Maria DeGraffenreid
Romulus
Summary
Dynamic and results-oriented professional seeking a Principal Supervisor of Contract Management and Landowner Payment position, leveraging a robust background in business administration and military experience. Proven expertise in managing complex projects, developing efficient processes, and enhancing organizational effectiveness through strategic collaboration. Highly skilled in utilizing advanced technology and data analysis to drive informed decision-making while maintaining confidentiality and accuracy in all operations. Committed to fostering team success and achieving organizational objectives with a proactive approach to problem-solving and continuous improvement.
Experienced leader with strong background in guiding teams, managing complex projects, and achieving strategic objectives. Excels in developing efficient processes, ensuring high standards, and aligning efforts with organizational goals. Known for collaborative approach and commitment to excellence.
Overview
29
29
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Executive Assistant II & EA Co-Lead
DTE
Detroit, MI
01.2016 - Current
- Senior level secretarial and administrative support utilizing proper anticipatory methods, taking initiative to strategically manage schedule and calendar alignment not only of the executive but also internal and external contributors.
- Solutions oriented, diverse, multi-tasking coordination of meetings, logistics, resource allocation while aligning with budgetary guidelines, corporate policy and procedure.
- Proactively assist executives with reviewing emails, documentation, project milestones, and communications for timely processing and progression.
- Help with balancing and addressing priorities and objectives on a weekly basis, while being flexible to adjust to any changing needs to timelines and deliverables that arise.
- Responsiveness within one business day and utilize flagging, follow up process to prevent unnecessary delays.
- Assist with coordinating travel arrangements to align with meeting needs as a good steward of company dollars. Generate a detailed day by day travel itinerary to mutually support conference/seminar agendas conscious of time zone differences, as well as any imperative prior committed sensitive business matters.
- Oversee expense processing to ensure alignment with policy and auditing requirements for the executives and their direct reports. Prepare, reconcile, and submit expenses timely and accurately. Submit invoices for check requisitions whether preassigned with or without purchase order.
- Liaison and collaborator for executive leadership of several business units.
- Occasional scheduling consultant to the business unit and cross functional teams in support of planning and ongoing development to conclusion for optimal outcomes.
- Utilize discretion when screening phone calls, written correspondence, and emails to help determine priorities, task management, and drive scheduling.
- Worked closely with city officials, board members, state legislators, committees, and commissioners to ensure timely discussions and executed decisions.
- Provides support in developing strategic presentations, executive summaries, and communications within the business unit and the communities we serve.
- Prepares, analyzes, and delivers monthly meeting summaries when necessary.
- Supports the business unit's communication needs upon request.
- Supports and/or leads cross-functional discussion to review and make recommendations on current strategic or operational issues to leadership.
- Participates in the development team’s operating plan.
- Serves as an internal consultant to the team and support the overall strategy for CI as well as ongoing growth and development opportunities.
- Researches and prepares internal and external communications and presentations for leadership.
- Acts as liaison for various business unit initiatives, including strategic planning, human resources, communication, and regulatory changing demands and priorities.
- Supports impromptu research, resolution, and report outs as needed.
- Uses continuous improvement tools to identify opportunities to strengthen deficiencies, bridge gaps, or develop improvement, action plans.
Administrative Coordinator and Healthcare Account Support Specialist
American Heart Association
Southfield, MI
01.2005 - 01.2015
- Prepare complex reports for managed training accounts as well as relationship analysis for those unassigned, ensuring a qualitative overview of revenue and training results to meet performance requirements and tight deadlines.
- Authored professional correspondence to customers and partnering organizations.
- Design and deliver series of sessions for long distant account managers via webinars to maintain updates within designated Sales Process system, enabling timely performance and sales analogies.
- Formulate, write, and implement new employee orientation manuals.
- Train and supervise on-boarding process of new staff, as well as assist with the evaluation of staff and coaching improvement management skills.
- Support detailed annual financial forecasting and planning.
- More than 10 years contractual review responsibilities and management to execution.
- Conducted and facilitated quarterly budgetary conference calls to enable adequate analysis to develop and communicate support opportunities, travel budget expectations, as well as strategize resource requisition and capabilities vs. perceived requirements and necessity.
- Successfully manage meeting logistics on both a local, regional, and multi-regional level with inclusion of various levels of executive leadership internally and externally, clients, customers, vendors, partners, and staff.
- Coordinated travel for department and team members to mutually meet meeting, projects, policy, and organization needs.
- Acquisition and integration of technology and other resource needs for team members to meet project performance, milestones, position, and overall organizational objectives.
- Managed project resulting in the New Hire Orientation Binder to assist with communicating policies and ongoing New Hire On-boarding Process including equipment requisitions.
- Daily analysis of Siebel Sales reporting to ensure accuracy of account assignments as well as the outcome reporting relating to revenue and training allocation thereof. In some cases, resulting in the recovery of unassigned accounts.
- Cost savings research offering the option of webinar rather than face to face meeting in time of budget restrictions and ongoing to best gain return on investment upon completion of needs assessment.
- Rapidly learn and master varied computer programs to successfully act as initial technical support to all levels of management; recently completed internal Advanced Siebel Sales Process course.
- Oversee service center operations and provide impeccable customer service:
- Supported both local and long-distance account managers and directors, managing a client base of approximately 2000 customers/accounts.
- Develop and implemented strategic monthly marketing communication plan for business.
- Coordinated strategic sales calls to assist with obtaining solutions to unforeseen obstacles within the field resulting from economics to product development/release delays.
- Assisted with special promotions, up-selling, sample solicitation, meeting/calendar/logistic coordination (F2F, webinar, teleconference, and customer-need determination), and filter basic questions as required to best support managers time, availability, and project focus.
- Manage all aspects of day-to-day operations as multi-site support for managers and customers within domestic United States.
- Highly skilled in various software such as but not limited to Microsoft Excel, Access, PowerPoint, Publisher, Outlook, and Word as well as Microsoft Live Meeting webinar and other net meeting packages, Adobe Acrobat, teleconferencing, Enterprise One expense and budget reporting system, PeopleSoft personnel management products, and database management.
- Typing 50 wpm to 60 wpm.
- Other strengths include time management, successful multitasking, and meeting coordination for mutual ROI.
- Successful and proper use of Chain of Command within organization and volunteer network.
- Finances: accounts payable/receivable, invoicing, travel and office expense reconciliation, and other aspects of budgeting.
- Managing and Administration of training, implementation and enforcement of policies and procedures with staff to obtain compliance and support positive outcomes/performance.
- Oversaw onboarding process for new administrative staff, fostering team integration and training support.
- Facilitated communication between departments, promoting collaboration on organizational initiatives.
- Developed and implemented streamlined processes for document management, enhancing operational efficiency.
- Led development of training materials for administrative functions, improving staff performance and consistency.
- Established standardized reporting processes, increasing accuracy in data collection and analysis across projects.
- Conducted regular assessments of administrative procedures, identifying areas for improvement and implementing solutions.
- Managed and maintained electronic and paper-based filing systems to keep essential documents and information easily accessible and organized.
- Facilitated smooth day-to-day operations by anticipating needs, proactively addressing potential issues, and efficiently resolving problems as they arose.
- Supported project management efforts by tracking deadlines, maintaining documentation, and communicating progress updates to stakeholders.
- Calm, empathetic strategic collaboration in a highly competitive and ever evolving environment to support mutual success.
- Timely resolution and high-quality customer service with both internal and external customers.
- Certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED for Adults, Children, and Infants.
- Increased staff morale, planning team-building activities that fostered positive work environment.
- Improved employee onboarding process, resulting in shorter adjustment period for new hires.
- Increased office efficiency with development of comprehensive administrative procedures manual.
- Facilitated successful audits by maintaining impeccable financial and operational records.
- Improved data accuracy, overseeing transition to new database system and training staff on its use.
- Built highly-efficient administrative team through ongoing coaching and professional development opportunities.
- Mentored junior staff on best practices in customer interaction and resolution strategies.
- Developed strong relationships with clients, leading to higher retention rates and increased referrals.
- Managed a portfolio of key contributors, ensuring timely delivery of services while maintaining high levels of client satisfaction.
- Responded proactively and positively to rapid change.
- Investigated and resolved accounting, service and delivery concerns.
- Followed-through on all critical inter-departmental escalations to increase customer retention rates.
Service Center Associate
American Heart Association
Southfield, MI
01.2003 - 01.2005
- Contract review and renewal process, supported by required insurance and terms.
- Launched a thriving direct communication practice, assisting with building revenue and limiting expenses to accomplish organizational goals and objectives.
- Sales, training, product/service solution, and customer engagement strategies.
- Timely resolution and high-quality customer service with both internal and external customers.
- Certified in CPR, First Aid, and AED for Adults, Children, and Infants.
Customer Financial Support
Federal Mogul
Southfield, MI
01.2000 - 01.2002
- Assisted plant manager in planning and execution of work orders.
- Manage all aspects of day-to-day operations for the implementation and performance of vendor contracts.
- Manage contracts with a combine value of 40 million dollars with clients such as General Motors, Toyota, and Chrysler.
- Responsible for increasing or decreasing credit limits for approved vendors.
- Operated credit expense system to apply payments towards contract fulfillment.
- Handle contracting issues when they arose.
- Adjusted errors and responded to complaints.
Call Center Staff Schedule Adherence Specialist
Federal Mogul
Southfield, MI
01.1997 - 01.2000
- Acted in a dual role of Customer Support as well as in a Scheduling Support Capacity.
- Maintained proper staffing to ideally support incoming purchasing calls and technical support requests.
- Monitored abusive behaviors and reported gaps to be overcome to increase performance within the Call Center.
- Achieved high quality in customer service and implemented various scheduling improvements to overcome absenteeism to meet customer demands.
- Created Excel spreadsheets using company product information.
- Adjusted errors and responded to complaints.
Education
Bachelor’s - Business Administration (Management)
ROCHESTER COLLEGE
Rochester Hills, MI01.2008
Event Planning Certificate - Continuing Education Program
SCHOOLCRAFT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Livonia, MI01.2014
Skills
- Project execution
- Data analysis and reporting
- Effective written communication
- Office management proficiency
- Appointment management
- Employee engagement strategies
- Core HR strategies
- Experienced in digital tools
- Client relations management
- Appointment coordination
- Integrated marketing and sales
- Logistical planning for meetings and travel
- Risk analysis in lending
- Contract analysis expertise
- Stakeholder engagement and communication
- Comprehensive accounting support
- Client-facing operations
- Effective presentations
- Vendor performance assessment
- Procedural design and execution
- Budget forecasting and planning
- Financial trend assessment and alignment
- Interpersonal communication
- Database management
- Meticulous attention to detail
- Information confidentiality
- Advanced MS office suite
- Staff management
- Project management
- Resourceful
- Conflict management
- Strategic planning
- Project oversight
- Task delegation
- Process improvements
- AR/AP
- Policy enforcement
- Quality control
Affiliations
- 2025 Women of DTE Wine Down After Work Committee and Self Defense Collaborator
- 2025 Mid-Michigan Honor Flight Guardian (of Elder Veterans)
- 2024 to Current Member of DTE’s Sarah Sheridan Committee
- 2023-Current Michigan Women’s Veterans (via Michigan Veterans Affairs Agency)
- 2023-Current Inforum VETS
- 2016-Current DTE VETS ERG
Certification
Professional Certification of Administrative Excellence (ASAP) 2023 - Current
Other Trainings
- Various CPR/First Aid/AED, Safety, and Self Defense trainings.
- Microsoft Office Suite, Maximo, Concur, Cyber Security, SAP, Maximo, Udemy, and community support trainings. Transcripts available upon request.
- Currently taking various project management formal courses in preparation for the PMI exam for the PMP/CAPM certification.
Military
United States Marine Corps (Reserves) 1993 to 1998
Timeline
Executive Assistant II & EA Co-Lead
DTE
01.2016 - Current
Administrative Coordinator and Healthcare Account Support Specialist
American Heart Association
01.2005 - 01.2015
Service Center Associate
American Heart Association
01.2003 - 01.2005
Customer Financial Support
Federal Mogul
01.2000 - 01.2002
Call Center Staff Schedule Adherence Specialist
Federal Mogul
01.1997 - 01.2000
Event Planning Certificate - Continuing Education Program
SCHOOLCRAFT COMMUNITY COLLEGE
Bachelor’s - Business Administration (Management)
ROCHESTER COLLEGE