Robert L.

Howard
Cypress, Texas 77492 PROFESSIONAL PROFILE A highly effective Operations Management Professional who meets challenges head on and creates positive change and a documented performance history of reducing costs; and improving productivity and efficiency. An energetic, creative, problem solver, with a proven record of success setting strategic direction; executing to plan; optimizing operations; and developing and leading teams to achieve outstanding results in fast-paced, rapidly changing environments. BACKGROUND SUMMARY More than fifteen years of infrastructure installation and support experience includes: Cost Analysis Infrastructure Design SLAs Project Management Customer Relations Contract Negotiations Field Installation Management Technology Assessment Ethernet IP/Long Haul Services Quality Assurance Programs Multi-Site Network Operations Vendor Management EMPLOYMENT HISTORY NetworkPro Solutions, Cypress, Texas 2011 - Present Asset Management RFPs / RFQs ERP Systems Network Expansions Strategic Planning Risk Management 713-545-8603 roberthoward14218@gmail.com

Senior Operations Manager

Founded firm and directed daily business activities. Conducted networking functions and developed relationships with potential customers. Created and implemented strategies for carrier, data center, and enterprise clients. Identified product set options ensuring network optimization cost and delivery intervals. Served as Project Manager and provided post-installation support. Installed network equipment. Partnered with customer base to deliver training modules and end user transitions. Launched operations and established more than $100K in business in less than 1 year. Developed and executed project plans including schedules, cost estimates, scope of work, OSP/ISP engineering, and wireless regional network feasibility study. AboveNet Communications, Inc., Houston, Texas 2000 - 2011 Operations Manager (2004 - 2011) Collaborated with sales team on business development. Developed network construction and speed-tomarket processes. Worked closely with Executive Management and cross-functional personnel. Maintained responsibility for 24/7 network integrity and POP sites. Trained and supervised Project Managers, ops team, and field support staff. Managed vendor relationships. Directed implementation of project reporting and quality performance tools. Handled purchasing and AP invoicing. Identified savings of $1.4M in sourcing fiber splicing and equipment installations during 20092010. Planned and directed growth of fiber network developing network paths for fiber construction projects and expanding network path by 60%. Managed team responsible for 190+ product orders annually and guided team to early or on schedule customer project delivery rate of 97%. Coordinated and managed fiber network and infrastructure installation during expansion into Austin marketplace completing project on schedule and under $3.5M budget.

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Project Manager (2001 - 2004)

Promoted and transferred to Houston from Minneapolis. Supported carrier services and enterprise customer deliveries. Developed local vendor resources and assisted negotiations. Created local project reporting tools. Prepared and distributed weekly project updates to Executive Management. Performed quality inspections. Provided market audit support of vendor invoices and asset management reporting. Served as state and federal agency liaison. Developed project RFPs and asset management tools used to document $18M in purchase orders. Planned and directed 60+ miles of network expansions getting network closer to customers. Participated in Executive Team brainstorming sessions and served as key player in transition from dark fiber product set to include IP services.

Project Engineer (2000 - 2001)

Selected as sole market employee for Minneapolis/St. Paul operations. Organized network deployments and selection of POP sites. Interfaced with Project Management and OSP engineering teams. Prepared purchasing documents coordinated vendor relations. Supported reporting tool development. Produced monthly and quarterly asset management reports. Negotiated and achieved $1M in vendor cost savings prior to market retraction. Communicated weekly project progress to Executive Leadership on $39M budget status indicating network milestones and next step recommendations. Supported purchasing team requisition procedures and development of tools used to accurately document $2M in purchase orders. KLF Communications, Inc., Elkhart, Indiana 1998 - 2000

Telecommunications and Data Technician

Executed various telecom projects for Fortune 500 companies in the South Bend / Elkhart Indiana areas. AT&T Services, Bloomington, Illinois, and Russellville, Arkansas 1994 - 1998 Area Supervisor Managed maintenance and installation crews. Completed a series of projects in Illinois for GTE and closed the Illinois operations. Transferred to Arkansas, to take over a similar project that was seriously behind schedule. Brought the project back into conformity with budget and schedule. Completed the project, and managed the closeout of two satellite offices and the headquarters operation. TRAINING Microsoft Project 2003 Enterprise Project Management Cisco 2800 Series Routers Nortel OM 5100-5200 Operation and Maintenance Cisco 3500 Series Switches Ciena Corestream Ciena 6500 Ciena 4200 Juniper MX 960 Juniper MX 80 JDSU 8000 OTDR TECHNOLOGY Software: Microsoft Office, MapPoint, Visio, Oracle, Nortel Site Manager Networks: Private Dark Fiber, Ethernet 1-10G, Managed Ethernet 1-10G, IP Hardware: JDSU Optical Test Equipment, Fiber Splicing Machines, AC & DC Power Systems, HVAC, Telecommunication Racks, Fiberguide, Fiber Termination Equipment