“I love saving time and money by improving processes.”
Ivana M. is not your ordinary project manager. She learned creative resourcefulness in her hometown of Bowie, Maryland, where summers were spent playing tennis, sorting coupons, distributing newspapers, and delivering singing telegrams.
Today, her bachelor’s degree in Theater from Towson University balances her M.B.A. from the University of Phoenix, as she systematically and artfully adapts to the fluidity of operational change.
From saving pennies to saving millions
Ivana’s financial savvy helped her to get her initial role as a contractor in the Office of Finance at the United States Patent and Trademark Office (USPTO). After four years, she jumped at the opportunity to become a federal civil servant, where she reengineered the Transit Subsidy Program and rolled out a major change management operation, saving more than $5M. She remained in the role for seven years.
“I immediately resonated with the USPTO’s vision of championing innovation,” Ivana says. “The door is always open to exploring better ways of getting things done.”
A diversified background
Ivana’s professional toolkit draws from sports marketing, communications, sales, entertainment, small business, and non-profits. She journeyed from finance to the Office of Human Resources, where she championed New Employee Orientation before moving to the Patents business unit.
Now, Ivana serves as a Training Project Manager, consulting and providing logistical support for Patents Training Tuesdays, the Patent Training Council, agency-wide employee engagement events, and corps-wide learning. Bonus projects include designing dashboards and SharePoint sites, rallying teams, and analyzing data for evaluation and process improvement. She shares that her extracurricular activities include leading an artificial intelligence working group, the occasional karaoke adventure, writing, and "succulent dining."
‘Leading with Sunshine’
Aside from saving time and money, Ivana aspires to radiate light and positive energy in the workplace. Closing the deal is key; being able to provide satisfaction and joy to each stakeholder is a must.
When asked about a favorite part of her job, Ivana immediately replies, “Delivering results. I love completing quality projects and serving our customers well along the way.”
Ivana is certainly one of those USPTO leaders who is paving the way.