Mark S. Okonowicz
Lincoln University
Summary
Managerial professional with proven record of streamlining processes and leading high-performing teams. Known for strong analytical skills and commitment to achieving results. Teams rely on collaborative leadership and adaptability to changing needs.
Overview
27
27
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Project & Contract Management – Manager Project Controls DPL
Exelon / Pepco Holdings, Inc
01.2001 - Current
- Lead a team of approximately 18 employees, comprised of cost analysts, schedulers and two supervisors.
- Responsible for the management and execution of project control's, systems, processes and personnel, for development, forecasting and monitoring of projects and programs costs, schedules, and estimates for transmission, substation, gas and distribution, projects and programs.
- Provide guidance and direction for budget development process, forecasting, re-forecasting and monitoring of project / program budgets for project actual and forecast accuracy to ensure compliance with annual internal and external Sarbanes Oxley Audits.
- Responsible for managing financial and schedule risks and opportunities and providing detailed analysis of variances to budget, quarterly plan, and month over month expenditures. Accountable for ensuring alignment of work plan with regional budget, business performance goals, regulatory priorities and reliability objectives.
- Implementation and monitoring of the Cost policies, programs and processes key performance metrics, and EU reporting.
- Apply a standardized model to drive cost performance and provide decision-making and accountability to team. Interface with other departments in Exelon and represent Project Controls regarding process and procedural issues.
- Develop and maintain a learning organization that fosters a high-performance culture and promotes diversity. Serves as a change agent for business initiatives and assures the human element is understood and considered including timely recognition of employees.
- Use effective performance management to provide accurate and timely feedback and identify opportunities for growth and learning.
- Accountable for communicating project financial status to the project team with overview reports to management. Oversight of accounting transactions, including reviewing and approving of journal entries, maintaining and controlling physical records, and analyzing and approving the reconciliation of general and subsidiary ledger accounts. Management of all spreadsheets and cost tracking databases including training of all employees in their use.
- Interact with all levels of Exelon leadership; manage relationship with management of contractors; interact with front line employees and contract personnel at all levels.
- Collaborate across all Exelon utilities (ACE, DPL, Pepco, BGE, ComEd, PECO) for the development and implementation of the CURA forecasting tool.
- July 2023 to Present
Manager Project Execution
DPL Project Management
01.2020 - 01.2023
- Acted as Interim Senior Manager (DPL Project Management, approximately 12 employees) from February to July 2023, as well as, managed a multi million dollar project portfolio.
- Manage the budget of an assigned portfolio of work. Establish and monitor business plans and objectives. Balance cost control with service level needs.
- Lead a team of approximately 4 employees, comprised of various levels of Project Managers.
- Develop and maintain an environment that fosters a high performance culture and a learning organization. Leads Project Management team in promoting diversity. Serves as a change agent for business initiatives and assures the human element is understood and considered. Assure timely recognition of employee contributions.
- Provide leadership to and development of direct reports. Provide accurate and timely feedback regarding performance and operations. Conduct Performance Planning and Appraisal process. Identifies opportunities for growth and learning. (20%)
- Interface with other departments in Exelon and represent Exelon to other business units regarding projects under management and tools to support the process.
- Facilitates open and honest communication across the organization. Assures that upward communication is integrated into the process, including employee grievances and complaints. Develop methods to assess communication effectiveness and implement continuous improvement initiatives.
- Manages large and/or highly complex and often unique projects or programs requiring the application of established project management principles and techniques. Directly accountable to deliver project and programs on schedule and at or below budget.
- Implement and manage a project portfolio/program with annual expenditures of approximately $100 - $150 million to meet Company commitments to state and local governments, regulatory agencies and external customers.
- Manage performance of multiple project teams through assigned project managers with direct supervision of 4-6 employees and indirect management of several hundred contract personnel.
- Interim Senior Manager – Feb 2023 to July 2023
Project Management – Senior Project Manager to Principal Project Manager
Exelon
01.2011 - 01.2020
- Manage the strategic and detail planning and implementation of more than 100 complex transmission and substation projects, physical security and PJM Queue third party projects totaling hundreds of millions of dollars.
- Responsible for overall project coordination from start to finish: including feasibility, planning, design, permitting and construction, while managing the projects safely, within scope, meeting in-service date requirements and budget constraints, providing quality results.
- Supported environmental permitting, regulatory compliance and construction monitoring throughout the project life, including zero Notices of Violation during construction.
- Delmarva Power Project Management lead for Substation Physical Security FEP and PJM Queue Programs.
- Act as liaison with customers, communities, external corporations and regulatory agencies / community groups for the projects.
- Provide leadership and support to all project team members and mentor new Project Managers on electric utility industry Project Management principles.
- Initial member of PHI Project Management team and involved in development and implementation of training, policies and transition to Exelon.
- First PHI Project Manager to obtain PMP Certification (2014)
Lead Environmental Scientist
Mid Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP)
01.2007 - 01.2011
- Responsible for regulatory compliance, preparing, submitting and obtaining Federal, State and local environmental permits, including a NEPA EIS through the US Department of Energy for the 150 mile MAPP 500kV transmission line project (DE / MD / DC)
- Managed and conducted the bid development and review process of numerous environmental consulting firms with a total contract value of several million dollars
- Directed the development of an NEPA Environmental Impact Statement summarizing the environmental studies, alternatives analysis and impacts, construction methodologies to support regulatory compliance.
- Resolved permitting issues through correspondence and in meetings with executive leadership from regulatory agencies and State and County political leaders
- Coordinated with regulatory agencies (MD PPRP, MD PSC, MD BPU, MDE, Board of Public Works) and developed environmental testimony for MD CPCN and federal permitting.
- Implemented the EPRI GTC Siting Model for a new transmission line right of way and created a project specific GIS system for route analysis, project data and construction implementation
- Supported the development, training and implementation of the ECAT Environmental Management System and Construction Best Management Practices to minimize risk of non compliance during construction.
- Developed and delivered over one hundred presentations to regulatory agencies, upper level management, non governmental organizations and communities
- Supported audits of company facilities for waste management, pollution prevention, record keeping, training and regulatory compliance (ISO 14001)
- Review environmental regulations, develop summaries and communicate impacts to applicable departments within the organization.
Senior Environmental Scientist
Environmental Planning
01.2001 - 01.2007
- Responsible for regulatory compliance, preparing, submitting and obtaining Federal, State and local environmental permits and construction oversight of several hundred transmission line and substation projects in DE, MD and NJ (DPL / ACE / Pepco) with zero Notices of Violation.
- Managed environmental studies to obtain permits (ie wetlands, avian, threatened & endangered species, cultural resources, viewshed, mitigation assessments)
- Addressed environmental aspects of projects at township hearings and regulatory agency meetings
- Resolved permitting issues with regulatory agencies in order to obtain project permits
- Interfaced directly and built relationships with regulatory agencies including (DNREC, NJDEP, MDE, Public Service Commissions / BPU, USACE, EPA)
- Supported the development, training and implementation of the ECAT Environmental Management System and Construction Best Management Practices to minimize risk of non compliance during construction.
- Managed the regulatory approval and design of a several acre wetland mitigation site
- Supported audits of company facilities for waste management, pollution prevention, record keeping, training and regulatory compliance (ISO 14001)
- Developed and presented an environmental permitting training program to over 400 internal employees
Project Manager
Environmental & Demolition Services, Inc
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Managed contracts and employees for lead and asbestos abatement projects throughout Baltimore and Washington DC.
Environmental Scientist
Tetra Tech, Inc.
01.1998 - 01.1999
- Conducted environmental field studies, well installation, sampling, data analysis and report preparation for the assessment and remediation of EPA superfund sites
Education
Master of Business Administration -
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware01.2005
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
University of Delaware
Newark, Delaware01.1997
Skills
- Team leadership
- Decision-making
- Complex Problem-solving
- Strategic planning
- Process improvement
- Employee coaching and mentoring
- Problem-solving
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Change management
- Time management
- Project management
Certification
- PMI - Project Management Professional (PMP) Certification – 2014
- PHI Eco Team ERG – DPL Region Vice President – 2025 to 2027
- Association of Latino Professionals for America (ALPFA)- Member
- PMI – DE Valley Chapter – Member since 2014
Timeline
Manager Project Execution
DPL Project Management
01.2020 - 01.2023
Project Management – Senior Project Manager to Principal Project Manager
Exelon
01.2011 - 01.2020
Lead Environmental Scientist
Mid Atlantic Power Pathway (MAPP)
01.2007 - 01.2011
Project & Contract Management – Manager Project Controls DPL
Exelon / Pepco Holdings, Inc
01.2001 - Current
Senior Environmental Scientist
Environmental Planning
01.2001 - 01.2007
Project Manager
Environmental & Demolition Services, Inc
01.1999 - 01.2001
Environmental Scientist
Tetra Tech, Inc.
01.1998 - 01.1999
Bachelor of Science - Environmental Science
University of Delaware
Master of Business Administration -
University of Delaware
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