Haydee Steck
3550 North Pine Grove, Chicago, IL 60657 773-528-6308 · haydee.steck@gmail.com · www.haydee.com
QUALIFICATIONS SUMMARY
4 years of experience in Information Architecture and User Research. Designed 8 intranet sites, 5 intranet webbased applications, and 3 corporate sites primarily for Fortune 500 clients. Hands-on experience producing the typical Information Architect deliverables e.g. wireframes, user scenarios, flowcharts, and requirements documentation. Conducted usability research through one-on-one user testing, focus groups, heuristic evaluations, and cognitive walkthroughs. Work experience built on a solid education. Bachelor’s degree in Anthropology and a Master’s degree in Information Management & Systems from UC Berkeley. Online portfolio available at www.haydee.com.
EXPERIENCE
Analyst………………………………………......................................................................September 2004 - Present ABN-AMRO, CHICAGO, IL Oversaw the development lifecycle of the Problem Management module in Peregrine to over 1000 users globally. Assumed project management responsibilities: created Request for Proposal (RFPs), coordinated vendor selection, assisted in contract negotiations, managed the acquisition and scheduling of resources, managed project plan. Facilitated business and technical requirements gathering sessions and codified outcome in Requirements documentation. Developed test cases and coordinated unit, system, and regression testing. Project outcome enabled: data sharing between multiple processes; the transformation of a entirely manual process to a fully-automated one; and expanded reporting and analysis capabilities for upper management Acted as the Problem Management team lead by streamlining, coordinating, and communicating Problem Management processes and procedural activities throughout the IT organization. Provided management information through reports that confirmed the effectiveness and quality of the Problem Management processes and procedures. Performed problem and error control based on defined guidelines. Associate Executive Director..................................................................................February 2004 - September 2004 Volunteer............................................................................................................................May 2002 - February 2004 ONWARD NEIGHBORHOOD HOUSE, CHICAGO, IL Oversaw the programming, staff, and fundraising for a $2 million non-profit agency providing day care, academic, emergency, and technology services. Responsible for performance management and improvement of seven directors. Designed and implemented a client tracking database. Responsibilities included: process mapping; defining data requirements; data modeling; researching possible technology; coaching team members; interfacing with all levels and areas of the organization; building support among staff; providing regular updates to management; and training staff. Senior Information Architect / Project Manager..................................................................June 2001 - April 2002
IT WEB SOLUTIONS, WEST LONG BRANCH, NJ
Represented clients in the pharmaceutical industry such as Pfizer, Merck, and Johnson & Johnson. Functioned as an information architect to create effective user experiences on corporate intranets. Accomplished this by analyzing client requirements; complying with intranet style guides; conducting qualitative research in the form of questionnaires, focus groups, and user interviews; drafting wireframes; creating HTML-based prototypes; designing and performing usability testing; and conducting quality assurance testing. Served as project manager with business clients and development teams to evaluate and implement new content or functionality on corporate intranets and web-based applications. Accomplished this by understanding the objectives and strategies of clients; evaluating ROI; establishing and managing a timeline and budget; capturing requirements; ensuring prompt issue resolution; coordinating in-house development resources and outside agency deliverables; coordinating infrastructure issues; and verifying Legal and Regulatory compliance.
Haydee Steck
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Consultant..........................................................................................................................February 2001 - June 2001 CONTRACTOR, NEW YORK, NY Represented clients such as Sprint, Enron, and Ryko Distribution. Served as liaison between agency and client by communicating project status, resolving scope creep, ensuring timely deliverables, incorporating client comments, and documenting client approvals. Translated business requirements and desired user experiences into site maps, navigation methods, and wireframes with page-level details. Worked closely with visual design and development teams to execute information architecture strategy. Designed an online interactive Annual Report consistent with client's print identity. Designed a Customer Service Center cross-selling related products and services. Translated client's print identity into an ecommerce application serving independent music stores and journalists. Incorporated audio, video, and search engine technology to increase sales and media coverage. Information Architect.......................................................................................................May 2000 - February 2001 RAZORFISH, NEW YORK, NY Represented clients such as Cemex, Price Waterhouse Coopers, 3COM, and Lehman Brothers. Developed information architecture strategies by codifying user research into user profiles, scenarios, and workflow diagrams for use in site definition; creating wireframes; establishing global interface standards; and working closely with the visual design and development teams to execute websites consistent with the clients’ branding and infrastructure. Planned and provided usability services throughout the design cycle of Internet, intranet, and extranet sites. Responsibilities included: defining groups of representative users; recruiting and screening users; creating test protocols; performing heuristic evaluations and competitive analyses; testing low and high fidelity prototypes; ensuring that usability standards were consistently implemented; and developing recommendations to address identified usability problems. Compared and contrasted the usability of several portals, targeted at fixed income investors, to recommend improvements to the client's ecommerce system. Identified usability issues related to client's attempt to internationalize its partner web site to over 50 countries. Improved the technical understanding of client-interfacing staff by creating a series of training sessions on technology topics. Designed course materials in conjunction with subject matter experts. Recruited instructors. Marketed training series in-house. Created evaluation forms to improve future sessions. Consultant..............................................................................................................................August 1999 - May 2000 ERNST & YOUNG, SAN FRANCISCO, CA Represented clients such as American Automobile Association of Missouri, Lucent, and General Motors Mexico. Designed the interface for an e-commerce system by translating the marketing department's business requirements and user needs into site maps, schematics, business rules, and storyboards. Created low fidelity prototypes consistent with the client's brand strategy. Acted as Knowledge Manager on multiple engagements. Responsibilities included: creating a knowledge plan, locating and leveraging deliverables from related engagements, developing engagement-specific technology products, instructing team members on firm-wide tools, and contributing engagement information to appropriate knowledge bases. Miscellaneous.................................................................................................................................Before August 1999 Employment History prior to August 1999 available upon request.
EDUCATION
Master of Information Management & Systems, University of California at Berkeley, May 1999 BA, Anthropology, The George Washington University, Washington, DC, May 1996
SOFTWARE
Microsoft Project, Visio, Microsoft Office