- A proven record of accomplishment in conducting requirements planning, feasibility studies and system and organization-wide strategic systems architectures and implementation.
- Successfully managed feasibility assessments as well as software development programs for projects in Canada, the United States, England, Australia and the 12 Caribbean Commonwealth countries.
- Senior Change Management Consultant. Completed major process redesign exercises in both the public and private sectors.
- Business Architect. Elicited business needs and priorities of varied organizations.
- Technology Architect responsible for the requirements planning and development of a global architecture.
- Earned designations as a Certified Management Consultant, Information Systems Professional, Information Technology Certified Professional, Project Management Professional, Prince2 Practitioner and a security clearance level of Secret with the Government of Canada.
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Contact Information
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Gary G. Craven
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Summary
Work History
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Oct 2007 - Present
Executive Partner
Gary is responsible for the Winnipeg Consulting Services Practice. He continues his focus on identifying and delivering consulting engagements, helping clients innovate and implement new business and technology models, the delivery of successful projects as well as identification of professional personnel to create profitable business growth. He is also responsible for the development of intellectual capital for best practices in management consulting and business process management.
Feb 2007 - Sep 2007
Managing Partner
Responsible for identifying and delivering consulting engagements, helping clients innovate and implement new business and technology models, the delivery of successful projects as well as business development and identification of professional personnel to create profitable business growth.
Aug 2003 - Jan 2007
Director, Management Consulting
Specific accomplishments:
- Successful delivery of an eBusiness project for one of the major information technology organizations in Western Canada.
- Development of intellectual capital for best practices in project management, architecture, management consulting and business process management.
Hewlett-Packard (Canada) Co.
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
Mar 2000 - Jul 2003
Principal Consultant
Responsible for regional development activity to create profitable business growth by identifying and delivering high level consulting engagements that created structured intellectual capital, improved image and client retention. Specific accomplishments:
- Translated global service offerings into client business solutions.
- Recommended partners to clients for opportunities outside HP Consulting focus.
- Developed client business plan with Enterprise Account team, focusing primarily on solutions to satisfy client needs.
- Grew solution focus area revenues within assigned client base.
- Managed a healthy business funnel as well as forecasting orders and selling resource needs.
- Ensured smooth hand-off to Project Manager, assisted in project issue resolution and collaborated to ensure overall account profitability.
- Negotiated value based pricing of engagements and ensured value of Structured Intellectual Capital (SIC) was factored into HP Consulting pricing.
Canada
Mar 1995 - Mar 2000
Director of Professional Services
Responsible for the development of strategies to retain and secure professional personnel to support the growth of business within the Winnipeg region. Specific accomplishments:
- Managed the resources involved in the delivery of professional services to clients including personnel assignment and the establishment of rates.
- Implemented professional standards and practices.
- Reviewed and developed proposals.
- Ensured adherence to quality practices, methodologies, standards and tools.
- Supported business development and marketing.
1990 - 1995
Senior Management Consultant
Responsible for providing business strategy, helping clients innovate and formulate technology-enabled business models to create breakthrough positions in the marketplace. Specific accomplishments:
- Developed strategy and business issues identification and resolution.
- Managed strategic relationships with the clients' senior management and acted as a trusted advisor in transforming the clients' business.
- Led in the resolution of strategic, business and implementation issues. This included defining client problems, analyzing data and formulating recommendations,
- Leveraged large business transformation programs and Systems Integration projects by creating a business case that clearly linked the benefits/value that clients would receive.
- Visioning & Internet-enabled Scenarios of the future ways of doing business
- Business Plan & Business Case Formulation
- Business & Internet Alignment, IS/IT Strategy & Architectures
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
1994 - 1995
Sessional Lecturer
As an instructor in the Certificate Program in Information Systems, Gary was responsible for the development and delivery of the course in Project Management for the program.
Westburn Consultants
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
1985 - 1991
Director, Consulting Services
Had a long-term involvement with controlled agricultural commodities in Canada. This experience included numerous economic development, as well as information systems projects, with the Manitoba Egg Producers' Marketing Board and the Canadian Egg Marketing Agency.
Involved in the grain industry, as well as the red meat sector, with projects for the processing industry and the Manitoba Pork Est.
Homestead Computer Services Ltd.
1981 - 1985
Director, Systems Development
As Director, Consulting Services and Systems Development for Homestead Computer Services Ltd., managed software development practices and programs for projects in Canada, the United States, England and Australia.
This activity involved the management of the development and delivery of multiple large-scale projects both within the Winnipeg office and at various client sites overseas.
Comcon Communications Ltd.
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
1980 - 1981
President
Initiated and co-ordinated: a market newsletter, commodity information radio broadcasts, market commentary on the Grassroots database, and consulting projects in market research and analysis.
University of Manitoba
1979 - 1980
Research Associate, Department of Agricultural Economics and Farm Business Mana
Designed and implemented data collection procedures for cost of production research. Additional duties involved the design and implementation of a computer analysis and simulation study.
Craven Farms Ltd.
1970 - 1985
President
Responsibilities included administration and management of a one thousand hectare cropping enterprise as well as co-ordination of custom grain drying, seed sales and agricultural commodity marketing services in special crops.
Education
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
1981
M.Sc., Master of Science (Agricultural Economics & Farm Business Mgmt.)
University of Manitoba
1975
B.S.A., Bachelor of Science in Agriculture (Economics)
University of Manitoba
Winnipeg, MB, Canada
1974
B.Sc., Bachelor of Science (Computer Science)
Certifications
Fellow Certified Management Consultant, (FCMC)
2006 - Has no expiration
Project Management Professional (PMP)
1999 - Dec 2011
Certified Management Consultant, (CMC)
1994 - Has no expiration
Information Systems Professional of Canada (I.S.P.)
1989 - Has no expiration
Professional Agrologist (P.Ag.)
1980 - Has no expiration
PRINCE2 Registered Practitioner
Apr 2009 - Apr 2014
PRINCE2 (PRojects IN Controlled Environments) is a process-based method for effective project management.
PRINCE2 is a de facto standard used extensively by the UK Government and is widely recognised and used in the private sector, both in the UK and internationally.
The method PRINCE2 is in the public domain, offering non-proprietorial best practice guidance on project management. PRINCE2 is a registered trademark of OGC.
Information Technology Certified Professional (ITCP)
Sep 2008 - Has no expiration
CIPS is also excited to inform you that we have successfully been accredited by the International Professional Practice Partnership (IP3) and all eligible ITCP holders will also be able to use an international post-nominal when the IP3 officially launches their program. You will receive further notice from CIPS on the international post-nominal title to be used. The IP3 is an initiative led by the International Federation of Information Processing (IFIP), to promote IT professionalism worldwide. CIPS has been a founding member of this initiative.
International Professional Practice Partnership Professional (IP3P)
Sep 2009 - Has no expiration
Managing Successful Programmes (MSP)
Jul 2010 - Jul 2015
MSP represents proven programme management good practice in the successful delivery of transformational change through the application of programme management. MSP defines programme management as "the action of carrying out the coordinated organisation, direction and implementation of a dossier or projects and transformational activities to achieve outcomes and realise benefits of strategic importance to the business".
Management of Risk (M_o_R)
Jun 2011 - Jun 2016
M_o_R® (Management of Risk) is part of the Best Practice Guidance portfolio published by the Office of Government Commerce. APMG-Group manages the Accreditation and Qualifications schemes based on this guidance.
M_o_R considers risk from different perspectives within an organisation: strategic, programme, project and operational. While it links to other OGC Best Practice, it respects the roles, responsibilities and terminologies used outside the disciplines of programme and project management.
Security Clearances
Current Clearance
Updated 2007
Secret
PWGSC Issued ,
Enhanced Reliability
Highest Clearance Ever Held
Held 1997 - 2000
Secret
Department of National Defence Issued ,
Level 4
Interests
Skills
Project Management
(Expert)10+ Years Experience, (Last Used <1 year ago)
Project Manager October 2010 to June 2011
Electronic Distribution of Board Materials Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
· Working with the corporate secretaries and chairmen of Great-West Lifeco and IGM Financial, Gary rolled out a new distribution service for directors and officers that replaced their existing binders with a portal to securely access and review up-to-date board material with a variety of devices including notebooks and iPads.
· The project included the finalization of requirements, an extensive security and privacy assessment of the service as well as contract management, roll-out and training for the staff and the members of boards and committees.
Program Manager January 2008 to April 2011
International Financial reporting Standards Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
· This 2-year program to manage the shift from Canadian GAAP accounting to International Financial Reporting Standards involved a complex matrix of 16 teams comprised of 4 international regions, three major lines of business and 9 functional areas.
· The program involved interpreting the new standards, reaching a consensus across regions on our position and identifying any process or system changes required to support them. To drive consensus on these complex topics across a diverse international group, Gary pioneered the business use of social media tools (first Social Text and then Jive) within the organization.
Project Manager January 2008 to April 2011
ICOFR Effectiveness Test Audit Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
· Gary co-ordinated the testing of financial reporting processes and controls required for the Lifeco family of companies by Internal Audit in Canada, Ireland and the UK.
· This activity involve the planning and tracking of the business and IS audit activity for ICOFR and the co-ordination with ICOFR sustainment and change management.
Project Manager March 2004 to April 2008
Corporate Web Redevelopment Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
- Managed a program to redevelop the corporate web sites for Great-West Life Assurance, London Life Insurance, Canada Life Insurance - (both .com and .ca sites), Canada Life Financial and Canada Life Reinsurance. Delivered the solution in GWL's strategic eBusiness environment using the Stellent content management system. Interactive requirements and designs were documented and a detailed analysis of the existing sites was used to develop comprehensive information architecture.
- The project included an overall architectural review of content management requirements and opportunities at Power Financial companies as well as the corporate communications project required to classify and refurbish site content.
- It was a challenge given that five separate websites had to go live at the same time. These included the Canada Life websites in English and French; the parent company Canada Life Financial Corporation website in English and French; and the Canada Life Reinsurance website. (The Reinsurance website is in English only, as their clients are large insurers based in the United States.) The project required collaboration and consultation with a wide range of departments across the organization. In addition, there was a need to coordinate with Canada Life website owners in Europe, to ensure links between the websites were functioning smoothly.
- Guided by a Corporate Websites Steering Committee with senior representatives from the Individual, Group and Corporate Divisions, the redesign of the websites was the result of a year's worth of concentrated effort by an extended project team. The project team included content owners in the business and corporate areas, as well as staff from Information Services, Legal, Market Conduct, Corporate Finance, Corporate Secretary, Translation and Communication Specialists in Winnipeg, Toronto, London and Montreal.
Project Manager March 2004 to December 2004
Critical Illness Product Introduction Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
- Managed the systems renovation to support the launch of new critical illness disability insurance products.
- Full product definition and system development life cycle for system providing changes to systems supporting the full business cycle from underwriting to claims processing.
Project Manager October 2003 to December 2004
e-Business Release Agriculture Industry
Canadian Wheat Board
- Successful delivery of an eBusiness project for one of the major information technology organizations in Western Canada.
- Implemented a new e-Security model as well as new e-Services for Advances, Contracts and Producer Management.
- Management of extensive integration and testing of Tivoli Identity Manager, Tivoli Access Manager, WebSeal and WebSphere along with J2EE customisations as well as definition of service management requirements and processes.
Project Manager May 1996 - June 1996
IQON's client financial planning tool Financial Industry
IQON Financial Inc.
- Co-ordinated the deployment of LGS resources in the enhancement of IQON's client financial planning tool
Project Manager 1995
Trade Reconstruction System Financial Industry
Winnipeg Commodity Exchange
- Managed the design and development of a Trade Reconstruction System provide reporting and statistical analysis to support the activity of the Compliance Department of the Winnipeg Commodity Exchange
Project Manager 1990
Surveillance and Clearing Systems Financial Industry
Sydney Futures Exchange
- Managed the design and integration of hardware, software and communications systems to support the surveillance and clearing operations of the Sydney Futures Exchange
Project Manager 1985
Farm Financial Analysis Package Financial Industry
Farm Credit Corporation, Toronto Dominion Bank, and Credit Union Central
- Managed a major systems development project to deliver a farm financial analysis package to a consortium of clients composed of the Farm Credit Corporation, Toronto Dominion Bank, and Credit Union Central.
Project Manager November 1996 - December 1996
Year 2000 Planning and Renovation Insurance Industry
Great-West Life Assurance Company
- Co-ordinated Year 2000 planning and renovation activities for clients in Manitoba and across Canada
- Responsible for the staffing and deployment of project teams for the assessment of three major systems for the Great-West Life Assurance Company
Project Manager 1995
Report Control System Agriculture Industry
Canadian Wheat Board
- Managed the successful delivery of a pilot project to analyze and renovate the Report Control System
Project Manager 1994
GRIP NISA Impact Analysis Agriculture Industry
Agriculture Canada
- Project managed a development module for the National Grains Bureau of Agriculture Canada to facilitate the impact analysis of change to the GRIP and NISA form subsidy program
Project Manager 1993
Business Market Information System Government Sector
Manitoba Telephone System
- Project managed a development and implementation of the Business Market Information System project for the Manitoba Telephone System
Management Consulting
(Expert)10+ Years Experience, (Last Used <1 year ago)
Management Consultant June 2006 - December 2008
Internal Control Over Financial Reporting Insurance Industry
Great-West Lifeco Inc.
- Each of Great-West Lifeco Inc., The Great-West Life Assurance Company and Canada Life Financial Corporation is required to comply with the CEO/CFO Certification rules. The project rolled out the documentation and evaluation of ICOFR to all business units within the companies. This documentation provided the supporting evidence required to make the assertions regarding ICOFR.
- Promoted corporate awareness of the regulatory requirements and the goals of this project and provided and supported the process, methodology and templates to effectively and efficiently document the ICOFR.
- Provided leadership to ensure the depth and breadth of the documentation was adequate but not more than is required to meet the legislated requirements and worked with the IT General Controls project to ensure that their results could be subsumed to provide a complete evaluation of the controls.
- Designed and implemented new business processes to track and approve changes to the internal controls over financial reporting.
Principal Consultant 2001 - 2002
IT Service Management Blueprint Media
CanWest Global Corp.
- Provided guidance and resources to CanWest Business Services division to support the consolidation of data centres from across Canada into their new Winnipeg based operation. Activities resulted in the successful implementation of Change Management processes as well as OpenView IT management tools.
Senior Consultant May 1998 - November 1998
Year 2000 Project Management Office Financial Industry
Credit Union Central of Manitoba
- Provided Year 2000 Awareness seminars and workshops
- Provided consultation services for approaching Year 2000 Assessment and Awareness
Senior Consultant August 1996 - March 1997
TeleBanking and Activity Based Costing Systems Procurement Financial Industry
Credit Union Central of Manitoba
- Provided staff co-ordination, research and recommendations for two projects involving the definition, identification, and evaluation of systems to support provincial Telebanking services for all of the Credit Unions in Manitoba, as well as an Activity Based Costing System to track service costs within CUCM
Senior Consultant September 1998 - October 1998
Year 2000 plan Financial Industry
La Fédération des caisses populaires du Manitoba
- Developed an overall Year 2000 plan for FCP's hardware and software, ensuring compliance
- Worked with FCP management to define systems and a strategy to address caisses populaires responsibilities
Consultant 1985
Agricultural Accounting Financial Industry
Employment and Immigration Canada
- Served on a FCC-sponsored task force to develop an industry consensus on farm financial terminology and agricultural accounting and reporting policies. The project was co-funded by Employment and Immigration Canada in conjunction with the Canada-Ontario Agricultural Employment Committee.
Business Change Consultant 1995
Claims Processing Insurance Industry
Wawanesa Insurance
- Conducted a Strategic Information Systems Plan for Claims Processing
- Developed a strategic information systems plan as well as analysis and recommendations regarding the re-engineering of claims business processes
Senior Consultant August 1997 - November 1997
Claims System Contingency Assessment Insurance Industry
Manitoba Public Insurance Corporation
- Provided technical and leadership skills, including best practices, in the areas of Y2K to client personnel for their Claims System Contingency Assessment project
- Surveyed, analysed and assessed inventory information about software
Management Consultant September 1997 - May 1998
Round-up Ready System Agriculture Industry
Monsanto Canada Inc.
- Provided the Round-up Ready project team with senior management strategic advice, and subject matter expertise relative to the agriculture industry
- Responsible for facilitating the requirements sessions to gather information and to ensure that the relevant portions of the Business Model were properly developed
Consultant 1991
Project Management System Definition and Procurement Agriculture Industry
Canadian Wheat Board
- Responsible for requirement definition, identification and selection of systems to support program and project management for the Information Technology Division
Consultant 1992
Milk Recording Agriculture Industry
Canadian Milk Recording Board
- Responsible for eliciting the business needs and priorities of the varied organizations and agencies that make up the dairy industry in Canada
- Provided quality assurance and support for the detailed design of new systems capable of processing all of the milk production records for Canadian dairy producers
Consultant 1986
Herd Information Record Keeping System Agriculture Industry
Canadian International Development Agency
- Provided feasibility analysis for computerized dairy herd record keeping and market intelligence systems for the twelve Caribbean Commonwealth countries
Consultant 1987
Clearing System Agriculture Industry
Lake Shippers' Clearance Association
- Managed the design and implementation of a distributed network for clearing all Canadian grain shipments on the Great Lakes
Management Consultant April 1998 - December 1998
1 Canadian Air Division Headquarters Special Project Office Government Sector
Department of National Defence
- Provided awareness briefings and conducted planning sessions for Technical Information Services and Communications of Air Command representatives of Air Command Headquarters and each of the 17 Wings across Canada
- Developed an extensive briefing paper as well as a project plan and approach for addressing the century date challenge in the Canadian Air Force
Management Consultant January 1998 - May 1998
Project Genesis - Reengineering the Air Force Government Sector
Department of National Defence
- Conducted exercises to direct the deployment of the material maintenance and acquisition staff of the Canadian Air Force Gary has completed major process redesign exercises in both the public and private sectors
- Provided both training and advice to the Air Force
Business Change Consultant 1997
Flight Plan 97 - SocioTechnical Redesign Government Sector
Department of National Defence
- Supported the Steering Committee and Design Team in a major socio-technical systems review and redesign
- Trained and provided consultation services to the Design Team as well as STS briefings for the Steering Committee and the staff
Business Change Consultant 1996
Construction Engineering Program Management System Government Sector
Department of National Defence
- Analyzed and design the Construction Engineering Program Management System for Air Command Headquarters
Management Consultant December 1996 - February 1996
System Development Methodology Government Sector
Workers Compensation Board of Manitoba
- Assistance in exploring and developing a methodology to best fit object oriented/rapid application development
- Assisted in evaluating and adjusting the project management methodology
- Re-assessed the role of the Information Technology department
- Assisted in assessing and transitioning to a new technology platform
Consultant 1995
Project Management Methodology Government Sector
Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
- Trained and reviewed methodology and approach to managing systems development projects
Management Consultant 1994
Contingency Planning Government Sector
Manitoba Liquor Control Commission
- Provided expertise in business resumption planning methodology and local risk identification and analysis
- Identified risks, business impact and guidelines for reviewing test plans
- Assisted in the development of contingency plans for Year 2000 related risks
Consultant April 1996
Project Control Office Healthcare Industry
Riverside Health Care Facilities Inc.
- Provided support for the procurement of systems and services, and management of the project
- Developed and set up a Project Control Office, provided Project Management training and assistance
Business Analyst September 1996 - November 1996
Donor Management System Healthcare Industry
Heart and Stroke Foundation of Manitoba
- Conducted a series of process review and joint requirements planning workshops to define the operation of a new system
Consultant September 1997 - November 1997
Content Management System Manufacturing Industry
Boeing Canada
- Advised on the opportunities to leverage new technology to address the issues of document management of manuals used in shop-floor production and the management of information and collateral to support public relations
Consultant 1994
Project Management Training Manufacturing Industry
Standard Aero Limited
- Provided training on the concepts of project management and the use of Microsoft Project as a project management tool for planning and tracking
Consultant May 1998 - June 1998
Bison Year 2000 Transportation Industry
Bison Diversified Inc.
- Assisted Bison Year 2000 project staff to develop a Task Work Plan with schedule and format of deliverables management
- Assisted in identified Year 2000 risks and assessments, and developed guidelines and checklists
Consultant May 1996
Inspiration Series Training Education Sector
Contact Marketing Inc.
- Provided customized training in Microsoft ProjectTM, and LGS' in-ProTM project management methodology and as well as in-VentTM
Management Consultant 1994
Operations In-sourcing Project Education Sector
Red River College
- Provided expertise, assistance and leadership in defining functional units for re-structuring of the Computer Services Department and establishing new areas of responsibilities.
Systems Architecture
(Intermediate)10+ Years Experience, (Last Used 7-9 years ago)
Consultant June 1997
Lotus Notes Pilot Project Financial Industry
Credit Union Central of Manitoba
- Supported the planning and management of Lotus Notes
- Co-ordinated installation of User training
- Developed the system requirements and architecture
Consultant 1995
Applications Architecture Financial Industry
Lawton Partners Financial Services
- Developed applications architecture for the next generation of front office systems
Consultant 1993
Global Architecture and Systems Development Lifecycle Agriculture Industry
Canadian Wheat Board
- Assessed the impact of data driven and distributed systems approach to the information systems development and delivery process
- Developed recommendations for their global architecture requirements and their system development life cycle
Consultant 1994
Peguis Centre of Academic Excellence Education Sector
Peguis Indian Band
- Responsible for the requirements planning and development of a global architecture to address the Peguis School Board's needs to co-ordinate post secondary student records between the Board's office at Peguis, the Student Services office in Winnipeg, and the Winnipeg Centre of Academic Excellence
Consultant 1994
Client/Server Production/Development Environment Education Sector
Red River College
- Provided technical assistance in the design and implementation of a client/server production/development environment
- Assisted in the establishment and development of the critical path for the implementation of client server technology
Network Architecture
(Intermediate)5-6 Years Experience, (Last Used 10+ years ago)
Network Architect November 1996
Morden Production Facility Systems Architecture Agriculture Industry
Monsanto Canada Inc.
- Developed a systems architecture plan to support the operation of their new Roundup production facility to be located in Morden
- Responsible for the development of a strategic information systems plan to support the new and projected business functions of Monsanto's Agriculture Division business in Canada
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