NORMAN AREVALO
Bel Air
Summary
Highly motivated, results driven, and hardworking government professional with over ten years of hands-on experience in grants & project management. Skilled in maintaining excellent interpersonal communication, organization, and time administration. Ability to manage & provide oversight to multiple priority projects and meet strict deadlines under pressure. Effective at collaborating & leading teams in achieving established goals. Forward-thinking project management specialist confident in leading team members, managing schedules and coordinating resources. Keeps projects on-track with decisive supervision and quick problem-solving. Persuasive in communicating and negotiating with internal team members, vendors and other stakeholders. Seasoned Senior Project Manager with relevant experience in coordinating large-scale projects, managing diverse teams, and driving overall project success. Strong in initiating and planning stages of project management, leveraging strong communication and negotiation skills to manage stakeholder expectations. Have consistently made significant impacts by ensuring timely delivery of projects without compromising quality standards. Display leadership qualities and decision-making abilities that foster team collaboration and efficient problem resolution. Seasoned project management specialist with comprehensive experience in leading projects from inception to completion. Skilled in coordinating cross-functional teams, optimizing processes for efficiency, and implementing innovative solutions to complex challenges. Proven ability to deliver projects on time and within budget while maintaining high standards of quality. Demonstrated success in enhancing operational workflows and significantly improving project outcomes through strategic planning and effective communication.
Overview
11
11
years of professional experience
Work History
Senior Project Manager
USDOT – FRA
Washington
07.2024 - Current
- Experience managing various large projects through grant life cycles: award, pre-obligation, obligation, post-obligation, and close-out
- Project Manager to 25 Federal Railroad Administration (FRA) grants in pre-obligation that sum over $290M in Federal funds
- Lead a project team of various Subject Matter Experts
- Certify expenditures (SF-270) and reports (QPRs, SF-425s) are consistent with relevant Federal grant regulations
- Ensure FRA grant programs with other federal funds, such as CRISI funds, meet all requirements and are incorporated into the grant agreement accurately
- Maintain proper records and documentation via SharePoint
- Work with OST on INFRA and RAISE, BUILD, TIGER grant agreements, follow compliance, and meet grant funding obligation deadlines
- Process modifications for both non-obligated & obligated grants and White Paper amendment requests
- Perform pre-award reviews and draft pre-award authority letters for Director & OST approval
- Review grant attachments by providing feedback to grantees on best practices and ensuring compliance with grant requirements
- Prepare files for obligation via email or Grant Solutions system
- Apply grant analysis principles and program requirements to evaluate, assess, and make recommendations related to the review of grant proposals
- Assist in policy guidance and train various applicants and grantees, including state and local governments, government-sponsored authorities, and ports, via in-person/on-site meetings and team virtual meetings
- Write project analysis documents, brief management officials, and communicate with various levels of the agency to present information regarding grant programs/project status
- Understand transportation regulations for both port and rail requirements
- Work with other Subject Matter Experts to ensure Federal requirements are coordinated correctly
- Creation of SOPs & training documentation for future reference in areas such as grants policy, outcomes, and guidance
- Knowledge of OMB Circulars, 2 CFR 200, NOFOs/Federal Register, Policy, etc.…
- Project Management Master Track Certification via Management Concepts, Summer 2026
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
USDOT – MARAD
Washington
02.2023 - 07.2024
- Experience managing various grant life cycles: award, pre-obligation, obligation, post-obligation, and close-out
- Project Manager to 12 Maritime Administration (MARAD) grants in pre-obligation that sums over $205M in Federal funds
- Supervise a team of 5 Grants Management Specialists for post-obligated grants that sums over $3.3B in Federal funds
- Certify expenditures (SF-270) and reports (QPRs, SF-425s) are consistent with relevant Federal grant regulations
- Review & approve expenditures submitted in Delphi by serving as first-tier signer
- Ensure that MARAD grant programs, along with other federal funds such as CRISI funds, meet all requirements and are accurately incorporated into the grant agreement
- Maintain proper records and documentation via SharePoint
- Work with OST on INFRA and RAISE grant agreements, follow compliance, and meet grant funding obligation deadlines
- Process modifications for obligated grants and White Paper amendment requests
- Perform pre-award reviews and draft pre-award authority letters for Director & OST approval
- Review grant Attachments by providing feedback to grantees on best practices and ensuring compliance to grant requirements
- Prepare files for obligation via email or Grant Solutions system
- Provide final grant agreement to grantee via email
- Chairperson and evaluations reviewer for MARAD grant programs; ensure applications meet requirements as outlined in the NOFO, review applications in ARM/Grant Solutions system; attend & provide feedback in Senior Review Team (SRT) meetings
- Apply grant analysis principles and program requirements to evaluate, assess, and make recommendations related to the review of grant proposals
- Assist in policy guidance and provide training to various applicants & grantees – including state and local governments, government-sponsored authorities, and ports via in-person/on-site meetings and Teams virtual meetings
- Write grant analysis documents and agency decisions, prepare staff documentation, brief management officials, and communicate with a variety of levels of the agency to present information regarding grant programs and status
- Review of FRA's ROAR initiative by meeting with the Office of Railroad Development’s department to discuss and incorporate a similar procedure at MARAD for priority grant projects
- Understanding of Transportation regulations of both ports and rail requirements
- Collaborate with other Subject Matter Experts to ensure That Federal requirements are properly coordinated
- Creation of SOPs & training documentation for future reference in areas such as grants policy, outcomes, and guidance
- Knowledge of OMB Circulars, 2 CFR 200, NOFOs/Federal Register, Policy, etc.…
- Project Management Master Track Certification via Management Concepts, Summer 2025
Senior Grants Management Specialist/Project Manager
USDOT – MARAD
Washington
10.2020 - 02.2023
- Manage portfolio of over 50+ Federal grants from grant negotiations to post-obligation
- Lead kick-off meetings with Grantees during the pre-obligation phase to advise on Federal Requirements needed to reach full execution of Grant Agreements and Term Sheets
- Liaison with Grantees during the Pre-obligation and Post-obligation phases to ensure grant conditions such as Federal Requirements, Financials such as Federal amount and match funds, and administrative documentation have met the criteria set forth in the NOFO
- Lead on-site and virtual site visits with grantees and internal team members
- Provide necessary information during these visits regarding Quarterly Reports, SF-425 Financial reports, SF-270 and respond to any grantee inquiries
- Served as 2nd tier reviewer for reimbursement requests from grantees, as well as provide guidance to 1st tier reviewer on requirements
- Work with internal team members to analyze and resolve issues related to Buy American, Procurement, Reimbursements, Reporting and Modifications
- Conduct Risk Assessments on all projects and evaluate the Risk Register level (low, medium, high) for oversight
- Provide training to new Grant Management Specialists and incoming staff on best practices
- Ad-hoc reports by use of excel for weekly progress status of grant projects
- Ensure legal compliance of Federal rule and regulations
- Knowledge of 2 CFR 200, Brooks Act, Buy America/n, Pre-Award Authority, SAM.gov, Grants.gov, Grants Solution, etc…
Supervisor of Capital Grants/Accounting
NYC Parks and Recreation
Flushing
12.2015 - 10.2020
- Supervise a team of 7 Capital Grants Project Managers and 5 Accounting personnel in the Capital Projects division
- Manage capital portfolio of over $1.2 billion dollars in Federal, State, and Private funds
- Monitor obligations and expenditures for all grant funded projects from pre-award through post award and closeout phases
- Administer grants from various sources including DOT, NYS Parks, DOS, DASNY, LMDC, GOSR, FEMA, etc…
- Knowledge of budget administration & M/WBE & DBE goals related to City, State, Federal and Private agreements
- Experience with PQLs, Utilization Plans, Davis Bacon, Prevailing Wages, DBE, SDVOB goals, and Local Law 1
- Oversee Federal & State audits; Survey site inspections & evaluations in accordance with grant agreements
- Participate in Bid Openings, Pre-Construction, and Kick-off meetings to advise on capital contracts
- Attend procurement events to represent agency & establish working relationships with vendors and other industry professionals
- Advise ACCO, DCOF, and Commissioners on best practices for grants, budget, procurement, and contracts
- Interpret expenditure variance, de-registrations, and revenue advances; provide Ad Hoc reports to high level personnel
- Handle large datasets via excel, QuickBase, Access and NYC’s Financial Management System
- Track and approve/reject accounting payments at Level3/5 in FMS 3
- Liaison with OMB, Comptroller’s Office, City Hall, MOCS, Commissioners, Chiefs, Legal and various key members
- Familiar with OMB’s Capital Grants Management System (CGMS)
- Develop SOP’s, presentations, workflows, training materials, and checklists for guidance to all levels within & outside the agency
- Ensure legal compliance of Federal, State and City rules & regulations
- Approve contract books for grant compliance & acquisition projects
- Develop policies and guidelines to improve efficiency and grant maximization
- Ensured payment submissions were acted upon in a timely, efficient, and compliant manner; tracked and reported on grant activities
- Served as Project Manager ensuring projects were completed on schedule and within budget for projects with set deadlines
Grants/Budget Analyst
NYC Parks and Recreation
New York
12.2013 - 12.2015
- Oversee 17 Federal and State grants totaling over $8 million for the Expense Grants unit
- Monitored headcount, salary, overtime expenditures and reporting for CDBG program
- Handled reconciliations, procedures, financial audits, and planned/actual expenditures
- Tracked policy requirements to ensure Federal and State compliance
- Experience with OTPS, MODS, JVAs, Object codes, and expense contracts
- Participated in implementation and execution of various agency-wide initiatives such as GARP system
- Develop spreadsheets and budgeted financials using Excel and NYC Financial Systems
- Administered cost and funding analysis and prepared monthly reports for high level personnel for weekly meetings
- Worked closely with OMB, Commissioners, Chiefs, and various staff levels by providing quarterly/monthly reports
- Volunteered to train Capital Grant Project Managers by providing guidance with techniques and the Capital/Expenses process
Education
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
Buffalo State College
Buffalo, NYSkills
- Microsoft Office Suite
- Project
- Visio
- Teams
- Zoom
- Time Management
- Process Development
- Reporting
- Adobe Acrobat
- Quality Assurance
- Database Management
- Monitoring
- Delphi
- Grant Solutions
- SharePoint
- Panel Chairperson
- Review of federal application submissions
- Project Management
- Government Administration
- Transportation
- Ports
- Rail
- Grant Agreement Development
- 2 CFR 200
- Team leadership
- Grant management
- Project management
- Risk assessment
- Communication skills
- Problem solving
- Time management
- Analytical thinking
- Stakeholder management
- Problem-solving abilities
- Project lifecycle management
Professional Highlights
- Recipient of Secretary’s Team Award, Port Infrastructure Development Program Team award, 01/2024
- Department of Transportation Aspiring Leader Cohort 10 Certificate, 01/2024
- Federal Grants Management Certificate – Federal Track, 05/2023
Languages
English
Native/ Bilingual
Spanish
Native/ Bilingual
References
References available upon request.
Timeline
Senior Project Manager
USDOT – FRA
07.2024 - Current
Supervisory Grants Management Specialist
USDOT – MARAD
02.2023 - 07.2024
Senior Grants Management Specialist/Project Manager
USDOT – MARAD
10.2020 - 02.2023
Supervisor of Capital Grants/Accounting
NYC Parks and Recreation
12.2015 - 10.2020
Grants/Budget Analyst
NYC Parks and Recreation
12.2013 - 12.2015
Bachelor of Science - Mathematics
Buffalo State College
Similar Profiles
Therese ClarkeTherese Clarke
ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER at USDOT- FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)ADMINISTRATIVE OFFICER at USDOT- FEDERAL TRANSIT ADMINISTRATION (FTA)
Rashnil MaharajRashnil Maharaj
Works Inspector at Fiji Road's Authority (FRA)Works Inspector at Fiji Road's Authority (FRA)
Chizoba IfechukwuChizoba Ifechukwu
Finance Assistant at International Fra-structural and margarine productFinance Assistant at International Fra-structural and margarine product