Tina M. Mader
Brookfield,WI
Summary
Dynamic program management professional with fourteen years extensive experience in steering complex digital/technology projects and leading cross-functional teams to achieve organizational objectives. Recognized for adaptability, innovative problem-solving, and cultivating collaborative work environments that drive team success. Proven track record of delivering multifaceted projects on time while maintaining a strong focus on agility and responsiveness to changing requirements. Committed to leveraging strong analytical and communication skills to optimize processes and contribute to continuous organizational growth.
Overview
31
31
years of professional experience
Work History
Lead Program Manager
McGraw Hill (Acquired Achieve3000)
Remote
08.2021 - Current
- Lead program initiatives, aligning resources to achieve strategic objectives and project goals.
- Develop and implement process improvements, enhancing operational efficiency across multiple teams.
- Drive end-to-end, on-time delivery of cross-functional initiatives, including the planning, managing, monitoring, and reporting of critical workstreams, identifying and mitigating risks to program success, clearing roadblocks, and ensuring all work is being conducted efficiently, with transparency, and in close alignment with business goals, product strategies, partners, and leadership.
- Nurture high-performing agile software development teams through coaching and mentorship while creating an environment that balances delivery with team well-being, energy, and engagement.
- Engage as the central bridge between our technical, product, engineering, UX, data and security teams, to define and implement cross-functional program objectives and success metrics, drive creation of roadmaps, create visibility and alignment across all workstreams, and ensure that we’re fostering healthy and productive working relationships with all our partners.
- Partner with teams to define program objectives, align cross-functional efforts, define success metrics, create clear roadmaps and milestones, and ensure everyone understands and is aligned to what success looks like for each initiative and how we’ll measure our progress toward that success.
- Establish and track meaningful metrics that help program agile software development teams understand their impact and progress. Create regular opportunities for the teams to reflect on what's working well and what needs adjustment, using data to guide improvements. Support measuring what matters and acting on those insights.
- Engage regularly with development teams, cross-functional partners, and leadership to communicate progress, updates, challenges, and outcomes across all workstreams within program, with a focus on making complex information clear and actionable while also ensuring everyone involved understands the “what” and the “why”.
- Steady contributer to program management Community of Practice to create, optimize, and refine processes, with an eye toward those that also enhance the efficiency, scalability, and quality of our work.
- Excellent interpersonal, collaborative, and influencing skills to build trust and lasting partnerships with diverse, cross-functional teams, and own program teams. Strong written communications with ability to craft a clear and compelling message and lead outstandingly productive and engaging meetings.
- 14 years working remotelywith geographically dispersed software development teams, ensuring seamless collaboration and communication, and authentically celebrating diversity.
- Relationship builder who collaborates seamlessly with cross-functional teams, fostering alignment, to drive consensus for achieving shared goals. Known for creating a culture of enthusiasm and positivity.
- Thrive in dynamic environments, juggling priorities, pivoting effortlessly, and keeping teams focused on high-impact objectives under tight deadlines. Excellent time management skills with the ability to manage a large initiative by vigorously prioritizing, staying on top of multiple workstreams, monitoring progress, and “kindly but firmly” holding accountable those who have action items to deliver.
- Tackle challenges with innovative solutions, turning tricky situations into opportunities for improvement, finding unexpected ways to make programs even better.
Senior Project Manager
Achieve3000
05.2013 - 08.2021
- Certified ScrumMaster leading all Internal Systems Scrum Teams using Agile Scrum methodology, promoting a project management process that encourages stakeholder involvement, feedback, and metrics. Responsible for facilitating and coordinating the activities and team members involved in the implementation and completion of projects, including the identification and coordination of dependencies to support the overall roadmap. Serve as business unit champion who cultivates a collaborative, high performing environment by displaying agile values, who fosters team cohesion using open and honest communication.
- Nominations: Elite Achiever Nomination (12/2014); Award: Stretch Award (3/2014) Certified Scrum Master Certification (3/2014)
- Managed product and business systems projects in a fast-paced, Agile Scrum environment.
- Facilitated Agile framework meetings including daily standup's, sprint planning, backlog grooming, retrospective, release planning and sprint reviews.
- Coached and mentored teams in effective Agile practices.
- Coached teams to higher levels of maturity, at a pace sustainable and comfortable.
- Experienced Rally and Atlassian Tools User (JIRA, Confluence, Service Management).
- Served as company wide JIRA Admin.
- Monitored and communicated the progress of project delivery and ensured timely and effective communication across organization.
- Proactively anticipated, identified, and communicated project risks and issues, including tracking and removal of roadblocks.
- Protected teams from outside influences impacting successful project delivery.
- Supported activities to improve information flow and reporting.
- Coordinated 2014 Lexile reliability and validity research study including recruitment, launch, support for participants and post study data collection.
Product Manager
Achieve3000
05.2011 - 05.2013
- Wrote technical requirements supporting stakeholders’ vision for new projects including a new multi-dimensional performance report for Administrators, an innovative College and Career Readiness Forecast report, and other product and reporting initiatives.
- Worked closely with the technical team and quality assurance to provide direction and support during the development cycle for each project.
- Developed end user documentation, including online help and implementation materials to support each project release.
- Trained Customer Support, Implementation, and Sales on new features and projects.
Consultant
KeyStep, LLC
09.2008 - 04.2009
- Assisted with the research, product specifications and report mock-ups for the modification of an educational software product.
Product Developer
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
08.1999 - 09.2006
- Worked with all levels of organization to rapidly bring fluency product to market including writing product concept and proposal, co-developing content proposal and specification, piloting product, scheduling, leading team meetings, training sales group and working with national fluency expert to review pilot research.
- Served as company fluency product expert to field questions and resolve issues.
- Solicited and summarized sales, technical support, and customer comments to understand initial and ongoing customer reaction to fluency product.
- Worked with Marketing to develop initial product positioning and review product marketing materials including print, internet, and CD-ROM demonstrations.
- Completed analysis on premium products’ sales to determine products shelf life and assisted with researching and selecting new products.
- Developed product sales forecasts on premium product line and other products in development.
- Completed extensive market and competitive product research prior to development of keyboarding product.
Marketing Associate
GlobalView Software, Inc.
04.1998 - 07.1999
- Managed trade show schedule and organization of trade shows for both North America and International markets.
- Coordinated advertising campaign including identification of advertising opportunities, ad creation, and placement in various trade publications and directories.
- Assisted in the design, production and fulfillment of new marketing materials including product announcement mailings and collateral.
Marketing Coordinator, Hyatt Vacations
Hyatt Corporation
07.1995 - 04.1998
- Co-developed 26 hotels pricing and vacation package product offering.
- Analyzed production statistics related to call volume and booking production to identify performance problems and determine marketing needs.
- Produced monthly reports quantifying past and future travel activity, room nights, and revenue.
- Liaison between vacation center and corporate office.
- Tracked inventory levels at 26 properties and obtained additional rooms when deficit occurred.
- Responsible for reducing hotel and reservation pricing and reservation system issues.
- Responsible for the offer, copy and creative elements of promotion to top accounts such as Sam’s Club, AAA and Target Travel Club.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Illinois State University
05.1995
Skills
- Program leadership
- Team leadership and direction
- Cross functional team builder
- High proficiency in Agile methodologies
- Process improvement
- Interpersonal skills
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Performance monitoring
Timeline
Lead Program Manager
McGraw Hill (Acquired Achieve3000)
08.2021 - Current
Senior Project Manager
Achieve3000
05.2013 - 08.2021
Product Manager
Achieve3000
05.2011 - 05.2013
Consultant
KeyStep, LLC
09.2008 - 04.2009
Product Developer
Renaissance Learning, Inc.
08.1999 - 09.2006
Marketing Associate
GlobalView Software, Inc.
04.1998 - 07.1999
Marketing Coordinator, Hyatt Vacations
Hyatt Corporation
07.1995 - 04.1998
Bachelor of Science - Marketing
Illinois State University