Barb Koppel Email and Phone Number

In the Professional Services group, we work closely with our customers to identify and deliver AWS solutions that support their business objectives. Our customers can leverage expertise across the entire AWS organization and access resources in all aspects of cloud computing; including product, service, and training teams to deliver the right solution for each customer. Customer success is our obsession.

Business consultant specializing in Delivery, Project Management, and Scrum Master. • Instrumental team member in defining approach to incorporate Agile mindset to current Oracle delivery methodology. • Certified Scrum Master helping drive the implementation of SAFe methodology for Fortune 100 client. • Project manager for Oracle team which included managing deliverables to milestone dates, scheduling, budgeting, status communication, and managing project in alignment with Oracle PMO standards. • Focus on client enablement to realize Oracle technology benefit. • Provide subject matter expertise on Retail Merchandising System, as well as industry best practices. • Collaborated with client to develop training curriculum to enable client to scale learning throughout the organization. • Contributed industry expertise to the development of new processes and workflows as a trusted advisor to customers. • Notable clients: Kroger, Disney

Full ownership of system implementation from initial kick-off through go-live deployment for SaaS retail platform. • Created, executed and managed project plan in Agile environment. • Guided client to develop communication and training strategy for effective change management.. • Partnered with Executive team to determine implementation strategy, develop project team and manage budget. • Defined standard operating procedures to allow Implementation department to scale in alignment with company growth objectives. • Provided system configuration guidance to optimize platform capabilities concurrent with customers' business needs. • Developed dashboard, defined and tracked key metrics to provide visibility into organization's delivery performance to senior executive team.

Business consultant specializing in the implementation of Oracle Retail Merchandising System using prescriptive and traditional methodologies. • Guided client to develop communication and training strategy for effective change management. • Provided expertise to clients in developing workflows and business processes to maximize technology. • Guided clients to develop training strategy, and rollout. • Developed instructor materials and instructional videos for client's end users • Led and participated in Conference Review Pilots, business requirements gathering and overall application configuration. • Led requirements gathering, authored business requirements documents including functional specification design for custom modifications. • Created and executed test scripts and scenario development activities. • Developed instructor materials and Retail Merchandising system instructional videos for client's end users. • Participated and supported pre-sales efforts in developing the UK market. • Notable clients: Crate & Barrel, Alex & Ani.

Accountable for evolving business solutions and process efficiencies in an Oracle Retail systems environment for Shoes & Designer Merchandise Divisions ($1Billion+ sales). • Gathered and assessed needs from internal business units, recommended innovative solutions and managed deliverables to Sr. leadership and Steering Committee. • Drove deployment and training of largest merchandise division critical communication, education and training timelines to prepare organization for new implementations and enhancements to existing tools. • Managed corporate rollout of Clustering initiative which included planning, execution and implementation for all merchandise divisions. • Engaged on an exclusive team to create an Oracle-based (RPAS platform) suite of applications purposed to provide merchants and leadership with superior technical capabilities merging the art and science of retail. • Collaborated in the conceptual design, requirements gathering, functional specifications and user acceptance testing of integrated buy planning applications. • Determined standardized processes using personal merchant experience, knowledge of enterprise initiatives and company objectives. • Provided strategic direction to drive sales and increase profit margin through merchandise quantification of financial plan, management of inventory levels and assortments by store, identifying opportunities to maximize business, while distinguishing product liabilities and developing exit strategies. • Responsible for $100 Million budget.

Strategically managed all Interactive Entertainment Business product (Xbox, Zune, Consumer software & PC devices) flow into Canada (FY09 plan $400 Million). Developed a mutually beneficial partnership with master distributor which provided Microsoft influence over channel inventory and business directives. • Established and drove operation and supply chain aspects of retail relationships. • Collaborated with master distributor to develop launch strategies, optimal inventory levels, and proactive end-of-life exit plans. • Introduced business processes for Canada which resulted in streamlined practices, shortened lead times, reduced costs and enabled reallocation of resources. • Elevated service level operations and supply chain aspects for major clients (~800 stores) which drove a regimented review of performance metrics, logistics, compliance, identification and targeted end-of-life management. • Led regular strategy planning with multi-million dollar channel operations buying teams. • Analyzed supply chain to ensure optimal fulfillment minimizing Microsoft inventory liabilities, near $1M savings. • Managed and executed Xbox Console launch for all of North America.

Oversaw women’s contemporary apparel department. Successfully managed merchandise performance, offered relevant product, increased market share, implemented promotional efforts that generated revenue, profitably managed inventory and open-to-buy, gross margin, and vendor relations. • Achieved the #1 sales volume increase by understanding our customer, building brand identification, product sourcing, and performing strategic fulfillment analysis to identify optimal merchandise mix by store. • Delivered a 19.9% increase by launching new suppliers, maximizing opportunities within existing lines of business, and refining supplier assortment by store. Increased category sales by 96% YoY. • Delivered additional $2.2 million in gross margin by fostering supplier partnerships which resulted in fortuitous negotiation, monitoring sales and reacting to business including the reduction of future inventory liability, executing strategic markdowns and creating product promotions to increase sales velocity. • Generated an incremental $1.3 million in gross margin by identifying and driving toward key performance indicators, such as inventory related to strategic markdowns, holidays, partnerships, selling teams and regional product knowledge. • Led Retail Data Warehouse and new applications implementation for Women’s Apparel division, resulting in driving the adoption rate from 12th to 2nd (out of 13 merchandising teams).