Biography
I have 25 years of professional experience and almost 9 years as a working mother. I am currently working in a project management and engineering support role for data mining applications at AT&T Labs as a Principal Technical Staff Manager. I've been involved in metrics development, "Voice of the Customer" methodologies, the front end of systems engineering, and new product and service realization processes. In March 2012, I was awarded a patent related to these fields. My strong interest in mathematics and science led me to choose a career in engineering, seven years of which were spent in software engineering. I attended the State University of New York at Binghamton, graduating Magna Cum Laude with a Bachelor of Science degree in Math, Computer Science, and Spanish Literature and Language. I was then hired by Northrop Grumman, where I developed software systems for military aircrafts. The work was challenging, fun, and rewarding. I’m also grateful for the mentoring I received and teamwork and friendships I established there. Next, I took a position with AT&T Bell Labs as a software engineer while attending night classes at Stevens Institute of Technology in New Jersey and obtained my master's degree in Computer Science. I was involved with projects having to do with data communications equipment, an optical character reader for automated mail sorting for the US Postal Service, and Fixed Wireless systems. I enjoyed the first tier systems engineering work at the customer interface and high-level software design, which led me to pursue a position in process engineering. In this engineering field, I applied the same engineering techniques to more business-oriented applications, such as sales, provisioning, maintenance, billing, and other business operations, with the goal of bringing new offers into service and reducing costs by creating efficient work processes. In continuing my education, I obtained an AT&T sponsored MBA certificate from Wharton University and a masters certificate in Project Management from George Washington University. I also completed numerous continuing educational courses in both the business and technical fields. I co-chaired a volunteer program called the Systems Engineering Talks Program (SETP), where we mentored and encouraged women and minorities to pursue careers in systems engineering and linked students with AT&T's summer internship programs. I now spend much of my free time supporting my children’s curiosity and learning not just academically but also through sports, art and music. I’ve been playing guitar and violin since I was child and played in a band until having my second child. I have since focused on improving my playing and singing and providing music exposure and lessons to my children. My family and I also enjoy other interests together such as cooking, yoga, biking, dancing, and skiing. Balancing work, family and “me” time is not always easy, but it’s definitely worth it. I remind myself that "If it's going to be, then it's up to me”. My advice to you is to clearly identify your priorities and goals, and use your time to create a rewarding life. Anyone wishing to speak further can reach me at chrisrm@att.com.