Harvard University

University of Minnesota

VP/Director Creative Project Management

Greater Minneapolis-St. Paul Area

Accountable for the Creative Operations function within the Brand Strategy and Creative Studio Division. Key responsibilities include: team leadership, continuous improvement, employee mentorship, work prioritization, and partnership with senior leaders, physicians, scientists, and administrators.▪️ Orchestrated a division restructuring with the objective of revitalizing creative intake and execution.▪️ Created a Creative Operations team to add account, project & product management function to the division▪️ Spearheaded tool implementations (Workfront & Templafy) to improve operational functions as well as employee self-service options. ▪️ Member of the Department Leadership Team▪️ Accountable for creative operations, resource management, and process design and delivery.

Mayo Clinic

Director, Creative Operations

Geometry Global, the world’s largest and most international brand activation agency, drives conversion, action and purchase through award-winning programs that change behavior and inspire people to buy well. With teams in 56 markets, Geometry Global has expertise in shopper, digital, experiential, relationship, promotional and trade marketing. ▪️ Responsible for the day-to-day operations of ShopperWorks, a first of its kind Marketing Agency created for General Mills by combining specialized industry leading WPP agencies.▪️ Defined and refine agency processes to ensure exceptional delivery of creative and strategic solutions.▪️ Accountable for business operations, resource management, talent acquisition, and process design and delivery.

Geometry Global

VP, Operations Director

MRM//McCann aspires to be the world’s leading Customer Experience Management Agency. We create seamless customer experiences driven by superior creative, technology and data solutions. We have 30+ offices across North America, Latin America, Europe, the Middle East and Asia-Pacific.▪️ Lead a team of program, project and production managers.  Responsible for coaching and mentoring each individual while striving to influence their day to day successes, as well as their long-term growth and development.▪️ Responsible for directing all planning, monitoring, resourcing, financial tracking and successful execution and delivery of all projects across a portfolio that includes Verizon, United States Postal Service, New York Lottery, Microsoft, Choice Hotels and projects that benefit McCann Worldgroup.▪️ Worked together with senior leadership on yearly planning, scoping, estimating and staffing for retained and non-retained work. ▪️ Ensured efficient daily business operations by ensuring best practices are followed.▪️ Informed, and partnered with senior-level staff ranging from agency leadership to all discipline leads to plan for and manage appropriate resourcing, and to identify, mitigate and escalate project risks.

MRM//McCann

SVP, Director of Program Management

Responsible for scoping and driving performance improvement across the agency. Accountable for business operations, human resources, information technology, talent management, and other initiatives underneath the Operations banner.▪️ Developed the Agency Operations function, ensuring that employees had the tools they needed to meet the changing-needs of our clients. ▪️ Drove performance improvement through improved end-to-end process design and resource management▪️ Promoted more effective use of existing tools and processes - and eliminating those that are not used or are ineffectual▪️ Oversaw Recruitment, and evolving our suite of talent management programs

Periscope

Director, Agency Operations

Accountable for shaping the digital department as a whole; working directly with other leadership positions in the agency to help shape agency-wide digital leadership in strategy, process, and quality of digital initiatives.▪️ Evolved and re-defined the role of the digital producer function at Periscope▪️ Aligned teams by deliverable instead of client — improving productivity and the way that digital products are created.▪️ Crafted the Digital Studio function, improving turn-around time and product quality — while increasing profit margin.▪️ Accountable for defining and designing the agency’s Digital Product Catalog.▪️ Implemented an incident management process, improving communications with stakeholders▪️ Lead, managed & mentored the digital producer team, serving as a cross-discipline digital leader within the agency. ▪️ Championed the implementation of the agency intranet (and didn’t jump off a bridge in the process.)

Director, Digital Operations

New position created to revitalize and improve the efficiencies of both internal & customer-facing support groups.Accountable for supporting all production applications  for the local television station websites for: Cox Television, Hearst Television, McGraw-Hill Broadcasting, Meredith Corporation, Post-Newsweek Stations, Inc, Telemundo and others.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Reduced operating budget by 40%, while increasing efficiency by 500%.▪️ Defined & separated the Service Desk into two distinct teams: Internal IT and Production Services: improving focus and accountability, and improving 24 hour close rate from 27% to 70% in less than six months.▪️ Successfully launched new case management tool in under three months – increasing customer satisfaction and transparency.▪️ Helped to set company expectations around SLAs, including internal roles & responsibilities relating to incidents.▪️ Developed new internal success metrics to help educate leadership on gaps -- which improved performance.▪️ Developed four distinct roadmaps that allowed us to continue to evolve our organization.

Internet Broadcasting

Director, Support Services

Responsible for providing direct support to the Chief Operating Officer, multiplying the effectiveness and impact of the COO’s entire team. Owned and managed projects assigned by the COO that interfaced across multiple disciplines at IB.  Worked with the COO to establish business direction and drive business performance.  Partnered with Human Resources to design, evolve, and maintain organizational practices and talent to effectively accomplish goals and objectives.   KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Critical team member involved in implementing two corporate reorganizations involving both staff reductions and consulting engagements, improving productivity while reducing costs.  Efforts involved logistics, communications, and analyzing product roadmap implications.▪️ Served as department head for numerous organizations during transition periods, including: Web Development, Creative Services, Business Systems, Support Services, and Internal Communications.▪️ In partnership with Human Resources, developed employee onboarding process to speed time to productivity and increase employee engagement.▪️ Facilitated the implementation of the company MBO Program, including defining standards and implementing a company-wide tool for tracking and management – with the goal of company alignment.▪️ Implemented and managed the daily company ‘stand-up’ – designed to increase transparency and accountability.▪️ Speaker at conferences on the effectiveness of Social Media in the Workplace.

Chief of Staff, Operations

Responsible for managing a staff of 38 web developers – both onsite and offshore – supporting over 70 local news stations for NBC, Hearst, Post, McGraw, Cox and others. Accountable for resource planning and professional development; ensuring the high-level of quality for our partners and clients.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Responsible for 38 developers – both onsite and offshore.  ▪️ Oversaw web development efforts for <a href="http://nbcolympics.com">nbcolympics.com</a>, including display-layer coding, CMS integration and 24x7 support during the Olympics.  Key contact for team located in Italy.▪️ Successfully implemented Offshore Team in Belarus – dramatically increasing development capacity and response times; 95% of standard development work is now done offshore.▪️ Launched company PMO – results include: improved communication, training for project managers, and streamlined operations.▪️ Responsible for technical recruiting -- including vendor relations, screening and selection process, and the on-boarding of new hires.▪️ Developed weekly company-wide communication to showcase achievements, communicate milestones, and create transparency into the Tech organization.▪️ Instrumental in corporate relocation: responsible for seating adjacency, building layout, move-related communications, and business system modifications

Director, Web Development

Managed the Enterprise Project Portfolio comprised of more than 300 technical projects at various stages of development. Implemented standard methodologies and frameworks; developed and maintained project documentation, work plans, and project deliverables. Served as liaison between enterprise application systems and all university departments; communicated with team members, stakeholders, and other internal contacts regarding project status. Collaborated with project sponsors to establish project performance goals, metrics, and baselines. KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Designed and developed the project portfolio application; created requirements and restructured project portfolio from an Access database to an Enterprise Application that could be utilized system-wide.▪️ Streamlined business operations by developing the project request and prioritization process, which increased accountability and improved productivity.

Project Portfolio Manager

Directed development efforts for all domestic and international web projects; accountable for administering projects from conception through completion. Managed projects for key clients including Disney, Playboy, Sandals, and Crest. Oversaw technical support call center servicing over 2-million members. Supervised 18 staff tasked with developing dynamic web applications.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Supervised development efforts surrounding The Today Show's "Today Ties The Knot" summer wedding series.▪️ Developed online help desk for users- tracking inquiries and customer histories for more than 2-million members; resulting tool allowed multiple personnel access to the application improving productivity.▪️ Progressed through several positions due to outstanding management abilities; promoted to Traffic Manager directing several departments including customer support, quality assurance, email and reporting, and development staff. Ultimately advanced to IT Operations Manager.

The Knot

IT Operations Manager

Developed implementation strategies for upgrades, education, communication, and notification processes within the Education and Communication department. Interacted extensively with IS team and senior executives of MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, and Showtime Networks as business liaison. Served as Executive Trainer; coordinated training for 3,500+ employees.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Spearheaded company-wide desktop upgrade; coordinated efforts of 12 internal staff members and 20 consultants for project that impacted 3,000+ employees located throughout 28 departments in nine different areas. ▪️ Personally trained over 1,300 employees during New Hire Orientation.

MTV Networks (MTV, VH1, Nickelodeon, Nick@Nite, TV Land)

Project Leader

Managed all aspects of recruitment for Twin Cities-based Fortune 500 companies for the University of Minnesota Associates Program. Accountable for coordinating educational seminars, discussion groups, and a working paper series involving 29 companies, the University of Minnesota faculty members, and Carlson School of Management staff. Served as Writer/Editor of monthly newsletter and Producer of the annual report. Designed and implemented informative organizational website. Delivered technical support and computer training sessions.KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:▪️ Instrumental in acquiring 5 new companies in 2 years for the associates program.▪️ Advanced quickly through series of increasingly responsible positions; promoted on 3 occasions in less than 3 years.

Sara Kosiorek

Sara Kosiorek