Shanda Brown
Allentown
Summary
Experienced with project coordination, resource management, and governance protocols. Utilizes analytical skills and strategic planning to enhance project outcomes. Strong understanding of stakeholder communication and risk management, ensuring efficient and effective project delivery.
Overview
13
13
years of professional experience
Work History
PMO Analyst
Sapiens International Corporation
Allentown, PA
07.2020 - 05.2024
- Collaborated with project management teams to align implementation and post-production projects with organizational goals while adhering to PMO standards
- Monitored progress, identified risks, managed team assignments, and ensured compliance with contractual agreements and financial oversight, comparing planned versus actual budgets for projects under $300 million
- Oversaw project progress and provided status updates along with financial dashboards to upper management, including content for monthly steering meetings with clients
- Monitored project timelines, budget and tracked cost
- Proactively identified potential risks, and discussed necessary actions
- Managed resources, allocations and tracked actual vs
- Planned hours
- Developed financial forecasts and analyzed planned versus actual figures, collaborating with the financial team on Project P&L
- Created and distributed month-end closure reports, including invoicing
- Managed the contract workflow by reviewing and submitting documents through the Contract Lifecycle Management system, following up with project managers on their status (draft, customer review, etc.), and consulting with the legal team on any redline changes
- Analyzed project performance metrics to identify areas for improvement and optimize resource allocation.
- Facilitated cross-functional collaboration to enhance project visibility and stakeholder engagement.
- Developed and maintained project documentation, ensuring compliance with organizational standards and best practices.
- Implemented risk management strategies to mitigate potential issues and ensure project continuity.
- Assisted in the formulation of project budgets, tracking expenditures to align with financial goals.
- Coordinated project timelines and deliverables, enhancing overall efficiency across teams and functions.
- Provided training and support to junior analysts, promoting knowledge sharing within the team.
- Led initiatives for process improvement, resulting in streamlined workflows and increased operational effectiveness.
- Assessed operant systems for efficiency and functionality, providing written suggestions on enhancements needed to meet operational goals.
Project Management Specialist
Prudential Financial (Group Insurance)
Dresher, PA
11.2014 - 04.2020
- Achieved effective resolution of system issues through collaboration with vendors and implementation of enhancements. Drove requirements development to support system upgrades. Delivered thorough user acceptance testing (UAT) and production testing to validate improvements.
- Facilitated discussions to resolve system issues, ensuring timely updates were relayed to management for informed decision-making.
- Facilitated technical support and mentorship for a team of 11 enrollment specialists to optimize enrollment processes.
- Evaluated quality scores and production metrics to enhance team performance during monthly one-on-one meetings.
- Elevated from Senior Enrollment Specialist to Project Management Specialist, demonstrating advanced project oversight capabilities.
- Managed project lead responsibilities for phase 1 implementation of new enrollment system, ensuring comprehensive integration of benefit plan highlights and rate sheets.
- Directed all phases of project development for 18 months, focusing on resource allocation and stakeholder engagement.
- Analyzed state regulatory alerts within the Archer system and implemented necessary responses to uphold regulatory standards.
- Conducted annual reviews of approximately 100 alerts to identify trends and enhance decision-making processes.
- Achieved streamlined enrollment processes through the creation and updating of standard operating procedures and job aids, while actively engaging the team for insights and suggestions.
- Conducted thorough assessments of workflows to pinpoint gaps and formulated targeted recommendations to optimize performance.
- Identified deficiencies in case assignments and quality review processes to improve overall workflow integrity.
- Delivered important changes to the team through structured email notifications and interactive technical sessions.
Sr. Enrollment Specialist
Prudential Financial (Group Insurance)
Dresher, PA
05.2011 - 11.2014
- Created comprehensive enrollment materials to facilitate employee participation in benefit elections and promote premium growth.
- Created and implemented comprehensive enrollment websites, enhancing the experience for new hires and annual enrollment for enterprises with 1000+ employees.
- Developed and implemented training programs for new employees, focusing on best practices to ensure effective performance.
- Facilitated the development of enrollment materials in partnership with account managers and underwriters, prioritizing accuracy and adherence to deadlines.
- Collaborated with team members to troubleshoot and resolve diverse enrollment challenges, fostering a supportive work environment.
- Configured and managed web and IVR enrollment cases, optimizing data flow to the enrollment portal as required.
- Conducted thorough evaluations of RFP/RFI submissions, maintaining up-to-date and precise questionnaire information.
Education
Master of Arts in Business Administration (MBA) -
Kean University
Union, NJBachelor of Arts (BA) - Public Administration
Kean University
Union, NJCertificate - Essential to Project Management
Villanova University
Certificate - Certified Scrum Master
ScrumAlliance
Skills
- Proficient in project tracking tools
- Contract Management: Vendor Management, Administration, Redline Changes, Tracking Renewals, Budget and Invoice Tracking, DocuSign, Salesforce
- Microsoft Office: Intermediate in Excel, Word, PowerPoint, Outlook, Teams, SharePoint
- Regulatory: Risk Assessment/Management, Compliance Monitoring, Archer System
- Financial: Budget Analysis, Dashboards, Oracle
- Industry Knowledge: Group Insurance (Life, Accident, Disability, and Critical Illness) and Healthcare (Medical, Dental and Vision)
- Project status reports
- Project scheduling
- Scope management
- MS Excel
- Project planning
- Cost control
- Budget analysis
- Risk assessment analysis
- Project timeline generation
- Key performance indicators
- Meeting facilitation
- Stakeholder management
- Corporate audits
- Project management analysis
- Data collection design
- MS project proficiency
- Program management
- Teamwork and collaboration
- Problem-solving
- Customer service
- Time management
- Attention to detail
- Problem-solving abilities
- Multitasking
- Reliability
- Excellent communication
- Critical thinking
- Organizational skills
- Active listening
- Effective communication
- Adaptability and flexibility
- Verbal and written communication
- Detail-oriented
- Relationship building
- Phone and email etiquette
- Task prioritization
- Self motivation
- Work Planning and Prioritization
- Interpersonal skills
- Customer relationship management
- Conflict resolution
- Goal setting
- Risk assessment
- Compliance monitoring
- Agile methodologies
- Project management
Timeline
PMO Analyst
Sapiens International Corporation
07.2020 - 05.2024
Project Management Specialist
Prudential Financial (Group Insurance)
11.2014 - 04.2020
Sr. Enrollment Specialist
Prudential Financial (Group Insurance)
05.2011 - 11.2014
Bachelor of Arts (BA) - Public Administration
Kean University
Certificate - Essential to Project Management
Villanova University
Certificate - Certified Scrum Master
ScrumAlliance
Master of Arts in Business Administration (MBA) -
Kean University