Casandra Smith Email and Phone Number

I am certified as Senior Level Expert in areas of Leadership, Acquisition, and Government (Capstone) by the Office of Chief Information Officer (OCIO) and have a Master’s Certification in Acquisitionand Contracting. I am a Senior Level (III) certified Program and Project Manager, managingboth moderate and major systems for the SBA and an Advanced Contracting Officer's Representative, Level III. I develop strategic and operational plans, statements of work (SOW), as well as monitor project management plans, communication plans, budgets and project schedules. I also submitted funding requests and proposals to stakeholders as a buy-in to our IT systems. I have Security Level II access and background clearance. I was a Cyber Security Assessment Manager responsible for ensuring that accurate data, documents, files are reflected in this system for the agency. I was accepted/ completed Level II training for Leadership and facilitate quarterly meetings as a mentor to staff seeking leadership positions. I was selected as 1 of 4 individuals for the Train the Trainer Program where we developed and delivered new approaches in making informative presentations in structure environments as well as large groups of individuals with various backgrounds on-site nationwide. I facilitated weekly Technical briefings with contractors to federal major system, Information Technology (IT) staff, and key stakeholders (internal and external) to obtain a high level of acceptance of the SBA’s new system. I was on the agency's Change Control Board and am responsible for identifying the appropriate people, methods and procedures for this system and facilitating over 29 Joint Application Design meetings to ensure that workflows and processes were captured. I created/submitted Functional Requirements Data for GCBD’s IT system. I created guidelines on eligibility review and data collection to the new Eligibility Review Team for the system.

I managed a staff and provided oversight for the federal agency's Government Contractingprograms statewide and maintained a portfolio of over 130 contractors. I monitored contractingactivities of procuring agencies/firms statewide for adherence of Federal laws, overseeingproduction of schedules, costing limits within the anticipated dollar amount, and assistingcontractors with obtaining Federal security clearances regarding contracting programs thatrequire certification. I coached and mentored 8(a) certified firms and small business with SBA'sprogram and services, including in the areas of business development, marketing and financialanalysis. I acted on behalf of the District Director of North Carolina; which was responsible formanaging for assistance provided to small firms in the areas of financial, lending, procurement,business development and marketing and outreach. I tailored communication for diverseaudiences to include facilitating small groups and one-on-one consultations. I was alsoresponsible for negotiations between firms and procuring agencies and represented the agency.I conducted contract negotiation conferences representing the interest of contractors for fair andequitable agreements and coordinate Capability Briefings between contractors and procuringagencies. Performed audit/reviews on contractors/Federal agencies to review compliance with ourcontracting programs and assess firms’ financial statements and provide an analysis to determinethe firm’s continued certification in Federal programs. Executed contract proposals and determineawards on contracts. I was also responsible for managing firms in the 8(a) Contracting Program,HUBZone Program, Small and Disadvantaged Business Program and served as the DistrictOffice Technical Representative for the Women's Business Center (Durham, NC).