation without sacrificing quality.
SUPERVISING MANAGER
American Income Life
04.2017 - 10.2017
- Managed and motivated a 15-person sales team for consistent accomplishment of monthly goals.
- Monitored applications to maintain accuracy and ensure client confidentiality.
- Conducted team-building workshops to enhance agent motivation.
- Analyzed and evaluated the best methods to maximize sales and effectiveness.
- Delivered continuous skill enhancement workshops for both new and veteran team members.
- Recruited and trained new employees to meet job requirements.
- Evaluated individual and team business performance and identified opportunities for improvement.
PROJECT MANAGER
Terra Strategies
08.2015 - 04.2017
- Directed large-scale voter engagement projects for clients in strategic locations nationwide, fostering increased civic participation and awareness.
- Collaborated with executives to develop comprehensive project business cases and plans, effectively presenting actionable strategies to clients and stakeholders.
- Established and maintained detailed client reports by gathering work performance data, providing transparency, and clear communication on project status.
- Managed operations across four offices and over 300 employees simultaneously, ensuring each location met daily goal metrics, and maintained high performance standards.
- Managed up to four offices and over 300 employees at a time, ensuring that each office produced goal metrics for the day.
- Conducted thorough analyses to identify and implement the most effective methods for maximizing production and operational effectiveness on a statewide scale.
- Developed and executed a nationwide standard for operations, processes, and performance metrics, enhancing consistency and efficiency across all projects.
- Traveled to multiple states to secure short-term commercial office spaces and train incoming project managers, representing executive leadership, and ensuring seamless project transitions.
Education
University of Colorado At Denver
Denver, COSkills
- Project management
- Agile methodologies
- Risk assessment
- Change management
- Team collaboration
- Client relationship management
- Product lifecycle management
- Software implementation
- Stakeholder engagement
- Cross-functional coordination
- Process improvement
Certification
PMI-ACP - Certified Agile Practitioner
Affiliations
- Gardening
- Volunteer at the Bowling Green Humane Soceity
- Avid Reader and involved in two local book clubs
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
GoEngineer
10.2020 - Current
Project Manager
GOTRAX
10.2017 - 10.2020
SUPERVISING MANAGER
American Income Life
04.2017 - 10.2017
PROJECT MANAGER
Terra Strategies
08.2015 - 04.2017
University of Colorado At Denver
Similar Profiles
Thomas FarnanThomas Farnan
Business Development Manager at GoEngineerBusiness Development Manager at GoEngineer
Kate Andrus SustaitaKate Andrus Sustaita
Sales Development Representative at GoEngineerSales Development Representative at GoEngineer
Esteban Antonio GaytanEsteban Antonio Gaytan
Director of IT and Compliance at GoEngineerDirector of IT and Compliance at GoEngineer