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Summary

Effective project manager and communicator with proven knowledge in horticulture, landscaping,  and sales. Connecting with stakeholders to envision functional, purposeful, and beautiful spaces is what sets the foundation for a  successful project. Having a plan, answering questions well, using positive reinforcement and respectful instruction provides an environment for a team to get amazing projects done. Everyday, my aim is to have integrity, produce quality, and carry on with the intentional vision of the company.

Professional Experience

Landscape Designer / Project Manager

Dec 2005Dec 2009
Lanoha Nurseries
  • Provided design by understanding commercial and residential client needs and led crews to implement construction.
  • Took leads from initial meeting to plan, to implementation and payment collection. 
  • Hand-drafted designs for hardscape and softscape projects including ponds, dry river beds, modular and natural retaining walls, modular and natural patios, erosion solutions, visual screening, and curb appeal.
  • Assisted lead designers to run crews on large projects in affluent Omaha neighborhoods like Linden Estates, the Sanctuary, Legacy, and Big Sandy.
  • Ran crews on large and small commercial projects including Village Pointe Shopping Center, Shadow Lake Town Center, MOBA headquarters, Southpointe Shopping Center Lincoln, and many smaller fast food, strip malls, and office buildings.
  • Gained additional sales experience in garden center
  • Assisted in tree nursery and potting perennials, annuals, and shrubs
  • In off-season, managed tool and material purchasing for 25+ landscape crews and reduced costs by ~$19,000 annually. 

Enterprise Product Owner II - Enterprise Configuration

July 2019January 2020
Blue Cross Blue Shield of Nebraska
  • As a product owner I work to drive palatable, ordered work to our configuration development team while communicating stakeholder concerns through the scrum master and at daily standup.
  • A key aspect of my work is grasping a vision for the product and working diligently to achieve outcomes that are quick to market and satisfy stakeholders requests.
  • Hired during the midst of an enterprise system migration, working with a new group at the core of the business we are developing new standards for the way the entire company processes claims, pays providers and enrolls members. 

Project Engineer - Environmental Management Group

Nov 2016Feb 2019
Union Pacific Railroad
  • My role was to vision and manage a strategy to utilize our department's software by making system enhancements, creating training, and correcting bad data while setting up new processes to maintain good practices
  • After 6 months of training I was considered the subject matter expert and system administrator for entire software platform which managed environmental compliance for one of the largest railroads in the world.
  • Responsible for technology budget including annual projections and bi-monthly spending.
  • I also spoke on operations staff calls, presented at annual meetings, made one on one video conference calls and made site visits for greater understanding.
  • I made all updates to internal and external websites for Environmental Management Group.

Operations Coordinator - LOUP Logistics (Streamline)

Jan 2014Nov 2016
Union Pacific Railroad
  • Managed heavy workload in an ultra fast paced environment by streamlining personal processes and focusing on proactively delivering key information to customers
  • Enhanced client experience by using a variety of online-based tracking tools. Focused on building teamwork and continuous improvement within Operations
  • Worked with other representatives to train each other
  • Assisted in forming a strategy around getting shipments through Canadian customs with minimal delay

City Planner I/Marketing and Engagement Coordinator

Sept 2011Dec 2013
City of Omaha Planning Department (reEnergize Program)
  • Responsible for marketing and engagement budget and projections. Reported statuses to federal grant managers on a quarterly basis. Also reported statuses to Omaha Mayor on a quarterly basis.
  • Led a team of 1 full-time employee and 5 interns to implement a grassroots marketing campaign and increased participation from 1 to 1,300 within a two-year timeframe for the $10 million USDOE grant-funded reEnergize Program.
  • The goal of the reEnergize program was to build an energy efficiency market in Omaha. By doing so it created dozens of jobs and provided a launching pad of energy efficiency awareness amongst home and business owners in Omaha. 
  • Devised and administered process efficiencies to attract participants by streamlining and automating steps and enhancing communication. Working within the team my suggestion of reducing the 11 step process to 5 steps was adopted. This helped the homeowners understand the process and agree to become participants.
  • Monitored, documented, measured, and reported results of marketing and engagement efforts to the Omaha Mayor. Marketing efforts included walking door to door, presenting to groups ranging from 5 to 500, developing mailers, developing a online ads, developing radio ads and empowering contractors to sign up participants.

Assistant Planner

July 2010August 2011
City of Omaha Planning Department; Omaha, NE
  • Analyzed, interpreted, and edited data for city's hazardous lead remediation program setting the basis for a GIS website showing historically lead remediated sites. Data included homes from one of the largest USEPA superfund sites in US history. Website is live today at omahalead.org.
  • Led study on street performer regulation and presented to City Council Member, Planning Director, Fire Battalion Chief, and other concerned city members. 

Assistant to the Master Planner

May 2009June 2010
Nebraska Army National Guard
  • Devised historical documentation system using U.S. Department of Defense guidelines for 200+ real property records.
  • Passed US Department of Government Accountability Office audit.

Competencies

Project Management - Landscape Construction, Software Enhancement, Home Energy Upgrades

Customer Service and Consensus Building - Stakeholder collaboration and planning

Certified Scrum Product Owner -  Empowered, visionary, decision-making

Business Process Improvement -Simplified complicated process for grant recipients while preserving key steps for comprehensive energy upgrade packages

Microsoft Excel, Word, and Visio

Adobe Acrobat and Adobe Illustrator

Volunteering

Kids Ministry Teacher Coach, Citylight Church

Soccer Coach, Elkhorn United

Children's Leader, Bible Study Fellowship International

Education

Masters of Comm. and Reg. Planning  University Nebraska Lincoln 2018

Pro Project - Online Environmental Review Tool for the City of Omaha

Student of the Year, APA Nebraska Chapter 2011

President, Student Association for Planners

B.S. Horticulture Landscape Design University Nebraska Lincoln 2004

Member, Student Association for Landscape Designers

Member, Horticulture Student Group

References

Michael Heinauer

Immigration Services Officer 2

Homeland Security U.S. Citizenship and Immigration Services

(C): 402.913.5454

Email: michael.d.heinauer@uscis.dhs.gov

Relationship: Friend

Jennifer Clark

Manager

Union Pacific Railroad (Environmental Management)

(C) 817-304-9771

Email: bradfield23@hotmail.com

Relationship: Former colleague

Kristi Wamstad

Technical Director

LEED for Cities, U.S. Green Buildings

(C): 402-617-6929

Email: kristiwamstad23@gmail.com

Relationship: Former supervisor