Melissa Slater, Ph.D., NPPQ

Experience

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  Berenyi Incorporated

  Aug 1996 - Aug 2005

  Senior Structural/Architectural Designer, Project Coordinator

  Started as a Structural Draftsman. Worked my way up to Senior Architectural & Structural Designer, and Project Manager. Worked on a wide range of projects, including Commercial, Heavy and Light Industrial, Department of Defense, and upscale Residential. Used a 2D platform for design. Organized other disciplines outside the firm for MEP services for projects.

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  Jacobs Engineering Group Incorporation

  Aug 2005 - Oct 2010

  Project Lead Senior Architectural Designer, Project Coordinator

  Worked for Steven Bowman as a project lead of multi-million dollar Oil and Pharma-Bio industry projects. Organized project team of (8) designers both in 3D and 2D design platforms. Attended project meetings and kept records for Project Architect. Maintained labor/manpower reports for Project Architect and allocated assignments to design staff. Organized and maintained project standards and coordinated with Document Control. Worked with procurement, and executed materials take-offs. Managed shop walk-downs and maintained records. Was a First Responder and a LEAN Associate. Show less

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  Meier Architecture • Engineering

  Oct 2010 - Nov 2017

  Project Manager

  Successfully managed the firm's top Federal Client; providing leadership of a Portfolio that included nine programs and multiple projects under the umbrella of each program. I prepared proposals, master task agreements, subcontractor contract agreements, project management plans, risk assessments, perform quality reviews, scheduling - using Microsoft Projects 2013, client coordination / stakeholder management, change management. Everything from project initiation through project close-out.

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  Westech International, Inc.

  Nov 2017 - Sept 2020

  Design Engineering Project Manager

  Supporting the WRPS Design Engineering department, serving the Design Services team as a Project Manager. Providing management of a Portfolio that includes two programs, as well as management of multiple individual unrelated projects. Supporting dynamic teams of professional Engineers and highly skilled CAD Experts to bring projects to fruition.

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  Columbia Basin College

  Sept 2019 - Jun 2024

  My mission is to facilitate collaboration between our Project Management degree program and the local community. Espousing continuous improvement, program growth, and providing a world class, cutting edge curriculum for our current and future students. Additionally, I will be a leader, support resource, and facilitator for the full time, adjunct faculty, and students in this program. Having the responsibility to manage the day-to-day business side of things for the program along with annual reporting and strategic planning. Show less

  • Project Management Program Director

    Sept 2023 - Jun 2024

  • Associate Professor of Project Management (Tenured)

    Apr 2023 - Jun 2024

  • Assistant Professor of Project Management (Tenure Track)

    Sept 2021 - Apr 2023

  • Assistant Professor of Project Management (Tenure Track) & PM Program Coordinator

    Sept 2020 - Aug 2021

  • Adjunct Professor of Project Management

    Sept 2019 - Aug 2020
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  Westech International, Inc.

  Feb 2021 - Aug 2022

  Project Management Subject Matter Expert

  Supporting the WRPS Project Management Program office for executive change management, enterprise architecture from a business perspective, and project management innovations and training updates.

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  Institute for Neuro & Behavioral Project Management

  Jan 2023 - now

  President of Project Management Research

  Subject Matter Expert of Project Management, Researcher, Author

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  Creative Spark, LLC of Washington State

  Apr 2023 - May 2024

  Chief Executive Officer

  Creative Spark Consulting LLC is a consulting vehicle which is a woman and veteran owned freelance business. We provide subject matter expertise regarding project, program, and portfolio management in conjunction with operations management and enterprise strategy. We are leading industry experts regarding the reduction of project scope creep and production efficiency in projects.

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  St. Joseph Catholic School, Tri-Cities, WA

  May 2024 - now

  Principal

  For more about St. Joseph's School, see the following website: https://www.sjske.org/Ever since I was a teenager, I always wanted to teach and serve others. As a young adult and mother, I participated heavily in all of my children’s school activities. Over the years, I served in many types of teaching, training, and eventually became a tenured college professor and educational administrator in higher education. As far as my organizational mission and outcomes are concerned, I espouse a questioning attitude. I seek to have curious, creative, and technically apt people in my team.I endeavor to ensure that the policies, procedures, roles, and responsibilities are all transparent and confirm clarity and understanding from my team. Above all, I am student-centered, and focused on supporting the faculty and staff to create a culture of caring, and a mission to deliver an excellent education to our students. I strongly encourage a lens of diversity, equity, and inclusion; and am a course design champion for inclusive pedagogy. I lead my team by example, take extreme ownership, and show my team through my words and actions. I ensure that stakeholders that are involved are part of solution creation so that we all take ownership in the outcomes.As the principal of St. Joseph Catholic School, my personal mission is built upon three main tenants: Servitude, Advocacy, and Mentorship. At the heart of my personal mission is the continuation of the school’s mission to cultivate a “faith-filled community where each child is challenged to excel and grow in mind, body, and spirit as an image of God in our world.” Show less