Romona Y. Armstead, DASM, CSPO, has built a career defined by her ability to transform complex challenges into opportunities for growth, leading teams and organizations toward measurable success through business analysis and project management. As a business analyst and product owner with Koch Industries and Georgia Pacific, she plays a vital role in guiding projects within an agile framework. She collects technical business requirements from safety customers who rely on applications for inspections, ocean logs and change management. She also collaborates with industrial hygiene teams to translate their needs into user stories and acceptance criteria, ensuring coders deliver tools that meet practical demands. Beyond technical specifications, she supports customers in testing application functionality, analyzes the motivations behind intake requests and ensures enhancements align with company goals.
Ms. Armstead’s academic background has been central to shaping her career. She earned a Master of Science in organizational leadership from Brenau University, following a Master of Business Administration with a concentration in project management from the same institution. She began her academic journey at Clemson University, where she completed a bachelor’s degree in industrial education with a concentration in management. These degrees have provided her with a practical and theoretical foundation that continues to support her leadership roles in dynamic professional environments.
Before her position with Koch Industries and Georgia Pacific, Ms. Armstead worked as a professional project manager with Guardian of Georgia and Ackerman Security Systems. One of her most significant accomplishments during this time was leading the successful implementation of the We Suite system. Over a six-month period, she directed efforts to integrate sales, service and installation functions within the commercial division, ultimately connecting these elements to the financial system. This initiative streamlined operations, increased efficiency and demonstrated her skill in managing large-scale projects.
Ms. Armstead’s career also includes notable achievements, working as an ACE manager with Raytheon Technologies, formerly United Technologies. Through her leadership, the company’s safety score rose dramatically in a short period as she designed and implemented comprehensive safety programs. She also directed process improvements that enabled the company to advance from the lowest qualifying level to a silver recertification. Her ability to motivate cross-functional teams and instill accountability proved crucial to the company’s progress.
Ms. Armstead’s earlier positions included roles as project manager and process manager at Greensky, now part of Goldman Sachs. There, she contributed to operational improvements, streamlining systems to optimize efficiency and reduce waste. Prior to this position, she gained valuable experience in human resources and benefits within the textile industry, developing an early appreciation for employee engagement and organizational effectiveness.
In addition to her degrees, Ms. Armstead has pursued certifications that reflect her commitment to professional excellence. She is recognized as a disciplined agile scrum master and a certified scrum product owner, credentials that validate her expertise in agile methodologies and product ownership. These certifications complement her leadership style, ensuring she remains adaptable and effective in managing evolving technological and organizational landscapes.
Beyond her professional responsibilities, Ms. Armstead nurtures personal passions and family commitments. Writing provides her with a creative outlet, while her interest in lifelong learning has led her to enroll in a class focused on artificial intelligence for product owners. Her future goals include achieving certification in artificial intelligence, a step that will expand her capabilities as she prepares for the next stages of her career.
Throughout her career, Ms. Armstead has been guided by the values of perseverance, growth and service to others. She has demonstrated leadership that extends beyond technical expertise, influencing teams and individuals with her vision and example. Her journey illustrates the power of education, mentorship, and resilience in building a career that makes a meaningful impact.