Julie Dudley            

Professional Resume

Overview

My 20+ year career includes business and financial management, program management, customer research, and technology management. This diverse but cohesive professional background gives me a great perspective on accounting, marketing, and technology as critical components of the big picture.

I have consulted for Fortune 500 companies across the country; worked for companies of all sizes, from Microsoft to a start-up instrumentation company; and have founded two small organizations of my own, one for-profit and one non-profit (The Grey Muzzle Organization). I’ve found that my passion is helping smaller organizations get started or get to the next level.

I've continued learning for my entire career and in addition to my degrees in Computer Science and Industrial Engineering/Human Factors, I've added certificates in Project Management and Non-Profit Management. It's been exciting for me to find that each of these learning investments can be applied to all of my work, for instance, helping me manage projects and use technology effectively.

Summary

Accounting and Finances

• Eight years of small organization and practice area management with P&L responsibility
• Financial planning, reporting, and bookkeeping for my own small businesses since 1999:
  • Quickbooks, Quickbooks Online, recent Quickbooks desktop to online conversion
  • Accounting system setup
  • Data entry and bookkeeping
  • Budget preparation and review
  • Financial statement preparation
  • Payroll
  • Working with CPA to prepare taxes
• As part of my Computer Science degree, I completed a 300-level course in Accounting Principles, as well as numerous math courses.
• Certified Quickbooks User (Intuit, November 2010)

Technology

• Recommend and configure cost-saving technology solutions for small organizations using online services (5 years experience).
• Professional, collaborative process for website design developed from my years as a user-centered design/usability specialist.
• Basic website development. I developed and maintain www.greymuzzle.org and www.livingawareinc.com. For very sophisticated website design requirements, I typically work with a  graphic designer.
• Three years experience using PayPal and e-commerce solutions for online stores, donations, and cash management.
• Use of SharePoint for remote team collaboration (5 years).
• I have a Bachelor’s degree in Computer Science and worked in technical positions in IT and software engineering for over 10 years.

Marketing and Customer REsearch

• Five years of marketing experience on a small budget: grassroots marketing and fundraising for non-profits, as well as small business marketing.
• Implementation of successful e-mail marketing and newsletters (5 years).
• My Master’s degree in Human Factors and 11 years experience in customer research have given me a strong focus on understanding customers, and making technology work for people and organizations, not vice versa.
• I bring a toolbox of techniques that are often variations on classic market and user research techniques, such as focus groups, card sorting, usability studies, surveys, and customer interviews. I have found that fast and inexpensive combinations of these techniques can help small organizations focus on customers, and complement market research programs at large organizations.

Non-Profit Startup

• Started a non-profit from “ground zero” in early 2008: state registration requirements, IRS requirements and 501(c)(3) application, board recruiting, development of consistently-branded marketing materials (e.g., brochures, website), and strategic planning.
• Worked with several non-profit organizations during my 10+ years of consulting; volunteer and board experience with additional organizations.
• Experience working through the development of mission, vision, and goals as a team.
• Ability to communicate at all levels with meeting facilitation, presentations, and seminars.
• I have at least a basic, and often an in-depth, experience-based understanding of most organization functions for small non-profits, such as operations management, program design and evaluation, volunteer management, financials, fundraising, marketing, and governance.
• I completed a Certificate in Non-Profit Management in 2007.

History

OWNER, Silver Pearl Inc.

October 2009 - present
Wake Forest, NC

• Provide online marketing assistance for small business, including website upgrades and Facebook assistance. "Big picture" approach emphasizes online services such as e-commerce shopping services, PayPal, and mailing list/e-newsletter services.
• Assist small non-profit organizations in completing their 1023 form, the application for 501(c)(3) status.
• Create Kindle and other e-books for clients.
• Set up bookkeeping systems for small non-profits.
• In 2011, added two local services for senior citizens:
  • Daily Money Management, personal bookkeeping for seniors
  • Companion Pet Assistance, which helps older adults keep their pets or adopt a new pet companion

President, The Grey Muzzle Organization

February 2008 - present (volunteer)
Raleigh, NC

• Founded this non-profit organization that makes grants to shelters and rescues for programs that help homeless senior dogs.
• Completed IRS 1023 application for 501(c)(3) status with minimal attorney review. Received IRS approval in three months.
• Recruited Board of Directors and Advisory Board.
• Conducted interviews for a needs assessment study and summarized results in a report, Old Dogs and Animal Shelters. Study has proved valuable in understanding constituent needs and designing programs
• Conducted survey research for feasibility study, analyzed data and wrote report. Results helped the team understand what was important to donors and who was likely to donate.
• Implemented a SharePoint team collaboration website for Board members which has simplified communication and decision-making by eliminating confusing email threads. All important documents are now stored on this site instead of individual computers.
• Ensure Board of Directors collaboration in strategic planning including development of mission, vision, goals, and strategies.
• Setup and manage accounting system in Quickbooks. Prepare and review budgets. Working with Treasurer and CPA, ensure financial integrity.
• Develop grant process and applications.
• Develop marketing materials and website, www.greymuzzle.org. Evolved these materials through several phases of development as the organization became more sophisticated.
• Working with  National Marketing volunteer, develop and implement fundraising plans.
• Editor and technology manager for monthly e-newsletter with over 1,300 subscribers. Familiar with anti-spam laws. Examples: www.greymuzzle.org/news.htm.
• Consistent marketing and fundraising execution, as well as appropriate donor contact through e-newsletter and limited mailings, has grown the number of financial supporters from 80 to 400 to over 1,000 at the end of 2008, 2009, 2010 respectively. Public donations in December doubled from 2008 to 2009. 2010 holiday donations increased by 44%.
• Manage writers, graphic designers, and other volunteers. Grew national volunteer base from 12 at the end of 2008, to over 60 at the end of 2010.

Program Manager and User Research Lead, Microsoft

June 2003- May 2008
Redmond, Washington

• Created a new support tool for Windows Vista, the Enterprise Learning Framework, which allows large companies to quickly put together an employee training plan for Windows. Over 18 months, managed the requirements, design, and development of this product. Assembled a cross-division team to create the concept and design, and managed prototype and product development.
• Managed the survey panel for a new generation of the Windows Feedback Panel, a program for customers to provide input on Windows, increasing the panel's scope and visibility.
• Conducted an 18-month body of customer research on employee learning that changed some commonly-held perceptions of how employees at large companies learn. Several research techniques, including individual interviews, a survey, and card sorting, revealed patterns that provided guidance on individual differences in learning and the best delivery mechanisms for training at large companies.
• Designed and conducted joint research projects with some of Microsoft's largest customers. Concise research reports via e-mail and web site influenced the direction of key features, and were used across Microsoft including at the executive level.
• Developed a 1.5 day program for the 2005 MVP (Most Valuable Professional) conference that placed less emphasis on formal presentations and more emphasis on one-on-one and small group interaction between Microsoft employees and MVPs. 10 of the 11 breakout sessions received 100% "top box" satisfaction ratings from 80+ MVPs.
• Created a research report format that was selected for the Microsoft corporate Engineering Excellence Handbook.
• Served for one year on the Windows Division Diversity Council.

President, Optavia Corporation   

October 1999 – December 2002
Madison, Wisconsin

• Created and implemented the start-up business plan for this consultancy. Defined professional service offerings that helped clients design usable technology.
• Provided client engagement management, winning multi-year relationships with Fortune 100 companies such as Kraft Foods and GE Medical Systems. Other key clients: VISA, State Bar of Wisconsin, Wisconsin Department of Tourism, World Resources Institute.
• Developed and managed budgets up to $1.2M per year within 5-10%.
• Built initial accounting structure, maintained the books, ran payroll, produced financial reports, and worked with CPA to ensure on-going quality of financial activities.
• Operations management including effective use of vendors for human resources, legal, accounting, and technical functions.
• Directed efforts of three sales people and developed sales forecasting model. Guided creation of national marketing plan, working with sales manager and marketing. Led proposal development and ensured proposal quality.
• Delivered highly-rated presentations at national conferences nationwide, generating 50% of new business.
• Created a team staffing model that included multiple disciplines on most projects (technical, usability, graphic design, project management, communication).
• Built and managed a professional development program for usability professionals that was also adopted by a major client. Highly respected for professional mentoring.
• Grew staff to 13 in first year and later managed economic restructuring while sustaining solid personnel and business relationships.
• Built a national network of consultants, including former employees, developing long-term relationships with specialist contractors across the country.
• For a large non-profit client, developed an actionable three-year web strategic plan addressing organizational priorities and constraints. Facilitated brainstorming sessions with influential members. Managed client staff during the first phase (6 months) of the next-generation web site project. Mentored staff on techniques to develop deeper relationships with their constituents.
• Provided creative meeting facilitation for client problem-solving, involving executives, stakeholders from multiple departments and levels, and customers.
• Managed orderly closing of the company while maintaining good business relationships.

Usability Services Manager, Compuware Corporation

October 1994 – October 1999   
Madison, Wisconsin

• Founded and managed the usability services practice that became a national Center of Excellence for this $2B consulting company. Wrote the corporate-level business plan.
• P&L responsibility for the practice. Grew revenue 219%, 318%, and 206% respectively in 2nd, 3rd and 4th years. 4th year revenue was $1M.
• Wrote key proposals and managed proposal process. Developed an innovative mini‑proposal concept that was widely appreciated by clients.
• Defined job levels and descriptions for usability professionals. Hired staff and managed on‑going professional development for a 13-person staff. Zero staff attrition in three years.
• Provided mentoring for new and experienced consultants, and developed and delivered an in-house training program for the practice area. Several branches invested in the program.
• Produced curriculum and materials for a 3-day course: The Process of User Interface Design. Over several years adapted the course for software and web design. Course and process were purchased by two large IT organizations. Delivered the course personally over a dozen times and trained other instructors.
• Successfully developed and implemented customized processes based on best practices. Developed technology standards for a utility/energy client that increased productivity 3-10 times and were still being used six years later as the model for success.
• Managed design, implementation, and deployment of a tri-state expense system for thousands of employees of a multi-state energy client. Facilitated user-centered design methods, including cross-department employee participation in workflow analysis, resulting in reduced project risk and uncommonly low level of help desk calls.

More...

1993 – 1994, Staff Consultant, Keane, Wisconsin

1990 – 1991, Project Leader and Senior Software Engineer, Pitney Bowes, Connecticut

1988 – 1990, Senior Software Engineer, PPG Biomedical Systems, New York

1985 – 1988, Database Manager, Mattson Instruments, Wisconsin

Education

2007: Certificate in Non-Profit Management, University of Illinois-Chicago

1998: Certificate in Project Management, University of Wisconsin-Madison, Executive Education

1993: M.S. Industrial Engineering/Human Factors, University of Massachusetts-Amherst

1985: B.S. Computer Science, University of Wisconsin-Madison

Volunteer

OldDog Haven

March 2006 - May 2008
Arlington, Washington

• Foster home for over a dozen senior dogs. Provided hospice for two of these dogs, who were too old or ill to be placed in adoptive homes

• Volunteer of the month three times.

• Organized fundraising and wrote fundraising plan for 2006. Created, edited, and published a very successful new electronic newsletter for OldDog Haven. Increased Microsoft employee donations from three digits in 2005 to five digits in 2006 and doubled again in 2007
• Developed technology solutions, including an online donor management database that can be used by volunteers at multiple locations.

I frequently open my home to foster dogs and volunteer at local shelters.

Board of Directors, UsaBility Professionals' ASsociation

2000 - 2002

• Director of Professional Development

• Led creation of Designing the User Experience poster (2000 sold)

Publications

Learning Windows Vista in the Workplace, Julie Nowicki, Microsoft Corporation Whitepaper (2006)

Beyond Compliance: Bringing the Human Aspect to Accessibility Evaluation. Cory Knobel, Julie Nowicki, and Beverly Arnoldy, Proceedings of the Usability Professionals’ Association 11th Annual Conference (2002)

Seeing through the organization: Overcoming roadblocks to usability services development, Julie R. Nowicki and Shawn Lawton Henry, Proceedings of the Usability Professionals' Association 6th Annual Conference (1997)

Individual Differences in Processing Strategy for a Bargraph Display, Julie R. Nowicki and Bruce G. Coury, Proceedings of the Human Factors Society 37th Annual Meeting (1993)

Selected Presentations

In addition to many presentations in corporate settings, I frequently presented at national conferences when I was a usability consultant. I typically received ratings of 90% and above. Below is a representative sample:

• Usability Professionals’ Association 11th Annual Conference, 2002: presented Certifying Usability Professionals: How Can Competence be Assessed?

• Dallas IABC (International Association of Business Communicators) Fall Workshop, 2001: presented Evolution of a Web Site.

• Chicago Association for Multimedia Communications, 2001: presented Leveraging Usability to Support a Customer-Centered Focus.

• Web2001, San Francisco: presented Usability Testing That Really Makes a Difference. 44 attendees; session rated 4.66 (out of 5.00).

• Web2000, San Francisco: presented Practical Approaches to Usability Testing. 80 attendees; session rated 4.75 (out of 5.00).

• Quality Assurance Institute's International IT Quality Conference, 2000: presented Quality from the users standpoint: How to reduce development risk and increase user acceptance using usability techniques.

• Consortium for Global E-Commerce workshop, UW Madison, 2000: presented Leveraging Usability: A Strategic Perspective and Planning and Managing for Usability workshop.