1. ARIS J. KIHARA
Edmond, OK 73034 | (253) 951-6824 | ajkihara@gmail.com
PROFILE
Driven and accomplished Program and Project Manager with strong experience managing budgets, schedules,
resources, and teams assigned to projects impacting companies on an organization-wide level. Record of success
overseeing a wide variety of change management initiatives including compliance training, equipment rollouts, forms
revisions and operating platform transitions as wells as retail distribution management projects including signage, new
construction, renovations and divestitures. Consistently deliver results that surpass expectations. Demonstrated
expertise in building business relationships, influencing professionals at all levels, and improving processes. Outstanding
leader who develops remarkable talent among team members. Excellent written and verbal communication skills.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BANK OF AMERICA, Seattle, WA and San Jose, CA 1979 – 2015
VP and Senior Change Manager – Consumer and Small Business Banking (Seattle) 2004 – 2015
Manage programs and special projects in support of retail distribution strategy for banking centers and ATMs franchise-
wide. Influence and communicate across all levels of management, stakeholders, Centers of Excellence, lines of
business, and vendor partners to establish and meet program and project goals, create management routines and
reporting, and improve end-to-end processes.
Notable programs and projects include:
Retail distribution programs pipeline management: Managed pipeline for retail distribution strategy projects
(more than 2,500) and programs (17) in Jan 2015. Revised tracking process to increase visibility at project and
program levels to improve risk identification and mitigation.
Banking center consolidation program: Managed a portfolio of 500+ center closures and reductions in service
over two years. Exceeded closure goals year over year; completed franchise-wide improvement goal of 760
closures over four years.
Banking center divestitures: Transitioned banking center operations as part of the divestiture of 20 banking
centers to three buyer banks. Achieved 98% on-time turnover.
Remote ATM program: Oversaw 230+ ATM installations over 2.5 years, surpassing installation objectives year
over year.
Associate readiness: Managed staffing and training for 300+ new store openings, relocations, and renovations.
Achieved plan goals and expected performance results.
New banking center builds and major renovations: Directed 50+ new build and renovation projects for the
Western region. Met or exceeded planned opening dates.
Accomplishments/Special Projects:
Directed the retrofitting of 2,000 banking centers to a new media delivery system, resulting in an in-year spend
reduction of $800,000 and $9 million in savings through 2014.
Managed space reallocation project for 2,100+ associates occupying space in 1,900+ banking centers, resulting
in an estimated $2.4 million in occupancy expense savings for the banking center channel.
Spearheaded removal of 460+ online banking kiosks and tickers from 400+ banking center locations in support
of annual cost avoidance of $2 million.
Chosen by senior leaders to manage internal associate satisfaction team in response to survey results.
– Identified priorities for 2009, launched sub-teams assigned to individual priorities, conducted focus groups,
organized resulting feedback, and rolled out nine action items.
– Results set the pace for the broader associate satisfaction effort.
Won Award of Excellence for consistently delivering results that exceeded expectations.
VP and Change Manager – Technology and Operations (Seattle) 1998 – 2004
Facilitated completion of large-scale projects across multiple lines of business in support of merger between
NationsBank and Bank of America. Managed vendor relationships, project schedule, and budgets. Directed product
enhancements and full-scale conversions of systems, operations, computer equipment, and forms; initiatives impacted
associate populations of 8,000 to 32,000 team members across multiple lines of business. Administered project budgets
up to $40 million.
2. ARIS J. KIHARA
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PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
BANK OF AMERICA
VP and Change Manager – Technology and Operations – continued
Notable projects and accomplishments include:
Oregon national platform conversion: Drove startup of customer communications and other business teams, as
well as general ledger ticket team. Completed transition activities related to returned items, photo retrieval, and
statements in support of Oregon’s conversion to the national platform.
Northwest early equipment rollout: Installed new computers in Oregon, Idaho, and Washington banking
centers. Developed and managed project’s scope, plan, and $40 million budget; oversaw three vendors and a
client group of 50+. Managed workstation build and test, network upgrade, and equipment purchase and
installation; project impacted 6,000+ associates.
California general ledger ticket standardization: Designed, developed, tested, and distributed target tickets to
audience size in excess of 20,000 associates. Managed project scope, plan, $3 million budget, three direct
reports, two vendors, and a client group of 100+.
Received Staff Excellence and Customer Experience leadership awards for managing each project on time and
on budget and for developing strong project team members who were seen as top-ranked candidates to take on
future project assignments.
AVP and Performance Consultant – Consumer Bank, West Region (Seattle) 1996 – 1998
Served as lead performance consultant for a division of 14,000 associates.
Analyzed, recommended, and implemented performance improvement solutions focused primarily on
leadership development, risk management, process quality, and customer service.
Designed and developed national teller curriculum based on best practices from regional programs. Curriculum
was recognized as best in class following NationsBank/Bank of America merger and chosen as the national
curriculum for the “New Bank of America.”
AVP and Manager of Instructional Design – NW Training and Development (Seattle) 1991 – 1996
Supervised team of two designers and four training officers responsible for development and delivery of technical and
soft skills training curricula across the Northwest market (9,000 associates). Sample training areas included customer
service, telephone banking, payroll system, and loan center processing, and new hire training for personal bankers.
Earlier positions: (Seattle) Assistant Vice President and Training Manager, Consumer Call Center; Assistant Vice
President and Manager, Consumer Call Center; Manager, Wholesale Lockbox; (San Jose) Assistant Branch Manager;
Management Trainee; and Teller/Proof Operator, Utility.
EDUCATION / CERTIFICATIONS / TRAINING
SAN JOSE STATE UNIVERSITY, San Jose, CA
Bachelor of Arts in Business Management
Six Sigma Green Belt Certification
Information Mapping Training, Information Mapping, Inc.
Instructional Systems Design Training, Robert F. Mager & Associates
Customer Service Master Certification, MHI Global
TECHNICAL SKILLS
Microsoft Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Project, Visio, Outlook | SharePoint | Discovery | Ariba | Concur