Tara Bates, Csm, Ssm Email & Phone Number

Decatur, Ga, Us

San Francisco, Ca, Us

San Francisco, Ca, Us

Oversee a portfolio of $4M and manage an enterprise-wide program with multiple work streams centered around the design of a consumer-facing native app experience in iOS and Android for a Fortune 500 logistics company. Responsible for all financial, resource, time, risk and client management.Train and lead an integrated, cross-capability team of over 15 internal and client resources on agile ways-of-working in the experience design space; responsible for developing and evolving processes that foster collaboration with technical teams and business peers and manage the internal team's continuous improvement efforts.In partnership with Client Services, continuously grow the business through relationship building and a hyper-focus on quality of work and flawless execution.Serve as an agile SME for both clients and agency; coach teams and organizations through "doing" vs. traditional classroom training. Partner with agency digital transformation SMEs on developing custom approaches on how to execute change through agile ways-of-working across strategy, product management, UX, design, analytics and technology. Embed in integrated agency + client teams to teach on the ground and focus on the "people side" of change.

San Francisco, Ca, Us

San Francisco, Ca, Us

Served as project management lead and agile coach across multiple streams of experience design work for Atlanta-based global beverage client; responsible for resource, financial, schedule and risk management.Coached internal teams on agile ways-of-working to realign and level set skill; played an active role in developing backlog for digital app product through training team on appropriate user story writing and mapping.Developed approach for large-scale responsive website redesign; responsible for developing associated staff plans, estimates, SOWs and production roadmaps.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Provide agile coaching and support services for US marketing division of global pharmaceutical organization; responsible for standing up dedicated teams and adapting SCRUM for marketing. Assist in developing client-based Agile Center of Excellence and developing policies and procedures utilizing design thinking and cross-capability co-creation for enterprise level use. Responsible for redesigning core SCRUM training activities and materials to utilize a more human-centered approach to learning and driving adoption.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Member of Sparks Grove’s senior leadership team responsible for creating and operationalizing an experience design delivery practice across Sparks Grove as well as building a pool of producers within it; developed and continue to refine a competency model for each level of producer utilizing core design principles and implementation expertise. Responsible for setting and iterating on the capability-wide processes, tools and functions that support successful delivery of high quality output.In-house and client-facing facilitation expert for design sprints, agile team forming activities and ceremonies, backlog development and other ad-hoc workshops to build consensus, alignment and go-forward action plans; serve as agile coach for in-house, client and integrated teams to successfully change ways-of-working to quickly deliver value.Serve as a firm-wide implementation expert for digital solutions, innovation initiatives and iterative product development including rapid prototyping, quick turn test-learn-refine activities, test driven development processes and traditional digital solution implementation tasks for products such as native apps, responsive web, VR/AR and programmatic media content; strong knowledge base across various CMS and CRM platforms such as Adobe Experience Manager, Sitecore, Drupal, WordPress and Salesforce.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Provide agile coaching and support services to various client organizations across Sparks Grove and North Highland portfolio; assist clients with identifying products/resources to stand up dedicated teams and train on agile ways-of-working such as SCRUM, SAFe, Kanban, Extreme Programming, etc.Assess organizations for agile readiness and provide recommendations to move forward.Conduct classroom training sessions across organizations/management levels to facilitate full organizational support.Partner with appropriate technology consultants within SG/NH to assist clients in assessing and providing recommendations to move toward a continuous integration/release/deployment model for agile teams to continuously inspect and adapt digital products.Provide support to leadership levels on an organization-wide agile transformation across lines of business to allow for continuous deployment of digital products.

Atlanta, Georgia, Us

Oversee the management of all large-scale client initiatives for the agency, including managing a team of producers, handling contract development and financial oversight, risk management, staff planning and partnering with account management leadership to continuously grow accounts.Responsible for developing an agile process of standing up and iterating on prototype/proofs of concept initiatives in the Retail Lab, a space dedicated to utilizing cutting edge technologies to enhance the customer experience in brick and mortar retail; build and manage cross-functional teams of UX experts, designers, developers, strategists and producers utilizing the SCRUM framework to successfully explore and innovate on a continual basis regardless of shifting priorities or requirements.Responsible for building a scalable working model for both client work and internal innovation alongside leadership counterparts to accommodate multiple clients and initiatives while keeping teams lean and timelines efficient.

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Responsible for overall operations and performance of Atlanta office, including fiscal management of over $18M in revenue generated across multiple accounts, ranging from $2M to $11M annually.Served as overall program management director for Atlanta; overseeing all contract development and negotiations, fiscal management and staff planning and management across portfolio.Successfully pitched and won over $8M in business with Nissan North America, in partnership with Nashville account lead, global chief technology officer and global chief executive officer. Responsible for successful onboarding of new team and overall program timeline.Served as agile advocate and coach across New York region (New York/Atlanta/Nashville); trained internal teams and clients on agile methodologies and practices to ensure successful delivery of software and content.Managed a team of six producers across Atlanta and Nashville; responsible for career development guidance, reviews, promotion nominations, general project management training, etc.

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Served as account/project management lead as well as scrum master across three integrated, geographically dispersed teams for SunTrust Bank’s agile suntrust.com enterprise program utilizing the scaled agile framework (SAFe); successfully grew business from $1.2M to $2.4M as well as a locally based team of technologists which served as the catalyst for the inception of a technology discipline in the Atlanta office.Oversaw program management for Equifax’s Personal Solutions performance marketing efforts, which included ongoing test and learning (banners, sites, search, CRM, etc.), development of a data platform (modeling, attribution, etc.), advanced infrastructure (TMS, DSP, DMP, etc.) and launching new large-scale creative campaigns across products and channels throughout the year. Duties included budget development and oversight, resource allocation and management, scheduling, vendor/pooled resource management and status communications.Served as a mobile project management expert via the DigitasLBi North America mobile practice team; provide expertise and guidance to client account teams on scoping, staffing, scheduling, vendor selection and team management for various types of mobile initiatives.Acted as a primary project producer throughout the New York region focusing on large-scale, complex technology driven assignments, utilizing both waterfall and agile methodologies (complex sites, online media, applications, etc.).

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Handled business operations for InterContinental Hotel Group’s Priority Club Rewards core communications program; responsible for attaining target margins through accurate scoping and Statement of Work development, day-to-day fee and pass through budget tracking, monthly revenue forecast/close submissions, invoicing, staffing management and credit oversight. Communicated account financial status with clients through monthly budget reconciliation meetings and ad-hoc reporting as needed. Work in partnership with client counterparts to secure and maintain financial health.Served as project producer on New York-led Post Cereals account, remotely managing digital projects for all brands including online advertising, social and mobile applications, email, and site enhancements.

Boston, Massachusetts, Us

Responsible for the production all direct mail initiatives for The Home Depot account from concept to completion.Developed and streamlined project process for newly formed Atlanta account team; oversaw training of new team members as needed.Managed all budgets with client finance to secure target margin, including weekly tracking reports, monthly revenue forecasting, and project reconciliation. Identified and secured project resources as needed; including onboarding freelance help.

Marina Del Rey, Ca, Us

Responsible for managing all marketing projects for Municipal Networks division of Atlanta-based client EarthLink.Worked onsite at EarthLink to oversee all facets of projects from concept to completion, including direct mail, DRTV, and alternative media.Handled day-to-day project activities as needed, including traffic and production management.Served as agency liaison for Municipal Networks marketing team, legal department, and production services group.Collaborated with agency on creating marketing strategy recommendations and reviewed with client.Communicated project plans, goals and status to EarthLink Municipal Networks VP and Director of Sales and Marketing.Cultivated client relationships as Direct Partners representative.

Peachtree Corners, Georgia, Us

Oversaw all aspects of operations for local nonprofit generating over $1 million in charitable donations annually.Responsible for planning and executing all facets of fundraising initiatives including the Atlanta 2-Day Walk for Breast Cancer, a two day, 30 mile walk with over 1,000 participants.Successfully increased participation in fundraising events by establishing new marketing initiatives, increasing production value of events, conceiving and executing promotions and registration drives, and soliciting new sponsorships, which resulted in a 75% increase in revenue from 2005. Managed two direct reports and over 200 volunteers.Served as brand manager and oversaw use of company and event names and logos.Oversaw annual operating and events budgets.

Atlanta, Ga, Us

Responsible for overseeing the production of all print-related projects for the national office, including sales kits, brochures, books, premiums, signage, and specialty items as needed.Day-to-day duties included scheduling and trafficking projects through design studio, acting as liaison between design team and department clients, writing specifications, print buying and negotiating, coordinating with vendors, reviewing lasers and proofs, and handling accounting functions such as creating and distributing purchase orders.Also responsible for reviewing and trafficking print requests from the national office for the AF Print Center.

Responsible for training users and handling all technical support issues for PrintStream licensed on-line ordering system of custom print marketing materials.Handled development and production of all training-related materials such as PowerPoint presentations and instruction manuals. Assisted Director of Systems Development in creating client websites through program by inputting data such as login information, pricing for items, item descriptions, printing specifications, etc.

Atlanta, Georgia , Us

Duties included overseeing print, Web, photo, video, media relations, and special event projects for campus clients.Responsibilities included coordinating client needs with creative team and outside vendors as well as various production matters such as organizing photo shoots, video pre-production, copy gathering, media buying, fulfillment needs, and special event logistics. Managed post-production reporting of various individual projects as well as set-up of operational processes such as department-wide policy for tracking media hits in publications, radio, and television in relation to press releases being pitched.Handled financial reporting on team revenue and productivity for director. Served as Interim Director of Client Communications for specific campus clients while new director was being found.

Primary responsibilities included quality assurance, budget control and meeting of deadlines from concept through completion for all advertising-related projects for corporate and community clients. Coordinated the details and implementation of print ads, collateral materials, and radio spots. Created all production schedules to accurately reflect time requirements to produce each phase of the project. Weekly status reporting of all projects to each account executive to assure deadlines were being met and production issues were being handled. Acquired all material submission deadlines and specifications for publications. Managed all outside vendors including sheet fed, web offset, digital and specialty printers; paper merchants; studio, location and stock photography; illustration; digital retouching; and audio production studios. Internal review of lasers and print proofs for style, format, consistency and color break.

Responsible for meeting all production deadlines on all collateral and annual report projects. Created all schedules and revised as needed.Created weekly status reports and presented them to management to address all production issues.Worked with typesetters and proofreaders to assure accurate and on time work. Interviewed, tested and hired all freelance typesetters and proofreaders during annual report season. Key person to set up and train others on new company wide software program (Clients & Profits).Worked closely with production manager to set up databases for all vendors, including printers, paper merchants and stock photography houses. Acquired all material submission deadlines and specifications for publications.