Nice to meet you.
The purpose of this site is to introduce myself and my professional journey. Have a look around and drop me a note if you would like to connect.
Accomplished Management professional with a proven track record of delivering value.
Jeremy brings over 25 years of experience in technology and management, evolving from a software engineer to a strategic leader in Portfolio and Program Management. At Cisco, he was a leader in the implementation of Agile methodologies to enhance business agility, streamlined project delivery processes, and drove the adoption of data visualization tools for strategic decision-making.
Jeremy has a proven track record of improving operational efficiencies, managing cross-functional projects, and fostering team development in high-tech environments. His leadership extends beyond project successes to include championing diversity and inclusion initiatives and demonstrating a comprehensive approach to driving organizational change and development.
Leadership Skills
- Strategic Planning
- Team Building
- People Development & Mentoring
- Communication
Business & Technical Skills
- Portfolio Management & Operations
- Business Agility
- Program & Project Management
- Solution Design
Certifications
Cisco Systems
Cisco is a global leader in the computer networking hardware and software industry. Embodying the “one company, multiple careers” mentality that Cisco prides itself with, I have held progressively challenging roles across multiple parts of Cisco’s enterprise.
Portfolio Operations Manager
Served as a software Portfolio Operations Manager in the CRM Engineering & Transformation Office (CETO). As an Operations Manager, I focused on process and procedure improvements for colleagues primarily in the Portfolio Implementation Manager role. Partnered closely with Business Stakeholders to define our mutual operating models and agreements on organizational alignment.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Contributed to the CETO Operating Model Overview explaining at a high level the ways of working internally and with business stakeholders.
- Defined, designed, and implemented the Operating Model Playbook, a “double-click” into the Operating Model Overview containing process flows with role-based swim lanes, deliverables, links to templates, and more.
- Led the sub-team that designed and implemented the CETO brand guidelines including logos, tagline, and various branding artifacts.
Strategy & Planning Manager/Portfolio Manager
Served as a software Portfolio Manager in both the Digital Experience team, part of the Cisco Transformation Center, and the Workforce Experience organization in Information Technology. Primary areas of focus included strategic roadmap planning, development and management, strategy visualization, and implementing Objectives and Key Results in Jira Align. Significant contribution to advancing the organization’s business agility maturity in terms of product definition, MVPs, and Agile ways of working.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Architected and executed a strategic Objectives model to enhance clarity and alignment across product capabilities and roadmaps, fostering an environment that encourages Agile and flexible project management methodologies
- Coordinated and led leadership workshops to define and articulate comprehensive portfolio-wide strategies, ensuring a cohesive understanding and approach to roadmap development
- Pioneered the standardization of work intake and prioritization processes within the Workforce Experience sector, significantly improving project selection and prioritization methodologies
Portfolio Reporting & Operations Manager
As part of the CX Engineering & Product Incubation organization, I was responsible for defining, implementing, and governing a Portfolio approach to product development. This includes process definition, evangelizing for buy-in, and reporting/monitoring adoption and compliance. Managed 2 employee resources and 1 consultant resource.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Spearheaded the Rally software implementation, establishing a robust system for engineer assignment and activity tracking that streamlined project management processes.
- Facilitated the integration of AHA! with Rally, creating a seamless bridge between roadmap planning and engineering execution to enhance project tracking and reporting.
- Developed a CXEPI Scorecard to inform executive-level investment decisions, utilizing a multidimensional approach to evaluate and guide strategic initiatives.
- Managed and mentored 2 employee resources and 1 consultant resource.
In addition to my primary role, I also served as the Inclusion & Collaboration lead for our organization. With this I was responsible for communicating, evangelizing, and driving diversity program adoption to help continue driving equality in the Cisco workforce.
Operations Manager
Served as a Business Operations Manager in central Operations supporting the Customer Experience Engineering & Product Incubation organization. Responsible for data surfacing and visualization via dashboards.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Designed and implemented multiple integrated Smartsheet dashboards for comprehensive oversight of Workforce Management and Operations Reviews, becoming a recognized subject matter expert in Smartsheet within the organization.
- Utilized expertise in Smartsheet to drive information sharing and operational insights, enhancing data-driven decision-making across leadership reviews and strategic planning sessions.
- Earned both Product and Solution Smartsheet Certifications.
Senior Project Manager
Worked as a Senior Project Manager in the Digital Presence software engineering team. Held Project Management responsibilities in the Technical Support Case Management applications space.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Managed the end-to-end project lifecycle for multiple releases of the Support Case Management application, contributing to significant advancements in Cisco’s Software Support program and earning recognition for project delivery excellence.
- Led the Service Delivery track for a cross-functional initiative aimed at enhancing Cisco’s Collaboration offers, coordinating efforts across business and IT teams to achieve innovative support solutions.
- Recognized with a “Pinnacle Award” for innovation.
Business Operations Manager, Cisco Services Entitlement
Utilized my flexibility and broad skillset to work in three different areas of Services Entitlement with significantly differing scope.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Directed the deployment of global software entitlement controls, leading a team of employees and consultants to strengthen software download compliance and security measures.
- As Americas Theater Manager, served as the key liaison between Cisco and Partners for services entitlement, enhancing partner relations and ensuring a thorough understanding of entitlement controls and management tools.
- Hired, developed, and trained a team of employees and consultants to deploy globally increased entitlement criteria for downloading software from Cisco.com.
- Traveled to Cisco Partner sites in more than 10 countries for high-touch training engagements.
- Served as the Cisco-to-Partner Services Entitlement liaison for the Americas Theater (US, Canada, Latin & South America) representing 2/3 of Cisco’s services business.
Business Consultant via Q Analysts
Served as a business consultant for the Cisco Services “Renewals Transformation” program. The intent of the program was to re-imagine how service sales teams process service contract renewals in a more efficient and accurate way. My role was to generate sample renewal reports feeding into Salesforce.com via automation. This was a proof of concept program.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Served as a business consultant for the Cisco Services “Renewals Transformation” program. Spearheaded the development of a comprehensive solution to revolutionize the service contract renewals process, enhancing efficiency and accuracy by leveraging automation and data integrity for Salesforce.com integration.
- Crafted and executed detailed reports on upcoming renewals, incorporating accurate install-based data to facilitate a more streamlined and accurate renewal process for service sales teams.
- Presented an innovative end-to-end renewals process improvement proposal, showcasing the integration of automated report generation and Salesforce.com import processes, to senior executive stakeholders, effectively communicating the potential for significantly enhanced sales cycle management.
University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill
I was hired at the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill to head the ITS Web Services organization responsible for deploying a universal web content management platform and service offering across multiple schools and university departments.
IT Services Manager, ITS Web Services
Managed a team of design and content management specialists in the implementation of CarolinaContent, the Enterprise Content Management (ECM) platform for the University. Developed an ECM and Web Content Management (WCM) strategy for academic and administrative campus units. Partnered with the Enterprise Portal management and ITS Executive Management to develop a Unified Web Experience Strategy for ITS-developed websites and applications.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Led a specialized team of design and content management professionals in the rollout of CarolinaContent, the University’s enterprise content management (ECM) and web content management (WCM) platform, establishing a cohesive strategy that spanned both academic and administrative units.
- Collaborated closely with Enterprise Portal management and ITS Executive Management teams to forge a unified web experience strategy, aiming to streamline and enhance ITS-developed websites and applications across the University.
- Directed the redesign and launch of the primary University web presence utilizing CarolinaContent, facilitating a more intuitive and engaging user experience for a wide range of University stakeholders.
- Acted as a driving force behind adopting the new visual identity system across the University, conducting outreach and fostering buy-in among executive management, academic leaders, and individual content contributors.
- Standardized project management methodologies within the team, integrating innovative tools such as Liquid Planner to enhance project tracking, coordination, and delivery.
Calvert Holdings
Headquartered in Cary, North Carolina, Calvert Holdings had business units in multiple industries surrounding their pre-clinical pharmaceutical testing business and pharmaceutical investment endeavors. I joined Calvert to head their technology services across multiple verticals.
Director of Technology / Business Director
Oversaw all technology and web-based programs for the $15M organization. Identified and researched new business ventures. Participated in pharmaceutical investment opportunity evaluations. Developed 4 websites to support business programs and investment corporate branding.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Established media group focusing on enabling next-generation branding, identity and marketing capabilities utilizing animation, multi-media and interactive new technologies
- Improved voice capacity 33% and facilitated expansion by implementing new, lower cost, IP-telephony solution
- Saved $20,000 per month by identifying 3 under-performing locations and recommending closings
Cisco
Began my career in 1998 after graduating with a Computer Science degree working for Cisco’s Information Technology organization.
Information Technology Manager
Directed IT support for Worldwide Sales Finance and Cisco Advanced Services. Supervised staff of 8 plus outsourced vendor personnel in California, North Carolina, and India. Administered $5M budget.
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Managed the IT team behind a web-based guided selling system initiative aimed at reducing $1 million critical accounts incidents
- Reduced costs by shifting responsibilities to offsite and offshore Java and Selectica contracted resources
- Managed multiple vendor statements of work and contracts for outsourced development work
- Led team to multiple Achievement Program awards and promotions for outstanding performance
Information Technology Project Manager
Led project implementations of sales force automation and incentive compensation systems, analytical reporting dashboards, and various marketing-related, web-based applications. Supervised teams of 5 to 11 employees and vendor resources. Administered project budgets, set schedules, and directed initiatives along all phases of the software development lifecycle (SDLC).
Responsibilities & Accomplishments
- Saved $4M by identifying issues with ongoing program and recommending termination
- Consistently rated as Top Performer (Top 15% in company) with client satisfaction score of 4.92/5.00
- Managed the team of employees, contractors and Siebel professional services consultants that produced an executive analytics dashboard that was first Siebel Analytics implementation at Cisco
Information Technology Engineer
Served as an IT Engineer in the Internet Commerce organization at Cisco during the early stages of conducting commerce online. Held responsibilities for building and maintaining commerce tools enabling account management and commerce transactions between Cisco and its customers and partners.
- Designed and built a custom Bug & Enhancement Tracking web-based application in Perl with an Oracle database back end
- Performed bug remediation and new enhancement development for commerce tools around account summary, invoicing, and the online product configuration tool
- Designed and developed a messaging platform geared toward proactive notifications and messaging via our commerce applications including an administration interface for managing banner messages
California State University at Chico
Bachelor of Science in Computer Science, Mathematics Minor
Graduated Magna Cum Laude
Shasta College
Associate in Arts General Education
Professional Development
- Project Management Professional (PMP) Certified
- SAFe Lean Portfolio Management Certified
- SAFe Product Owner/Product Manager Certified
- SAFe Practitioner Certified
- Smartsheet Product and Solution Certified
- Adaptive Strategic Execution Program Certificate from Duke University Corporate Education
- “Leadership Agility” certificate from Cornell University
- Enterprise Content Management Specialist Certified
- Fundamentals of Finance for the Technical Executive
- Managing for Results
- Data Storytelling
- IT Budget Management
- Covey’s 7 Habits of Highly Effective People
- IT Project Management
- Interviewing Techniques
- Time & Priority Management
Honors & Activities
- Recipient of Cisco Services Pinnacle award
- Recipient of numerous Cisco Achievement Program/Cisco Connected Recognition awards
- Recipient of Cisco IT Quarterly and Global Team Player Awards for Networking Professionals Connection
- Recipient of Corporate Systems IT Quarterly Award for Cisco Internet Business Roadmap
- Chapter President, Upsilon Pi Epsilon National Honor Society for the Computing Sciences
Wake Monarch Academy
Board Member. Co-chair of the 2025 Recovery Golf Classic fundraiser. www.wakemonarchacademy.org
100 Men Who Give a Damn
Chief of Staff to the Executive Director. www.menwhogiveadamn.com