ProJECT MANAGEMENT

Complex project management is a skill set I have enthusiastically cultivated throughout my career. I love pushing an idea through execution and cultivating user feedback along the way. I have worked on projects ranging from construction architectural design details to healthcare entrepreneurial programs, from place-based art installations to international digital recruitment campaigns. Read on to learn about some of my accomplishments in project management.

All manufacturers were ranked using metrics that included: the quality of the product; innovative practices; environmental sustainability; and availability of the product. I worked directly with suppliers to check inventory and collect data on their most popular offerings.

Our building system had many confines to work around: for example, we use exact dimensions on our prefabricated light gauge steel (LGS) wet walls which limited the widths of cabinetry and tubs; our electric chases run vertically through SIP panels, limiting lighting options; our appliances and lighting needed to support our goals for EnergyStar ratings and a sub-50 HERS index.

Next, I selected products to offer and conducted 15 user interviews with existing clients and 3 homebuilders not in our client pipeline. Using their feedback, I reduced the color or finish options to empower Shibusa to get better pricing and control inventory in our warehouse. Most of the fixtures fell under three thematic groupings of Classical, Transitional, and Modern.

THE RESULT:

An engaging and visual website that clients could access on their phone or computer.

Clients were briefed with the website and make their selections with their Client Experience Manager (me!). Thousands of paint colors, appliances, plumbing and light fixtures were reduced to a few dependable, stylish options. I handed off their selections to our construction managers to immediately order supplies. This helped mitigate supply chain issues tied to the pandemic. I also uploaded their selections to BIM360 so our architects and engineers can render accurate construction documents.

On average for the seven selection sessions I led, this process took 40 minutes per session for a client to fully customize their Shibusa home.

THE CHALLENGE:

Develop and market desirable floor plans for our affordable housing clients.

THE PROCESS:

Shibusa homes are designed around repeatably 12-ft square “bays” that can be added vertically or horizontally to determine the overall footprint of the homes. I made improvements were made to each model that went through the permitting process. I developed our first ‘jack and jill’ bathroom and our first ADA-accessible unit. Using BIM 360, I developed a methodology for assigning adjustments to our external engineering and architectural partners. Engineering and architectural partners are PACE Engineering and Concordia, respectively.

I implemented Microsoft Teams across my 28-person office to share notes, assign tasks, and track project momentum across our team(s). Everyone from our mobile-first warehouse teams to C-suite executives were finally communicating seamlessly.

I also led a new initiative to develop our most affordable model ever using a one-story SIP-only home.

THE RESULTS:

Ushered nine units (three different models) through permitting.

THE CHALLENGE:

Grow and promote New Orleans as a digital healthcare innovation hub and attract new business development.

THE PROCESS:

I launched the New Orleans Health Innovators Challenge, a groundbreaking programmatic partnership initiative to connect the top emerging biotech startups in the country with our local healthcare partners. In my first year, I recruited three challenge statements from hospital systems valued at over $7 billion and the state’s largest insurer. The following year, seven health systems participated.

THE RESULTS:

I connected with over 343 unique startups and 119 influencers to share NOLAHI. Startups competed for pilot partnerships with the health systems who crafted the need-based challenges.  Startup applications over the two years increased by 95% and the application completion rate grew by 74%. The marketing campaign I managed netted over 750,000 digital impressions

NOLAHI annually infused over $100,000 in capital to support the growth of programming and business recruitment at my economic development agency, and, in the second year, I grew revenue generated for my economic development agency by 24%.

I managed two annual NOLAHI events: a Competition Kick-Off and Pitch Competition. Five of the winning startups returned to New Orleans to do business with their matched health system.

Significantly, I was awarded the Gold Medal of Excellence by the International Economic Development Council for NOLAHI.

For more details about this project…

including the digital marketing campaign, specific patient-centered ‘Challenge Statements.,’ community outreach, and key takeaways, CLICK THROUGH HERE.

THE CHALLENGE:

I started a company to connect New Orleans visual artists with real estate developers looking to imbue their spaces with creative placemaking projects.

THE STARTUP PROCESS:

I recruited 70 New Orleans artists to join Big Easel Collective. I organized an artist directory and maintained constant communication through individual outreach, online community pages, and social media channels. 

I leveraged technical platforms to keep my startup afloat. Wave accounting software, Squarespace, Asana, Hubspot, Revit, Airtable, and G-Suite were all softwares I leveraged to effectively lead sales, process management, accounting, and site preparation.

I ran the company as lean as possible, working with two fabulous interns and with minimal overhead.

THE INSTALLATION PROCESS:

For clients, I would gather information about the project space dimensions, budget, aesthetic goals, and cultural context.

Opportunities were shared with the artists in the Big Easel Collective directory and community.

After posting open calls or doing personal outreach, I collected data from artists using Google Forms. From these data, I developed online project portfolios using private Squarespace pages so client managers could browse, share, and select the right artist(s) for the job.

Then, I led the installations through legal contracting, insurance, permitting, scheduling, installation, and payment invoicing. Big Easel Collective retained 30% of the installation budget, with 70% going directly to local artists.

THE RESULTS:

Over the course of a year, we installed eight unique permanent installations and one pop-up event installation. As the sole founder of Big Easel Collective, I managed every step of the process.

Restaurants, offices, and private residences benefited from engaging and activating interiors. Installations in public settings have been captured and shared on Instagram hundreds of times.

For three of our artists, the Big Easel Collective opportunity was the biggest artistic commission they ever secured. I won the Venture for America Validation Challenge for distinctive user research.

Personally, I learned the challenges and gifts of managing an entrepreneurial venture. The joy of helping my community make art, while also making a living, was incredibly rewarding.

For more details about BIG EASEL COLLECTIVE…

including information about our artists, placemaking, and past installations, CLICK THROUGH HERE.

Artist leads, from left to right, top to bottom: Anna Koeferl // Marianne Angeli Rodriguez // Claire Beauchamp, Kellyann “Naomi” Bates and Karina Stanton // Marcus Akinlana // The Hoot-n-Holler Inn

Plant installation photos by Isabella Goldman; hallway mural photos by Connor Alston