Project Manager

Posted on: 2006-08-18

M E R L I N D A C O M A S 554 52nd St. :: Brooklyn, NY 11220 :: h. 718.492.4847 :: m. 917.520.2716 :: [email protected] :: SUMMARY :: Motivated, results-driven Project/Office Manager with experience across multiple program/departmental objectives. Proven ability to leverage extensive program/project background, events management, development, budget management, quality assurance, quantitative/qualitative skills, teambuilding, and organizational skills. :: PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE :: PLANNED PARENTHOOD FEDERATION OF AMERICA, INC., New York, NY 1999 - 2006 Project Manager (2002-2006) Reduced FY 2006 Chief Operating Office budget by over 30% leading to first balanced budget in three years—supervising all budgetary activities (grants, programs, and department) for the Chief Operating Office totaling over $1.5 million. o Successfully launched PPFA/Henry Schein Group Purchasing Program—Fall ’03 — enrolled over 200 participating affiliate health centers in affiliate cost-saving pharmaceuticals/medical solutions program, managed all communication, deal points, marketing group purchasing formulary on Extranet—led efforts to make PPFA prime group purchasing organization. o Headed Operational Workgroup charged with investigating departmental quality assurance ratings and best practices. o Coordinated and responsible for all corporate recordkeeping of off-site board meetings minutes, reports, and presentations. o Directed meeting planning for over 20 senior team meetings/conferences, developing conference agenda, coordinating guest speakers, logistics, travel, transportation, meals and special events—negotiating over $5K savings in vendor/caterer expenses. Executive Associate to the COO (2001-2002) Managed over 20 vendor exhibits at five regional meetings, two annual conferences and two Health Care Institute conferences—generating over $15K in revenue. o Designed monthly management communication program that centralized all staff updates and management policy changes on internal message board. o Organized and planned all e-Enterprise Steering Committee multi-site operational meetings and conference calls—bidding out hotel contracts for a cost saving of $20K. o Retained accountability for all administrative and office management operations while assuming additional responsibility for budget management for 10 individual cost centers/departments throughout organization. o Orchestrated complete redesign of org. chart database--introduced VISIO software, in Feb. 2002, for a more streamlined system. Development Coordinator, Foundations and Corporations (2000-2001) Supervised a team of three on the various foundation/donor cultivation projects, grant preparation, and donor briefings. o Researched donor information and developed briefing sheets for President/CEO donor visits, events, and phone calls. o Drafted cultivation letters that brought in more than $25K in foundation contributions. o Developed donor database that consolidated follow-up with all contributing foundations/corporations and prospective contributors; coordinated e-mail campaigns notifying funders about new programs and initiatives. Executive Assistant to the Chief of Staff (1999-2000) Directed all volunteer and intern activities on compilation and distributed of in-house publication—The Connection. o Organized and maintained travel and business schedules of three senior executives—developed presentations, travel agendas, expense reports, and heavy meeting calendar. o Assisted in drafting over 150 speeches, followed-up emails, and correspondence for President/CEO. o Co-authored policies and procedures manual for all administrative, office, purchasing, and facilities function. :: EDUCATION :: University of New York at Stony Brook Stony Brook, NY BA Psychology 1999 :: CAREER ENHANCEMENTS :: : Attended PPFA Training of the Trainer— Nov. 2003 : Completed: PPFA Management Mastery Series— Nov. 2004 : Featured in Manchester’s Who’s Who in Business 2004 – 2005 Edition : AIDS PEER EDUCATOR/NYS DEPT. OF HEALTH AIDS INSTITUTE’S HIV TESTING PROCEDURES CERTIFIED-8/99