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Cassandra McDonald

Majored in Individualized Studies, Minored in Speech Communication, Psychology
Buffalo State, Class of 2014
From Kenmore, NY
I am a former management professional with 15+ years of experience and related education.

Community is very important to me.

Of equal importance to me are matters of civic duty and civics education in schools, the preservation of our US Constitution and Bill of Rights, Libertarian ideologies and principles of freedom and limited government, free markets, and various modern-day Conservative values.

I believe that in most cases, success is no accident. Instead it takes hard work, perseverance, learning, experience, and sacrifice.

In recent years unfortunately an unpredictable, disabling neurodegenerative disease has resulted in my untimely departure from the workforce. Causing a variety of challenges, the disease has adversely impacted my level of independence. Further compounding its complexity is the fact that while some of my disease symptoms are quite visible, others are less easy to detect. This sometimes results in a general misunderstanding of the disease itself.

In a society where most define themselves by the work they perform, I now find myself continually redefining myself not by my work, but by who I'm discovering myself to be personally.

My transformation from full-time professional to self-care is an ongoing process. Hence, I welcome any connections with whom I can pursue meaningful interaction and/or personal growth.

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Cassandra Smith Honored at Buffalo State Honors Convocation

Cassandra Smith of Tonawanda, NY was among a select group of Buffalo State students whose academic achievements were recognized at the college's annual Honors Convocation held on April 16, 2015. Sm...

April, 24 2015 - Buffalo State
Cassandra McDonald was recognized for graduating
Regents Diploma with Magna Cum Laude Honors
Added by Cassandra
Cassandra McDonald was recognized for earning a spot on an honors list
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Cassandra McDonald was recognized for earning a spot on the Dean's List
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Cassandra McDonald was recognized for graduating
Bachelor of Science Degree with Magna Cum Laude Honors; Individualized Studies Major with Dual Minors in Speech Communication, Psychology
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Cassandra McDonald was recognized for graduating
Human Resources Professional Certificate
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Cassandra McDonald was recognized for studying abroad
FORSPRO Foreign Study Abroad Program 4-Week Madrid, Spain with Germany, France Each course 40-45 classroom hours + museum gallery visits, guided city tours and excursions. Spanish Art, Spanish Culture & Civilization
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Cassandra McDonald was recognized for earning a scholarship
The Coverall Foundation Scholarship Program Winner 2005-2008 The Coverall Foundation The Coverall Foundation Scholarship Program recognizes the academic achievements of the dependent children of Coverall Cleaning Concepts Franchise Owners and contributes toward their college education. Winners are selected by an independent scholarship program administrator on the basis of exceptional academic achievement, community service activities, involvement in extra-curricular activities and a personal statement, and must maintain an overall grade point average of 3.0 or higher on a 4.0 scale to be considered for the award.
Added by Cassandra
Assistant Manager Sales Operations at AAA Western and Central New York

I managed daily operations and supported outbound calling (OBC) programs to achieve targeted retention rates, membership growth, and support OBC projects and initiatives for various business lines, working directly with Sales Operations leadership to ensure that the outbound calling programs provide a member experience that is consistent with the club's objectives.

Managed daily operations of all OBC initiatives within the Member Contact Center (MCC) and Business Development (BD) space

Managed, coached, mentored, and supported Business Development Representatives (BDRs) including associate schedules, verifying and reporting incentives, holding monthly/quarterly performance meetings, and creating/delivering accurate, timely performance reviews

Collaborated with Sales Operations leadership to establish sales objectives for BD projects and initiatives, monitoring results and reporting to management

Monitored Sales Operations budget to achieve revenue and expense targets

Analyzed data to establish ROI for projects and initiatives, ensuring BD sales standards are met

Collaborated with business line leadership to transition identified projects to business line associates

Managed relationships and liaised with outside vendors

Collaborated with MCC leadership to train, coach, mentor and support MCC Sales Specialists on systems, procedures, processes and initiatives, establishing and maintaining OBC performance parameters

Identified opportunities to improve efficiency and effectiveness of key business processes including working with IT to resolve irregularities

Collaborated with HR/Learning & Development to recruit, develop, and retain associates who align with the AAA Way, conducting interviews, assessing applicant's capabilities, and recommending best candidates

Collaborated with internal auditors to satisfy inquiries and audit requirements

November 2010 - February 2018
Digital Telesales Consultant at LocalEdge

I partnered with nationwide business owners to help identify which types of media products would attract new clients to their businesses, while emphasizing return on investment.

August 2010 - October 2010
Inside Sales Representative at LocalNet Corp.

I handled inbound telesales of full product and service line offered by LocalNet Corporation; understanding and anticipating client need, demonstrating product features and benefits to a diverse range of clientele.

August 2009 - August 2011
Store Manager at Family Video

I managed all day-to-day operations associated with the running of a smooth and efficient retail establishment with particular focus on customer service, leadership and staff development, employee morale, and store security.

February 2008 - August 2009
Applied Psychology and Interpersonal Communication
It is hypothesized that a correlation may exist between an individual’s knowledge of applied Psychology and his or her ability to effectively communicate interpersonally. To test this hypothesis, a short survey was administered to a cross-section of the local population. The survey consisted of multiple-choice contextual questions that measured the respondents’ interpersonal communication competence. The assessment results were organized by two categories – those with formal knowledge of applied Psychology and those with little to no knowledge of applied Psychology – to reveal possible correlations between an individual’s knowledge of applied Psychology and his or her ability to effectively communicate interpersonally. For the purpose of this assessment, individuals with formal knowledge of applied Psychology are those who indicated that they have taken at least one college course in Psychology or those who indicated that they are practicing and/or majoring in the discipline of Psychology.
Research Projects
Ethics and Leadership
As international businesswoman, human rights activist and environmental campaigner Anita Roddick once said, “Being good is good business.” The phrase is simple, and true. Ethics have become a priority in the workplace, and organizational leaders are socially obligated to engage in ethical leadership. In reviewing several scholarly articles on ethical leadership, interviewing three strong-minded, seasoned leaders, and reflecting upon the many areas of content presented to me in Instructor Chameli’s Organizational Communication course, I learned that ethics is indeed the heart of leadership (Mullane). I was able to draw parallels among Instructor Chameli’s Organizational Communication course content, the related scholarly articles I chose to review, and the personal testimony I collected while interviewing local business leaders. Such findings of comparison and contrast are of relevance to any aspiring professional – especially an aspiring leader.
Presentations

Honors List

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