Katherine Fernandez
Miramar,FL
Summary
Persistent leader eager to lead and grow organizations. Skilled in strategic planning, problem-solving, and communication with a good understanding of business principles, project management, and team leadership. Collaborative with a relentless work ethic.
Life is about passion- and passion breeds excellence.
Overview
14
14
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Strategic Programs
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
03.2022 - Current
- Responsible for driving business in relation to federal funding and E-rate, Grants, and contracts
- Oversees $10-15M funding opportunities in regions
- Coordinate customer calls to leverage products and engage with collab teams to present content
- Coordinate Public Sector training for top partners and customers to help build customer portfolios and net new business
- Collaboration with marketing teams on executing collateral to Public Sector internal teams and customers.
- Work in conjunction with the legal team to onboard all state-wide software contracts. Ie: NASPO, GSA, Texas DIR etc.
- Meet weekly with each region to review pipeline, current opportunities in the best case and commit.
- Develop strategic plans for managers to ensure each of their account managers is meeting their region's sales goals.
- Track the usage of different sales tools: Navigator and Gov Spend to help drive pipeline into each region.
- Monitored performance metrics and prepared reports and forecasts in Clari and Sales Force.
- Monitored sales performance metrics to achieve strategic account objectives.
- Suggested solutions and innovative ideas to meet client needs.
- Trained, mentored and motivated staff to instill desire for superior performance.
- Increased profitability and lifetime customer value by coordinating go-to-market strategy, implementation and post-sales service experience.
- Built and expanded relationships by delivering customer insights to drive sales, repeat business opportunities and increase market share.
Public Sector Program Manager
CISCO SYSTEMS,INC
04.2021 - 03.2022
- Identified program obstacles and communicated possible impacts to team.
- Managed multiple strategic projects with numerous sub-projects or workstreams.
- Facilitated workshops and conducted one-on-one training to educate team members.
- Interacted with customers and clients to identify business needs and requirements.
- Collaborated with business leadership to set priorities based on business needs, resource capacity and risk exposure.
- Worked to develop business strategies with E-rate and Grants to help bridge the cap with all public funding.
Senior E-rate Program Specialist
SHI International Corp.
09.2020 - 04.2021
- Oversees $1.4M E-rate relationship for SHI's Public Sector business unit, coordinating operational E-rate flow with a six-member E-rate business development team and conducting daily partner/customer calls about the program
- Conducts monthly funding trainings for new hire classes to educate incoming sales representatives on the importance of E-rate and grants in the public sector
- Manages SHI's $4.6M grants program in coordination with the Grants Office, providing customers with personalized grants guidance, obtaining customized funding reports, and scheduling consultative calls to help clients develop project ideas, get technology-rich projects funded, and expand initiatives already in the works
- Coordinates educational webinars for account executives in conjunction with the Grants Office for 300+ attendees
- Assembles content for customer-facing public sector solutions newsletter and funding-centric email blasts in partnership with Marketing &
- Communications department and internal subject matter experts
- Organizes operational onboarding/offboarding updates for Public Sector business unit's new hires, transitions, and attrition.
E-rate Program Specialist
SHI International Corp.
01.2017 - 09.2020
- Hired as the first E-rate SME at, and grew team to two E-rate Program Specialists (dedicated to E-rate operations) and six E-rate BDMs (dedicated to E-rate proposals)
- Planned/coordinated the development, implementation, and execution of programs and initiatives designed to achieve overall goals and objectives of business unit leadership for K-12 districts and public libraries
- Created, produced, and delivered a range of promotional, educational, and informational presentations and resource materials related to program activities and initiatives
- Assisted account executives with available grants and funding for their customers
- Provided daily sales leads to account executives for E-rate and grants opportunities, and managed data for leads and marketing campaigns in CRM
- Oversaw onboarding, training, and development for new members of the marketing team.
Inside Account Executive
SHI International Corp.
08.2015 - 01.2017
- Grew customer base by promoting E-rate program,working with existing contracts, following upon leads, providing consultation to new and existing clients regarding IT solutions needs, generating quotes, and processing orders
- Gained industry knowledge through a series of sales and technology trainings
- Consistently achieved or exceeded sales expectations.
Regional Store Manager
Club Monaco
04.2009 - 08.2015
- Managed staff scheduling, availability, and employee files through Workforce Management software (WFM) within allotted payroll guidelines for 16-25 FT and PT employees, and handled recruiting, training, and corporate visits
- Contributed a minimum of $3K/week in personal sales volume and consistently maintained an SPH of $100.
- Interacted well with customers to build connections and nurture relationships.
- Assisted in recruiting, hiring and training of team members.
- Scheduled employees for shifts, taking into account customer traffic and employee strengths.
- Managed purchasing, sales, marketing and customer account operations efficiently.
- Observed each employee's individual strengths and initiated mentoring program to improve areas of weakness.
Education
Master of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College
Paramus, NJ05.2022
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College
Paramus, NJ05.2011
Skills
- Communication
- Customer Service
- Project Management
- Public Speaking
- Customer Satisfaction
- Strategic Account Management
- Revenue Growth
- Pipeline Planning
- Account and Territory Management
- Workflow Assessments
- Development Activities
- Key Performance Indicator Tracking
- Profit Target Achievement
- Pipeline Growth
- Highly Organized
- Risk Mitigation Strategies
Languages
English
Native or Bilingual
Spanish
Native or Bilingual
Timeline
Director of Strategic Programs
Check Point Software Technologies Ltd.
03.2022 - Current
Public Sector Program Manager
CISCO SYSTEMS,INC
04.2021 - 03.2022
Senior E-rate Program Specialist
SHI International Corp.
09.2020 - 04.2021
E-rate Program Specialist
SHI International Corp.
01.2017 - 09.2020
Inside Account Executive
SHI International Corp.
08.2015 - 01.2017
Regional Store Manager
Club Monaco
04.2009 - 08.2015
Master of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College
Bachelor of Science - Legal Studies
Berkeley College
Similar Profiles
Tal TamamTal Tamam
QA Engineer – Gaia OS Jumbo Hotfix Team at Check Point Software TechnologiesQA Engineer – Gaia OS Jumbo Hotfix Team at Check Point Software Technologies
Yulian AbramovichYulian Abramovich
Director, MIS Applications at Check Point Software TechnologiesDirector, MIS Applications at Check Point Software Technologies
DANIELLE SHAVITDANIELLE SHAVIT
HR OPERATIONS SPECIALIST at Check Point Software TechnologiesHR OPERATIONS SPECIALIST at Check Point Software Technologies
Raz SakalRaz Sakal
QA Automation Engineer at Check Point Software TechnologiesQA Automation Engineer at Check Point Software Technologies
Alexia BelangerAlexia Belanger
Camp Counselor at AML SportsCamp Counselor at AML Sports