Karen Lao

Experience

• 

  Center for Asian American Studies

  Sept 2008 - May 2009

  Student Worker

  • Organized and updated library system• Designed posters for upcoming events• Assisted at speaker events and lecture series

• 

  Center for American Studies

  Sept 2009 - Dec 2009

  Student Worker

  • Updated website• Assisted professors with event promotions

• 

  Prestige Economics, LLC

  Jan 2010 - Jul 2010

  IT Project Manager

  • Researched and presented costs and functions of executive search software • Researched and presented costs of business servers • Assisted supervisor with technical difficulties• Created and edited company websites

• 

  McElroy Translation

  May 2010 - Aug 2010

  Web Design Intern

  • Developed and implemented design concepts for company website• Implemented designs from supervisors’ ideas• Edited and distributed monthly online newsletter• Created reports using SQL databases

• 

  Tocquigny

  Sept 2010 - Feb 2011

  Interactive Intern

  - Performed quality assurance for client websites- Researched company information and their best practices for various assignments- Coded and debugged client website pages

• 

  Epsilon

  Jul 2011 - May 2018

  - Designed and built new web service calls for PNC Bank’s customer service platform, which is utilized for customer information and award redemptions.- Worked closely with business systems analysts to create client solutions such as loyalty program updates, cardholder database conversions, enhanced functionality of web service calls, customer service platform, interactive voice response system, and transaction batch processes.- Worked closely with database administrators to create and modify tables for allowing a new loyalty currency on the platform.- Communicated with third-party vendors to address any system concerns to ensure that our team meets SLA.- Led the offshore team in development efforts, including delegation, training, and providing guidance on coding solutions.- Troubleshoot system errors and provide prompt updates and resolutions to the client.- Set up disaster recovery and SIT environments, including coordinating with security, systems, and database development teams.- Lead weekly PCI remediation efforts for client solution. Show less - Worked with business systems analysts to refine client requirements and project scope.- Created a new cardholder website and enhanced platform functionality for a new program that now has over 27,000 enrolled cardholders.- Provided thought leadership and technical support to business systems analysts on system procedures and analyses.- Worked closely with the security team to ensure certificates were renewed and installed.- Worked closely with systems administrators to set up proper whitelisting of client and third-party vendors IP addresses.- Supported testing of client systems.- Supported production maintenance. Show less - Operated and support the Epsilon hosted real-time decision engine.- Coordinated with development and client staff to ensure the right solution is delivered on time and within budget.- Communicated business requirements and functionality with client.- Documented and analyze business requirements and functionality.- Developed, documented, and executed test plans.- Provided client support during user acceptance testing.- Documented internal processes for team knowledge sharing.- Performed database queries using SQL to research data issues.-Managed creation, testing, and deployment of monthly client email statement. Show less

  • Senior .NET Developer

    Jan 2017 - May 2018

  • .NET Developer

    May 2014 - Jan 2017

  • Business Systems Analyst

    Jul 2011 - May 2014
• 

  Alkami Technology

  May 2018 - now

  - Identified gaps in internal processes and gather support from teams to modify workflows, increasing efficiency of FI implementations.- Worked closely with product, development, and project management teams to develop interdepartmental relationships and improve internal processes that lead to quick resolutions for client tickets. - Developed prototype of the front-end configuration portal for the Technical Implementations department.- Enhanced the department’s internal SQL migration tool.- Designed user interfaces for the department’s internal configuration tool.- Improved efficiency of functional team tasks by creating new configuration templates and keeping existing templates up-to-date.- Acted as the technical liaison for project managers and third-party vendors/clients.- Updated process documentation and technical guides across multiple departments to foster knowledge sharing as well as relevant and timely information.- Delegated new project initiatives to members of the team while providing support during the architectural phase.- Planned weekly sprints, refined backlog, held daily standups, and led sprint retros. Show less - Helped functional team with questions, research, and best practices while completing all assigned tickets and improving internal processes.- Modified internal scaffolder to scrape database areas specific to functional team. - Created a robust process for Alkami’s data migrations, including templates, script orders, and a process guide.- Migrated 35 clients to an upgraded Business Banking platform.- Converted a financial institution’s core while improving upon existing conversion templates and handling all existing workload. Show less

  • Senior Manager, Technical Consulting

    Oct 2023 - now

  • Manager, PSO Technical Consulting

    Nov 2021 - Oct 2023

  • Lead Technical Implementation Engineer

    Aug 2019 - Nov 2021

  • Technical Implementation Engineer

    May 2018 - Aug 2019