Laura Cook
Vice President of Operations

Laura has over twenty years of program management and administration experience working within municipal and county governments and with architectural and engineering firms.

Ms. Cook possesses extensive expertise in program and construction management, including internal controls, project accounting, and contract compliance. She is highly skilled in managing administrative personnel and processes. Bringing an in-depth knowledge of governmental office structures to municipal service projects, Ms. Cook has been integral to the start-up of several multi-million dollar capital improvement programs.

Experience

Finance Officer
Renew Atlanta Bond/TSPLOST Program
City of Atlanta

Served as Finance Manager providing financial management services for City of Atlanta’s $250 million bond and $260 million TSPLOST program. Managed the Renew Atlanta Bond/TSPLOST Program accounting group, overseeing the development, implementation, and maintenance of the accounting systems. Responsible for maintaining, monitoring, and tracking, all funding, budgets, commitments, and expenditures. Ensured compliance for use of various funding sources. Established financial controls and procedures to allocate funding, administer budget reallocations, route requisitions/purchase orders, and process contractually compliant invoices.

Developed a Financial Activity System (FAS) to record all financial transactions related to funding, commitments, and expenditures. Produces monthly financial reports, ensuring accurate compilation, analysis, and reporting of accounting data and revenue. Completed monthly reconciliations of FAS to the City’s accounting system. Provided response and all required information to internal/external auditor requests.

Created Project Cost Data Report specifically for Project Controls for validation of funding, commitment, and expenditures at Work Breakdown Structure. Managed budget preparation, submittal, and administration. As part of E-Builder Core Team, responsible for development/implementation of new program management system. Worked with City of Atlanta (COA) departments to successfully transition City staff and salary-related costs for completion of Renew Atlanta Bond personnel papers.

Interim Invoice Compliance Manager
Atlanta Aviation Associates (A3)
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport
Capital Program

Directly supervised all functions performed by Invoice Compliance Group, including review and processing of invoices and the review of WAR/Task Orders.  Standardizes preparation-processing recommendations. Coordinated and modified functional operations to ensure compliance with and support of all client (DOA) requirements. Prepared management reports on status of various program initiatives and projects. Collected and provided invoice data to various program activities for development of financial controls and reporting. Served as liaison with client and their service providers for resolution of issues.

Invoice Compliance Manager
International Aviation Consultants, LLC
Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport Development Program

Responsible for contract compliance and documentation of consultant and contractor invoices for $6.4 billion capital improvement project. Monitored invoice routing, ensuring that project, administrative, and program managers met intermediate established invoice processing schedules. Tracked and validated invoices/fund ability in Development Program MIS and City of Atlanta MARS/G financial system. Reconciled City of Atlanta MARS/G financial system purchase order line balances with Invoice Audit and Compliance project balances. Also served as contract administration liaison to City of Atlanta’s Department of Aviation.

Contract Administrator
Atlanta Services Group
Joint Venture
City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management 

Responsible for invoice preparation for all joint venture firms and subconsultants. Duties included consolidating/validating time and expenses, compilation of invoices, project cost tracking, and check production and disbursement. Provided monthly project summary reports for all payments issued to joint venture firms and sub-consultants. In charge of EBO tracking and reports.

Project Manager
Jacobs Project Management Company
Cobb County, Georgia

Responsible for providing ongoing assessments and recommendations of current processes in order to develop written Standard Operating Procedures.  Assisted with development and implementation of a time tracking process.  Duties include the preparation of prime invoice to client, consolidating/ validating time and expenses, compilation of invoices, reporting costs, and EBO reporting.

Project Manager
City of Dunwoody, Georgia
Privatized Services

Responsible for key initiatives that resulted in newly formed City of Dunwoody being quickest new municipality start-up on record.  Provided oversight on all prime contract responsibilities. Performed office manager duties for city’s temporary offices, municipal court, and permanent offices. Coordinated set up of permanent offices. Processed all business license renewals and began revenue receipt. Served as Acting City Clerk and temporary Assistant to Clerk of Courts, expediting clerical and financial operations.

Program Consultant 
City of Atlanta Department of Watershed Management
Small Business Development Program

Provided support services to Small Business Development Program in helping small, minority, and female businesses compete successfully for work on Atlanta’s Wastewater System Improvement Program. Assisted in outreach and assessments of eligible firms and provides individual guidance to participants in operations management.

Client Support Accounting Contract Administrator 
JAT Consulting Services, Inc.

Provided ongoing accounting and financial management support and key monthly accounting services to various JAT clients. Prepared financial statements and produces project financial analyses. Monthly accounting services included review of contracts; invoice preparation and reconciliation; accounts payable and receivable support; payroll administration; expense tracking; and bank statement and general ledger reconciliation.

Education

ICMA Mid-Career Managers Institute 
DeKalb Community College

Computer Skills

Microsoft Office Suite
Expedition
MARS/G