Tara R. Ross

Objective:

Experience:

• Manage Content Team - Internet; Manage Intranet Application Development Team
• Ensure and provide final approval for compliance by the Development Staff within the SDLC (Software Development Life Cycle)
• Oversaw the Creation of a separate Content Development Life Cycle to promote speed to market of information and content
• Oversaw the documentation and process flows of daily and weekly technical functions for the Content Management Tool
• Created Escalation and Communication Plan with Operations and Corporate Communications for degradations and outages for applications and server problems
• Oversee Production environments (both Intranet and Internet have 4-tier environments)
• Oversee weekly loads to Pre-Production and Production of Applications
• Manage server environments to ensure consistency
• Manage tracking and analysis of web usage and transaction tracking
• Assist Application and Enterprise Architect with creation of web standards
• Ensure developers code within corporate application and web standards
• Assist business units in fleshing out business requirements
• Oversee the distribution and usage of 46 domain names
• Oversee the distribution and usage of SSL certs
• Present new third party software to governance board for review and/or approval
• Designed contractor gateway to limit contractor access to Wellmark proprietary Intranet content
• Presented to e-business team (80 employees and contractors) corporate relevant information: Process Improvement (utilizing Six Sigma); Harassment Training, Ethics and Compliance
• Manage technical team – inerview and hire, performance reviews, training and seminar sessions, leaves of absense and other HR related issues
• Oversaw implementation of Interwoven's TeamSite software for content management for both Internet and Intranet sites
• Oversee enhancements and maintenance of SAS driven Executive Information System; meet with Sr. Leadership team to manage enhancement and new functionality requests; manage development team
• Oversaw implementation of TimeWizard web interfaced time and attendance project for employee base and managed upgrade from NT to Win2000
• Overhaul existing Intranet; re-define scope and functionality: including navigation and business requirements

Sr. Marketing Manager, Broadband and Internet Services, BellSouth Telecommunications, Atlanta, GA 2001

• Oversee Churn and Retention Analysis
• Develop Loyalty Program: E-curriculum, Internet Tutorial for Newbies, Internal Education "Cheat Sheet", E-newsletter redesign and deployment in HTML to over 1 million subscribers
• Created and disseminated communications to over 700,000 dial-up and ISDN subscribers about new connection ehancement software as well as created the home page, instructional page, download page, e-newsletter article, and mass e-mail to subs.
• Create communication, draft, code, and get legal approval to send communications to users
• Plan and oversee changes to communications held within the Member Services site. Implement new pages and areas as deemed necessary to enhance users expereience.
• Mointor tracking and reporting of uptake rates and click-thru rates for the items featured in the e-newsletter and other mass commuications.

Sr. Manager, Portal Services, BellSouth.net, Dunwoody, GA 1999 - 2001
*Awarded Top Performer 2000

• Launch and re-designed BellSouth Internet Services Portal Home Page for Consumer and Small Business with partnered companies MyWay.com and Zip2. Both Implementations migrated our user base of 600K – 800K dial subscribers approx 215K DSL subs to the new platform while keeping the integrity of the user’s data and personalization intact. (Deployed 2-4/00 and 12/00)
• Managed vendor relations, development and re-design of BellSouth Internet Services Member Services site
• Managed internal coordination of implementing new News Service into the BellSouth Internet Services basic product for dial and DSL customers.
• Oversaw on-going vendor design and production of ad banners, splash pages, and graphics.
• Managed content team consisting of copywriter, graphic designer, small business and consumer marketing liaisons.

Product Manager/Business Analyst, Integrated Information & Intelligence Management, Inc. (for Intelligent Media Ventures, Inc., a subsidiary company of BellSouth Corporation) Dunwoody, GA 1999
Oversee functional requirements for small business portal. Manage expectations of small business (business unit). Draft and propose changes/enhancements to existing site, as well as future versions. Understand User Needs as provided by Business entities. Translate those user needs into logical content/tools/applications to then propose to MyWay the addition of to the site. If MyWay chooses, or can not provide that functionality and BellSouth deems it necessary BLS then must decide if it is feasible to be developed in-house or if we approach a 3rd party vendor for that functionality. If BLS develops or BLS develops in conjunction with a partner that functionality can reside on the ASI and have possible links from the BLSbiz/MW site.

• Assist Business entities in finding the best-of-best solutions either to propose to MyWay for implementation or to partner with for a BLS branded or co-branded solution.
• Assist Business entities from a SME perspective to ensure that quality of user experience matches or exceeds that of the users.
• Review and disseminate information gathered through tracking mechanisms to business entities. Continual evaluation of content, tools, and applications performance.
• Keep abreast of emerging technologies that impact or can impact the portal space.
• Keep abreast of competitor capabilities that meet user needs, and increase functionality of Portal to meet or exceed that of competitors.
• Maintain integrity of the MyWay BellSouth relationship.
• Serve as primary contact both with BellSouth Business entities as well as the MyWay team.
• Assist in evolution of the Portal strategy and on-going development of the business portal.
• Serve as point of contact for ASI potential tools/apps vendors.
• Supervise the Business Applications/Content Manager who provides assistance with all of the above roles.

Web Content Manager/Business Analyst, Integrated Information & Intelligence Management, Inc. (for BellSouth Corporation) Atlanta, GA, 1999
Identify and recommend content to be placed on the Intranet through Internet searches, client input, manager's input, and incoming product announcements. Work closely with IT web master and the knowledge management team to get content added to the site. Suggest new site content categories and presentation. Support the resolution of web site issues. Manage areas of the site for quality assurance and new functionality. Serve as liaison between all user groups and the IT staff.

Special Projects at BellSouth Corporation, Integrated Information & Intelligence Management, Inc. (for BellSouth Corporation) Atlanta, GA, 1999

E-commerce – Document Manager. Oversaw implementation of the document management system for the E-commerce group. Met with PCDocs and integrator on the transition, pricing, usage etc. for the e-commerce group. Assisted with living documents and with the war-room strategy wall. This ultimately was the first instantiation of BellSouth.com. Consolidated all operating entities technical needs and business requirements for technical needs for elimination of redundant purchasing across corporation.

Ambassador Project – Knowledge Management in Action. Developed Template to be used with the interactive paging service to enable upper level managers to respond to business unit specific inquiries, along with assisting with contact information regarding that information.

Community – Knowledge Manager/Copywriter. Developed templates and design for a system that generates information, consolidates internal and external information, condenses information, then makes that information available to users along with access to related topics/information/resources. Condensed information from original documents. Documented process.

Contract Support Professional, Integrated Information & Intelligence Management Inc. (for BellSouth Corporation) Atlanta, GA, 1998 - 1999
Provide support and management for contract preparation and negotiations. Evaluate impact of vendor contracts on operations of BellSouth and affiliates. Gather information and perform research, prepare documents, manage and supervise completion of transactions and processing of contracts for information products. Identify and recommend content to be placed on Web Site through Intranet searches, client input, managers’ input, and incoming product announcements.

Paralegal, Smith, Welch, Studdard & Brittian, McDonough, GA 1998
Close Client Contact. Prepared Workers’ Compensation, Medical Malpractice, Wrongful Death, School Board, and Township litigation. Prepared Stipulation and Agreements, Mandatory Disclosures, Affidavits, Correspondence, and Subpoenas. Assisted in Discovery. Conducted initial client interviews. Performed Research. Maintained and organized files.

Paralegal, Melinda Holloway, Esq., Jonesboro, GA 1998
Read medical depositions to jurors on an as needed basis.

Paralegal Intern, Clayton County District Attorney’s Office, Jonesboro, GA 1996 – 1997
Conducted legal research. Ran GCIC and NCIC records. Prepared Briefs. Assisted Assistant District Attorney (now Judge) in trial preparation.

Paralegal, Jacqueline Watts, Esq., Riverdale, GA 1996
Set up files for new firm. Conducted initial client interviews. Drafted and prepared documents. Performed legal research. Made recommendations for action. Prepared Briefs. Created forms for specific scenarios. Assisted with Personal Injury, Automobile collisions, and Guardianships.

Education
Bachelor of Applied Science in Administrative Management, (grad pending)
Associate of Applied Science in Paralegal Studies, 1997 Clayton College &State University, Morrow, GA
Training
Project Management
Intellectual Property
Harassment Training
Intro to Managed Care
Behavior Based Interviewing
Process Improvement

Associations
ALTA, USTA
Notary Public commissioned in Clayton County, State of Georgia
Advisory Board Member for Clayton College & State University
Founding President of the Paralegal Student Association 1997 - 1998

Volunteer Work
CASA (Court Appointed Special Advocate)
Hands on Atlanta (Community Out Reach Program)
Multiple Sclorosis Society - Atlanta
Georgia Red Cross