Capella University

Milwaukee School of Engineering

Cardinal Stritch University

MFHS

Retired IT Program Manager

Self

Semi Retired

Dr. Kurz is an award-winning innovation IT expert with 20+ years’ full PM Life Cycle and Organization Change Management experience.  Led cross-functional and strategic business process and systems initiatives that included implementing and sustaining digital technologies, information systems, and transformational/innovative process improvements within global organizations.  Most recently, Jim has been responsible for the design, development, and delivery of a Digital Innovation implementation solution supporting client PMOs around programs/projects encompassing all aspects of IT.

Program and Project Management
Provided clients with the expertise needed to achieve organizational excellence with a focus on technology, people, process, quality and metrics for an exceptional outcome, risk mitigation and enhanced user experience.  Improved Business Intelligence as Team Leader with the introduction of Dimensional Insight’s enterprise reporting and data analysis tools. Launched SharePoint enterprise document management and business intelligence system that improved operational excellence by improving collaboration and communications.  Created PMO practice leveraging SAP Project Systems. Leveraged web technologies to maintain an award-winning self-service website with customer portals for product information, catalog, and order.

CompuCom

Principle Digital Innovation Program Manager

Attending networking events 

Researching Industry Leaders

Tracking Industry Trends

Participating in Industry Discussions

Leaders in the Business Optimization | Program | Project Management Arena

Founder | Business Optimization | Program | Project Management

Management Consultant. Providing clients with the expertise they need to achieve organizational excellence with focus on technology, people, process, quality and metrics for exceptional outcome, risk mitigation and enhanced customer satisfaction. Through innovation contributed to the overall savings and cost avoidance of over $580,000 for current client.

• Program Manager for global implementation of JCI's Enterprise Contact Center Platform.
• Manage portfolio of transition projects for JCI's Global Request Management Contact Center.
• Developed a transition tool kit that provides a 50% reduction in transition setup, 25% reduction in project management effort and provides consistent/successful on time delivery. 
•  Support business development during new Office Service business solutions, due-diligence and transitions.
• Innovator leveraging Social Media & Cloud Computing to improve the overall customer experience.

Within the Insurance Industry:
• Team leader that helped improved business intelligence with the introduction of enterprise reporting and data analysis tools.
• Launched SharePoint content management and project management office that enhanced operational excellence by improving collaboration and communications.

Kurz & Associates

Management Consultant - Operational Excellence & Information Technology

Embarked on a sabbatical to attend a year round, full time PhD in Organization & Management, IT Management specialization from the School of Business & Technology at Capella University. I accomplished my objective to challenge and improve myself by learning the most current advanced management and leadership knowledge. I graduated at the end of December 2012 by earning my PhD with a Letter of Distinction for maintaining a GPA: 4.0/4.0. This accomplishment will benefit my employer because it has helped me thoroughly develop and round out my skills and abilities as they pertain to my leadership performance.

Sabbatical / Extended Leave

Responsible for creating and driving process to take its.on Corp. to higher levels of overall performance through deployment of a process-oriented quality management system, in alignment with corporate headquarters. Position had a broad mandate to build not only a Quality Management function, but more importantly to catalyze the development of an entirely new culture within the organization. Provided QM leadership and direction within the multi-disciplined team of a global customer service and technical support P&L center.

• Optimized Inter-departmental Work-flows.
• Improved Quality Procedures & Operations Efficiency
• Established a Business Excellence Culture
• ASP and PM for Global SAP Implementation

Evonik Degussa, Inc., its.on Corp. (IT Professional Services)

Director, IT Quality Management & Continuous Improvement

Built and directed high-quality technology operations and managed several major systems expansions and conversions during a period of intensive growth through acquisition. Initial focus on completing new implementation of SAP across all business units within Health & Nutrition organization, a division of SKW, headquartered in Germany, a global manufacturer and distributor for the food ingredient industry. 

• Increased Operational Effectiveness
• Encouraged Change & Innovation
• Contributed to Enterprise-Wide IT Strategy Development. 
• Orchestrated Service Oriented Architecture - ITSM
• Maintained & Evolved a Reliable & Cost-Effective Computing Environment
• Six Sigma Champion and Portfolio Manager

Evonik Degussa, Health & Nutrition (Formerly SKW)

Director, Information Technology

Served as the company's chief technologist and information systems leader and managed end-to-end technology operations of a complex global organization. Focus on executing the strategic direction and crafting a technology plan for all information systems in support of worldwide objectives.

• Orchestrated Enterprise Transformation
• Led Organizational Change Management Effort
• Program Director for Oracle ERP Implementation
• Introduced Technology Best Practices
• Maximized Team Performance &amp; Productivity
• Delivered Substantial Cost Savings

Marquette Medical Systems

Developed and implemented enterprise-level IT initiatives to support growth, systems stability and security, and employee productivity for North American division with four business units. Established and maintained all IT policies, standards, and practices. 

• Concept to delivery of new Visibility ERP initiative
• Enhanced Revenue, Decreased IT and Business Risk

ABB Flexible Automation

Built high-caliber technology team. Prepared the capital budget, technology evaluation for systems, data communications/networking, personal computing and data security

• Partnered with Customers/Vendors for strategic use of EDI
• System Manager and DBA for new Order Management System
• TQM Co-Facilitator

Master Lock Company

Manager, IT

Coordinated and successfully managed projects with multiple dependencies and integration points for the Service Parts organization within Medical Systems division, a world leader in the manufacture and marketing of medical diagnostic equipment. Additionally, served as ISO 9000 Lead Assessor and facilitating ISO certification for GE; also led various &quot;workout&quot; teams to re-engineer to a streamlined customer service process. 

• Built State-of-The-Art Technology Environment
• Created Consensus across all Levels of the Organization
• Led Action Work Out Session for Lean Solutions

GE Healthcare

Logistics & Distribution Project Manager

Provided project leadership, worked closely with cross-functional teams during software development and hardware acquisition for joint Aerospace Controls Systems Department and Department of Defense Technical Modernization projects. In addition, delivered comprehensive lean analysis, statistical and problem solving training to all personnel and coordinated multi-functional teams to improve manufacturing processes. 

• Removed waste, improved throughput and quality while standardizing the F404, F101 &amp; F110 test stand processes in compliance with MIL-STD 1567a.
• Trained, coached and developed both union and management personnel in lean analysis, Six-Sigma techniques of Statistical Process Control (SPC) and problem solving methods. 
• Led operational excellence projects to attain paperless operator instructions and improve quality systems for a joint GE/DOD technical modernization program.

GE Aerospace Controls Systems

Manufacturing Systems Project Leader

MATC

President, Technical Engineering Student Council

Editor & Chief, Technical News Magazine

• Led Quality Circle teams (Kaizen events) using spaghetti diagrams, standardization and value stream mapping, (i.e., JIT, Cellular Manufacturing, Quick Changeover, etc.) that eliminated waste, improved efficiencies and reduced costs. 
• Journeyman machinist (operated manual, NC and CNC equipment).

Jim Kurz, PhD (LION)