SHELLY WILLIAMS
Fort Wayne,IN
Summary
Product Manager & Domain Expert with a robust background in technical quality, inclusive design, and extensive genealogical research. Expert in leading cross-functional teams to deliver WCAG-compliant digital products for all users turning intricate technical and privacy constraints into intuitive experiences for end users.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Technical Product Specialist
Ferguson Agency
Fort Wayne, IN
01.2017 - Current
- Product Strategy & Roadmap: Directed a proactive "Product Health" roadmap for a portfolio of client sites, prioritizing security, performance, and accessibility updates that resulted in 99.9% operational uptime and a 30% reduction in post-launch support tickets.
- Technical Requirement Discovery: Partnered with Developers and Design to translate complex business goals and technical constraints into actionable user stories and detailed acceptance criteria; managed the product backlog in Jira to optimize sprint velocity.
- User Advocacy & Inclusive Design: Spearheaded organization-wide accessibility initiatives (WCAG 2.2 AA), championing user experiences for diverse demographics.
- Cross-Functional Leadership: Facilitated alignment between developers, marketing, and executives acting as the primary gatekeeper to exceeding client expectations.
- Strategic Process Automation: Integrated AI/LLM capabilities into the development lifecycle to automate technical documentation and requirement validation.
- Data-Driven Optimization: Leveraged Google Analytics and performance metrics to identify user friction points, leading to targeted feature improvements that enhanced site performance and user retention.
- Section 508/WCAG 2.2: Managed complex PDF remediation and localization audits, ensuring all digital assets and websites met success criteria
Project Manager/Quality Control
Xymmetrix, LLC
Fort Wayne, IN
09.2014 - 12.2016
- Facilitated regular meetings with stakeholders to review project status and address concerns.
- Analyzed project requirements and specifications to ensure deliverables met client expectations.
- Maintained communication with clients to provide updates and gather feedback.
E-Commerce Production Assistant
COMPLIANCE SIGNS, INC.
Indianapolis, USA
09.2011 - 09.2014
- Prepared data for compliancesigns.com to support online initiatives.
- Managed online campaigns to enhance brand visibility and engagement.
- Conducted research on online marketing opportunities to identify growth prospects.
- Optimized social media strategies to increase audience interaction and reach.
- Implemented SEO techniques to improve website ranking and traffic.
Technical Specialist, Industrial Commercial Division
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
Fort Wayne, USA
05.2002 - 08.2011
- Planned and managed development of incomsupply.com, ensuring alignment with B2B objectives.
- Developed comprehensive marketing materials to enhance brand visibility.
- Created training materials tailored for B2B members.
- Delivered training sessions to equip B2B members with essential skills.
E-Commerce Specialist
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
Fort Wayne, USA
03.2001 - 05.2002
- Collaborated with members to develop template sites for enhanced usability.
- Trained members on e-commerce strategies to improve online sales.
- Advised members on website marketing strategies to increase visibility.
E-Commerce Customer Service Representative
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
Fort Wayne, USA
06.2000 - 03.2001
- Provided customer service support for doitbest.com, resolving inquiries promptly.
- Troubleshot issues to identify and implement effective solutions.
Education
B.S. - Business Administration
INDIANA INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY
Fort Wayne, INContinuing Education - Technology and Visual Communication - HTML, Photoshop, Network Administration
IVY TECH
Fort Wayne, INSkills
Product Strategy & Execution
- Methodologies: Agile/Scrum, Product Roadmap Contribution, Backlog Grooming, Feature Prioritization
- Requirements: Translating complex technical and regulatory requirements into User Stories and Acceptance Criteria
- User Advocacy: Usability Testing, Customer Journey Mapping, User Research, and Investigative Prowess
- Metrics & Analytics: Data-driven decision-making using Google Analytics, KPI tracking, and usage metric analysis
Inclusive Design & Compliance
- Accessibility Leadership: Expert in WCAG compliance and PDF/UA standards; currently pursuing IAAP Accessible Document Specialist (ADS) certification
- Regulatory Navigation: Experience aligning product features with accessibility and privacy standards
- Inclusive UX: Ensuring product experiences accessible to diverse global user bases
Technical Proficiency & Innovation
- Tools: JIRA, Trello, Basecamp, Adobe Acrobat Pro, WAVE, Axe
- Platform Health: Root Cause Analysis, Performance Testing, Regression Strategy, and Technical Architectural discussions
- AI & Automation: LLM Prompt Engineering for automated documentation, AI-driven process optimization, and leveraging AI tools for rapid requirement discovery and data analysis
Domain Expertise
- Genealogical Research: 10 years of experience genealogical research, and vital record analysis
- Genetic Genealogy: Proficient in analyzing DNA matching logic
- User Perspective: Extensive "power user" experience with Ancestry’s Matches and Tree-building features, providing a unique vantage point on user friction and discovery patterns
Career Focus
Technical Product Manager
Timeline
Technical Product Specialist
Ferguson Agency
01.2017 - Current
Project Manager/Quality Control
Xymmetrix, LLC
09.2014 - 12.2016
E-Commerce Production Assistant
COMPLIANCE SIGNS, INC.
09.2011 - 09.2014
Technical Specialist, Industrial Commercial Division
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
05.2002 - 08.2011
E-Commerce Specialist
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
03.2001 - 05.2002
E-Commerce Customer Service Representative
DO IT BEST CORPORATION
06.2000 - 03.2001
B.S. - Business Administration
INDIANA INSTITUE OF TECHNOLOGY
Continuing Education - Technology and Visual Communication - HTML, Photoshop, Network Administration
IVY TECH