Makram Farah, Consultant

Makram Farah

Consultant

-

Location
Lebanon
Education
Bachelor's degree, Business Computing
Experience
18 years, 4 Months

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Work Experience

Total years of experience :18 years, 4 Months

Consultant at -
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • My current job since January 2018
IT Manager at Ampersand Education s.a.l
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • March 2014 to September 2017

- Led the planning and design of information technology solutions, and the development of various educational solutions including e-Testing platform, Registration System, ebooks publishing, Question Bank System, HR system, etc.
- Revamped the company’s internal infrastructure (serves architecture and telephony systems) and pushed toward the implementation of office 365
- Defined processes and tools best suited to each project. Moved between agile and SCRUM methodologies depending on project specifics and client goals, creating detailed project road maps, plans, schedules and work breakdown structures
- Managed all information technology activities and services, and leading the information technology team in this capacity, including hiring, training, mentoring, and supervising
- Played a key role on the implementation of multiple Learning Management Systems
- Developed IT strategic plan with action plans and budget (capex/opex) projections
- Supervised project teams including, business analysts, programmers, testers, and other internal staff
- Prepared several presentations which were instrumental in highlighting product features during client meetings
- Quickly built relationships with customers and gained their trust, to the point of being recognized at customer events
- Managed the preparation of major customer proposals through analyses of customer requirements as articulated in the RFPs and collected from contacts and competitive analysis
- Completed estimates and bids for projects ranging from $70, 000-3, 000, 000
- Met regularly with existing and potential clients to monitor and evaluate progress and assess requirements
- Identified, negotiated with and managed outside contractors and vendors, building productive relationships that enabled projects to be completed within agreed time frames.
- Participated in various conferences/forums/exhibitions, including BETT Show in London

Project Manager at Sabis Educational Services
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • August 2009 to February 2014

- Planned and successfully executed projects as per time, cost, and quality objectives
- Managed the development of Student Management Systems and ensured their proper implementation across Sabis School Network (U.S, Europe, North Africa, Middle East)
- Led the implementation of PowerCampus solution at Sabis University
- Participated in the development of various Sabis products such as: student book, student tracker, student grading, exam management system, integrated testing and learning, teacher timetable, online diagnostic test, failed concept exam, student digital assisstant, attendance and discipline modules, school 360 overview, regional monitoring system, student life organization, and others
- Defined projects scope, objectives and deliverables to support business objectives in collaboration with senior management and stakeholders
- Identified and managed projects risks and dependencies
- Planned and scheduled projects timelines and milestones, and estimated resources needed
- Defined required skills and managed the projects’ internal and external staffing
- Assessed projects’ and people performance
- Developed progress reports, proposals, requirement documentations and presentations
- As SEPG member, identified and streamlined CMMI procedures
- Member of team responsible of ensuring ISO standards
- Participated in multiple conferences/forums, and attended BETT Show in London yearly

Operational Consultant at Span-SNS
  • United Arab Emirates
  • October 2007 to July 2009

-Responsible for providing technical support to Project Managers and clients in the identification of technical requirements and the delivery of configured and test Supply Chain solutions
-Working on-site with clients from initial project stages through system installation and conversion.
-Handled different projects such as Danzas, Agility, MCT, Bayader, Ducab, Planet Pharmacy, etc.
-Document functional and non-functional requirements based on interactions with customers.
-Create functional designs and prototypes based on analysis of requirements.
-Review and test completed modifications for functional accuracy.
-Provide training to customers and internal resources.
-Estimate/plan activities and efforts associated with the functional requirements.
-Perform data loading/configuration tasks.
-Participate in information gathering and business review sessions with customers to understand overall project goals.
-Assist Support Analysts with issue resolution.
-Participate in sales presentations and demonstrations.
-Write user manuals and configuration documents.

Software Development Coordinator at M.O.Gandour & Sons s.a.l.,
  • Lebanon - Beirut
  • March 2007 to September 2007

-Developing HR, Sales and Finance Reports using JDE
-Development of a Windows Mobile application with the integration of different modules (Loading, Invoice, Receipt, Inventory, Barcode Reader, Synchronization through GPRS … )
-Training over 50 salesmen on the usage of the application.
-Creating Excel Reports that read from SQL Cubes.

Assistant Project Consultant at FIDELIS Consulting
  • Lebanon
  • October 2005 to February 2007

-Closely coordinated CRM projects for multinational clients such as British American Tobacco (BAT), and Nestle Middle East.
-Supervised customer identification activities for both clients, with a team of 4 people.
-Developed contact reports and followed up on customer driven strategies.
-Hardware assembly, network installation and maintenance.
-Development and implementation of internal CRM Software using VB.net and SQL server 2005, with the integration of different modules (Barcodes, Print Labels, Call Center, E-mails, Reporting, etc.)
-Installation, configuration and maintenance of Windows 2000/2003 Active Directory as well as TCP/IP, NAT, Basic firewall, DNS, Users, Groups, Network Monitor and LAN/WAN network.
-Development of a Windows Mobile application.
-SQL Database Administrator.
-Training and Supervision.

Education

Bachelor's degree, Business Computing
  • at Notre Dame University
  • June 2005
Diploma, Sciences Experimentales
  • at Collège Des Apôtres
  • July 1998

Specialties & Skills

Management
IT Management
Software Development
PHOTOSHOP
Crystal Reports
Infor WM
Microsoft Access
MS OFFICE
Oracle’s JDEdwards EnterpriseOne
DataScope
Visual basic 6

Languages

Arabic
Expert
English
Expert
French
Expert