Garrick Plaisted | Certified Scrum Master and Freelance Web Developer

Garrick Plaisted

Scrum Master

Dynamic and results-driven Scrum Master with more than 10 years of experience in Agile coaching, workshop facilitation, and guiding teams through successful Agile transformations. Certified as a Scrum Master (CSM) and Scrum Product Owner (CSPO), with deep expertise in Scrum, Kanban, and Scrumban frameworks. Proven track record in leading cross-functional Software Development and Service Delivery teams, driving productivity, efficiency, and continuous improvement through Agile ceremonies and best practices. Adept at utilizing Agile project management tools such as Jira, Trello, and GitHub Projects to maintain transparent, organized backlogs and workflows. Skilled in facilitating engaging Agile workshops, sprint planning, retrospectives, and daily stand-ups. Expert in leveraging metrics and data-driven insights to foster informed decision-making and optimize team performance. Strong advocate for Agile values, promoting a culture of collaboration, shared understanding, and ongoing improvement.


Work Experiences

Scrum Master & Kanban Lead

Wells Fargo
June 2023 - Present

As a Scrum Master & Kanban Lead at Wells Fargo Technology, I lead multiple cross-functional Agile teams, ensuring the successful delivery of technology projects through consistent adherence to Agile, Scrum & Kanban principles. I guided teams through key Scrum & Kanban ceremonies, including sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, and retrospectives, while collaborating closely with Product Owners to prioritize backlogs and refine and estimate user stories to align with business objectives. I played a pivotal role in fostering a culture of continuous improvement by facilitating Agile workshops, coaching teams on Scrum best practices, and driving performance improvements using data-driven insights. Additionally, I devised and built innovative Jira and Confluence dashboards, as well as a Team Maturity Rubric and Radar charts, which have been adopted across multiple areas within Wells Fargo Technology to track team progress and enhance transparency. My contributions extended beyond individual teams, partnering with senior leadership to remove impediments and support the ongoing Agile transformation across the organization.

  • Leed Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, daily stand-ups, backlog refinement, retrospectives) to drive successful Agile delivery.
  • Devised and built custom Jira and Confluence dashboards, enhancing visibility into project progress and metrics that were adopted across multiple areas of Wells Fargo Technology
  • Developed a self assesment Team Maturity Rubric and Radar chart that was adopted by multiple teams across Wells Fargo Technology to help teams measure the progression and areas of opportunity in their Agile maturity
  • Facilitate Agile workshops and coach teams on best practices, promoting continuous improvement.
  • Collaborate with Product Owners and team to prioritize and refine user stories, ensuring alignment with our OKRs.
  • Utilize Jira and Confluence to manage transparent, organize project boards and communicate with the theam and stakeholders.
  • Partner with leadership to identify and resolve team impediments and support Agile transformation initiatives.
  • Promote a culture of collaboration, self-organization, and accountability across teams.

Scrum Master

Synapse Studios
Oct 2020 - Oct 2022

As a Scrum Master at Synapse Studios, a leading Web and Mobile App development company, I served multiple mobile app development teams, driving efficiency and ensuring the successful delivery of high-quality applications. I facilitated Agile ceremonies, including sprint planning, backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and retrospectives, while coaching teams in Agile principles to foster an Agile mindset and enhance collaboration. My focus on improving team efficiency through Agile and Scrum methodologies led to streamlined project management and higher productivity. I worked closely with teams to identify impediments and devise solutions, enabling smooth paths to delivery. Additionally, I facilitated Example Mapping sessions to evolve the team’s Behavior Driven Development (BDD) processes and conducted A/B testing experiments to validate new features. I leveraged data and direct customer communication to inform and validate decisions, ensuring that development efforts were closely aligned with user needs and business goals.

  • Facilitated Scrum ceremonies (sprint planning, backlog grooming, daily scrums, sprint reviews, and retrospectives) for multiple mobile app development teams.
  • Implemented Agile and Scrum methodologies to enhance project management efficiency.
  • Identified impediments and collaborated with teams to remove blockers and ensure on-time delivery.
  • Facilitated Example Mapping sessions to support Behavior Driven Development (BDD) practices.
  • Coached and mentored teams on Agile principles, fostering an Agile mindset and the adoption of appropriate Scrum practices.
  • Conducted A/B testing experiments to validate potential new features and drive innovation.
  • Used data insights and direct customer feedback to guide and validate feature development and decisions.
  • Promoted a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and Agile best practices across all teams.

Scrum Master

Prizelogic
Aug 2019 - Jan 2020

As a Scrum Master at Cyberitas, I played a pivotal role in guiding multiple teams through their Agile journey, coaching them to refine their Scrum processes and adopt more effective practices. I facilitated Agile ceremonies such as Daily Stand-ups, Sprint Planning, Story Refinement, Retrospectives, and Release Planning, helping teams stay aligned, productive, and adaptive. In close collaboration with the Product Owner, I managed sprint priorities and backlog refinement, ensuring that the teams remained focused on high-impact work. I provided clear communication of project progress and key metrics to stakeholders, maintaining transparency and trust. My focus on risk management and removing impediments allowed teams to continuously improve and meet their goals more efficiently. Additionally, I facilitated cross-functional team discussions, ensuring smooth coordination and resolving any challenges that surfaced.

  • Guided and coached teams in adopting and evolving Agile practices to enhance their delivery capabilities.
  • Tracked and reported key project metrics to stakeholders, ensuring clear communication of progress and outcomes.
  • Facilitated core Agile ceremonies, ensuring teams were aligned and focused on delivery.
  • Collaborated closely with Product Owners to manage sprint planning and backlog prioritization.
  • Removed obstacles and managed risks, empowering teams to work more efficiently and deliver consistently.
  • Facilitated discussions across cross-functional teams, driving resolution of challenges and promoting collaboration.

Scrum Master

Cyberitas
June 2018 - May 2019

At Cyberitas Technologies, I served as a Scrum Master for cross-functional teams focused on web and mobile application development. I played a key role in driving Agile transformations and improving team efficiency through Scrum methodologies. I facilitated all Agile ceremonies, including Sprint Planning, Backlog Grooming, Daily Stand-ups, and Retrospectives, helping teams work cohesively and deliver high-quality software on time. My work contributed to the development of high-performing, scalable digital solutions across industries, ranging from mobile apps to AI-powered enterprise systems.

  • Coached and mentored multiple teams in Agile principles, enhancing their understanding of Scrum processes and optimizing their workflow for efficiency.
  • Facilitated key Scrum events such as Sprint Planning, Backlog Refinement, Sprint Reviews, and Retrospectives, ensuring all team members were aligned on project goals.
  • Worked closely with Product Owners to manage the backlog, prioritize features, and ensure clarity on sprint objectives.
  • Removed impediments and mitigated risks, enhancing the team's ability to deliver software efficiently and effectively.
  • Spearheaded cross-functional discussions to foster collaboration between development, design, and product teams.
  • Tracked and communicated project metrics to key stakeholders, ensuring transparency and alignment with business goals.

Scrum Master, Sr. Web Developer, Supervisor

Mesa Public School
Aug 2009 - Jan 2015

At Mesa Public Schools, I spearheaded an impactful Agile transformation within the Web Development department, driving significant improvements in productivity and fostering collaboration across departments. A critical achievement was leading a comprehensive web accessibility overhaul for the district’s vast website, which included over 1 million pages of content. This initiative ensured compliance with accessibility standards, promoting digital inclusivity for all users. I also oversaw the end-to-end management of various web services projects, ensuring smooth execution from discovery and design to development and deployment. By leveraging Agile methodologies, I implemented strategic process optimizations that fostered a culture of continuous improvement, aligning project outcomes with organizational goals.

  • Agile Transformation: Led a successful Agile transformation across the Web Development department, significantly improving team collaboration and productivity.
  • Web Accessibility Leadership: Directed the web accessibility overhaul of the district’s website, ensuring compliance and digital inclusivity for over 1 million pages.
  • End-to-End Project Management: Managed the entire project lifecycle for web services, ensuring seamless coordination from discovery through deployment.
  • Process Optimization: Optimized workflows through Agile practices, driving continuous improvement and aligning team efforts with district-wide goals.

My Latest Blog Posts

image
How to Run Effective Scrum Retrospectives: Tips and Tricks

Scrum is an agile framework that is widely used in software development projects. It is a flexible and iterative approach that emphasizes teamwork, co...

Read more →

image
Kanban: What it is and How it Can Help Your Business

In today's fast-paced business world, it's essential to have efficient processes in place to ensure that everything runs smoothly. One way to...

Read more →

image
The Importance of a Scrum Master in Agile Project Management

Agile project management has become increasingly popular in recent years, as it offers an efficient and flexible approach to project management. Withi...

Read more →