KC

KENDRA COOLEY
ENTERPRISE PROJECT MANAGER
Elk Grove Village, IL 773-615-0699
kendra.cooley18@outlook.com www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-cooley/

SUMMARY
Self-motivated project manager with experience in leading and operationalizing initiatives at an enterprise level.
Accomplishments include delivering initiatives that positioned organizations to effectively manage resources,
developing business processes that enhanced the customer experience in multi-channel retail landscape, and
operationalizing programs that have delivered tangible results. Servant leader who values the power of diverse
relationships and seeks to effect change.

STRENGTHS/COMPETENCIES
 Bilingual: Spanish
 Organization and planning
 Vendor management
 Customer experience in multi-channel retail landscape
 Business process design
 Complex analytical reporting functionalities
 Leadership and team building
 Issues and risk management
 Cross-functional stakeholder relationship management
 Resource management
 SharePoint administration
 Microsoft Office Suite/Project/Visio

EXPERIENCE
USCELLULAR, Chicago, IL 04/2014 – 07/2024
Enterprise Project Manager (05/2022 – 07/2024)
 Drove implementation of enterprise projects and programs that supported portfolio roadmap delivery totaling
over $80M, which included directing enterprise projects while leading a cross functional team of internal staff
and external vendors in delivering business solutions.
Accomplishments:
 Led a team of five Enterprise Security Architects and one vendor to execute NIST Cyber Security
Framework and 3GPP 33.501 assessments across IT and Engineering organizations. Managed assessment
execution, data analysis, and executive report readouts, resulting in high-level action plans to evaluate and
enhance the organization’s security posture.
 Oversaw cross-functional team of over 22 members under Broadband Services Program. Planned and
executed technology demonstrations across the US for government officials showcasing broadband services
for rural communities intended to close the digital divide. Managed project plan, tracked progress with a
RAID log, and developed executive-level status reports.
 Guided cross-functional team of over 15 members to manage five processes used by the Engineering and
Marketing teams to execute network coverage updates for mid-band technology site deployment. Created
Gantt charts to ensure timely monthly coverage updates, used RAID logs for project controls, and developed
executive-level status reports.
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Enterprise Resource Planning Lead (03/2018 – 05/2022)
 Led the establishment of the resource planning discipline used to enhance capacity and resource planning
effectiveness across an enterprise of over 5,000 employees and ensured efficient use of resources to deliver
an enterprise portfolio totaling over $100M.
 Project managed the creation of the Capacity Forecasting and Planning Process used to implement the
Clarity PPM tool and resource procurement process impacting over twenty functional areas.
 Utilized change management strategy to cultivate cross-functional relationships and manage stakeholder
expectations to drive the work needed to achieve department metrics.
 Drove adoption of Clarity PPM tool and resource management processes by streamlining the resource
procurement process across the organization which standardized communications that provided awareness,
education, and training for cross-functional resource teams. Conducted strategic resource planning
meetings used to plan resource availability and address resource bottlenecks.
 Owned and worked with functional areas to develop resource plans in support of portfolio roadmap delivery
totaling more than $100M.
 Developed reporting framework that provided a snapshot of current and forecasted capacity data utilized to
facilitate proactive efforts for staffing enterprise initiatives and support portfolio roadmap delivery.
Accomplishments:
 Authored change management strategy that outlined critical elements (Communication Plan, Stakeholder
Management Plan, and Adoption Plan) needed to execute change management tactics impacting more than
5,000 employees for adoption of the Capacity Forecasting and Planning Process and PPM tool.
 Authored Resource Constraint Process-Identification and Resolution Plan to address mitigation and
resolution of resource bottle necks.
 Developed 2020 Resource Management Team metrics used to evaluate efficient use of resources and drive
the establishment of the resource management discipline.
 Developed 2020 Resource Plan used to evaluate capacity of resource pool and address resource bottle
necks in support of delivering prioritized portfolio roadmap initiatives totaling $100M.
Project Analyst – Enterprise Portfolio Management (04/2016 – 03/2018)
 Delivered over $10M in strategic initiatives that drove bottom line growth by helping to improve efficiencies,
process compliance, and customer satisfaction.
 Partnered with project managers and track leads in development of project plans identifying key
deliverables, project dependencies, and timeline. Identified and documented issues, risks, and related
mitigation plans. Responsible for executive level project reporting including project plan, status, and key
metrics.
 Led tracks of work in communication planning and execution, change management, frontline associate
training and readiness activities in support of successful launch of enterprise level projects and programs.
 Developed and led project closing process by conducting After Action Reviews (AAR) on multi-million-dollar
projects. Developed story boarding process to enhance facilitating AARs and obtain learnings utilized on
future projects and programs. Prepared and communicated executive summaries on AAR findings to
executive leadership and the Enterprise Portfolio Management Organization.
Accomplishments:
 Led multi-retail channel associate readiness track on $20M enterprise level project.
 Created customer migration reporting process utilized by executive leadership.
 Created reporting dashboard utilized on a $17M enterprise program.
 Developed AAR Feedback Tool gathering lessons learned from in-flight projects to improve project
implementation. Received continuous improvement award.

Multi-Channel Operations Specialist – Agent & National Retail (04/2014 – 04/2016)

773-615-0699 kendra.cooley18@outlook.com www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-cooley/

KENDRA COOLEY PAGE 3
 Provided operational support to national retail channel which included distribution in big box retailers totaling
over 5,000 locations and channel of independent business franchises (Agent) totaling more than 500
locations.
 Served as project lead on first corrugate shipper program launched in over 400 retail locations for national
retail partner; led quarterly sales performance review process for the agent retail channel evaluating sales
performance and contract obligations at retail store locations.
 Led cross functional projects for process improvement on evaluating scope and size of multiple markets for
National Retail Partner; managed vendor relationship between US Cellular and merchandising vendor,
which improved communication and merchandising execution in more than 500 National Retail Partner
locations.

GENERAL DYNAMICS, Schaumburg, IL 02/2013 – 03/2014

Business Operations Administrator (Contractor)
 Managed project spend on AT&T Generator Project totaling $10M by preparing financial documents,
resolving invoicing discrepancies, coordinating vendor activity to ensure purchase order accuracy and
proper financial approvals for over 200 sites constructed, and tracking vendor out of scope funding requests.
 Systems and Databases: Onevizion, SITERRA, ANGELS, Cingulinc, ARIBA/ESM, A/P Web Query Tool,
KOFAX/Markview.

CRICKET COMMUNICATIONS, Rolling Meadows, IL 06/2011 – 01/2013

Customer Operations Manager Coordinator

EDUCATION
DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL
Bachelor of Science, Marketing and Finance (Graduation: 06/2006)

Certificates:
 Leader Effectiveness Training Certification, Gordon Training International, Chicago, IL (10/2024
 PROSCI Change Practitioner Certification, PROSCI, Chicago, IL (10/2022)
 Project Management Certificate Program, NORTHWESTERN UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL (12/2016)
 Business Analyst Certificate Program, DEPAUL UNIVERSITY, Chicago, IL (12/2012)

PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT
Project Management Institute (PMI) Mentoring Program, Mentee Spring Session (01/2024 – 06/2024)
ACMP Change London, The Chemistry of Change Management Seminar (11/2023)
UScellular Affinity Resource Group, Professional Development Chair (12/2016 – 01/2019)
 Featured in “Dynamically Speaking” Corporate Publication for developing and leading career enhancement
efforts that impacted over 100 USCC Associates (02/2018)
Mujeres de HACE Women’s Leadership Program (08/2018 – 12/2018)
 Featured panelist at graduation ceremony and featured in “Dynamically Speaking” USCC Corporate
Publication for program achievements (12/2018)
Association of Change Management Professionals [ACMP] (2021)
Project Management Institute (PMI) Professional (2016)

773-615-0699 kendra.cooley18@outlook.com www.linkedin.com/in/kendra-cooley/