Overview

Enthusiastic, highly motivated and capable business analyst, technical writer, and project coordinator with solid collaborative experience in technical, procedural, user and requirements writing, understanding technical software, and interviewing subject matter experts.

International experience and exposure to diverse industries, technologies, cultures, and business operations. Excels at quickly absorbing, understanding and communicating technical and operational information, as well as formulating realistic and efficient solutions to bridge gaps between technology and business.  

Belongs to the Society for Technical Communication (STC), American Health Information Management Association (AHIMA), and the International Institute for Business Analysis. (IIBA). Is a founding member of the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the IIBA and past chapter Vice President for Communication, Marketing and Special Events.

Skills Inventory

Project Management - Planning, Development and Management

•                     Create and conduct functional and integration testing

•                     Develop, document and analyze use cases

•                     Drive business needs improvements

•                     Elicit and document business rules and requirements

•                     Elicit and document functional/nonfunctional requirements and specifications

•                     Ensure adherence to deadlines and deliverables

•                     Identify opportunities for efficiency and standardization

•                     Liaise between project stakeholders

•                     Manage project scope and schedule

•                     Participate in and document gap analysis

•                     Schedule, facilitate and document group discussions and review

Technical Writing/ Documentation

•                     Create, manage and communicate best practices documents

•                     Create, manage and deliver training materials

•                     Create, manage and maintain internal and user documentation

•                     Prepare, write, edit and publish meeting minutes, presentations, reports, etc.

•                     Provide recommendations to improve and standardize documentation

 

Experience
Business Analyst at Curtis 1000 July 2014 - Present (15 months) Lino Lakes, MN

• Actively participate in all meetings related to SAP Business One. • Ensure the standardization of SAP Business One processes across all regions. • Gain proficiency in all aspects of the SAP Business One system to include Customer and Sales Rep Maintenance, Order Management (Direct Entry and Inbound eStore Orders), Shipping, Billing, Reporting, and Financials. • Gather and create business requirements for integrating SAP Business One to external applications. • Gather and create business requirements to capitalize on SAP Business One functionality. • Identify, develop and implement process improvements to support and maximize SAP Business One functionality. • Manage all end-user SAP training.

Documentation Specialist / Technical Writer at Quantum Retail Technology August 2013 - October 2013 (3 months)

Worked within a tight project schedule and produced deliverables for a release of a proprietary inventory management system.   • Quickly self-taught the features and functionality of a proprietary inventory management system. • Met with shareholders to clarify business needs, specifically the current issues and requirements.  • Scheduled and met with Installation Team and Development Team Leads to confirm the accuracy of existing information as well as to discuss and resolve documentation standards. • Met with Program Manager Team to communicate and discuss scope, progress, issues and proposed resolutions. • Drafted a Core Configuration Catalog. • Drafted an Installation Manual. • Updated the Functional Specifications.

Project Coordinator at Duluth Housing and Redevelopment Authority (HRA) July 2013 - September 2013 (3 months)

Coordinated all aspects of a temporary relocation of residents in 29 homes so that construction crews, inspectors and architects could upgrade the homes to improve energy efficiency and create a look that blended better with the neighborhood.  • Developed and maintained detailed project schedules that involved stipend allocations, residents with special needs, missing paperwork, lodging needs, move out and move in checklists, and countless dates. • Sustained constant on-site communication with all shareholders to verify and validate project tasks as well as mediate issues intrinsic to construction projects. • Coordinated and participated in weekly Housing and Redevelopment Authority project team meetings. • Prepared, wrote, edited and published meeting minutes, presentations and requirements. • Ensured adherence to deadlines.

Project Coordinator at Emerald Connect, a Broadridge Company November 2012 - March 2013 (5 months)

Coordinated all aspects of the physical move (telecommunications, floor plans, staffing, furniture, and equipment) and ensured adherence to Service Level Agreements (SLA) as two corporations and a court-appointed Chapter 11 trustee restructured an ecommerce company.  • Designed, implemented and maintained the detailed project schedules for each phase of the physical move. • Coordinated and led weekly Service Level Agreements meetings with SLA owners to lessen ambiguity and to discuss and prioritize issues; communicated details to the business. • Prepared, wrote, edited and published meeting minutes, presentations and requirements. • Ensured adherence to deadlines. • Created and documented new procedures specific to new company owner. Topics involved security, evacuation, attendance, and confidentiality, etc.

Documentation Specialist / Project Manager at ARI Network Services, Inc. August 2012 - November 2012 (4 months)

Completed documentation and high level project management in the Learning and Development Department of this eCommerce Sales and Marketing Company.  • Created and maintained a Master Project Plan that reflected business requirements and detailed training tasks for the following business units: Application Development, Business Intelligence, Captive Sales, Customer Support, Data Production, Human Resources, Internal Applications, IT, Marketing, Operations, Products, Relationship Management, Retail Sales, Training, and Website Development. • Updated the client-facing online Help system to reflect current system functionality and features for the Powersports ecommerce platform.

Clinical Informatics Analyst: Ambulatory at Wheaton Franciscan Healthcare December 2011 - April 2012 (5 months)

Project was to complete the initial implementation of EPIC ambulatory systems - at 4 locations across 2 states - that combined chart review, order management, and documentation.   • Throughout bi-weekly, 3 day, intensive classroom training, was introduced to the EPIC ambulatory software and studied how the optimal configuration and build of clinical applications would impact workflows. • Participated in meetings to assess current practices and translate end user requirements. • Participated in meetings to discuss the support of end user education for the electronic health record.

Business Analyst at GE Healthcare August 2011 - September 2011 (2 months)

Project was to research, document, analyze and standardize global business requirements for GE Healthcare employees concerning IT-related e-procurement and corporate indirect and direct sourcing of hardware and software.  • Worked with GE Healthcare staff in US, Europe and Asia regions to identify, document and analyze processes, issues, mandatory and desired requirements while being sensitive to business customs in each region. 1 recommendation available upon request

Senior Business Analyst at TMP Worldwide October 2010 - March 2011 (6 months)

Project was to support the operational aspects of TalentBrew, the Core-TMP's subscription-based and mobile-enabled recruitment marketing platform.  • Met with Subject Matter Experts to define, document and analyze the business requirements for a new bad debt collection process. The process was expected to utilize financial information stored within TMP’s financial systems.  • Met with Subject Matter Experts to define and document enhancement requests to existing financial systems. The financial systems included job tickets, billing, accounts payable and receivable, new client and vendor set-up, Purchase Orders, credits, etc.

Content Manager at Manpower Group July 2010 - August 2010 (2 months)

Managed a content management project to integrate and standardize proposal documentation used by the Manpower US Solution Center Proposal Team.  • Moved, then created a manageable file SharePoint file structure for all existing Manpower and COMSYS proposal documentation. • Reviewed, integrated and recommended standards for both companies regarding the proposal documentation.

Senior Business Analyst at BMO Harris Bank February 2010 - June 2010 (5 months)

Created Key Performance Indicators (KPI) to aid in the monitoring and reporting of credit risks and to measure the effectiveness of banker performance as it related to the Credit Administration process.  • Defined, documented and communicated the 12 business rules driving the KPI reporting initiative. • Elicited and documented requirements, solutions, constraints, and phased deliverables specific to the Key Performance Indicators (KPI) reporting initiative. • Collaborated in a robust team environment composed of C level executives, cross-functional subject matter experts and technical business intelligence staff to quantify areas needing improvement. • Conducted data decomposition and analysis and documented detailed report requirements for the initiative.

Senior Client Analyst - Business Process Services at Manpower Group March 2010 - May 2010 (3 months)

Developed Standard Operating Procedures (SOP) and SOP templates for Manpower North America’s large, national Vendor Management System (VMS) clients.   • Collaborated with the implementation project manager and client implementation team to identify client, supplier, Manpower servicing staff audiences and requirements for inclusion in operating procedures and training.  • SOPs created included: Candidate review and interview, Change order: extend, update rate, Expense entry and revision, Invoicing, Natural and unnatural assignment end, Onboarding, Program overview, Requisitions: fill, copy, approve, source, validate, Time entry and revision. 1 recommendation available upon request

Business Analyst at Express Scripts September 2009 - December 2009 (4 months)

Partnered with product, compliance, customer service, and administrative staff and defined, developed and analyzed use cases and process models to drive improvements in the Medicare D business.  • Defined compliance requirements and laws that applied to prescription management under the Medicare D program. • Facilitated small group business process discussions and reviews, larger cross-functional reviews and management reviews to secure sign-off on use cases and to identify opportunities for business process enhancements.  • Piloted the Agile methodology in a virtual team environment; Utilized Agile tenets to successfully meet an aggressive deliverable date that included cross-functional teamwork, sprints, self- organization, accountability, prioritization, and frequent inspection and adaptation to create the business use cases and process models.  • Coached less experienced team members in Agile and SharePoint and continually worked to educate stakeholders about the Agile methodology.  • Managed project scope by continually educating stakeholders about the usefulness and goal of business vs. functional use cases.   • Drove the strategic development of innovative business practices:  o Provided feedback regarding the viability of introducing and adapting the Agile methodology across the organization.  o Provided feedback regarding the use of SharePoint as a single-sourcing collaboration tool to store, update and track use cases.  o Provided feedback and re-designed the use case template in Microsoft Word and created a concise Getting Started Guide for the project team.

Documentation Specialist at Express Scripts March 2009 - September 2009 (7 months)

Analyzed and re-wrote procedural documentation while identifying opportunities for procedure efficiency and standardization across diverse Benefit Fulfillment Groups.  • Operated in a multi-location setting that involved interviewing cross-functional and virtual teams as well as navigating proprietary and Siebel applications.  • Documentation topics included:  o Coordination of Benefits / Flexible Savings Accounts  o Formulary Rebates / Mass and Single Adjustments  o Preferred Drug Step Therapy / Reviews & Appeals Management  o Utilization Management   • Documented process flows in Visio for inclusion in each Standard Operation Procedures (SOP).  • Provided feedback regarding the use and structure of SharePoint as a single-sourcing tool to store, update and share SOPs.

 

Business Analyst at Assurant Health October 2008 - February 2009 (5 months)

Participated in developing a Road Map - that included estimated costs and timeline - for consolidating various administrative systems supporting the Group Markets onto one platform.  • Facilitated, elicited and documented high-level base business requirements for the Group Markets.  • Documented the gaps between the two systems that supported the Group Markets.  • Determined if the existing platforms could meet the base requirements, if any gaps existed and the options for filling those gaps.

Business Analyst II at DentaQuest May 2008 - August 2008 (4 months)

Created a Preliminary Scope Statement to automate the outreach and scheduling of calls to DentaQuest customers. The document contained the Problem Statement, Business Objectives, Proposed Solution, Required Purchases, Estimated Effort, Resource Requirements, and Cost and Benefit Analysis.   • Interviewed internal customers and navigated proprietary applications. • Analyzed, developed and documented highly complex Medicare and Medicaid dental benefits.  • Consulted with both internal and external vendors to provide accurate preliminary recommendations and level of complexity for potential solution delivery.

Application Analyst at Northwestern Mutual October 2007 - May 2008 (8 months)

Managed and facilitated elicitation sessions with stakeholders and updated non-functional and functional requirements for a Siebel upgrade in support of the organization’s sales and recruiting cycles.   • Coordinated and facilitated cross-functional team sessions to determine, document and drive the tracking and resolution of non-functional, functional and User Interface (UI) upgrade gaps.  • Created a new defect management and communication process and successfully completed the software customization, data mapping, and Getting Started Guide, as well as the coordination and rollout training of an HP Quality Center.  • Continually educated the cross-functional Seibel upgrade team members about the new defect management process.

IS Technical Services Senior at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee 2000 - 2007 (7 years)

Collaborated with individuals at all levels for campus and University-system driven, technology-based projects. Roles included Business / Process Analyst, Functional / Documentation Team Lead, Functional Testing Lead, and Trainer.   • Elicited multifaceted requirements and created and presented a comprehensive campus-wide ePortfolio business requirements document to the University’s Project Management Office for prioritization and resource allocation.  • Created, developed and wrote manuals, articles, web content, tutorials, help systems, classroom training materials, and other types of documentation for both internal and external clients.  • Researched, created, maintained, and communicated technical writing standards to the department.  • Interviewed, mentored and managed students hired to staff the technical writing unit.  • Interviewed existing PeopleSoft, CashNet, TouchNet, and Microsoft Professional Suite users to determine, develop and drive continual training and system enhancement opportunities.  • Validated business requirements by brainstorming, creating, distributing, and analyzing feedback from campus surveys.  • Identified opportunities for efficiency and standardization across diverse work groups.  • Utilized Camtasia and Captivate to create online training tutorials that were used to introduce and educate the campus about a Xythos software roll out and a PeopleSoft upgrade. 2 recommendations available upon request

Courses

·               EPIC Headquarters - Verona, Wisconsin EpicCare Ambulatory Electronic Medical Record (EMR)

·               ICD-10 Foundations

·               Milwaukee Area Technical College Certificate in Practice Workflow and Info. Mgmt. Redesign, Health Information Technology (HIT)

·               State Health Insurance and Assistance Program (SHIP)

Volunteer Experience

·               Vice Chair  at   North Country Ride (NCR) Therapeutic Riding Center April 2013  -  August 2014  (1 year 5 months) North Country Ride's mission is to promote personal growth and development through equine assisted, therapeutic, educational, and recreational activities.

·               Vice President - Communications  at   International Institute of Business Analysis (IIBA) November 2006  -  November 2008  (2 years 1 month) I am a founding member of the Southeast Wisconsin Chapter of the International Institute for Business Analysis (IIBA) and past chapter Vice President for Communication, Marketing and Special Events.

·               Certified Counselor at   Minnesota State Health Insurance Assistance Program (SHIP) April 2014 - Present (1 year 2 months) SHIP is a network of local programs that provide confidential and unbiased information, counseling and assistance to all Medicare eligible persons across the state of Minnesota.

Education

·               University of Minnesota-Twin Cities Associate of Arts

·               University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee completion of BS, Information Resources planned for 2016

Recommendations

"Paula was brought in to work as a Business Analyst for one of my projects. Unfortunately we lost the funding, but even within a short period she did a great job and demonstrated her skill level. She is someone I would bring onto any project I am working on if I needed a BA."

— Dawn Widas, was Paula's client

"I'm happy to recommend Paula for further opportunities in the field of technical writing. Her assistance with managing and promptly issuing a substantial SOP for one of my accounts was noted and much appreciated. Others are sure to benefit from her experience and energy!"

— Karl Borgmann, Program Manager, Manpower, worked with Paula at ManpowerGroup

"Paula is an incredibly detailed writer, able to jump in and create effective documentation from day one as a non-user. She was able to take complex and industry/company/department-specific processes and distill them down into language that a day-one employee would find helpful and easy to understand."

— Kate Pinkalla, Installation and Quality Control Coordinator, Express Scripts, worked with Paula at Medco Health Solutions

"It was my pleasure to work with Paula on a variety of IT and UI projects at the University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee. Paula is detailed oriented, innovative, multi-talented (business process analyst, user software training designer, wordsmith), excellent critical thinker and an effective team player and team leader. Minnesota is stealing this outstanding thought leader from Wisconsin! I know she will do well in her new position."

— John Grozik, Director in IT Division, University of Wisconsin, Milwaukee, worked with Paula at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee

"Paula is a real go-getter who is fearless when it comes to tackling any project or acquiring a new skill. She has extensive international experience and is attuned to the global aspects of business."

— David Stack, Deputy Chief Information Officer, University of WI–Milwaukee, managed Paula indirectly at University of Wisconsin at Milwaukee