Join us this month as we sit down with Amye Mercer, our dynamic PMO manager. Amye and her team have been instrumental in driving GDT projects towards success. Her leadership has helped foster a collaborative work environment where her team is able to communicate transparently and hold each other accountable to achieve their goals. Let’s dive into her story.
How long have you been with GDT, and what does your role entail?
Amye: I joined GDT in February 2023. I first joined to support a client’s programs and became the EOS program manager. I was soon promoted to PMO manager where I am now managing a team of project managers, senior project managers, project coordinators. I am also overseeing project portfolios in the Service Provider space. I enjoy coaching, mentoring, and using my experience to help members of my team grow.
Wow. It is awesome that you have already seen professional growth in your short amount of time here! Can you describe your team and its dynamics?
Amye: My team is amazing. They each bring strengths to the table such as diversity, collaboration, and knowledge-sharing. I have team members across Dallas, Washington, and even Florida.
Your team is spread out! Can you share a past or current GDT project or accomplishment that you’re particularly proud of?
Amye: Absolutely! I am most proud of the team on a specific Support EOS project. They have achieved the highest number of device replacements in a live network than any other year in the program, all while maintaining quality and mitigating impact to the customer network. This accomplishment was driven
through transparency, collaboration, open communication, and project efficiency.
You mention transparency, which is especially important to a PMO role. Our core value of October is “We Promote Transparency.” Can you share an example of how clear and open communication has helped you be successful in your role?
Amye: The programs and projects that my team are responsible for executing have high visibility; we must have clear and collaborative communication. We work closely with customers and cross-functional teams to drive those deliverables, so clear and open communication is the key to our success. Transparency has been the key to our success in building relationships and trust with our customers.
Being transparent with cross functional teams and the customers is key to our success and is involved in every step of the process: in forecast, schedule, issues uncovered that can impact the customer network, and creating solutions. Successful deployments and building trust with the customer ultimately leads to more scope with our customer.
Transparency has been the key to our success in building relationships and trust with our customers.
So clear communication and transparency play a significant role in your space. How do you ensure open communication within your team?
Amye: I feel like open communication is driven by trust and respect. I ask for feedback and listen to each of my team members’ needs and concerns. I provide encouragement and challenge my team to hold me accountable.
Did you look at our core values before this interview? You are spot on! What other aspects of our organizational vision, mission, or values resonate with you?
Amye: Well, I have to be proactive in my role! Customer relations is passion of mine, and I believe in building that relationship with trust and driving success with our projects. That also comes by embracing collaboration and believing in accountability. To drive success, we have to be accountable for our decisions and actions.
To drive success, we have to be accountable for our decisions and actions.
We wouldn’t be successful without the collaboration within our cross-functional teams, customers, and partners. I believe collaboration and accountability drive customer satisfaction and relationships
I believe collaboration and accountability drive customer satisfaction and relationships
I always say we have to call ourselves and those around us to excellence to be accountable and collaborate. What do you enjoy most about working at GDT? What motivates you to come to work every day?
Amye: The culture and kindness of every team member in the organization. Specifically, the can-do spirit and willingness to help us accomplish our goals. It feels like one big family. What motivates me every day is that I love a challenge, and each program comes with its own risks and challenges.
I love that; it is great to see your impact here day in and day out. What’s a fun fact about you that most people may not know?
Amye: When I’m not working, I raise mini belted Galloway and high belt cattle. High belts are a combination of belted Galloway and Scottish Highland, so they look like fuzzy panda cows! It started with one pregnant cow and a bull calf and now have two bulls, two steers, four cows, and two are pregnant! I also raise bees, and this is just my second year!
That is so awesome. I love those cows! Where would you say is your favorite place to be or travel to?
Amye: My favorite place to be is with my family on my ranch, but my favorite places to travel to are the beach in Port Aransas, Texas, or the mountains in Colorado or New Mexico.
I love the mountains in Colorado. Finally, what advice would you give the younger you?
Amye: That is a good one. My advice would be there is a distinct difference between being nice and being kind. You don’t always have to be nice, but you should be kind, believe in yourself, don’t be afraid to take risks.
We are fortunate to have Amye leading our PMO, and we look forward to many more achievements under her guidance. Thank you, Amye, for your dedication and for being a true leader in every sense. Learn more about GDT’s vibrant culture and explore our career options by visiting Life at GDT.
