Laura Ballard Email & Phone Number

Texas, United States

Texas, United States

Texas, United States

Texas, United States

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

San Jose, Ca, Us

Revolutionizing the Customer Success model with a focus on adoption of the collaborative suite of products offered by Cisco.

Beyond photography, Laura Ballard Artistry elevates her services to capture the essence of each client's true beauty and personality. Each session feels like a great visit with an old friend filled with laughter and joy. Beyond photography, customized graphic design services are available.

Opening the minds of voters with informative, thought provoking advertising and visual images. Appealing to the video driven social media community, wrote lyrics, designed and produced a parody encouraging voter support. Resulted in an election victory for a $455.5M bond.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Managed team of System Release Program Managers. Expanding scope beyond individual product releases, this operations oriented role aligned over 60 complex products into a “System Release” ensuring feature implementation across all products ensuring increased customer satisfaction and value. Planning, definition and execution oversight of the Collaboration System Release effort, including Product Release and feature alignment, Solution Validation, and Solution Launch planning. Led evolution from a waterfall development cycle to Agile reducing release cadence from 12 month to 6 month. Speaker at Rally Chat 2011 regarding large scale Agile implementation.In late 2010, this role was expanded to include product management and operations associated with the desktop aspects of its Virtualization Experience Infrastructure (VXI) Business Unit.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Leading highly complex software and hardware development projects from concept to delivery, with responsibilities spanning across all functional areas including engineering development, quality assurance, internal trials, external trials, product marketing, sales, technical publications, training, and customer support. As a senior program manager, extension of sphere of influence to now include cross-CDO initiatives. Considered a partner of choice amongst engineering directors and product marketing directors and recruited to take over management of the program management team.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Managing a team of 9 program managers with responsibilities spanning the Unified Communications portfolio including messaging, conferencing, presence, clients and mobility projects. Defining Business Unit specific processes and guidelines with a focus on consistency across all projects, identifying and implementing best practices, increased risk management and growing program managers to be seen as a partner of choice and a true leader of a project in all projects.In addition to role in UCBU, participating in the corporate wide Acquisition Integration team to mentor newly acquired companies and define a mapping from their existing engineering development cycle into Cisco’s corporate cycle. Recognized by the acquired companies as a key asset to the success of the first releases of the product in Cisco.

San Jose, Ca, Us

Leading software and hardware development projects from concept to delivery, with responsibilities spanning across all functional areas including engineering development, quality assurance, internal trials, external trials, product marketing, sales, technical publications, training, and customer support. As a senior program manager, at times carried 9 projects simultaneously including highly complex projects with internal development, OEM and ODM, requiring integrations across multiple projects. Considered a partner of choice amongst engineering directors and product marketing directors and recruited to take over management of the program management team.

Ca

• Primary accountability for project results based on project charter.• Accountable for IPT contract and business decision recommendations to the Portfolio Management Team for each product phase in order to meet the business goal / revenue targets established for the entire Portfolio.• Research and deliver risk management and risk mitigation recommendations.• Negotiate and obtain timing and deliverable commitments from cross funded core platform organization• Ensure timely project issue identification and resolution• Effectively negotiate product release content and schedule to meet customer requirements and market needs

Ca

Responsible for New Product Introduction, New Solution Introduction, Project Management and Release Management for all products within Emerging Carrier Solutions. Awarded Corporate Top Talent Award (Top 10% talent in Nortel Networks). Managed a team of 6 project managers. Provided direction in defining, developing and implementing deployment processes. Identified and defined scope management process, communications strategy, Customer Trial approval process and life cycle management strategy. Maintained detailed integrated project plans and project management plans to guide Core Team execution. Identified as best in class practices for Nortel’s new product introduction

Ca

Project Manager for cross-product solution delivering a wireless solution for European railways. Solution was comprised of 9 products located in 8 countries. Responsibilities were focused on design and verification cycle within product introduction life cycle. Awarded Corporate Top Talent Award (Top 10% talent in Nortel Networks).• In depth use of Microsoft Project and Microsoft Project Reporter facilitated management of this product.• Devised new product development process allowing for quick response to market change.• Devised Solution level product management strategy to ensure all products within the solution aligned for customer delivery.

Ca

Managed product verification cycles for multiple releases. Responsible for a staff of 10. Defined Project Management Gate Criteria for Strategic Program. Product ISO representative. A product lab owner responsible for purchasing, scheduling and setup. Performed customer demos and presentations. A Carrier Networks ESAT Exceed Manager in 1997. Was named as preferred successor to the senior manager responsible for the entire R&D program in 1997. Awarded Corporate Top Talent Award (Top 10% talent in Nortel Networks).

Ca

Early Career, Nortel Networks (1993 to 1996) Promotional Path – Global Automation Tools and Support Development, USC Automation Support. Awarded Corporate Top Talent Award (Top 10% talent in Nortel Networks).

San Antonio, Texas, Us

Worked in P&C Financial Systems during Summer and Holiday Breaks from UT at Austin. Provided administrative support to the Financial and Actuary teams.

Bachelors, Computer Science

High School Diploma, Music