Portfolio

MARY SHEPHERD

PROGRAM & PROJECT MANAGEMENT SPECIALIST | IMS COORDINATOR | AGILE METHODOLOGIST & COACH

####

CONTACT

MaryShepherd-Psy/https-MaryShepherd-Psy.github.io.: Portfolio/MN/Derails
Mary Shepherd | LinkedIn
📧 mary.shepherd.mn@gmail.com | 📞 (713) 391-4208 | 📍 Houston, TX

SUMMARY

Strategic Program & Project Management Specialist with 15+ years of experience delivering aerospace, defense, and engineering programs under NASA, DoD, and FAA frameworks. Expert in Integrated Master Scheduling (IMS) using Primavera P6, MS Project, and Milestones Pro to align multiple workstreams, manage dependencies, and drive milestone readiness across complex portfolios.

Certified Scrum Product Owner (CSPO) and Agile Coach with hands-on expertise in Scrum, Kanban, SAFe, and scaled Agile program delivery. Skilled in coaching cross-functional teams, running Scrum of Scrums, and embedding Agile practices into engineering, manufacturing, and human-systems workflows. Adept at converting requirements into bi-directional traceability (DOORS, Confluence), managing backlog health, and ensuring every deliverable ties to business and mission value.

Proven record of Change Management leadership: designed and executed adoption playbooks, training programs, and performance frameworks that accelerated cultural transformation while protecting compliance and safety standards (AS9100D, ISO 9001). Strong background in performance improvement, creating dashboards (Power BI, Jira, Confluence) that track SPI/CPI, milestone hit rate, throughput, and quality metrics, making program health visible to executives.

Recognized as a trusted integrator who builds psychologically safe cadences, drives alignment across engineering IPTs, vendors, and partners, and creates scalable systems—so organizations can deliver on time, in spec, and without surprises.

WORK EXPERIENCE

Axiom Space, Houston, TX —Sr. Project Manager, People Analytics, IMS Coordinator
Apr 2022 -Mar 2025

• Integrated Master Schedule (IMS): Managed the program IMS across avionics, ECLSS, payloads, GNC, structures, ground ops, QA, and manufacturing. Tracked critical path, float, dependencies, and risks using MS Project, Primavera, and Milestones Pro.

• Manufacturing & PLM: Coordinated with manufacturing/softgoods teams; synchronized engineering changes with PLM workflows, ECR/ECO processes, and configuration management. Ensured AS9100D, ISO 9001, DoD, and FAA standards were embedded in deliverables.

• NASA Milestone Readiness: Orchestrated end-to-end readiness for SRR, SDR, PDR, CDR, TRR, ORR, FRR, ensuring all artifacts, dry-runs, and checklists met gate review criteria.

• Agile Delivery & Coaching: Facilitated Scrum/SAFe cadences (Scrum of Scrums, PI Planning, Big Room Planning); implemented WIP limits, backlog prioritization, velocity tracking, CFD analysis.

• Dependency Mapping: Built integrated dependency maps across subsystems, suppliers, test facilities, and government partners. Anticipated constraints and mitigated risks proactively.

• Human Systems Integration: Coordinated astronaut crew-equipment deliverables (textiles, patterns, usability testing) and integrated UI/UX/CHI artifacts into system reviews.

• Executive Dashboards: Created Power BI / Jira / Confluence dashboards with SPI, CPI, milestone hit rates, and defect escape rates; escalated program risks with actionable options/impacts.

  **Harris County Toll Road Authority ,Houston, TX — Sr. Project Manager

  AI/ML (CVAT) CSPO**

  Jan 2017 – Dec 2019

  AI/ML & CVAT Leadership:

• Built end-to-end image/video review operations using CVAT (Computer Vision Annotation Tool).
• Defined annotation taxonomy/ontology, metadata standards, and label maps for ML model training.
• Led image validation, consensus adjudication, and blind audits to guarantee data quality.
• Directed video investigations for toll violations, anomaly detection, and incident escalation.

• Managed dataset governance (version control, retention policies, naming standards).

  Software & IT Development: Partnered with IT and data science to create a custom image-review tool (UI/UX design, job routing, QC checklists, audit trails). Supported software testing, UAT, and operator adoption.

  MLOps & Data Science Integration: Prioritized ML training backlog, balanced datasets, and reviewed precision/recall/confusion matrices with stakeholders. Managed active learning refreshes to combat data drift.

  Change Management & Training: Designed and delivered staff training programs, SOPs, quick-start guides, and role-based adoption playbooks. Improved operational consistency and reduced error rates across 100+ staff.

  Advisor to Operations: Served as trusted advisor to the Operations Department; aligned tolling staff workflows with IT/data pipelines. Balanced people management and technical system adoption.

  Performance Impact: Reduced operational errors, stabilized CCTV capture coverage, increased throughput, and accelerated AI/ML deployment readiness.

• clear presentations.

  **Paradise / Houston Airport System, Houston, TX — District Zone Manager

  Business Analyst**

  Jan 2017 – Dec 2019

• Managed multi-site aviation retail operations, revenue, and staffing.

• Functioned as Business Analyst for POS/ERP and HRIS; improved scheduling, forecasting, and system adoption.

• Designed/delivered enterprise leadership programs (95% adoption across 19 cohorts).

• Achieved 11% labor cost reduction while driving revenue from $0.8M → $1.5M (2017–2018).

  ABM Industries / Houston Airport System, Houston, TX —Ground Operations (PS) Coordinator
  Oct 2016 – Dec 2016

• Coordinated gate, check-in, and TSA/FAA-compliant workflows; balanced staffing across check-in, security, and boarding based on real-time passenger flow.
• Partnered with IT to scope an integrated ticketing & service system; supported UAT, rollout, and quick-start guides for agents and support teams.
• Stood up ops control rhythms (shift handoffs, issue triage, incident logs) to decrease bottlenecks and missed connections.
• Built customer-assist teams for wayfinding and escalations; improved on-time departures and service recovery under irregular ops.

• Focus: safety culture, compliance, and on-time performance with a clear sense of urgency.

  Adjunct Lecturer , Global ( Turkey, India, UAE ) , Corporate L\&D Planner
  Oct 2016 – Dec 2016

• Taught English, GMAT, GRE to university students, faculty, and special-needs learners; designed semester plans aligned to international testing frameworks.
• Expanded institute offerings (incl. ECE Dil Kursu, Turkey): developed curricula, item banks, and assessment rubrics; introduced modern pedagogy and blended learning.
• Faculty enablement: trained and mentored instructors; instituted teaching QA loops (peer-obs, feedback cycles) and student outcome dashboards.

• Results: >20% average improvement in student performance over three years; increased enrollment and program reputation.

  **Kobe Textile —Pamukkale Uni / Denizli region

  Researcher ( Contract)**

  Turkey - Oct 2015 - Sep 2016

• Conducted textile engineering research on materials performance, cost- quality optimization, and supplier benchmarking; improved time-to-sample and defect rates.
• Collaborated with Pamukkale University contacts for method validation and lab work; translated findings into manufacturing-ready specs.
• Foundation for later softgoods/crew-equipment integration (patterns, materials, stitching specs, fit/form/function).

### **Project Manager (Part-Time)

Oil & Gas Infrastructure Support**

### **Republic of Congo Embassy

Ankara, Turkey

2006 – 2008**

• Oversaw oil & gas development projects sponsored by the Republic of Congo Embassy, coordinating between government representatives, contractors, and engineering consultants.
• Directed scheduling, budgeting, and risk management of infrastructure projects, aligning deliverables with international industry standards and host-country compliance requirements.
• Prepared business case reports, feasibility studies, and cost analyses to support contract negotiations and foreign investment strategies.
• Applied earned value management (EVM), project lifecycle planning, and recovery plans to keep project milestones on track.
• Maintained close coordination with embassy leadership and external stakeholders, ensuring diplomatic, cultural, and technical alignment across all project phases.

• Leveraged cross-functional collaboration to address complex problem-solving challenges in oil & gas logistics, supply chain, and regulatory approvals.

  **Project Manager

  Humanitarian & NGO Initiatives - Various NGOs & International Organizations (UNICEF, Red Cross, Local NGOs)

  Middle East, Africa, Europe

  2004 – 2021**

• Directed multinational humanitarian programs supporting war-affected populations in Iraq, Turkey, and border regions, with a focus on workforce resilience, trauma support, and volunteer training.
• Served as a psychological and organizational advisor for refugee support initiatives, coordinating with the UN, UNICEF, Red Cross, and grassroots NGOs.
• Delivered program oversight, stakeholder engagement, and performance reporting across multi-million-dollar projects funded by international donors and development agencies.

• Led cross-cultural teams of up to 150+ volunteers, enhancing coordination, compliance, and program outcomes under high-risk and resource-constrained environments.

  #

  EDUCATION

• Oslo University – Profesional –Researching I.O Psychology P.h.D Level

  Focus: Human performance optimization, cognitive load in high-risk systems, and psychological safety in engineering workflows (NASA, DoD, UN case studies).

• Bangalore University — Industrial MBA, Industrial Management

  Focus: Industrial Management + Human Resource Management

• Bangalore University — BBA, Business Administration & Management

  Management Capstone Project: Assisting the Senior Project management at HDFC bank \- At Customer relation strategy office.
  

• Azad University (IAU) — A.A.S, Textile Engineering

  # **PROFESSIONAL CERTIFICATIONS & LICENSES**
  

Certificate Name	Issuing Institution	Skills Gained
Project Management II	Agile Alliance	Agile project planning, stakeholder alignment, sprint execution
Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO)	Agile Alliance	Product visioning, backlog prioritization, stakeholder engagement
Integrated Project Management	Harvard Business Club	Work breakdown structures, milestone tracking, integrated scheduling
Project Management II – Agile Alliance	Agile Alliance	Agile project planning, stakeholder alignment, sprint execution
Coaching for Change: Making Agility Work	Agile Alliance	Agile project planning, stakeholder alignment, sprint execution
SAFe, Scrum, Kanban, LeSS	ALISON
Product Lifecycle Management Fundamentals	IBM	Product roadmap development, lifecycle strategies, stakeholder engagement
Introduction to Agile Coaching	Agile Alliance	Agile project planning, stakeholder alignment, sprint execution
Earned Value Management (EVM) Certificate	DAU	Cost, schedule, performance tracking
Scrum Foundation Learner	CertiProf	Scrum principles, roles, ceremonies, backlog management
Project Online Reporting with Power BI	NASA (Internal)
Business Plan Competition – Certificate of Participation	Brindavan College	Scaled Agile delivery, flow metrics, backlog quality
Business Program Agility	CertiProf	Agile transformation, program-level agility, business responsiveness
Avionics & Aircraft Systems	Coursa	Aircraft subsystems, integration, avionics fundamentals
Project Management Professional (PMP)	PMI	[Eligible, aligned with CAPM/PMP frameworks]
Scrum Foundation Learner	CertiProf	Agile transformation, program-level agility, business responsiveness
Certified Associate in Project Management (CAPM)	PMI	Fundamentals of project lifecycle, project control
Business Plan Competition	Brindavan College	Strategic planning, financial modeling, entrepreneurial pitching
Project Online Reporting with Power BI	NASA	Data visualization, dashboard creation, project analytics
Cybersecurity Awareness Professional (CAPC)	CertiProf	Threat identification, data protection, cyber hygiene
Enterprise Risk Management (ISO 31000:2018)	Alison	Risk frameworks, mitigation planning, ISO compliance
Introduction to Emergency & Crisis Management	Harvard Business Club	Crisis response, contingency planning, emergency protocols
AI/ML Specialization (CVAT Projects)	cisco	Image/video data annotation, predictive analytics, anomaly detection
Lean Six Sigma White Belt Professional (LSSWBPC)	CertiProf	Process mapping, waste reduction, continuous improvement
Digitalisation in Aerospace Industry	Technical University of Munich (TUM)	Aerospace product digital lifecycle, Industry 4.0
Coaching for Change: Making Agility Work	Agile Alliance	Change leadership, agile coaching, transformation strategy
Certified Scrum Product Owner® (CSPO)	Agile Alliance	Product visioning, backlog prioritization, stakeholder engagement
Business Agility Professional Certification (BAPC)	CertiProf	Adaptive leadership, agile culture, enterprise agility
Business Program Agility	CertiProf	Process mapping, waste reduction, continuous improvement
Introduction to Agile Coaching	Agile Alliance	Coaching techniques, team dynamics, agile facilitation
Project Online Reporting with Power BI	NASA (Internal)	Data visualization, dashboard creation, project analytics
Integrated Project Management	Harvard Business Club	Work breakdown structures, milestone tracking, integrated scheduling
Business Plan Competition – Certificate of Participation	Brindavan College	Strategic planning, financial modeling, entrepreneurial pitching
IHL and the Media	International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	Humanitarian law, media ethics, conflict communication
Disaster Management (DM)	IFRC	Disaster preparedness, humanitarian logistics, emergency coordination
Business Model Canvas Essentials (BMCEPC™)	CertiProf	Value proposition design, customer segmentation, lean startup methodology
IHL and the Media	ICRC
Business Model Canvas Essentials (BMCEPC™)	CertiProf
ISO 31000:2018	CertiProf	Enterprise Risk Management
ISO 22301:2019	CertiProf	Business Continuity & Resilience
ISO 19011 Lead Auditor	CertiProf	Internal/external audit planning, reporting
AS9100D Quality Management System	CertiProf	Aerospace QMS compliance
CMMI & DoD Standards (Project Experience)		DAU	Defense and aerospace process improvement frameworks
Systems Engineering & Human Factors		NASA Systems Engineering Handbook Certification – DAU	SE\&I, lifecycle management Systems Engineering & Program Management – University of Colorado Boulder	MBSE, program integration Human Factors & Usability Engineering – Arizona State University	Human-systems integration, user interface design IHL and the Media – International Committee of the Red Cross (ICRC)	Humanitarian law, conflict communication Disaster Management (DM) – IFRC	Emergency logistics, humanitarian crisis coordination Introduction to Emergency & Crisis Management – Harvard Business Club	Contingency planning, emergency response

PROFESSIONAL MEMBERSHIPS & ASSOCIATIONS OVERVIEW

###

🧠 Psychology, Coaching & Human Development

Acronym / Name	Full Name / Description	Focus Area / Notes
SIOP	Society for Industrial and Organizational Psychology	Workforce psychology, analytics
APA Division 14	American Psychological Association – I/O Psychology	Research, applied psychology
AJCP	American Journal of Community Psychology	Community-based psychological research
Humanistic Psychologists (D-36)	APA Division 36	Ethics, human-centered psychology
Division 52	Society for Global Psychology	Cross-cultural, international psychology
Society for Peace, Conflict, Violence	APA Division for the Study of Peace, Conflict, and Violence	Conflict resolution, global impact
ICF	International Coaching Federation	ACC/PCC credentialing, executive coaching
BACB	Behavior Analysis Certification Board	Applied behavior analysis

###

🚀 Aerospace, Engineering & Technical Systems

Acronym / Name	Full Name / Description	Focus Area / Notes
WIS	Women in Aerospace	Industry leadership, DEI
IEEE Women in Engineering	Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers – Women in Engineering	Tech-human systems crossover
PMI / PMP	Project Management Institute	Program/project certification
INCOSE	International Council on Systems Engineering	Systems thinking, aerospace applications
AIAA	American Institute of Aeronautics and Astronautics	Aerospace engineering, research
OTT	Global Consultancy & Platform for Change	Strategic transformation, global consulting

📈 Organizational Development, HR & Talent Strategy

Acronym / Name	Full Name / Description	Focus Area / Notes
OD Network	Organization Development Network	Change management, OD strategy
ATD	Association for Talent Development	L\&D, performance improvement
ISPI	International Society for Performance Improvement	OD, instructional design
HRCI	HR Certification Institute	Strategic HR, credentials
SHRM	Society for Human Resource Management	HR leadership, compliance
CIPD	Chartered Institute of Personnel and Development	UK-based HR certification

🌍 DEI, Advocacy & Global Impact

Acronym / Name	Full Name / Description	Focus Area / Notes
WWA	World Women Association	Authorized contributor, global women’s leadership
ADA Network	Americans with Disabilities Act Community	Accessibility, DEI
Human Rights Campaign	Women’s Rights & Workplace Activism	Advocacy, equity
UNICEF	United Nations Children’s Fund	Volunteer, humanitarian psychology
UN Women	United Nations Entity for Gender Equality and Empowerment	Global DEI initiatives
Amnesty International	Global Human Rights Organization	Advocacy, peace, justice

🧠 Leadership, Strategy & Thought Platforms

Acronym / Name	Full Name / Description	Focus Area / Notes
HBR Ascend / Harvard ManageMentor	Harvard Business Review Learning Platforms	Executive leadership, management development
Aspen Institute	Global leadership and policy think tank	Ethics, strategy, innovation
World Economic Forum	International Organization for Public-Private Cooperation	Strategic foresight, global impact
Conscious Capitalism	Leadership and business ethics movement	Purpose-driven leadership

Selected Projects & Performance Analysis

Table of Projects
Project Name	Duration	Project Size*	Key Stakeholders / Domains	Methodologies / Tools Used	Things Learned (Skills & Insights)	Effort Estimate†	Performance / Outcomes	Challenges & Notes
Agile Culture Reset in Private Aerospace Mission Support Environments	May 2022 – Mar 2025	Large – Cross-divisional, hybrid Agile-Waterfall, multiple Integrated Product Development Teams (IPDTs)	Life Support Systems (LSS), Extravehicular Activity (EVA), Mission Control Center (MCC); technical & non-technical mission roles; aerospace mission readiness	SAFe, Scrum; Psychological Safety; Human Systems Integration; OD; Burke-Litwin Model; Hofstede’s Cultural Dimensions; Systems Thinking; Tools: Miro, Confluence; HF simulations	Integration of I-O psychology with Agile; diagnosing and reducing misalignment; leadership in mixed environments; improving cross-role empathy; managing communication & cognitive load in hybrid process environments	~32 months of continuous involvement; many workshops and retrospective sessions; multiple stakeholder groups, many ceremonies & interventions	Improved team dynamics; better alignment of Agile and milestone ceremonies; reduced ambiguity; improved psychological safety; more efficient handoffs; stronger insight sharing	Cultural barriers; measuring culture/performance changes over time; confidentiality constraints; sustaining change beyond intervention period
Human Error Case Study: Air France Flight 447 Crash (2009)	Sep 2023 – Feb 2024	Medium – Research / analysis; high stakes case study	Aviation safety, human factors, regulatory agencies, pilot training organizations	Case study methodology; error classification (information, decision, action errors); Human-Centered interface design; stress & decision making; simulation recommendations	Strengthened human factors & error-analysis skills; translating historical failure into recommendations; communicating complexity under uncertainty; understanding decision pathways under stress	~6 months; literature review; writing/reporting; stakeholder communication; possibly simulation design extension	Produced actionable recommendations for pilot training and cockpit design; better understanding of stress, situational awareness; improved reporting clarity	Data gaps; risk of hindsight bias; limited ability to test some recommendations in real operational environments
Workforce Planning & Operational Coordination at Houston Airport (ABM / IAH)	Dec 2016 – Mar 2017	Small-to-Medium – Operational & regulatory compliance focus; logistic / service delivery	Airport operations, passenger services, regulatory bodies (TSA, FAA, ADA), staff & passengers	Workshops for safety culture; regulatory compliance training; scheduling & capacity planning; passenger service workflows; coordinating boarding/check-in/ADA accommodations	Learned operational planning under regulatory constraints; balancing safety, customer satisfaction, and efficiency; workshop design & facilitation; stakeholder alignment; customer experience under pressure	~4-5 months; several workshops; many shifts / operation cycles; dealing with peak travel days	Improved scheduling alignment with peak demand; enhanced compliance; smoother operations; better passenger satisfaction in high-traffic periods	Unpredictable traffic peaks; trade-offs between speed vs service vs regulation; measuring qualitative improvements; resource constraints
Study: Customer Satisfaction at HCFC Bank Ltd (Bangalore University)	Apr 2012 – May 2012	Small – Academic scope; survey / interviews; local sample	Bank customers; bank management; academic audience	Quantitative surveys; qualitative interviews; service quality dimensions (reliability, responsiveness, customer care etc.); data analysis; reporting	Strengthened skills in research design, statistical & qualitative methods; stakeholder communication; deriving practical improvement suggestions; working to deadlines and limited scope

Narrative Description

In this selection of projects, the following qualities stand out:

• Breadth & Depth: Ranging from fast, focused academic research to long-term transformational change in mission-critical aerospace systems.

• Methodological Rigor: Use of structured frameworks (mixed methods, case studies, organizational psychology models), tools (Miro, Confluence, simulation), and human-centered approaches.

• Skill Growth: Strong growth in leadership & facilitation, cross-role stakeholder alignment, psychological safety, human factors, research methods, communication under complexity.

• Delivery & Outcomes: Evidence of measurable improvements—team dynamics, safety mindset, compliance, customer satisfaction, clarity in process alignment.

###

Analysis & Insights

• Strength in Sustained Transformation: The dominance of the Agile Culture Reset project shows that I perform best in long-term, systemic change roles — not just quick wins but embedding culture and process over time.

• High Value on Human-Centered Work: My efforts skew toward facilitation, stakeholder work, research. This suggests my core differentiators are human systems insight, empathy, coaching, and translating complex data into meaningful interventions.

• Balanced Analytical & Operational Skills: While I spend less time in compliance/process and tool implementation than in research or stakeholder work, I maintain competence. This balance supports roles where both people and systems matter.

• Opportunities for Growth: To deepen further, I see room to increase work in process optimization / compliance implementation, and perhaps increase visibility of my written outputs (reports, publications). These can amplify impact beyond immediate project teams.

###