About Expertise Experience Education Community Contact
CSM Certified · 15+ Years
Senior IT Project Manager

LURA
J.
CHASTON

Infrastructure · Agile · Enterprise Technology

Driving complex, enterprise-wide IT and infrastructure projects from discovery through delivery — with precision, clarity, and measurable results.

View Experience Get In Touch
15+
Years Experience
$1M+
Project Budgets
8
Organisations
9 Families Reunified
Lura J. Chaston - Senior IT Project Manager
About Me

ENTERPRISE
EXCELLENCE

"A results-driven Senior IT Project Manager with 15+ years of enterprise-scale experience leading technology, infrastructure, and e-commerce transformations."

Currently serving as Infrastructure Project Manager at Associated Wholesale Grocers, Lura leads complex, critical, and enterprise-wide projects supporting corporate IT and warehouse operations. Her career spans Fortune 500 companies including Hallmark Business Connections, Lexmark International, and 27Global.

With expertise across Agile and Waterfall methodologies, stakeholder communication, risk management, and multi-million dollar budget oversight, Lura consistently delivers on-time, within-scope outcomes. She is a Certified ScrumMaster (CSM) with deep experience in Salesforce Commerce Cloud, AWS migrations, Azure DevOps, and large-scale network infrastructure.

Agile / ScrumWaterfall & HybridRisk ManagementBudget OversightStakeholder CommsSDLCTeam LeadershipE-Commerce
Core Expertise

WHAT I DELIVER

Project Leadership

End-to-end ownership of enterprise-wide projects — from initial intake through final execution — aligned with corporate strategic objectives.

Agile & Scrum (CSM)

Certified ScrumMaster delivering epics, user stories, retrospectives, sprint reviews, and Kanban-based workflows across cross-functional teams.

Budget & Risk Management

Managed project budgets up to $1M per project with proactive risk identification, mitigation planning, and financial reporting to executive leadership.

Stakeholder Communication

Creating and delivering executive-level project status reports and facilitating cross-functional alignment across clients, teams, and vendor partners.

IT Infrastructure

Managing networking, server, and security projects; improving network reliability, scalability, and performance in enterprise warehouse and corporate environments.

E-Commerce & Cloud

Led Salesforce Commerce Cloud integrations and AWS cloud migration programs using cross-functional Agile teams with complex scope and budget management.

CSM CertifiedOffice 365Microsoft ProjectGoogle WorkspaceSmartsheetPlanviewSlackAzure DevOpsJiraSalesforce Commerce CloudAWSSDLCScrum & KanbanSharePointSalesforce.comOpenAir
Career History

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

Jul 2022 – Present
Associated Wholesale Grocers
Kansas City, KS
Infrastructure Project Manager
  • Lead complex, critical, and enterprise-wide projects supporting corporate IT and warehouse divisions.
  • Meet with clients and business analysts to clarify specific requirements for networking, server, and security projects.
  • Develop comprehensive project plans shared with stakeholders and team members.
  • Track project performance to analyze successful completion of short- and long-term goals.
  • Meet budgetary objectives and adjust project constraints based on financial analysis.
  • Anticipate, identify, and escalate risks, issues, and resolution/mitigation plans.
  • Create and deliver project status reports to executive leadership, highlighting key milestones and achievements.
  • Accountable for the entire contract lifecycle from initial project intake through final execution.
  • Led network optimization initiatives improving network reliability, scalability, and performance.
  • Collaborated with network engineers and architects to define project scope and objectives.
Nov 2021 – Jul 2022
27Global
Leawood, KS
Consulting Manager
  • Managed multiple medium-to-large custom software development projects simultaneously.
  • Completed project discovery, created business requirements documentation, and managed AWS e-commerce migrations.
  • Owned contracts, proactively managing risk, resources, and budget to maximize client satisfaction.
  • Led teams through Agile processes producing epics, user stories, retrospectives, and test plans.
  • Oversaw project capital expenditure and managed offshore technical teams.
  • Cultivated and maintained excellent client relationships while mentoring project team members.
Jul 2017 – Nov 2021
Hallmark Business Connections
Kansas City, MO
Program Manager
  • Led IT projects and programs working directly with Hallmark Creative, Marketing, and Operations. Average project budgets: $500K.
  • Managed a large-scale e-commerce project integrating to Salesforce Commerce Cloud using cross-functional Agile teams.
  • Utilized Agile and Waterfall methodologies across project selection, cost management, risk management, and resource allocation.
  • Created a Standard Operating Procedure for change orders and scope management.
  • Managed IT assessment, planning, contingency planning, and disaster recovery programs.
  • Served as Culture Committee Chair, planning initiatives increasing cultural awareness and employee engagement.
Oct 2014 – Jul 2017
Lexmark International
Lenexa, KS
Project Manager
  • Managed up to 15 concurrent projects with budgets up to $1M each using waterfall and hybrid methodologies.
  • Established baseline budgets, timelines, and client expectations from project initiation through delivery.
  • Oversaw Lexmark Implementation team ensuring all services met timeline, budget, and technical objectives.
  • Managed client relationships across scoping, implementations, upgrades, and legacy data migrations.
Mar 2014 – Oct 2014
Service Management Group
Kansas City, MO
Project Manager
  • Coordinated research efforts, developed insights, and delivered presentations to client executives.
  • Aligned internal resources to meet project objectives on time and under budget.
  • Delivered SharePoint training to internal teams, developing documentation and increasing productivity.
Jan 2013 – Mar 2014
Netsmart Technologies
Overland Park, KS
Sr. Delivery Consultant
  • Clearly documented all work as part of client deliverables using a professional documentation approach.
  • Contributed in a leadership capacity, sharing knowledge and proactively identifying team and client issues.
  • Participated in team financial objectives by maximizing efficiency and maintaining billability.
Nov 2010 – Jan 2013
Hallmark Cards Inc.
Kansas City, MO
Business Development Consultant
  • Investigated new solutions to business problems, documenting business cases and reducing expenses.
  • Led SharePoint rollout throughout Hallmark organisations, replacing legacy platforms and processes.
  • Developed and interpreted process models for use by the Business Development and IT community.
  • Supported multiple Agile development projects with enterprise-level SDLC experience.
Oct 2007 – Nov 2010
Hallmark Business Connections
Kansas City, MO
Project Manager
  • Provided subject matter expertise for Salesforce.com, OpenAir, and SharePoint applications used by HBC business partners.
  • Gathered requirements, designed feature-based systems, and supported the full development life cycle.
  • Communicated project status to teams, stakeholders, and management; mentored others in project management processes.
Academic Background

EDUCATION & CREDENTIALS

Bachelor of Science
Computer Information Systems
Missouri State University — Springfield, MO
Professional Certification
Certified ScrumMaster (CSM)
Scrum Alliance — Agile Frameworks: Scrum & Kanban
Giving Back

COMMUNITY OUTREACH

2009 – Present
CASA Volunteer / Guardian Ad Litem

Responsible for monthly home visits, court hearings, and continuing education for up to two caseloads. Successfully reunified nine families over 10 years. Participated in the CASA Host Committee for 8 years, serving as Co-Chair in 2014 and 2015.

2018 – Present
KC STEM Alliance Mentor & Volunteer

Participates in Project Lead the Way (PLTW) Mentor Makers program supporting Kansas City area young women in Science, Technology, Engineering, and Math. Participates in quarterly panels with local high schools on workforce skills, creative thinking, and innovation.

Get In Touch

LET'S CONNECT

"Open to conversations about enterprise IT leadership roles, consulting engagements, and speaking or mentoring opportunities."

Use the contact form to reach out. All enquiries are welcome — please describe your enquiry in detail so Lura can respond efficiently.

Location
Kansas City, Missouri
Response Time
Within 2 Business Days

SEND A MESSAGE

All fields are required. Please describe your enquiry fully.

Please enter a valid email address.
Please enter a subject.
Your message must be at least 10 words.
✓   Your message has been sent. Lura will be in touch shortly.