Technical professional with proven track record in project management and technology integration. Known for driving successful project outcomes through effective planning and execution. Committed to fostering team collaboration and adapting to changing project needs. Expertise in risk assessment, resource allocation, and stakeholder engagement.
Hi, I’m
Kim Graff
Denver,USA
Summary
Overview
12
years of professional experience
Work History
Prowess Consulting
Technical Project Manager, Vendor Consultant
06.2024 - Current
Job overview
- Responsible for championing accessibility initiatives within Microsoft’s Operating System teams, ensuring digital content, applications, and other technology-driven products are accessible to individuals with disabilities
- Direct the planning and execution of accessibility triages across Windows OS to ensure Windows follows requirements for the European Accessibility Act (EAA)
- Collaborate with various teams to implement accessibility standards, conducting assessments, and providing guidance on creating inclusive software experience
- Streamlined project processes by implementing agile methodologies, resulting in increased efficiency and faster completion times.
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams within the Windows Operating System platform to ensure compliance with EAA standards
- Facilitate design workshops to review and assess product features before release, ensuring accessibility standards are met
- Triage accessibility-related issues and prioritize bugs, utilizing the burndown method to track progress and ensure timely resolution
- Draft and maintain conformance statements to document compliance with EAA regulations and accessibility guidelines
- Generate regular reports on accessibility status and progress for stakeholders
- Engage with internal counsel and accessibility contacts on compliance and conformance process while staying up to date on relevant accessibility laws, guidelines, and industry best practices
- Conduct regular accessibility assessments and audits of digital properties to identify and address accessibility barriers
- Supported and executed simultaneous delivery of various e-commerce and mobile projects.
Macmillan Learning
Senior Accessibility Project Manager
02.2018 - 06.2024
Job overview
- Direct the planning and execution of accessibility initiatives across multiple projects, resulting in improved user experience for all end users
- Collaborate with design and development teams to integrate best practices for accessibility compliance into project workflows, ensuring inclusivity from inception to delivery
- Offer outstanding customer service by managing accessibility requests via email and SalesForce, ensuring seamless product implementation and client satisfaction
- Manage diverse team of project coordinators and specialists, fostering a culture of inclusion and accountability towards accessibility goals
- Present reports and updates to stakeholders on accessibility milestones and progress
- Transitioned from traditional project management to hybrid Scrum and Project Manager role at Macmillan Learning, spearheading the shift from a publishing model to agile software development
- Established the Macmillan Learning Accessibility Advisory Board (MLAAB) in 2018 to gather feedback from accessibility experts and end-users, leading to a 21% increase in adoptions at MLAAB schools and bolstering Macmillan Learning's competitiveness in states with stringent accessibility laws like Florida
- Achieved Global Certified Accessible badge for all Electronic Publications at Macmillan Learning, pioneering accessibility standards in higher education
- Increased Achieve platform's ability to meet WCAG 2.1 Level AA standards by 37% within one year through remediation efforts post-accessibility audit, collaborating with technology and product teams at Macmillan Learning
- Developed comprehensive accessibility training programs, including online courses and webinars, to support product inclusivity and compliance
- Implementation of JIRA
- Initiated by identifying critical workflow processes for integration into JIRA and developing tailored workflows
- Successfully implemented JIRA across editorial and technical departments over a six-month period, ensuring smooth adoption through phased rollout and stakeholder engagement
- Unified UI/UX, Software Development, and Product Owner teams
- Organized daily stand-ups and Scrum ceremonies to oversee accessibility remediation efforts across teams
- Established a stakeholder group to streamline processes and ensure consistent accessible coding practices
- Strategically reduced inter-team confusion and enhanced operational efficiency, contributing to increased profit margins and cost savings
Book Industry Study Group (BISG)
Project Manager
01.2015 - 02.2018
Job overview
- Oversaw multiple projects simultaneously, ensuring all deadlines were met and deliverables were of the highest quality
- Orchestrated biannual member meetings for Book Industry Study Group (BISG), coordinating panels, speakers, and workshops critical to event success
- Organized annual national workshop series featuring metadata standards experts in major U.S
- Cities, including the Bay Area, Chicago, Boston, and New York City
- Led cross-functional project teams, fostering a collaborative environment, and empowering team members to achieve project milestones
- Stabilized BISG's operations and finances within 2.5 months, securing recruitment of two new enterprise-level members amid organizational restructuring
- Developed nationwide workshops and training sessions on metadata and publishing standards for BISG, boosting engagement and membership sign-ups for non-NYC companies by 26% and 13% respectively within one year
- Spearheaded development of a new membership database and spearheaded the redesign of the BISG website
- Elevated office file systems and financial tracking mechanisms
- Appointed to oversee standing committees and manage membership affairs during a financial crisis
- Retained exclusively by the Board of Directors to sustain effective management practices until a new Executive Director was hired, contributing to the organization's stability and eventual recovery
The Write Service
Freelance Writer and Editor
01.2013 - 01.2018
Job overview
Education
McGill UniversityMontreal, Quebec
General Coursework from Information Science
University Overview
University of KansasLawrence, KS
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science and International Studies
University Overview
Columbia Engineering
Full Stack Coding Bootcamp
University Overview
Project Management Institute
Project Management Professional Certificate
University Overview
Columbia College
Certificate of Full Stack from Bootcamp
University Overview
Georgia Institute of Technology
Certificate in Information and Communication Technology Accessibility
University Overview
University of Denver
Certificate in Publishing
University Overview
Skills
- JIRA
- Atlassian
- Confluence
- Slack
- Microsoft suite
- Google Analytics
- SalesForce
- Power BI
- Azure DevOps
- Figma
- Content Management
- Database Theory
- Knowledge Management
- Web Accessibility
- WCAG 21 & WCAG 22
- Section 508
- European Accessibility Act
- Technical project planning
- Project leadership
- Stakeholder communication
- Scrum master
- Quality assurance
- Risk mitigation
- Requirements analysis
- Software development
- Agile project management
Personal Information
Personal Information
Title: Senior Technical Project ManagerTimeline
Technical Project Manager, Vendor Consultant
Prowess Consulting
06.2024 - Current
Senior Accessibility Project Manager
Macmillan Learning
02.2018 - 06.2024
Project Manager
Book Industry Study Group (BISG)
01.2015 - 02.2018
Freelance Writer and Editor
The Write Service
01.2013 - 01.2018
University of Kansas
Bachelor of Arts from Political Science and International Studies
Columbia Engineering
Full Stack Coding Bootcamp
Project Management Institute
Project Management Professional Certificate
Columbia College
Certificate of Full Stack from Bootcamp
Georgia Institute of Technology
Certificate in Information and Communication Technology Accessibility
University of Denver
Certificate in Publishing
McGill University
General Coursework from Information Science
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