Kristen D. Barr is an accomplished Information Technology (IT) Program Director who effectively leads large-scale programs/projects sourced with global teams and multi-million dollar budgets. With 16 years of employment in the Financial Services and Healthcare sectors, she has delivered successful enterprise-wide implementations in dynamic and challenging environments for blue chip companies including JPMorgan Chase (New York, NY) and BlueCross BlueShield (Baltimore, MD). Kristen has experience managing enterprise-wide IT and cross-functional program implementations spanning Software/Hardware Development, System/Data Integration, Business Process Re-engineering/Automation, Legacy System Modernization, Audit Assessment & Remediation, Reporting and Procurement. In these roles, she guides a multi-team department made up of diverse resources to complete strategic objectives, and liaises vertically and horizontally across the organization, including with executive management and external entities.

In Kristen’s current role at CareFirst BlueCross BlueShield, she leads a dedicated team supporting project implementations and operational functions to meet mandated corporate and divisional goals. Her most notable recent project successes include:

• Managed large, cross-functional IT program that built a new Performance Audit Management system and replaced legacy technologies, resulting in a modernized solution consisting of streamlined data sourcing, processing, storage and reporting, integrated with business process workflow and robotic process automation tools
• Managed multi-million dollar program to execute a first-time Service Organization Control (SOC) 2 audit pre-assessment, system and process remediation efforts, and audit readiness activities that validated IT Security Controls across applicable Trust Service Principles
• Delivered Office of Personnel Management (OPM) and BlueCross BlueShield Association (BCBSA) Contract Quality Assurance reporting systems for a new Affordable Care Act (ACA) On-Exchange product offering called Multi-State Plan Program
• Drove the implementation of a large enterprise IT project utilizing over 75 resources across 21 teams, to automate and integrate data, payment processes, and reporting for special fee arrangements with other BlueCross BlueShield entities

Kristen is a certified Project Management Professional (PMP®) and Certified ScrumMaster (CSM®) where she integrates agile and project management delivery practices resulting in efficient project implementations. She has also attained the Advanced Project Management Certification from the International Institute of Learning. Additionally, she has earned a Business Systems Analysis Certification from the University of Colorado at Denver and has received the Microsoft Certified Technology Specialist (MCTS®) designation. She holds a B.S. degree in Computer Science from Spelman College with a Magna Cum Laude honor received in 2001. She is currently pursuing a Master of Science in Systems Engineering at Johns Hopkins University. Kristen’s technical expertise is also complemented with leadership skills making her a well-versed project management professional.

Throughout Kristen’s career, she has received various honors and awards including the CIO Leadership Excellence Award (CareFirst BCBS, 2016); nomination for the divisional SPIRIT Award for demonstrating company values (CareFirst BCBS, 2012); Employee Recognition Program Award for exceptional project management performance (JPMorgan Chase, 2006); and Service Star Award for excellent college recruiting efforts (JPMorgan Chase, 2005).



Outside of the corporate arena, Kristen is dedicated to community service involvement and youth mentoring activities. Kristen’s current service organization memberships include The Annapolis (MD) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated (where she holds leadership positions) and Alpha Kappa Alpha, Incorporated. In past leadership roles, she has acted as President of the Stoney Run Garden Condo Homeowners Association Board from and Event Coordinator/Fundraiser for DC’s Young and Powerful civic organization. Kristen is particularly passionate about mentoring youth and is a current mentor for Big Brothers Big Sisters of the Greater Chesapeake. Kristen has served in various other mentorship capacities including volunteering for the Metro-Manhattan (NY) Chapter of The Links, Incorporated Young Achievers Program and as one of the first mentors in the Pipeline Mentorship Program as a part of DC’s Young and Powerful civic organization where she coached students at Dunbar High School in Washington, DC.



Personally, Kristen enjoys playing piano, attending music and cultural events, running and cardio exercise, traveling, and spending time with family/friends. She is a native of Florence, South Carolina and currently resides in Hanover, Maryland.