Barbara Schrage, is a results-oriented and highly enthusiastic certified Project Management Professional (PMP) with over 25 years experience in project, program and portfolio management; including consulting, coaching, training, managing complex strategic projects and leading a successful corporate Project Management Office.

Training

• UW-Madison’s Executive Education Business School

  I teach a 3-day Project Planning, Scheduling and Control class in the Project Management Masters Certificate Program. I also teach a Program & Project Portfolio Management class in the advanced project management series of courses.

• Ministry Health Care, Stevens Point, WI.

  I taught 13 customized two-day project initiating and planning classes to over 240 business leaders working in Project Sponsor and Business Project Manager roles. The course material incorporated processes, tools and templates from their Project Management Office (PMO).

• Integrys Energy Group, Green Bay, WI.

  I taught 31 three-day Project Management Fundamentals classes to over 430 participants including plant managers, engineers, IT professionals, construction project managers and business leaders across various business functions. The course material incorporated processes, tools and templates from their Project Support Office.

• Other

  I taught a variety of 2-day, 2.5 day and 3-day on-site project management classes at various organizations that span the following industries: Financial Services, Health Care, Utility, Manufacturing, Biotech Research, Government and Retail.

Consulting

• Aurora Health Care, Milwaukee, WI. 

  I mentored and coached a business leader in a Program Manager role for two large multi-million, multi-year programs. As part of those two programs, I coached and mentored three staff members in new Project Coordinator roles and implemented key project management processes, tools & techniques tailored to their culture and environment. It became a formal Program Management office, which was later integrated into a newly established corporate Project Management Office focused on achieving strategic initiatives.

• Integrys Energy Group, Green Bay, WI.

  • I led a cross-functional initiative to design and implement project portfolio management at the enterprise level as well as within business units. The end result was a tailored prioritization and portfolio monitoring solution that was integrated within the project life cycle and planning/budgeting processes. It enabled early and effective decision making on the investments of projects in aggregate.
  •  I was instrumental in the formation of a Corporate Project Support Office and mentored the newly appointed Director through a variety of initiatives to mature Project Management capability across the organization.

Project Management Leadership Experience

• Project Management Institute (PMI) Northeast WI Chapter, Appleton, WI.

  I was co-founder of this new chapter and served as its first President. I also served as Ex-Officio and a Board of Directors member. The new local PMI chapter was chartered in record time of 6 months. I led a team of volunteers to create Articles of Incorporation, Bylaws, Operating Procedures and Board of Directors’ duties. I accepted the Chapter of the Year Award (honorable mention) at the 2004 PMI National Leadership Conference, based on the chapter’s accomplishments during my Presidency.  

• Thrivent Financial for Lutherans, Appleton, WI.

  I was the Asst. Vice President of a successful corporate Project Management Office (PMO).  My accountabilities included responsibility for Project Portfolio Management process and governance; resource management across the projects within the portfolio; and project management methodology, process, tools, templates and metrics.  I was also accountable for the results of projects led by the Project and Program managers within the PMO, with a specific focus on projects tied to the corporate scorecard.  I mentored and developed leadership skills in project and program managers. Prior to leadership of the corporate PMO, I led many large and complex strategic programs and projects.