Melany Reid (Simmons)
North Charleston,SC
Summary
Results-oriented Project and Quality Management Professional with over 20 years of experience in steering large-scale transformations and technical implementations. Proven success in business process re-engineering that enhances efficiency and reduces costs. Demonstrates adaptability in rapidly changing environments while continuously acquiring and applying new knowledge to drive successful project outcomes. Passionate about fostering innovation and sustaining growth through transparency and effective leadership.
Overview
17
17
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Chief Strategy and Contracting Officer
Ascension Premier Management (APM) Solutions
06.2022 - Current
- Developed contracting strategies and plans for complex acquisitions in accordance with federal regulations (CFR, FAR, DFAR, etc.).
- Negotiated contracts, terms, and conditions on behalf of the organization.
- Collaborated with legal counsel when necessary to resolve disputes related to contracts.
- Performed cost and price analysis to determine if proposed prices are competitive, fair, and reasonable.
- Prepared documents such as contract modifications, change orders, delivery orders, task orders.
- Lead pre-solicitation conferences with contractors and vendors.
- Executed teaming agreements, joint ventures, and non-disclosure agreements (NDAs) to formalize strategic partnerships.
- Assessed risk associated with prospective contractors prior to awarding contracts.
- Monitored contractor performance against established metrics to ensure compliance with contractual obligations.
- Created plans to implement corrective and preventative actions to resolve problems related to efficiency, costs, and profits.
- Audited company's legal documents to verify compliant policies and procedures.
- Facilitated training sessions for new employees on company policies and procedures.
- Utilized advanced technical skills and expertise to troubleshoot complex problems and implement solutions.
- Solicited customer feedback to improve service with monthly customer satisfaction surveys.
Director, Consulting Services Project Management Office
Clearwater Compliance
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Developed the Quality Management System to standardize service delivery processes.
- Documented and trained staff on quality work instructions and standard operating procedures to ensure compliance with corporate and quality service-level standards.
- Oversaw strategic planning and service delivery to ensure organizational goals were met.
- Cultivated relationships with stakeholders to secure support and funding for key initiatives.
- Implemented fully automated project management plans outlining resources, timelines, goals, budgets, deliverables, and other key project milestones.
- Delegated work to staff, setting priorities and goals.
- Directed the organization's daily operations to improve efficiency and profit margins.
- Mitigated business risks and waste by working closely with all levels of staff to assess performance.
- Coordinated activities with other departments to create open lines of communication, expedite work, and improve collaboration.
- Implemented new technologies to streamline processes for enterprise (internal) and customer (external) resource management.
- Reviewed internal reports and identified areas of risk, waste, or potential cost savings.
- Created and managed project resource plans for the delivery of engagements.
- Used excellent verbal skills to engage customers and effectively determine needs and requirements.
- Recruited, trained, supervised, evaluated and mentored staff members.
- Identified opportunities for process optimization through data analysis.
- Deployed monthly customer satisfaction surveys to identify trends in product performance and customer service issues.
- Developed and implemented comprehensive strategies to improve operational processes and organizational efficiency.
Cybersecurity/ Quality Assurance Lead-Contract
United States Department of Defense
03.2018 - 11.2018
- Evaluated existing processes and procedures for efficiency improvements while maintaining compliance with regulatory requirements.
- Developed and implemented quality assurance processes to ensure product compliance with industry standards.
- Participated in product design reviews to provide input on functional requirements, product designs, schedules, or potential problems.
- Prepared weekly and monthly reports highlighting key performance indicators related to velocity, product defects, and other quality issues.
- Wrote and updated manual test cases for team use, maintaining optimal organization for maximum productivity.
- Worked collaboratively with cross-functional teams to improve processes and optimize productivity.
- Analyzed trends in defect data to identify areas where improvement was necessary to reduce technical debt.
- Produced test scripts for new automated software testing rounds.
- Created and maintained database of common and known testing defects.
- Worked with Agile and Scrum methodologies to accomplish project milestones and meet demanding timelines.
- Documented, triaged, and managed defects in software and worked with developers to facilitate timely resolutions.
- Conducted internal audits of the quality management system, identified non-conformances and developed corrective action plans.
Healthcare Compliance Analyst and Auditor
Molina Healthcare
03.2015 - 03.2018
- Conducted comprehensive start-to-finish reviews of new regulations and guidance (Final Rule, Readiness Checklist, HPMS Memos) to ensure proper implementation, incorporation of operational, health plan, and FDR (first tier, downstream, and related entity) feedback, monitoring, policies, and procedures.
- Partnered with business (Internal Operations, Health Plan, and FDRs) throughout implementation and operationalization to ensure comprehensive compliance oversight, guidance, and proactive identification of risk.
- Lead workgroups to perform RACIs on net-new processes, or high-risk areas requiring additional oversight.
- Ensure comprehensive monitoring of operations beyond KPIs, in support of internal audit plans and strategic objectives.
- Perform surveillance audits of HPMS, Memo, and Final Rule operationalization.
- Liaison between the Health Plan, Internal Operations, Delegation Oversight, and SIU for referrals, RFI requests, and other investigations.
- Maintained an up-to-date knowledge base of all relevant CMS, Medicaid, Medicare laws, regulations, guidelines, and industry standards.
- Reviewed and updated company policies in response to regulatory changes.
- Supported internal and external auditing teams conducting impartial compliance reviews.
Senior IT Implementation Consultant
Equifax- Contract
10.2014 - 03.2015
- Leads and manages the successful implementation of the ACAMP IT solution, ensuring the clients' ability to understand and comply with the requirements of the Affordable Care Act.
- Ownership of IT implementation projects, from planning and scoping to validation and transition to post-implementation support.
- Demonstrated a strong understanding of IT systems, software, and technologies, to configure, customize, and troubleshoot solutions.
- Identified and resolved technical issues that arise during the implementation process.
- Conducted comprehensive needs analysis to align technology solutions with business objectives.
- Implemented and configured software solutions according to project specifications.
- Verified stability, security and scalability of system architecture.
- Led internal training sessions to update teams on new technologies and implementation strategies.
- Interfaced regularly with clients to manage expectations throughout the entire implementation process, to keep customers informed of any changes or delays.
- Prepared status reports for customers detailing the current state of their implementations.
- Provided technical support for customers during the implementation process.
- Facilitated user training sessions and workshops to ensure successful software adoption.
ISO Auditor and Requirements Systems Analyst III
U.S. Department of State- Comptroller
10.2011 - 09.2014
- Assessed the effectiveness of management controls over key business functions such as inventory management, accounting procedures, purchasing policies.
- Evaluated and assessed processes, procedures, and operations against ISO 9001 (Quality Management Systems) industry standards.
- Analyzed data from various sources, including financial statements, records, reports, interviews, and direct observation.
- Ensured compliance with organizational policies and procedures through periodic reviews and audits.
- Documented audit results, findings and recommendations in concise reports.
- Performed risk assessments to identify potential areas of concern or improvement opportunities.
- Verified implementation of corrective actions taken by management to address identified issues.
- Provided workforce training to all personnel across three divisions of staff (e.g., American Payroll, Retired Annuitants, Locally Employed Staff) to ensure an understanding of ISO standards.
- Facilitated communication between departments regarding process improvements related to ISO requirements.
- Liaised with external auditors to complete surveillance audits and maintain compliance with local, state and federal requirements.
Program Management Office (PMO) | Organizational Management
United States Department of Defense- Navy Medicine
10.2007 - 10.2011
- Provided expertise in the implementation of SAP Human Resources modules, including Personnel Administration, Organizational Management and Time Management.
- Configured and maintained the enterprise work breakdown structure (WBS) for improved reporting by Navy Medicine personnel.
- Provided counsel on best practices related to organizational management, business strategy, and financial planning.
- Participated in meetings with senior management to discuss organizational objectives.
- Monitored the effectiveness of existing risk management practices to ensure that organizational objectives are met.
- Ensured compliance with applicable laws, regulations, and organizational policies regarding records management.
- Provided guidance on organizational structure design, change management, and process improvement.
- Facilitated communication between departments and management to ensure alignment with organizational objectives.
Education
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication, Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina-Columbia
Columbia05-2006
Skills
- Project management
- Regulatory compliance
- IT Activation / Data Validation
- Process analysis
- Operational streamlining
- Audit reporting
- Stakeholder management
- Business process reengineering
- Workflow optimization
- Continuous improvement
Certification
International Organization for Standardization (ISO) 9001, Certified Lead Auditor of Quality Management Systems
Personal Information
Title: Organizational Management Expert | Transformation Strategist | Program/Project Management Consultant | Quality Management Enthusiast | Resilience Expert
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Chief Strategy and Contracting Officer
Ascension Premier Management (APM) Solutions
06.2022 - Current
Cybersecurity/ Quality Assurance Lead-Contract
United States Department of Defense
03.2018 - 11.2018
Director, Consulting Services Project Management Office
Clearwater Compliance
01.2018 - 01.2023
Healthcare Compliance Analyst and Auditor
Molina Healthcare
03.2015 - 03.2018
Senior IT Implementation Consultant
Equifax- Contract
10.2014 - 03.2015
ISO Auditor and Requirements Systems Analyst III
U.S. Department of State- Comptroller
10.2011 - 09.2014
Program Management Office (PMO) | Organizational Management
United States Department of Defense- Navy Medicine
10.2007 - 10.2011
Bachelor of Arts - Journalism And Mass Communication, Criminal Justice
University of South Carolina-Columbia
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