Strategic Portfolio Management

The SPMO manages the lifecycle of enterprise technology initiatives across the VPCIO's portfolio, including:

• IT Change Management
• Relationship Management
• VPCIO Project Management

We collect and analyze project data to prioritize work, plan resources, and support informed, transparent decisions with our VPCIO and campus partners.

We ensure IT projects and change initiatives deliver measurable value through:

• Disciplined governance: Clear oversight and decision-making processes.
• Data-driven analysis: Evidence-based selection and prioritization.
• Accountability: Projects and change initiatives delivered on time, on budget, and in scope, aligned to best practices.
• Continuous improvement: Regular evaluation of processes, patterns, and outcomes.

The SPMO brings structure and transparency to every stage of IT projects and change initiatives, from selection through completion. We ensure technology investments directly support UB's academic, research, and operational mission as a leading R1 institution.

• Ensures all IT infrastructure and service changes follow a standardized, well-governed process to reduce risk, maintain stability, and coordinate communications effectively.
• Provides visibility into upcoming changes, coordinates scheduling to reduce conflicts, and supports strategic decision-making around risk tolerance and service impact through close partnership with the Change Advisory Board (CAB).

• Applies best practices across the project lifecycle to deliver projects on time, on budget, and in scope.
• Establishes and matures standards that guide project management approaches, methods, and practices.
• Leads the PM Community of Practice by facilitating sessions to share best practices, explore emerging technology, and promote project management standards across the VPCIO area.

• Outreach & Engagement: Facilitates communication among VPCIO units, campus stakeholders, governance groups, and distributed IT partners to ensure shared understanding of priorities and capacity.
• UBIT Portfolio Reporting: Delivers transparent, data-driven reporting on project progress, risks, dependencies, and resource utilization to enable accountability and proactive course-correction.
• UBIT Project Intake & Review: Ensures projects enter the pipeline in a structured, consistent manner, enabling clear evaluation and prioritization based on institutional impact, resourcing, and strategic alignment.
• Decision Making: Supports decision-makers through structured reviews rooted in data, risk assessment, resourcing needs, and alignment with the VPCIO strategic plan.

Portfolio Management & Prioritization: Matches IT projects and programs to UB's strategic goals and available resources.

Project Governance & Oversight: Delivers project value through structured reporting, milestone monitoring, and risk assessment.

SPMO Team Members:

• Kari Costelloe -  Manager, Strategic Portfolio Management
• Anne Eberle - IT Change Manager
• Bethany Gladkowski – IT Project Manager
• Kathleen Murphy - IT Relationship Manager