Bill Connors Email & Phone Number

Denver, Co, Us

Morristown, New Jersey, Us

Lead software and hardware product development teams for an award-winning design and development professional services firm. Implemented systems and practices that significantly improved team collaboration and client outcomes. Created and maintained alignment among all stakeholders through excellent communication and leadership skills. Key technical contributor throughout all stages, from conception through commercialization.✔ Rapidly unblocked a stalled Edge AI Field Surveillance Camera R&D project, resulting in success for the client and over $3M in additional new development contracts for our firm. Managed the pivot to a new system technology architecture and development of a bench prototype in 8-weeks, and the development and deployment of field prototypes in 12-weeks. Subsequent R&D successes include integration with proprietary 4G, 5G, and mesh radio communications networks, implementation of improved AI models, reduction of system power draw, and cutting-edge low-light capabilities. ✔ Managed the development of medical electronic devices in compliance with ISO-60601 standards, including a medical laser system that stimulates healing and a wearable device that mitigates symptoms of chronic vertigo. ✔ Managed software development projects for clients in medical, consumer, military, and industrial spaces.✔ Implemented new systems and practices that significantly improved team collaboration and client outcomes, including systemically increasing the accuracy of project proposals, implementing team collaboration software tools, maintaining scope discipline, promoting interpersonal communication, and changing team culture. ✔ Instituted KPIs of project Realization Rate and individual Utilization Rate, and cultivated team awareness of their importance. R% is 96% across the 23 projects I have led. The average U% for our engineers has increased to 89%. ✔ Created a revenue forecast model for the software + hardware team that has proven accurate within 2%.

Drove product management and development efforts, devising product roadmap and driving prioritization. Oversaw corporate legal and financial functions along with establishing manufacturing operations. Composed customer surveys and coordinated product field trials to gather feedback. Partnered with CMO on digital marketing and sales tests. Managed professional services firms and teams of contractors.✔ Established and recruited 2 co-founders to this consumer SaaS and hardware startup company, helping families develop healthy screen time habits for life, raising $2M in early-stage capital.✔ Conceptualized and developed an innovative universal screen time manager (patent pending). Validated product concept and refined onboarding experience and UX/UI through successive cohorts of beta testing. ✔ Drove the development and commercialization of consumer electronic product from scratch in 6 months. ✔ As product visionary, collaborated with UI/UX designer and developer to deliver a clean and intuitive user experience.✔ Wrote comprehensive business plan and developed detailed 5-year company financial models for various business models and go-to-market strategies.✔ Initiated product evaluation with a major internet service provider.✔ Partnered with CMO on 4 digital marketing and sales tests, building and refining marketing funnels to demonstrate viable customer acquisition costs along with gaining greater insight into consumer needs.✔ Selected to complete the highly competitive Rockies Venture Club Accelerator program in 2020, undergoing intensive training and mentorship from recognized leaders in the CO tech startup ecosystem.

Demonstrated entrepreneurial mindset while founding and accelerating growth of church startup. Established culture and model to attract highly educated and accomplished professionals across multiple industries. Recruited, onboarded, and developed key leaders, including board members, assistant pastors, and ministry directors. Managed board, staff, and congregational communications. Led people strategy, including designing and executing all hiring practices. ✔ Leveraged strong revenue forecasting and fiscal discipline to manage rapid-paced organizational growth.✔ Increased membership from 0 to 600 by nurturing congregational trust and loyalty. Expanded annual giving to nearly $1M by building a reputation for transparency and demonstrating institutional generosity to lead by example.✔ Assembled and led a high-performing, unified team, growing from 1 to 11 paid employees and 300 active volunteers.✔ Launched second congregation with strong emphasis on racial reconciliation and local community service, further expanding and prioritizing Denver Presbyterian's diversity.

Newark, Delaware, Us

Appointed as first product manager to commercialize and launch product. Shaped customer-driven product and technology strategy. Created and implemented marketing strategies. Managed IP strategy. Created and maintained alignment among product development, manufacturing, marketing, and sales teams. Trained and supported domestic and international sales teams. Retained as part-time consultant creating strategic product plans, conducting market research, and developing retail sales programs.✔ Championed launch and explosive growth of Elixir® Guitar Strings. Elevated maker of Gore-Tex® products from new entrant to market leader by introducing disruptive technology that dramatically improves player experience while reducing total cost of use and environmental impact of consumable product.✔ Rebuilt technical and operations team from scratch following operations relocation from AZ to DE, including onboarding marketing leader, marketing communications manager, manufacturing leader, and European sales leader.✔ Secured 45% of US market share in acoustic guitar strings in 5 years and 30% of US market share in electric guitar strings, yielding $22M in 2003 sales.✔ Accelerated player product adoption and sales growth by conceiving program and approach to build partnerships with leading guitar manufacturers like Taylor Guitars. Overcame Elixir-specific marketing challenges and point-of-sale merchandising problem, tripling sales the month after Taylor began shipping product.✔ Established brand identity and voice that resonated with players, drawing on experience as an avid guitarist to ensure all visual and verbal communication appealed to target market.✔ Drove development and launch of new product versions that became leading products in the line.✔ Designed and implemented major promotional programs to drive customers to retail stores & websites. Gained distribution in over 4,000 US retailers while earning a reputation for fairness and generating significant loyalty.

Newark, Delaware, Us

✔ Expedited product design iteration, dramatically accelerating learning curve and decreasing time to market as Gore’s first engineer to utilize digital prototyping and 3D printing.✔ Awarded 2 US patents for novel reflective products as technology and product design leader.✔ Created prototype and production-level manufacturing processes for materials and finished products. ✔ Earned DuPont Plunkett Award for fluoropolymers innovation. ✔ Obtained 1 US patent for hazardous fluid handling product.

Bs, Mechanical Engineering

Master Of Divinity (Mdiv)