Tara McDonald
Summary
Results-oriented leader with a passion for driving organizational growth. Known for diligence, forward-thinking, and adaptability to meet dynamic company, customer, and project requirements. Experienced in seamlessly transitioning into diverse roles and delivering immediate positive impacts. Proven ability to cultivate positive relationships with customers and stakeholders, while inspiring teams to excel under tight deadlines.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Salesforce Practice Lead
Slalom Consulting
04.2022 - Current
- Lead a team of professionals to achieve practice goals, fostering collaboration and continuous professional development
- Support our business development team by shaping Salesforce pursuits, and introducing the latest industry and product solutions to drive sales
- Strategically forecast and plan team utilization and revenue across multiple horizons to maintain the financial health of the business
- Serve as the functional and/or technical leader for Salesforce projects, providing onsite support to our enterprise clients to ensure exceptional delivery and client satisfaction
- Collaborate with cross-functional teams to develop integrated solutions that address complex client challenges effectively
- Expanded our sales pipeline twofold in just two years through the development of internal and external relationships, as well as the optimization of our processes to enhance responsiveness to customer needs
VP of Operations
Torrent Consulting
06.2019 - 04.2022
- Oversaw all aspects of Human Resources and Operations, including Talent Acquisition, Growth & Development, Culture & Engagement, Benefits & Compensation, and Internal Technology & Operations, to take Torrent from a startup to a well run small business
- Directed a dedicated team of 13 individuals, focused on bringing to life the vision of a people-centered company and ensuring daily positive experiences for all of our Torrent Guides
- Managed organizational restructuring initiatives that improved overall efficiency and eliminated redundancies while maintaining high employee morale and engagement levels
- Collaborated with sales and marketing teams to develop strategic plans that aligned with company objectives, driving revenue growth while minimizing operational complexities
- Led an initiative to establish fair and consistent salary bands across all workforce levels spanning three geographical regions
VP of Client Services
Torrent Consulting
09.2017 - 07.2019
- Spearheaded high-performing consulting teams dedicated to delivering exceptional value for our customers within their respective industry domains
- Managed delivery of $15+ million in revenue and oversaw staffing forecasts across the business to ensure optimization
- Initiated our foundational project methodologies to uphold superior delivery standards across a broad spectrum of consulting environments and project categories, marking a significant milestone in our company's growth and maturity
- Successfully recruited and retained top Salesforce talent to strengthen the company's capabilities
- Achieved a consistently high average Net Promoter Score (NPS) of 70+ throughout the duration of this position
Consulting Manager
Torrent Consulting
07.2016 - 09.2017
- Led a dynamic team of Salesforce consultants, architects, developers, and analysts concurrently managing 5-10 projects
- Directed mid to large-scale implementation projects, prioritizing client satisfaction, delivery excellence, and adherence to timeline and budget constraints
- Championed continuous improvement culture by regularly soliciting feedback from staff members and incorporating suggestions to enhance overall consulting service quality
- Coached junior consultants on effective project management techniques, improving overall team performance significantly over time
Senior Consultant
Torrent Consulting
08.2015 - 07.2016
- Directed client engagements, emphasizing requirements gathering, Salesforce solutioning, quality assurance oversight, and training
- Facilitated workshops with clients to identify pain points, establish goals, and define actionable steps towards achieving desired outcomes.
- Managed teams of analysts and developers to ensure successful client delivery
- Resolved complex business challenges and drove ROI through expert Sales and Service Cloud implementations
- Built strong relationships with clients through consistent communication and proactive problem-solving efforts
Engineering Teacher
West Bloomfield High School
08.2013 - 06.2015
- Designed and developed a new Career and Technical Education program within the district to provide students with opportunities to explore engineering as a future career option
- Secured work-based engineering experiences for all 15 students within the senior cohort class at industry partners in the community
- Utilized a hands-on, project-based approach to STEM curriculum to inspire students in the fields of manufacturing, mechanical, electrical, environmental, and bioengineering
- Incorporated technology usage throughout the class with the use of CAD and Inventor software, Google applications, Knowmia screencasts, Edmodo class sites, and Arduino computer programming projects
- Tripled enrollment in the engineering program by creating a new class open to all students and hosting an “engineering day” for 160 eighth grade students
Mathematics Teacher
Brownell Middle School
08.2010 - 08.2013
- Created daily lesson plans based on Common Core State Standards
- Incorporated hands-on activities using math manipulatives and classroom games to keep student engagement level high
- Utilized interactive SmartBoard sessions, graphing calculators, and online tutorials to enhance daily lessons
- Collaborated with district mathematics teachers in grades 5 – 8 to vertically standardize instruction methods and procedures
- Assessed students formally and informally using warm-up activities, homework rubrics, in-class participation, individual testing and group projects
- Communicated regularly with parents via letters, phone, email and in-person meetings
- Consistently received positive evaluations from supervisors based on observation of instructional practices and impact on student learning
Engineering Teacher
Lexington Trails Middle School
08.2008 - 05.2010
- Created quarter and semester long curriculum units for Engineering and Economics classes based on Kansas State Standards in Math, Science, and Social Studies
- Heavily incorporated data utilization, critical thinking, and team building into real-world projects
- Structured professional development curriculum and advised on a new school day schedule to incorporate additional elective courses while concurrently meeting the Kansas MTSS standards
- Guided student groups in cooperative learning projects in preparation for the Kansas University Engineering Expo competition
Information Technology Manager
Accenture
09.2000 - 04.2008
- Consulted with Fortune 500 chemical, automotive, and retail companies to improve business process strategies and streamline information technology distribution
- Collaborated closely with client leads to clarify business requirements and perform gap analysis between goals and existing products/technologies
- Designed and developed solutions for Siebel, SAP, and e-commerce platforms
- Created and administered functional and performance testing scripts/scenarios
- Directly led and evaluated teams of up to fifteen people; consistently delivering projects on-time and within budget constraints
- Mentored team members to help them develop skills and succeed in personal career goals
Education
Master of Science in Engineering - Industrial And Operations Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI06.2000
Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Industrial And Operations Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Ann Arbor, MI05.1999
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
DePaul University
Chicago, IL12.2007
Skills
- Organizational Development
- Critical Thinking
- Team Building and Motivation
- Operations Management
- Program Management
- Client Relationships
- Decision-Making
- Problem Resolution
Timeline
Salesforce Practice Lead
Slalom Consulting
04.2022 - Current
VP of Operations
Torrent Consulting
06.2019 - 04.2022
VP of Client Services
Torrent Consulting
09.2017 - 07.2019
Consulting Manager
Torrent Consulting
07.2016 - 09.2017
Senior Consultant
Torrent Consulting
08.2015 - 07.2016
Engineering Teacher
West Bloomfield High School
08.2013 - 06.2015
Mathematics Teacher
Brownell Middle School
08.2010 - 08.2013
Engineering Teacher
Lexington Trails Middle School
08.2008 - 05.2010
Information Technology Manager
Accenture
09.2000 - 04.2008
Master of Science in Engineering - Industrial And Operations Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Bachelor of Science in Engineering - Industrial And Operations Engineering
University of Michigan - Ann Arbor
Master of Arts - Elementary Education
DePaul University
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