LAWANNA BRADFORD
2988 Pinnacle Court • Decatur, GA 30034                                         
                                                                              
Home:  [Send email to request phone number] 88-9133 • Cell: (678) 428-5589 • [Send email using form at bottom] 
                                              

SENIOR EXECUTIVE

Over 20 years of progressive experience with 12 years successful experience in
providing fiscal, strategic and operational leadership in uniquely challenging
situations.

Dynamic results-oriented leader with a strong track record of performance in
turnaround and high-paced organizations.  Utilize keen analysis and insights and
team approach to drive organizational improvements and implementation of best
practices.  Extensive functional expertise with a tenacious commitment to drive
excellence.  Highly successful in building relationships with upper-level
decision-makers, seizing control of critical problem areas, and delivering on
customer commitments.  Superior interpersonal skills, capable of resolving
multiple and complex issues and motivating staff to peak performance.  Additional
areas of expertise include:

Strategic Planning			P&L Management/Budget Planning		Organizational Development
Change Management		Business Development			Cost & Risk Analysis
Process Improvement		Executive Advisory & Decision Support 	Customer & Market
Research   
Strategic Alliances	      	Leading & Developing Teams		Performance
Management			Growth Management		Supply Chain Management			Project Management

			
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

The Bradford Group, LLC, Atlanta Georgia					                                
2006 - Present
Chief Operating Officer/Owner 

Leveraged entrepreneurial orientation and expertise in starting up a company
specializing in residential and commercial lending and small business consulting.
 Created overall business strategies, vision and direction. Developed marketing
plans, program collateral and sales plans, and controlled expense budgets. 
Provided leadership, training and oversight to 15 employees.

	Marketed several commercial programs to small business owners with loan
sizes varying from $100K to $20M with a 35% close ratio.  
	Developed and implemented quality control training modules and fraud
prevention programs and processes to comply with company and Banking and Finance
policies and standards, which resulted in no reported violations.  
	Managed business partner and customer expectations with a 95% customer
satisfaction rate by using a proprietary Customer Reconciliation System.  
	Developed and implemented innovative business concepts to address
under-served niche market, and integrated model with existing business
strategies.
	Retained by US-based health care organization to facilitate customer
research associated with radiation web-site usability and H1N1 educational
information studies.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority (MARTA), Atlanta Georgia		         
                          2003 – 2005
Director, Corporate Business Strategy & Analysis – Staff 150

Brought in to build and lead a new business strategy and analysis division, and
lead organizational process and performance turn-around.  Served as the change
agent/strategic advisor and internal consultant to the CEO, Board and Executive
Management Team, and implemented a decision-making model that generated new and
creative business ideas.  Charged with creating a performance management and
accountability system to reach revenue and operational goals and finding key
partners and customers.  Provided fiscal, strategic and operational leadership to
increase customer satisfaction and improve operating results.  

	Facilitated and guided business unit leaders in formulating new vision
and strategic direction that successfully added value to MARTA and repositioned
the organization as a key player in the regional market.
	Established and launched a complex performance accountability system
using a dashboard reporting data layout.
	Planned, executed and led the 60-Day System-wide Ridership Blitz
project, which captured and reported 100% passenger data, route demographics,
ridership and land use patterns for both bus and rail. This was the first
comprehensive ridership study for MARTA in 30 years.   
	Identified growth opportunities, researched key comparative data,
developed service delivery performance, benchmarking matrices, and targeted
messaging, which successfully launched the following systems and services: 
Automated Passenger Counters, Automated Vehicle Locators, Clayton County Bus
Services, SMARTCard, Blue Flyer, and Small Bus Services.
	Developed, implemented and facilitated the oversight of the Mystery
Customer Program to track and report performance associated with the American
with Disabilities Act federal mandates.
	Served as part of engineering design review teams for facility
construction, major communication and data management architectures; and
identified and corrected problems, reduced expenses, improved processes and
systems, and resolved quality of service and life issues.
	Orchestrated the National Transit Database ridership collection,
overall bus and rail patronage analysis for federal reporting, transit and
community planning, process improvements, and scheduling.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta Georgia			                
                      2002 – 2003
Manager, Strategic Planning- Staff of 5

Served in a leadership role and facilitated the overall development and
implementation of MARTA’s strategic planning process.  Spearheaded change
organization-wide, established new strategic directions and built strong
leadership teams. Participated in high-level operational initiatives, including
process reengineering, turnaround management, and reorganization.   Conducted
transit-related and customer market research, and developed supporting marketing
strategies.  Conducted qualitative and quantitative analysis, market segmentation
analysis, benchmarking, and proposal management. Served as a transit advocate on
numerous strategic projects and programs.

	Developed a revised Strategic Planning Process that integrated key
components with executive/Board decision-making.  External management audit
heralded process as “among the most advanced in the industry.” 
	Incorporated and delivered the first Strategic Planning training
modules in New Employee Orientation, and successfully achieved high-level
participation, understanding, and enthusiasm among 400 new employees.
	Held major program development oversight, prepared requests for
proposals and reviewed requests for quotes, and set on source selection boards
and managed multi-million dollar contracts.
	Developed and implemented MARTA’s first comprehensive internal
communication plan.  
	Facilitated collaboration of mass transit and regional transportation
data review and communication with regional planning agencies and local
jurisdictions.
	Collaborated in the development of the $800K “Pulling Together”
multi-pronged public relations campaign, which influenced positive public
perceptions relating to MARTA’s vital role in the region’s economic positioning,
its environmental impact in mitigating congestion and improving air quality, and
the benefits of public transportation’s enhancement of mobility and seamless
connectivity throughout the 13-county region.


Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta Georgia			                
                        1998 - 2002
Sr. Business Evaluation Analyst/Sr. Strategic Planner – Staff of 2

Devised and executed strategic and tactical plans and Total Quality Management
initiatives focused on improving financial performance, establishing long-term
business growth, and building top-performing teams to drive achievement of
operating and capital objectives.  Reengineered business processes and conducted
performance management reviews.

	Established transparency with the development and publication of
MARTA’s new Board Member Orientation and Stakeholder Reports for regional
planning agencies and oversight committees, and the jurisdictions of DeKalb,
Fulton and City of Atlanta.
	Worked on environmental impact and Title VI studies for transit
development initiatives.
	Developed, wrote and implemented MARTA’s Benchmarking Process, which
became the standard for the conduct of internal and external benchmarking
studies, to include How We Measure Customer Satisfaction.
	Researched, analyzed and wrote a comprehensive five-year business plan,
which served as a platform for process improvements and enhancing the
decision-making model. 
	Worked on cross-functional teams and established logistical support for
MARTA’s headquarters and out-stations. 
	Facilitated Authority-wide training and integration of strategic plan
goals and objectives in performance plans.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta Georgia			                
                       1997 - 1998
Strategic Planner

Conducted strategic planning, quality improvement, performance management,
process improvements and benchmarking initiatives for public hearings and work
sessions for Board of Directors, Quality Council, and Senior Staff.  Presented
strategic initiatives and reached 100% administrative staff and over 60%
operational staff.

Metropolitan Atlanta Rapid Transit Authority, Atlanta Georgia			                
                        1995 - 1997
Business Analyst 

Analyzed, developed, tracked and managed annual and long-range operating and
capital budgets and financial and human resource forecasts and position and
compensation classification for 13 cost centers.  Interpreted financial planning
models, revenue strategies and business assessments used for executive
decision-making. Developed and facilitated management analysis training. 

Atlanta Committee for the Olympic Games, Atlanta Georgia			   	                 
                                   1995 
Transportation Management Analyst

Monitored changes in strategic and operational plans and managed the $90M
Olympic Transportation Budget.  Evaluated operational proposals and presented
recommendations to minimize budgetary impact.  Efforts resulted in the successful
launch of the Olympics and the MARTA as the 1st Official Transportation for the
Olympic Games.

United States Army Information Systems Command, Fort Huachuca, AZ	    	         
                                1986 - 1994
Management Analyst (GS-05/GS-11)

Enhanced efficiency of worldwide operations via on-site organizational
assessments, operational audits, efficiency reviews, benchmarking, performance
measurement and cost analysis.  Used quality management techniques and
statistical modeling and analysis to identify operational inefficiencies and
recommend process improvements. Demonstrated strong interpersonal skills, and
worked with all levels of staff and leadership to understand processes and
provide leadership regarding improvement initiatives.

	Worked with Base Realignment and Closure teams to reduce costs and
consolidate duplicate activities.
	Identified resources savings and efficiency improvements to an annual
cost of $120K during the Korea Manpower Survey.  
	Conducted contract efficiency study for 12 functional areas, and
revealed an annual potential loss of $24.5M.
	Conducted Electronic Switching Systems and European Telephone System
Manpower Staffing Standard System (MS-3) Study for 71 global locations. 
Recommended and received approval to regionalize Continental United States
Automated Centralized Operations and Maintenance Center, upgrade older systems
and install of Automated Telephone Management System.  
	Developed and managed the seven-year human resource budget, which
included 35,696 worldwide personnel.  
	Researched and analyzed the Satellite Communication Earth Terminal
Study (SATCOM).  Validated need for digital system replacements and recommended
updating standard to reflect new technology and operational procedures. 
	Recommended strategic policy changes and legislative solutions
regarding personnel relocation, and morale support to an audience of
congressional and defense representatives.
	Analyzed and identified key contract requirements which resulted in
requests for proposals submitted to contract vendors.
 
Pro-Starter Sports, Sierra Vista, AZ		    	                                     
                                                 1992-1995
Vice President Marketing and Sales

One of three founders who started a sports retail company.  Wrote the business
plan and developed investor presentation to raise $.5M start-up capital, and
drove sales and marketing initiatives.  Interfaced with clients and vendors to
develop and refine product portfolio.

	Increased revenue by 100% in the first year by shifting product to
national licensing and creating a new market niche.
	Established national marketing initiative with top 10 welter weight
boxing contender, which featured company in a world sanctioned title fight in Las
Vegas, NV.
	Sponsored basketball training camps featuring NBA athletes, and
established strategic alliances with local colleges, high schools, little leagues
and the military which increased product sales by 30%.

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

MPA -  Administrative Organization and Management, Golden Gate University - San
Francisco, California
BA – Sociology, University of Arizona - Tucson, Arizona

PROFESSIONAL AFFILIATIONS

Life member, Manchester Who’s Who Society • Member, Georgia Association of
Mortgage Brokers • Member, American Association of University Women, • Member,
National Association of Female Executives • Member, Conference of Minority
Transportation Officials • Member, Society of Competitive Intelligence
Professionals • Member, Stanford Who’s Who Society
Georgia Oglethorpe Examiner

Held Secret Security Clearance.  Conversational in Spanish.  Computer literate
in Microsoft Office Suite, FIS, VISIO, SPSS and Calyx.