Karen L. Reese   

3403 18^th Avenue South, Unit #2 Minneapolis, MN 55407     763-898-2970     reese.karen22@yahoo.com

 

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

 

Provider Arrangements Contracts Coordinator - Allina Health System05/2014 – 08/2016

Responsible for final compliance review and upload of provider arrangements contracts into Compliance 360 database, assuring all policy and process requirements were met during the front end contract implementation phase. Worked closely with Business Unit stakeholders on the Provider Arrangement policy and process, including training, guidance and instruction. Created and generated monthly Key Performance Indicators reports submitted to the Allina Executive Steering Committee. Identified, developed and participated in database software enhancements.  Supported Contract Manager(s)at all of Allina Sites with regards to Provider Arrangements Contracts and Compliance process.

 

Paralegal – U.S. ARKRAY, Inc. – USL (Lab) Division  (Contract position)       08/2013 - 03/2014

Contract management responsibilities relating to capital instrument purchase, service and Hospital GPO membership with this medical device manufacturer. Initial project encompassed implementing and capturing 500 plus contracts in less than a 5 month period. Responsible for process, procedure, and training. Developed and maintaining contract tracking and repository system as well as SAP contract module management. Report to and directly assist Arkray Staff Attorney.

 

Client Services Associate/Paralegal   DaVita Clinical Research      11/2011-9/2012

Contract management responsibilities including proposal and contracts, drafting, contract review/redline, negotiation, finance implementation and project revenue generation. Predominately frontend implementation in the clinical research, and medical informatics business lane. Consulting, data licensing, and services, including grant writing/funded projects. Experience in a highly accountable metrics driven environment

 

Senior Legal Services Specialist -United Health Group – (Contract position)   8/2011 - 9/2011

Provided paralegal activities to a business unit of United Health Group. This was a short term contract position charged with contract management and support within UHG legal department. Experience gained in the US healthcare systems, HIPAA rules and regulations. Lean Six Sigma Company

 

Contract Compliance Specialist- Minco Products, Inc.        10/2009 – 2/2011                                                  

Minnesota based design and manufacturer of critical components in a globally diverse market. 

Aerospace / Defense / Medical, Commercial and Industrial Markets. This position pertained to all aspects and activities relating to contract compliance and management. Lean Six Sigma Company

 

Paralegal / Contract Administrator - Twin City Fan Companies, Ltd.                   12/2004 – 7/2009

Minnesota based manufacturing company in the Global commercial and industrial fan market, including Aerospace, Defense, and Medical. This was a newly created position in which my skills were utilized to develop, facilitate and implement all aspects of contract management. Lean Six Sigma Practices.

 

Assistant Project Manager - Kraus Anderson Construction      (Contract position)    3/2004 – 11/2004

Project/ contract management for tribal gaming facilities throughout the continental United States.

Contract Administrator- Satellite Shelters Contracting Services (Contract position) 02/2003 – 1/2004

Construction management arena- focus in government and public funded projects; education and medical facilities.

 

Administrations/Office Manager - Denver West Contracting  05/2000 – 11/2002

Project Management focus, entrusted to all cost accounting, payables and receivables activities for this firm. Entrusted with human resource responsibilities, assuring compliance reporting, licensing and permits obtained. Duties included general office management and executive assistance on a daily basis. Projects completed throughout the Front Range and State of Colorado.

 

Contracts Manager -CyberCon Design/ Build Corp.03/1999 – 05/2000

Support provided as the Legal Liaison to executive counsel, all contractors and subcontractors pertaining to seven year project building the National Digital Television Center, located in Englewood Colorado.

 

EDUCATION

University of Minnesota

Undergraduate emphasis in Humanities and English-BA degree

The Denver Paralegal Institute

Paralegal Degree, Masters in Legal Administration and Operations – MS/MPS (ABA-approved program)

 

 

 

 

ADDED VALUE

United States Department of State –Outreach Education

DDTC /BIS certification in ITAR and Export Controls

Global Training Center

Letters of Credit Certification

Hennepin Community College

Project Management Courses and Certification

Accounting and Business School of the Rockies

Business Administration / ACCOUNTING - Full Charge Bookkeeping Certification

             Member of the Union Board of Governors-Coffman Memorial Union

             Public Relations Coordinator-Student Union Program Council

             Denver Bar Association – Paralegal Chapter

                 MN Paralegal Association

                 Minnesota Notary

 

COMPUTER PROFICIENCIES

 

·                           Microsoft Office Suite (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Access) 2013

·                           Contract /Management Software – Compliance C360, Upside, SalesForce, CTMS, MS Project

·                           ERP Systems software- LAWSON, SAP, IFS / POS system/JD Edwards/AS400

·                           Metadata Management and Internet Research – Federal, State and Provincial Level

·                           Government Websites; reporting and registrations/SurveyMonkey, ORCA

·                           Acrobat 9 Adobe Pro/ E-Copy/ LaserFische documentation control

·                           NTO Lien Tracker / Visio/Filemaker-Pro/WinFax

·                           Timberline Gold /QuickBooks /Peachtree/Timeslips/ Crystal Reports

 

 

PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY of Accomplishments and Responsibilities

·               Contracts Manager developing new systems, process and procedures as they relate to interpretation and execution of contracts, negotiations, and client/customer retention.

 

·               Manage cradle to grave contract lifecycle requirements from RFP to operations to close out.

 

·               Expertise in drafting, reviewing, negotiating, finalizing and archiving customer/vendor contracts.

 

·               Appointed to instruct, train, and perform complex legal research, prepared opinions, and legal documentation.

 

·               Initiated and developed contract risk thresholds in alignment with executive strategies, sales objectives yearly/quarterly business goals, established preferred vendor and supply chain management strategies.

 

·               Drafted company operating procedures and trained various departments on process regarding contract lifecycle matrixes to assure regulatory compliance and company objectives were met.

 

·               Entrusted with and developed a systematic repository of records defining confidentiality requirements and establishing access levels to executives, managers, and employees for three separate business units and their various departments.

 

·               Managed the maintenance of information flow and integration into ERP system, interfacing with IT on needs and requirements for best and most cost effective business practices.

 

·               Supervisor of staff, ranging from 3 to as many as 16 employees, including additional sanctioned oversight with customer service and sales account managers. This oversight prevented operating losses due to nonconforming activities. Supervision also included motivational coaching to employees and stake holders on fundamental and cultural view of contractual obligations and business impact.

 

·               Authorized to handle confidential leadership needs in various areas of business operations and development. This included the day to day handling of internal/external inquiries, appointments, travel arrangements and document preparations for meetings and presentations.

 

·               Appointed “Empowered Official” for government regulated export controls. Composed company export policy, implemented training and designed in house audit process. 

 

·               Project lead/project management on numerous projects and improvements providing the critical framework to assure customer facing within the company organization was defined, advocated and adhered to. Results included profit increases and transparency in the compliance arena.

Project included: developing and updating company position statements, maintaining corporate certifications and credentials in compliance arena, REACH/RoHS/WEE integration, ITAR/BIS/OFAC trade streamlining, affirmative action plans, disaster recovery plans; other various quality initiatives, improvements and measurements in a lean six sigma environment.

 

·               Developed and implemented negotiation plans for sales enforcement; facilitating between legal counsel, executive management strategies, sales account managers, customer service and procurement activities.

 

·               Authority to analyze and reconcile customer accounts relating to contracts issues, generating financial reports, contract accounting processes and provide analysis reports for current trends and future business development.

 

·               Administer change orders, claims, bonds, letters of credit, and indemnifications requirements in accordance with company policies and objectives.

 

·               Subject Matter Expert with the following documentation and performance: Terms and Conditions, IP Agreements, Non Disclosures, Limitations of Liabilities, Warranties, Liens, FARS/DFARS, Small Business Action plans, RFP’s/RFQ’s, Specifications, Export Declaration Forms, Export Licensing, NAFTA, Certificates of Origin, Material Safety Data Sheets, REACH/RoHS - IPC format, Letters of Credit, Capa/Scars, ISO 9001:2008 QSM, Blueprints, Govt. Website reporting, and various other legal documents, including legal proceedings, court filings and correspondence, alternative dispute resolution, mediation, depositions, Supervision and Performance reviews.