Sandy Grason Kwiat
Strategic Communications Specialist |
Author | Speaker | Coach | Trainer
Current Employment
Time Warner Cable, Watson University,
RS Technologies, Inc
Previous Employment
FG Press,
Unreasonable Group,
Mobile Imagination, Sandy Grason Unlimited
Education
University of Florida
Background Summary
Consultant, Author & Entrepreneur. Expert in managing teams & critical business relationships, I work in IT with a focus on Agile software development. I’m a trainer & coach, accomplished speaker & presenter, published author, passionate about technology, lover of chocolate, movies, skiing & shoes (not necessarily in that order).
My philosophy is:
Take your work seriously, but never yourself. Play 100% full out every day. Have FUN.
Specialities:
Expert in managing teams & critical business relationships
Excellent Communication (written & verbal) and social skills
Business Planning & Strategy
C.S.M. certification
Rally, Flowdock, Jira, Confluence, Omnigraffle, Visio, Basecamp
Train the Trainer Certifications I & II
Detailed Experience:
Business Process – Lead
Time Warner Cable
April 2015 – Present (Broomfield, CO)
Liaison between the IT development group and business units for the development and implementation of new systems and enhancement of existing systems.
• Evaluate new applications and identify systems requirements.
• Evaluate new IT developments and evolving business requirements, and recommend appropriate systems alternatives and/or enhancements to current systems.
• Prepare communications and make presentations on system enhancements and/or alternatives.
• Anticipate internal and/or external business challenges and/or regulatory issues; recommend process, product or service improvements.
• Solve unique and complex problems that have a broad impact on the business.
• Contribute to the development of functional strategy.
• Lead project teams to achieve milestones and objectives.
Mentor
Watson University
July 2015 – Present (Greater Denver Area)
Watson is a new university model for student innovators, leaders and entrepreneurs aged 18-23 that includes short master courses from the world’s foremost leaders, entrepreneurs, and thinkers including a co-recipient of the Nobel Peace Prize, one of Time Magazine’s 100 most influential people and more; intensive mentorship; and training in the entrepreneurial skills of empathy, creativity, resilience, grit, bootstrapping, team building and fundraising. Watson helps students develop and advance solutions to the toughest challenges facing the world.
VP, Principal Consultant
RS Technologies, Inc
April 2010 – Present (Greater Denver Area)
Technology, Media, Production & Creative consulting.
Project Manager, CSM, Executive Producer
CMO, Product Planning and Development
FG Press
April 2014 – December 2014 (Boulder, CO)
Worked directly with CEO, responsible for corporate communications, project management, marketing, community & brand building for individual authors as well as FG Press. Acquired new authors and managed key relationships with authors and prospective marketing partners. Prepared sales & marketing reports for stakeholders and investors. Managed multiple teams throughout the entire creative & technical projects including book selection, editing, design, formatting and marketing processes.
• Led, coached, mentored and inspired the creative & technical teams and vendor partners
• Created & led team that implemented launch strategies & systems for each product, unique to each
author project, yet structured to allow for maximum exposure and scalability
• Served as a dynamic evangelist for FG Press, speaking to audiences large &
small, recruiting new talent, generally setting the world on fire about FG Press disrupting the publishing world
• Created & implemented processes to attract high profile authors and streamline work flow effectively.
• Led team that implemented agile/scrum methodologies, breaking out project tasks into a backlog complete with sprint planning, sprints, and retrospective ceremonies
Editor in Chief
Unreasonable Group
September 2013 – April 2014 (Boulder, Colorado)
Worked directly with CEO on execution of brand vision and voice of entire company, including but not limited to narrative, design, journalism, content curation and communications. In charge of most trusted and valued corporate relationships and strategic partners. Worked collaboratively and creatively with all mentors and investors (representing some of the top entrepreneurs, investors and thought leaders of our time). Supported design and implementation of website development. Led projects to completion through initiating, planning, scheduling, coordinating, and managing for launch. Implemented agile style Sprint Planning, Daily Standups, Releasing, and Retrospectives.
• Coordinated and collaborated directly with the Founder/CEO of Unreasonable.
• Facilitated and communicated the vision, road map, and release plans across multiple teams.
• Established and gained consensus on project ground rules.
• Served as the main point of contact for all Unreasonable Scribes.
• Led team that brainstormed, planned, managed, edited and scheduled all projects for the online portal
• Led team to coordinate design and implementation of website developments and improvements
Director, Product Development
Mobile Imagination
October 2009 – August 2013 (Boulder, CO)
Consulting, Digital Web and Technology Media Company. Doddle, a portal for the Film/TV production company including an international resource directory, news/blogs, and cutting edge SAAS web and mobile tools for crew management. DoddlePRO’s crew management system has been featured in Forbes, Internationally recognized, and used in productions at NBC, ABC, CBS, Channel 5 (UK), Food Network, PBS, and many more.
CEO | Managing Director | Product Planning and Development | Coach
Sandy Grason Unlimited
January 2002 – April 2010 (8 years 4 months) Worldwide
Created an international platform involving, coaching, mentoring, writing, speaking, radio show (LA Talk Radio), and a Web and Digital Media Company. Designed, Project Managed, and led the implementation of an online portal that combined a robust blogging platform, calendar of events, private community dashboard and online store filled with digital & physical products. Managed multiple teams to implement design ideas into html/css/javascript, custom WordPress design on hosted servers that tied into a robust check-out and e-commerce system from a third party vendor (1shoppingcart).
• Managed multiple teams across broad technical, financial and business disciplines through the successful launch cycles of a flourishing online community as well as numerous digital & physical products.
• Focused teams on business objectives and tracked progress to ensure project milestones were completed on time, within or under budget and with the desired results.
• Effectively utilized traditional project management best practices including Scope, Cost, and Time Management Processes.
• Selected, hired, and managed team members, working to carefully plan our deliverables, creating a work breakdown structure and determining critical paths to effectively manage budget and scope to deliver a working platform on time.
• Mitigated risk factors through careful analysis of financial and statistical data. Anticipated and managed change effectively in rapidly evolving global business environments.
Executive Producer, Creative Director & Host
LA Talk Radio
December 2008 – March 2010 (Greater Los Angeles Area, Worldwide)
“The Road to Fabulous” was described as… “A Virtual Cocktail Party hosted by Sandy Grason that introduces you to the world’s most fabulous people, while giving you a roadmap to creating a fabulous life that feeds your soul. Mix fun & fascinating interviews with savvy & successful personalities then add a splash of practical tips that you can apply in your own life – today. Think “Lifestyles of the Rich & Famous” meets “The Charlie Rose Show”. Join Sandy for a celebration of life, shoes, Hot Moguls, building an Empire and finding your Mojo.”
Author of “Journalution”
New World Library
beginning May 2005 (Worldwide)
Published in 2005 by New World Library, Journalution has been endorsed by Deepak Chopra, Louise Hay, John Gray and thousands of individuals whose lives have been transformed through Sandy’s workshops, books, interviews and live performances.
Featured in The Chicago Tribune, The Palm Beach Post, Body + Soul Magazine, Woman’s Day, Ocean Drive Magazine and many more.
Certifications
CSM
Scrum Alliance, License 000376550
December 2014 – December 2016
Publications
Journalution
New World Library
May 10, 2005 – present
Journaling is one of the most powerful tools we have to transform our lives. Let Sandy Grason’s Journalution guide you in creating a joyful and abundant life. ~ Deepak Chopra
This is one of the most interesting books on personal development I’ve ever read. There are no rules or guidelines, just lots of helpful suggestions and encouragement. I look at journaling in a whole new light now. I’m so much more relaxed, free, and honest than I used to be. I’ve found that journaling from the heart to be such an enlightening experience.
I love the fact that Sandy Grason does not lay down “rules” about how to do things. Instead, she gives examples of what has worked for other people. You make all the decisions yourself so it is truly an empowering endeavor.
Projects
Everything but The Kitchen Sink: An Interview with Kimbal Musk
November 2012
Sandy Grason sits down with Kimbal Musk, entrepreneur extraordinaire, to discuss everything from space travel to real food.