I have been a part of the software industry for over 24 years and during that time I have played a number of different roles. I started my career as a co-op student at the University of Manitoba, working for companies such as IBM and Microsoft. I then was lucky enough to spend the next 14 years at EISI (which later turned into Zywave and Advicent). There I learned a ton by moving through different roles, from starting as a developer, to leading both small and large projects, to leading people, and eventually becoming a Software Architect. In 2012 I took on a brand new challenge by moving over to the Product Management department and taking on the role of Product Director for the company's flagship product, NaviPlan. This was a completely different world and a great learning experience which has made me a stronger leader.In 2014 I undertook a new challenge as the Director, Development for Payworks. Starting with a team of just 14 developers, I had the opportunity to build some structure and process within the Development team in order to support our rapid growth. As of April 2024, the team has expanded to over 60 developers with a multitude of different roles and responsibilities. In May of 2018 I moved into the role of Vice President, Development, and took responsibility for the Business Analysis and Quality Assurance departments, and then later the Product Support department as well, with a total team size of over 100 people. My title and job description has changed many times throughout the years, but my primary focus has always been to try and make those around me better at what they do. I love building things, whether that is software, teams, or anything else. I love to read and learn about leadership, especially if its through the world of sports. Unfortunately the more I learn about it the more I realize how little I know. But I try to focus on becoming a better leader every single day.
