Aprelle Duany

Aprelle Duany-- Skype: Aprelle.Duany EDUCATION Bachelor of Science, Information Management and Technology, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; May 2002 Master of Science, Information Management, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; July 2004 Master of Science, New Media, Syracuse University, Syracuse, NY; July 2004 Associate of Science, Accessories Design, Fashion Institute of Technology, New York, NY; July 2008 RANGE OF EXPERIENCE Results-driven professional with experience in process improvement, development in post-conflict environments, and design/production. Proven capacity for managing teams and maintaining client relationships. Effective public relations and communication skills; including delivering presentations, organizing fundraising events, and developing publications. Proactive with the ability to prioritize and multi-task in order to meet deadlines within budget. Teamoriented with ability to excel independently. Currently pursuing conversational language skills in Arabic and Swahili. TECHNICAL SKILLS Application Packages: Proficient in Microsoft Office Suite (Excel, Word, PowerPoint), Adobe Creative Suite 6 (Photoshop, Illustrator, Acrobat, InDesign), Macromedia (Fireworks, Flash, Dreamweaver), Internet Explorer, Firefox, Chrome, and Safari Programming Languages: HTML, Visual Basic Social Media: Facebook, Twitter, Google+, YouTube, LinkedIn CERTIFICATES/PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT Coursera Developing Innovative Ideas for New Companies, University of Maryland; March 2014, Final Grade: 97% An Introduction to Marketing, University of Pennsylvania, Wharton School; October 2013, Final Grade: 95% PROFESSIONAL HISTORY Duany Designs LLC: President and Creative Director, Nairobi, Kenya, December 2013 to present KikoRomeo: Chief Executive Officer, International, August 2012 to November 2013 World Bank: Communications Specialist, Juba, South Sudan, September 2010 to May 2011 Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs: Consultant, Juba, Sudan, February 2009 to September 2011 The Parliamentarian: Graphic Designer/Lead Editor, Juba, Sudan, January 2009 to September 2011 Sport Revolution Girls: Co-Founder/Program Director, Juba, Sudan, December 2008 to December 2011 PricewaterhouseCoopers: Experienced Associate, New York, NY, August 2004 to November 2007 PROFESSIONAL AND BUSINESS EXPERIENCE Duany Designs LLC: President and Creative Director (December 2013 to present) Nairobi, Kenya Duany Designs LLC is a start-up company registered in Kenya. It is an umbrella company, which will hold a variety of business units within the technology, consulting, and retail industries of East Africa. • Conducted market research and developed vision plan. • Prepared documentation and required materials for company registration. • Responsible for securing necessary start-up capital. KikoRomeo: Chief Executive Officer (August 2012 to November 2013), International Developed and implemented a 3-year Strategic Expansion Plan to define a success blueprint for KikoRomeo. • Assessed and analyzed corporate structure, operations, and business processes to design optimal growth plan. • Identified and eliminated areas of waste and implemented systems to increase efficiency. • Led management team, which transitioned brand into a profitable organization within 12 months. • Actively engaged professional network to position KikoRomeo as the leading, African lifestyle brand. • Key decision-maker to drive overall success and day-to-day management of the company. • Engaged with Board, investors, and financial institutions to elevate operations and support expansion efforts. World Bank: Communications Specialist (September 2010 to May 2011) Juba, South Sudan Responsible for creating monthly newsletters to effectively and concisely commutate World Bank, South Sudan activities to the global donor community. • Organized scheduled and ad hoc newsletters to manage plethora of information to be presented. • Edited key messages to ensure consistency and relevance. • Ensured pertinent information was delivered in a timely manner. Ministry of Parliamentary Affairs: Consultant (February 2009 to September 2011) Juba, South Sudan Executed data management assessment for MPA Minister, MPA Undersecretary, and MPA Director General in order to increase efficiency and organize data. • Observed current system and daily operations to identify security gaps and lack of controls. • Analyzed desktops and external hardware devices to remove duplicate and corrupt files. • Presented data report and diagnostics to upper management for review. • Key recommendations included: security parameters to control access to sensitive data, timely and efficient backup of sensitive data, automatic virus software updates, and naming convention policy. The Parliamentarian: Graphic Designer/Lead Editor (January 2009 to September 2011), Juba, South Sudan Responsible for designing artwork, spreads and overall layout including cover page for quarterly magazine, The Parliamentarian. Manages and edits article submissions for appropriateness. • Worked directly with clients to ensure advertisements meet graphic guidelines. • Built core production team by identifying qualified journalists and artists. • Organized efficient logistics of international travel of magazine from print production in Nairobi, Kenya to multiple media outlets in Juba, Sudan. • Travelled through East Africa to assess viability and quality of printing options in Uganda, Kenya, and Sudan. Sport Revolution Girls: Co-Founder/Program Director (December 2008 to December 2011), Juba, South Sudan Supervised weekly operations, including identifying guest speakers, facilitating transportation of participants and guests, and managed food and drinks for participants. Developed sustainable programs, solicited funds, recruited volunteer and hired staff, and trained staff members. Prepared proposals and organized annual fund-raising activities. • Co-founded not-for-profit entity to support adolescent girls within the post-conflict areas of southern Sudan. • Worked closely with veterans and seasoned professionals within international development field to create education, health/hygiene, and capacity-building activities. • Planned and administered $10,000 annual budget. • Maintained website to communicate with supporters and possible donors in a timely fashion. • Prepared and presented presentations to detail success, obstacles, and lesson learned to supporters and community members as well as introducing organization to possible resources. PricewaterhouseCoopers, LLP: Experienced Associate (August 2004 – November 2007), New York, NY Process Improvement Engagements Performed controls optimization reviews, developed process narratives, evaluated control environments and documentation, and completed pre and post implementation reviews. • Researched existing internal and external policies, interviewed partners and managers within client service and internal services, and developed policies, implementation plans, procedures and guides. • Facilitated discussions with IT team and business leaders to communicate importance of restricting access to specific business needs and daily functions of end-users. • Executed tests scripts to assess client's implementation of key recommendations. Developed materials to support each recommendation and organized presentations to communicate to system configurators and business leads. SAP Role Re-design Key team member in the redesign of roles created in SAP in order to mitigate segregation of duties issues. • Consulted client on the security design of user roles. • Reviewed business process and IT procedures to identify internal control weaknesses and developed related recommendations for senior level management. • Assessed the strengths and weaknesses of configurable security controls in SAP. • Designed and developed security roles and corresponding access requirements with consideration to client's system rules. Sarbanes-Oxley 404 Assessments Engaged in several, multi-million dollar Sarbanes-Oxley compliance projects at Chemical, Pharmaceutical, and Technology companies. Responsibilities included conducting interviews and documenting processes and internal controls. Trained new and existing team members on testing methodology, co-managed general computer controls testing work-streams, and managed client relationships with process owners. • Conducted testing of walkthroughs and client test plans to ensure all relevant controls were considered, and presented recommendations to mitigate deficiencies. • Evaluated business process controls utilizing COSO framework to identify risks and opportunities to strengthen IT system. • Assessed existing controls environment around general computer controls including data center, perimeter network security, internal network security, physical security, and operating system security. • Managed team of associates to ensure quality, accuracy, and consistency of testing and documentation. SAP Management of Internal Controls (MIC) Subject Matter Expert Organized and coordinated client's documentation requirements utilizing SAP Management of Internal Control (MIC) tool. Responsibilities included executing reporting functions, updating controls and control attributes, updating test plans and test results, and providing detailed status documentation to upper management and client. • Utilized four-day SAP training course and self-study investment to become one of four subject matter experts in the use and functionality of the SAP Management of Internal Controls (MIC) tool. • Developed and led multiple training sessions for client and PwC team on updating control documentation, performing design assessments, and executing reporting functions within the MIC tool. • Produced daily, weekly, and ad hoc reports to upper management and client detailing testing status, documentation completion, and issue remediation. FORTUNE 500 EXPERIENCE Kodak Eastman, Bristol-Myers Squibb, Forest Labs, Unilever, Panalpina, Honeywell, International Flavors and Fragrances, Avaya, Amerada Hess, BASF Chemical Company, Ajilon, Computer Associates, Pearson VOLUNTEER EXPERIENCE Craft Afrika, Mentor (April 2012 to present) Nairobi, Kenya Craft Afrika is a social enterprise providing holistic support to entrepreneurs in the craft sector to foster sustainable self-employment in the creative industry. Mentors are a part of a 6-month mentorship program to act as a sounding board and offer guidance to young entrepreneurs. CraftAfrika.org Awesome Foundation Nairobi Chapter, Trustee (October 2013 to present) The Awesome Foundation Nairobi chapter is the only African chapter among a network 78 distinct chapters in 17 countries. The Foundation awards a monthly $1,000 grant to an applicant with an AWESOME idea. www.AwesomeFoundation.org INTERESTS Design and creative activities Traveling domestically and internationally Technology and innovation Networking Learning new languages Participating in athletics Broadening knowledge base REFERENCES References available upon request.