As the visionary and creator of Sports Data Innovation LLC, an innovative startup in the fantasy sports industry, I demonstrated my entrepreneurial spirit, creativity, and expertise in envisioning and building a high-transaction product/service. Leveraging technologies such as NodeJS/NestJS, MongoDB Atlas, Dart/Flutter and many others, I was responsible for all aspects of architecture, design, development, database management, DevOps, and marketing.Key Achievements:• Identified a gap in the fantasy sports market and capitalized on the opportunity by envisioning, designing, and building a groundbreaking product/service.• Demonstrated innovation and creativity in utilizing cutting-edge technologies to deliver a high-performance solution for fantasy sports enthusiasts.• Led the entire end-to-end process, from architecture design to development, ensuring seamless functionality and user experience.• Built a robust database infrastructure to support data-intensive operations and facilitate efficient data management.• Orchestrated successful marketing strategies to drive awareness and adoption of the product/service.• Cultivated strategic partnerships to create synergistic business models, leveraging the unique capabilities of Sports Data Innovation LLC.

As the Software Solutions Business Line Leader at Burns & McDonnell, I demonstrated innovation, technology expertise, and exceptional leadership capabilities in driving the success of the company's software solutions programs (SaaS). Leading a team of 3 direct reports, I played a pivotal role in managing the software solution asset portfolio.Key Achievements:• Collaborated with clients to develop tailored technology strategies, aligning their immediate and long-term goals with innovative solutions.• Designed and delivered software and technology tools that empowered clients to achieve substantial bottom-line results.• Leveraged my extensive experience in strategy development, digital ecosystem design, data management and storage, and digital innovation to guide the organization.• Conceptualized and executed custom enterprise solutions for mobile, web, and desktop platforms, including licensable SaaS solutions.• Spearheaded the evaluation and architecture of a GIS-based software capability, transitioning from customer-specific, one-off development to a scalable and efficient SaaS model.

As the Director of the Digital Innovation Lab at Hallmark Cards, I led the transformation of their business model into the digital realm, leveraging open innovation methodologies and state-of-the-art technologies. With 4 direct reports, I served as the lead steward in translating the company's vision to the digital world and establishing a new paradigm of digital connection encompassing mobile, social platforms, websites, and application programming interfaces (APIs) for seamless integration with third-party partners and sites.Key Achievements:• Envisioned and brought to life "Closeness," a groundbreaking global open innovation ecosystem that fostered collaboration among customers, co-creators, partners, competitors, third-party vendors, social networks, and various touchpoints such as websites, stores, and mobile platforms.• Incorporated AI and machine learning technologies, including Google Cloud AI Platform training and prediction, to enhance the digital experience and provide personalized interactions.• Pioneered the development of an intelligent ChatBot infrastructure and a custom technology for machine learning, leveraging big data resources and integrating point-of-sale transaction data.• Leveraged open innovation APIs at every level, utilizing the Apogee platform to establish connections with strategic partners such as Walmart and integrate seamlessly with third-party websites.

As the E-Commerce Director at Hallmark Cards, I spearheaded the establishment of a new division called "Hallmark Digital," leading a team of 70 employees with 11 direct reports. In this role, I successfully revamped partnerships and hosting arrangements for the company's website, swiftly resolving critical business issues. With a $30 million annual budget under my responsibility, I drove significant cost savings and operational efficiencies through strategic technological transformations.Key Achievements:• Undertook a comprehensive re-architecture and conversion of the website, resulting in substantial cost savings by eliminating significant maintenance fees associated with IBM WebSphere and expensive IBM hosting and consulting services.• Successfully migrated the website to a Microsoft platform, leveraging SQL Server, MS Fast for search, and Microsoft eCommerce solutions. This transition not only reduced costs but also improved performance and scalability.• Designed and implemented a Flexible Front End (FFE) approach, harnessing the power of APIs to drive various touchpoints across the site. This innovation enhanced flexibility and allowed for seamless integration with external systems and services.• Led a cross-functional team to execute the technical overhaul, ensuring smooth migration and minimal disruption to the user experience.• Achieved cost savings in the millions of dollars, optimizing the budget allocation and maximizing return on investment.

Company Overview:ConsumerMED, Inc. was an entrepreneurial software startup revolutionizing consumer-directed healthcare. With a small team of 7-8 employees, our focus was on driving acquisition and innovation in the industry.Key Achievements:• Pioneered the design and management of our flagship product, collaborating with consultants, doctors, and vendors. Created compelling presentations to attract potential acquisition companies.• Transformed the healthcare industry's fundamental idea into an impactful offering that empowered consumers and healthcare professionals alike.• Built the entire service offering, employing cutting-edge technologies (.Net, MS SQL, SOA) and assembling a talented team. Navigated strategic decisions with the Board and founders.• Filed patents and developed an API-based platform that linked conditions, treatments, and relevant clinical studies. Led the creation of seamless back-end and consumer-facing interfaces.• Directed a team of 3 direct reports and provided mentorship to 3 indirect reports.• Established vital partnerships with data providers, coordinated subcontractors, and designed efficient rollout architecture.• Led marketing initiatives, delivering a user-centric consumer interface.

As the Senior Director of Field Automation at Ask Jeeves, Inc., I played a pivotal role in driving the growth and success of the company. Ask.com, originally known as Ask Jeeves, was an e-business founded in 1996 with a focus on question answering. During my tenure, I led the development and implementation of a massive intranet, akin to PeopleSoft, which remains in use by IAC (InterActiveCorp) to this day.Key Achievements:• Created and built a robust intranet ecosystem, along with the supporting organization, to facilitate the growth of Ask Jeeves as a multi-location, global, and publicly traded company.• Defined the strategic vision of the "Jeeves Wide Web" (JWW) and successfully led cross-functional teams to establish the necessary infrastructure (hardware, software, networking) and content systems to enhance company productivity, efficiency, and communication.• Spearheaded numerous projects leveraging the intranet infrastructure, developing internal content and process systems that significantly contributed to the organization's effective growth.• Played a vital role in transforming the intranet from a small-scale setup with one person and one PC to a robust environment serving a team of 25 individuals across 30+ servers, catering to the needs of every department within the business.

As the Director of Special Projects at Ask Jeeves, Inc., specifically within the Direct Hit division, I played a key role in driving various strategic initiatives across multiple areas, including Information Technology, Product Marketing, Development, and Operations. Tasked with assisting the CEO in the acquisition of Direct Hit by Ask Jeeves, I made significant contributions to the company's growth and success.Key Achievements:- Pioneered the creation of "Text Sponsorships," a groundbreaking concept that ultimately became Google's core business model. This innovative approach revolutionized the internet advertising landscape.• Led a team of 6 direct reports in developing a visionary product that catered to the unique needs of the internet advertising market. The first release of the product was successfully launched within an impressive timeframe of only six weeks.• Successfully expanded the Sponsorship Network, growing it to over 6 million pages per day, delivering impactful advertising solutions to a wide audience.• Built and led a dedicated Program Management team based in Boston, effectively coordinating efforts across various organizational functions. This ensured that products aligned with strategic goals and were delivered on time and within budget.

As the Chief Information Officer at Dickinson Theatres, Inc., I held comprehensive responsibility for all aspects of Information Systems and Telecommunications. During my tenure, I successfully built the IS Department from the ground up and established a robust theatre network infrastructure.Key Achievements:• Designed and implemented local area networks (LANs) in all 40 theatres, as well as the Home Office, ensuring seamless connectivity and data management across the organization.• Developed and managed a theater IP wide area network (WAN) using a cost-effective combination of Frame Relay, ISDN dial-up, and private line connections, effectively linking all theatres with the Home Office via IP.• Conducted a thorough assessment of each department, optimizing processes and implementing dozens of automated applications utilizing Lotus Notes and Microsoft BackOffice, resulting in increased efficiency and productivity.• Created the "dtmovies" brand, which evolved into the company's brand for value-added products and services, enhancing customer experience and expanding revenue streams.• Spearheaded the implementation of advanced ticketing systems, including the introduction of the first web-based ticketing in the Midwest, staying at the forefront of technological advancements.• Established a comprehensive Help Desk and support infrastructure to provide timely assistance to staff members and ensure smooth operations.• Implemented significant cost reduction measures, identifying opportunities for efficiency improvements and optimizing resource allocation.