I am a seasoned professional with over 17 years of business experience with 12 years dedicated to all facets of Management Information Services, including IT direction, M&A integration execution, technology strategy, program/project management, process engineering, customer relationships, business and technical analysis, application design, systems development and operations, risk and control planning, assessment and IT auditing. My strengths include leadership, planning, requirements definition, process analysis/optimization, and managing teams consisting of auditors, developers, analysts, designers, and contractors across multiple business functions, applications, and hardware platforms.

It has been my objective to deeply understand the elements necessary to successfully execute technology solutions to address business goals. I have performed a variety of roles during my career including Director of Technology, Project/Program Manager, Application Development Manager, Senior Business Systems Analyst, Programmer Analyst and Consultant. I bring an ability to successfully manage responsibilities across diverse work assignments and possess outstanding communication, planning, project management, analytical and problem solving skills. My current interests are in strategic planning and project management, operations, e-business, promoting a healthy work environment through team participation and have most recently immersed myself in IT risk and control management.

Most of my experience has focused on manufacturing and financial services industry groups with emphasis on insurance, credit, investments and mortgage. I have been involved in architecting and delivering large-scale transaction integration project, e-commerce software development and IT process improvement/quality assurance efforts. My approach requires close collaboration in a teaming environment. As a leader, my emphasis is on creating empowered and accountability centered individuals while serving the organization with a "can do" attitude but not a "yes man" response. I strive to give an honest opinion and best counsel. I have a highly disciplined sense of urgency and demonstrated ability to quickly grasp the most complex situations and appropriate solutions. Team building, motivating, and creating a vision that aligns team members to a common goal are critical aspects of my role. I have a proven track record of achieving customer satisfaction under tight deadlines in high-pressure environments. My leadership contribution is marked by attention to effective communication as well as an ability to speak fluently with both internal and external business and technology resources. My mind is always focused on where the business is and where it can go.

I hold a Master of Science degree in Computer Science from DePaul University, a Bachelor of Arts degree in Psychology from California State University and a Six Sigma Green Belt from Northern Illinois University.

PROFESSIONAL STRENGTHS

Technology Management
Area management, technical strategy, project management, software development, operations, security

Languages
J2EE/Java (JSP, XML, HTML), JavaScript, Java Servlets, C++, ASP, CORBA, COBOL

Methodologies
COBIT, ITSM / ITIL, Rational Unified Process (RUP), UML, Object Oriented Development, (OOAD), Web Services, RAD, Distributed Services, Iterative development

Databases
DB/2, UDB, MS Access, MS SQL Server, Oracle, Sybase

Software and Tools
IBM WebSphere, SilverStream, BEA, Apache, Rational Suite, jProbe Rational Rose, UML, Mercury Interactive Tools, Interwoven, Erwin, MS Office Suite

Operating Systems and Servers
Windows and UNIX (AIX), IIS, Apache, WebSphere, Weblogic

Business Management
M&A due diligence and integration execution, partnership management, legal and compliance, budget planning, business development, relationship management

Product Development
Conception, requirements definition, development through product management, satisfaction measurement

Quality
Risk and control assessment, Six Sigma, CMM, Process definition and improvement, standards, change management, testing management, customer satisfaction measurement

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

July 2004 - Current
Ernst & Young, LLC
Senior Manager – Technology and Security Risk Services

Ernst & Young provides a broad array of services relating to audit and risk-related services, tax, and transactions.

• Served as revenue and profit responsible Account Manager overseeing the delivery of IT advisory and assessment services for key area accounts including Allstate, Boeing, Caterpillar, General Dynamics, Motorola, Northwestern Mutual life, Rockwell, RR Donnelley and Zurich.
• Full life-cycle project management responsibility to integration IT operations for several new acquisitions across multiple clients.
• Member of area Growth Team focused on maturing solutions offered to customers and growing Account Managers.
• Participated or lead audits or assessments for Sarbanes Oxley, data center, ITSM/ITIL, environmental controls, SAP segregation of duties, spreadsheets and various application level controls.
• Responsible for managing multiple projects simultaneously while ensuring firm quality standards and engagement financial goals are met.
• Shared responsibility for the development of a new national practice offering IT Effectiveness solutions.

Examples of success:

• Directly developed approximately $14 million in revenue in the last three years; estimated $34 million indirect revenue.
• Large-scale post acquisition acquisition completed ontime with 34% profit for E&Y; client received internal board of directors award for excellent.
• Completed development of new national practice focused on IT Effectiveness and measuring IT value. Annual area target set at $8 million.

November 2000 - January 2004
TransUnion, LLC
Director of Business Development - January 2003 to January 2004
Chief Technology Officer (CTO) - November 2000 to January 2003

TransUnion is a credit-reporting agency that maintains consumer credit information for resale to business and consumer customers.

• Identified and pursued new channels of business, new products, and strategic partnerships.
• A member of the company's senior management team with budgetary accountability for developing and managing the company technology strategy and execution activities.
• Used previous experiences to restructure the organization, processes, and relationship with the company to turn around failing business operations. Six significant products released in first 10 months.
• Served as company liaison to Legal and Compliance and IT targeting improved working relations and processes. Measured target improvements realized leading to faster time to market without compromising compliance.
• Participated in contract negotiation and administration.
• Supported two acquisitions and multiple partnerships.
  
• Scope of management includes program management, project management, development, and analysis resources.
• Team size varied across multiple teams and vendors.
  
• Define secure web development processes and services-based architectural framework for all systems created.
• Core technologies used were J2EE (JSP, XML, HTML) on a WebSphere, UNIX AIX, VAJ, and DB2 environment.
  
• Supported patent defense against primary competitor resulting in full ability to compete.
  

Examples of project success:

• Pursued 82 opportunities in 10 months successfully completing 14.
  
• Awareded one provisional patent for work to create a new competitive offering.
• Supported definition of product development and market strategies delivering initial consumer product offering resulting in revenue in excess of $2MM first full year of operation.
  
• Created Internet product distribution strategy in collaboration with product development and marketing resources designed to introduce TransUnion to the consumer market with both B2C and B2B2C impact.
  
• Delivered consumer credit information-based online and offline authentication for B2C and B2B2C distribution.
  
• Introduced project management discipline founded on CMM Level 2 principles enabling significant measured process improvements. Introduced several key initiatives designed to establish enterprise architecture with top management support. Was able to maintain tight alignment between business and IT initiatives.
  
• Participated in numerous enterprise wide process and cost improvement initiatives.
  

September 1999 to November 2000
REGISTRY SYSTEMS, CORP., Chicago, IL
Engagement Manager/Acting CIO

Registry Systems is a consulting company specializing in information technology and management consulting services for the financial services industry.

• Facilitated process-oriented business planning and to-market strategy for Registry's primary Chicago client, a financial services startup that creates a branded member relationship with consumers for investment, insurance and mortgage services.
• Facilitated the definition of primary business processes for all lines of business to enable product introductions in target markets.
• Introduced workflow controls and operations performance monitoring resulting in measured improvement in sales force efficiency.
• As a member of client's senior management team, responsible for the creation and management of the enterprise-wide e-commerce strategy, including developing and implementing technology plan, architecture, business processes definition, IT investment performance management (IBT orientation), and coordination between business and technology professionals.
• Core technologies involved were Microsoft-based: COM, WebLogic, ASP, and HTML.

Examples of project success:

• Developed the Internet strategy and created an IT investment management mechanism to enable evaluation and prioritization of IT resources and costs based on business objectives.
• Created a decision tool to ensure project investments are in line with company's goals.
• Co-developed new products that became the primary revenue drivers.

September 1999 to September 2000
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL
Lecturer

• Delivered classroom instruction covering topics including EDI, Supply Chain Management, legacy to web integration, web development methodologies, and Intranets; accepted as part-time faculty teaching graduate level e-commerce courses in the Winter 99-00 quarter.

April 1997 to February 1999
CNA INSURANCE COMPANIES, INC., Chicago, IL
Internet Projects Manager, May 1997 to February 1999
Technical Internet Analyst, April 1997 to May 1997

CNA Insurance Companies is a full service insurance carrier.

• Oversaw all e-commerce projects and activities for CNA Commercial Insurance, including developing and implementing affiliate marketing relationships. The Commercial Insurance division was a four billion dollar business.
• Co-sponsored cross-departmental Internet strategy development effort that generated a recommendation to create a separate e-commerce focused distribution company; draft business model was presented to CNA senior management and was subsequently adopted.
• Responsible for coordination of strategic architecture development and implementation to ten development teams enabled meaningful interoperability across applications and data, and provided consolidated interface to all other groups within CNA.
• Pioneered comprehensive strategic initiatives to enable Internet deployment of mission-critical processes facilitating marketing & sales, workflow, customer service, content publishing, distribution chain management, and Internet development.
• Core technologies introduced were JAVA, SilverStream 1.0 to 3.0, XML, HTML, Sybase, Oracle.

Examples of project successes:

• Facilitated product development activities for both marketing and IT.
• Managed team of in-house employees to develop and deploy system to enable customers to find agents in the CNA distribution chain; utilized mainframe based data stored in an Oracle database; system generated over 100 qualified leads per month.
• Managed team of in-house and outsourced employees to deploy websites for 41 industry-targeted products; completed project before projected timeframe and significantly below budget.
• Managed large team to design and deploy first system to enable secure agent access to internal claims data for reporting, query and data access; achieved over 60% distribution chain penetration within first four months of deployment.

June 1996 to April 1997
PROSOFTTRAINING, Buena Park, CA
Internet Instructor

ProsoftTraining is an Information and Communication (ICT) certification and curriculum provider allowing employers and individuals to assess, develop and validate ICT skills.

• Delivered customized instructor-led PC applications and Internet training to corporate end-users, system engineers and developers; courses included: Internet navigation, basic and advanced HTML, document publication with Microsoft FrontPage and Netscape Gold Editor, basic VBScript and basic Java.

July 1995 to June 1996
AON CORP. (FORMERLY ALEXANDER & ALEXANDER BENEFITS SERVICES, INC.), Costa Mesa, CA
Senior Technician

Aon is a Fortune 500 company that is a world leader in risk management, retail, reinsurance and wholesale brokerage, claims management, specialty services, and human capital consulting services.

• Managed office technological transition: advised management on equipment acquisition, performed troubleshooting for networked and non-networked PCs, redesigned office reporting systems, trained local office and regional personnel in use of Windows 3.11, MS Office, Word 6.0, Excel 5.0, and PowerPoint.
• Improved overall office efficiency through these functions; additional responsibilities included interaction with Account Executives in support of large accounts.

July 1990 to June 1995
MUTUAL OF OMAHA, Universal City, CA
Group Sales Representative - July 1991 to June 1995
Jr. Account Assistant - July 1990 to July 1991

Mutual of Omaha is a financial services company providing a diverse range of top-quality insurance products and services

• Responsible for marketing and servicing of full group employee benefits portfolio including medical, life, dental, disability and special risk products. Responsible for portfolio in excess of $4MM.
• Prior role involved providing software application training and marketing technical support to sales representatives.

September 1990 to January 1996
CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY HELP LINE, Northridge, CA
Crisis Intervention Director/Trainer/Listener (Volunteer)

The CSUN Helpline is a public crisis intervention, support and referral service provided in conjunction with
CSUN University Counseling Services and Associated Students, Inc.

• Achieved highest level of accountability responsible for line operating administration, training, and supervision of crisis intervention supervisors and line workers, and various other administrative functions for this Crisis Intervention service serving the Southern California community.

EDUCATION

ISACA, Chicago, IL, December 2007
Certified Information Systems Auditor (CISA)

Northern Illinois University, Chicago, IL, November 2005
Certified Six Sigma Green Belt

DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL, June 1999
M.S. with Highest Honors in Computer Science Information Systems

CALIFORNIA STATE UNIVERSITY, Northridge, CA, May 1992
B.A. in Psychology, Cum Laude

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT

Management and Leadership Courses
Corporate Accounting and Finance
Communication and Conflict Resolution

PUBLICATIONS AND PATENTS

Adopting a Business Approach to Application Development Quality. (2003) Paper presented at the quarterly meeting of the Information Management Forum.

A process and system to support credit-based marketing to "grey-area" declination consumers. (2003) Provisional Patent.

Watkins, D., Adair, J., Akande, A., Cheng, C., Fleming, J., Gerong, A., Ismail, M., McInerney, D., Lefner, K., Mpofu, E., Regmi, M., Singh-Sengupta, S., Watson, S., Wondimu, H., & Yu, J. (1998) Cultural dimensions, gender, and the nature of self-concept: A fourteen-country study. International Journal of Psychology, 33, 17-31.

Lefner, K. A., Fleming, J. S., Elovson, A. C., & Zotarelli, J. (1992) Gender differences in sources of self-esteem. Paper presented at the annual meeting of the Western Psychological Association. (Poster Session)

References available upon request.