Brad Ackerman Email & Phone Number

Greater Seattle Area

Managed IBMi and UNIX/LINUX software development teams responsible for the design, development, implementation, integration and support of internally developed applications and third party packages for the Retail, Accounting and Supply Chain business units. * Successfully managed the merger of two IBMi development teams and put new organization structure in place. Worked with multiple IT and business teams to update and implement processes and procedures for development activities and task prioritization including converting from a typical Waterfall SDLC to an Agile (Scrum) software development methodology. * Provided end user support and training including 24x7 global store, retail leadership and corporate systems application support. * Worked collaboratively with Retail, Accounting and Supply Chain business units and led development teams to successfully deliver many key projects including e-commerce initiatives in support of sales audit, warehouse and supply chain management, retail sales transaction processing and reporting, automated retail item replenishment, web based retail applications, retail store master data, exception based analysis and reporting, credit card transaction and settlement processing and a multi-year program to upgrade and globalize key systems. * Partnered with IT Operations, Production Control, System Planning and Technical Support teams to foster better teamwork, improve the IBMi environment, ensure PCI and SOX compliance, perform OS and HW upgrades, move production operations to new data centers and implement high availability and disaster recovery solutions. * Managed project and development efforts to implement integration and daily activity file processing with third party gift card and loyalty vendors. * Managed engagements with software vendors and consulting companies including direct oversight of on-site and off-shore development resources utilized for multi-year program and sustainment.

Greater Seattle Area

Took on additional responsibilities for managing the AS/400 development team and account management for the Sales Audit, Retail Operations, Retail Inventory, Merchandise Planning and Partner & Asset Protection teams. * Worked with business units to implement new solutions and enhance existing ones. These systems included Sales Audit, Retail Inventory, Retail Workbench, Arthur Planning and PA, Advanced Store Replenishment and Exception Based Reporting. * Continued to manage retail initiatives including web based Retail Calendar, Cup Labeler, Wearable POS, Dual Drive Thru, Express Ordering and Order Confirmation systems. * Mentored partners on the team to assume most of the day to day project management responsibilities. * Managed development of web based store reporting, manifesting and cycle/coffee count solutions. * Transitioned System ESS Order Management sustainment and support responsibilities to my team along with two Oracle development resources. * Provided overall technical direction and leadership to the team in order to improve system operations, stability, performance and to provide the business with increased functionality.

Greater Seattle Area

Transitioned production support team responsibilities to new manager and focused primarily on managing POS technology initiatives. * These included new custom POS solutions for newly acquired stores, retrofitting over a thousand stores with new back office PC, POS and Drive Thru hardware, upgrading and piloting new wearable POS system. * Managed the technical integration of newly acquired Hear Music stores and upgraded their systems to be Y2K compliant. Required vendor negotiation and coordinating activities of internal partners and multiple vendor consultants. * Served as team representative to the PMO and mentored another partner to assume this role. * Managed platform development efforts as part of the Millennium System Program and coordinated retail store installation activities for POC, Pilot and Rollout.

Greater Seattle Area

Team included QA role and application/system support role for the store POS and CBP systems. * Created and grew support help desk to provide 2nd and 3rd level store systems production support and utilized resources for POS break fix software development. * Used support role to mentor and allow entry level programmers to gain experience. * Developed and implemented new processes, procedures and tools for the QA and production support teams that allowed them to be more efficient and effective.* Managed all phases of POS software release projects and mentored partner on the team to take over this role. * Worked with external vendors to evaluate and implement platform changes for the store POS systems including wireless POS, handheld/wearable POS, POS networking and new POS models and printers. * Liaison to Retail Operations, Systems Architecture, Help Desk, End User Support, Operations and Technical Support IT teams to ensure alignment. * Contributed to the department budgeting process and reduced cost of ownership for store POS equipment.