MARA SMITH

30 Sterling Road, #3 | Waltham, MA 02451 | (781) 736-7866 |

www.linkedin.com/in/marasmith1
Product Instructor
Field-tested product instructor invested in the corporate student
Professional Summary
Accomplished, credible Technical Training professional who delivers practical kn
owledge that makes recipients more productive. Consistently high evaluation rati
ngs from technical and management audiences. Committed to each student quickly g
aining a deep working knowledge of the product along with increased confidence.
Brings experience with diverse technologies and wide variety of customers. Thriv
es on taking products from internal beta through "out the door" customer trainin
g.
Specific strengths:
* Training program design and delivery, evaluation and re-design
* International training: India, Central America, Israel, Asia, Europe
* Innovative in-person classes and virtual instruction
* Familiar with diverse cultures and social mores
* Instructional materials development
* In-the-field facilitation, consultation
* Wireless, VoIP
* Technical skill development
* Persuading attendees to go beyond their technical comfort level
* Broad corporate experience, from Fortune 500's to small start-ups
Technology Expertise
VoIP, Softswitches, IP Networks, Servers, Clients, Hosts, Routers, SS7, SIP, PBX
, CRM, ACD, Call Centers, Unified Messaging, Wireless, Prepaid, Ethernet, Cornet
, T1, E1, ISDN, CTI, IVR, UNIX (environment)
Experience
Sonus Networks, Westford, MA
Provider of next-generation networks carrying nearly 40% of all IP-voice traffic
worldwide
Senior Technical Instructor
2005 - 2009
Taught interactive courses (Basic and Advanced VoIP software/hardware) to the to
p operations staff and product users of telecom companies throughout the world.
* Consistently received the highest participant ratings from tough audiences.
* Adjusted delivery and course content that met the differing needs of the cust
omers' technical students for both software and hardware.
* Created technical modules and hands-on curriculum for Softswitch and trunking
platforms.
* Rare blend of ROI focus and real-world field time in students' jobs.
* Traveled extensively to facilitate training initiatives on-site in Malaysia a
nd Fiji.
* Fit into a long-established team at Sonus Networks, quickly becoming a contri
buting member and increasing team productivity.
Spectel (Avaya), Andover, MA
Worldwide creator of audio conferencing solutions
Technical Corporate Trainer
2004 - 2005
Training for OEMs and enterprise accounts: UNIX, software, systems integration
* Designed and delivered 3-day customized training courses for 7 technical appl
ications and services modules.
* Counted on for expertise on integration of premier conferencing and voice ove
r IP hardware and software with various connected communication platforms.
* Troubleshot hardware bridge at each account, and solved any discovered proble
ms.
* Analyzed industry-wide training and developed documentation that incorporated
new product releases, updates and current industry standards.
* Introduced best practices to the training process and incorporated trend fore
casts that ensured clients could adapt Spectel conferencing solutions to future
needs.
Mara Smith Consulting, Needham, MA
Developed, facilitated and led groups of up to 70 high tech and engineering prof
essionals in soft skills training that enhanced their ability to succeed in diff
erent job roles
Trainer and Facilitator
2002 - 2004
* Successfully taught resistant audiences industry knowledge and best practices
, networking, personal presentation, job search strategy and lead generation ski
lls.
* Built a strong infrastructure and broadened the training offerings, which rai
sed the level of training, and facilitation that resulted in a 60% increase in a
ttendance.
* Motivated attendees to maintain high energy and personal productivity.
SchlumbergerSema (Priority Call Management), Wilmington, MA
Technical training for this information technology services company
Corporate Trainer/Instructional Designer, Customer Training Group
2000 - 2002
Taught all levels of UNIX-based system courses on wireless, call process and pre
paid applications to internal and external domestic and international customers.
* Designed and delivered interactive, technical seminars to all in-house and re
mote technical teams and external clients; trained and oriented new hires.
* Collaborated with technical managers to assess needs and create training mate
rials.
* Led team for specified hardware and software pipeline projects; contributed h
eavily to needs assessment and planning for assigned technical projects.
* Documented and presented new technical programs and applications.
Siemens, Lowell, MA
Worldwide provider of telecommunications hardware and software
National Configuration Specialist/
Sales Engineering Department
1997 - 2000
Resolved all customized configuration issues for marketing teams
* Created 100 custom telecom applications monthly, producing $25K-$800K each.
* Key player on the first national virtual team that engineered all telecom pro
posed projects to sales engineers throughout the U. S.
 * Performed final integration analyses and approved hardware and software desig
ns nationwide for all product levels.
Software/Systems Designer
1995 - 1997
* Planned and executed application configurations and switch engineering with N
ortheast and Midwest Telecommunications/IT directors.
* Designed and taught in-house technical courses.
Prior to 1995
IBM/Rolm, Burlington, MA
Provided high level account management and technical applications support to 325
clients including other IBM locations and the Federal Reserve Bank
Software Applications Consultant/Service Department, Sales Engineer/Marketing De
partment
Education
B.A. in Psychology and Education
Marymount College, Tarrytown, NY