Transitioned into a newly developed role of IT Director – Business Operations Lead, in which I am accountable for a broad range of business objectives and I fill multiple matrix team leadership roles.• As Business Operations Lead, I provide department leaders with recommendations and training to improve employee experience metrics. I determine key performance indicators and how to measure and visualize them. I developed and implemented training procurement process improvements that save over one million dollars on training expenses annually. I create executive-level presentations and deliver them to all levels of employees and leadership.• As a Technology Development Program leader, I directly managed 4 software development interns annually. The code created by the interns over two summers saved approximately $1.6M per year. Our efforts were recognized by the UnitedHealth Group CIO with a Make IT Happen award in November 2019.• As a University Champion for Optum, I created a matrixed team of 52 individuals focused on recruiting IT interns and graduates from St. Cloud State University. I delivered over 20 guest-lectures on campus. Our team received a “Top Employer” award from St. Cloud State University in 2019. I am also an active member of the Industry Advisory Board for the Computer Science department.• As an Optum Net Promoter System (NPS) Champion, I serve as a delegate to the divisional VP and lead a matrix team of 15 toward improving department and divisional Net Promoter Scores. I created and implemented closed-loop NPS processes within the division, and showed sustained success increasing our divisional Net Promoter Score by 14.9% over two years.• As the Emergency Response Team Lead for MN013, I created a matrixed team of 25+ individuals across business segments. I developed and implemented emergency response plans for our facility of 950 employees.

* Promoted to IT Director in newly created position responsible for 11 cross-platform IT support areas including server quality assurance, new technology preparedness, training and learning design, operational tools and automation, disaster recovery, device monitoring/management, device decommissions, M&A server support transitions, support application management and interim M&A operational leadership.* Manage an internationally dispersed team of 20-40 individuals including 4 managers providing leadership to drive toward a common operating model and moving all reporting teams to Agile methods in 2016. * Selected to host and lead the Organization’s all-leadership bi-weekly meeting with 100+ leaders based on demonstrated leadership and engaging hosting style. * Created and implemented an improved “State of the State” reporting method that enabled leadership the ability to enter, approve and promote successes, challenges and future plans to senior leadership on a consistent, timely basis.* Selected as the Optum Champion for St. Cloud State University as part of the Technology Development Program designed to recruit and attract STEM talent from colleges.* Maintained exceptionally high employee engagement scores while doubling the team size. * Played a key role as a member of 2 of 6 organizational transformation teams responsible for transforming a DevOps support model that utilized Agile SAFe framework.* Served as a Culture Ambassador and Champion.* Developed and implemented training standards for a team of 200+ employees.* Led decreases on money spent on training, saving $1.72M in 2015.* Successfully led scripting, development, automation and technical innovation efforts that saved 25,000 labor hours.* Conducted performance management including delivery of annual reviews while working in a strict budget for merit increases and bonuses.* Served as the acting IT Director for Mergers and Acquisitions during the transition of server support.

* Promoted to Senior IT Manager in newly created position and led a team of 17 employees, including 7 functional areas with Windows Server OS including QA, NTP/Training, Tools and Automation, Server/Device Monitoring and Management, Operational Disaster Recovery, Server Decommissions, M&A Server Support Transitions.* Managed a Merger and Acquisition Support Transitions team and the Server Decommission team that improved processes through automation, documentation and collaboration with teams across the enterprise.* Drove the achievement of an employee engagement score of 100% in 2011.* Oversaw a team of 17 leaders that successfully improved the “New Technology Preparedness” process, marketed through a video presentation and adopted at an enterprise level. * Successfully published 200+ training and meeting videos from 2010 to 2013 that extended the capabilitys for shifted coverage globally.* Reduced the footprint of “broken” monitoring agents from 10% of the managed environment to <1% through Closed Loop Incident processing (CLIP) and other methods.* Recipient of a “Make IT Happen” Award for playing a key role in developing server QA software. * Developed a comprehensive process to on-board off-shore hires after opening an office in Hyderabad, India.* Gathered and published metrics that set a precedence for other teams to follow to help improve metrics for accurate reporting to the business. * Recipient of a Certificate of Recognition and nominated for “UHG Make IT Happen Award”, 2009.* Recognized for a Certificate of Appreciation for contributions to annual DR test from the Director of Enterprise DR, 2012.* Awarded the “Super Hero” Award for valuable contributions to annual disaster recovery test from the Sr. Director of Server Operations, 2011.

* Promoted to IT Manager In newly created position and led a team of 4 to 7 individuals, including 3 functional areas (Server QA, New Technology Preparedness/Training and Tools and Automation).* Created all functional teams from the ground-up, developing job roles for individual contributors.* Responsible for performance management, working to effectively stay within budget for merit increases and “rewarding results” bonuses.* Developed a “New Technology Preparedness” process that ensured the supportability of all new technology supported by the Server Operations Team. * Created video-based training for the team, which successfully saves 100’s of hours for the training staff and allowed off-shift workers to view missed courses and meetings.

* Served as a Training and Operational Readiness Team Lead that developed and implemented a one-week training curriculum for new hires and successfully decrease the learning curve from 12 to 3-months. * Developed and implemented training for new technologies and new standards, policies and procedures focused on increasing efficiency. * Supported and troubleshot hardware and OS on 7,000 MS Windows servers globally and VMware servers using VMware Virtual Center v2.x and v3.0.* Provided 2nd level support for Network Appliance NAS Filers. * Successfully automated the TSM backup client, resolving processes with MS Visual Basic Scripting Language that saved 8 hours of administration time per day. * Installed, configured and troubleshot Arcserve, Veritas Backup Exec/NetBackup and TSM Software configuration.* Led and performed successful real estate moves and data migrations. * Working in collaboration with the HP Openview team to streamline alarm definitions in the Windows Server environment.

Currently a hobby that was once a business.Bill-sharing highlights include shows with Bill Dankert (Gear Daddies) on 7/20/2001, Grant Hart (Husker Du) on 9/30/2001, opening for Har Mar Superstar (NME Rock and Roll Man of the Year 2004) on 1/10/2003 and headlining for Maroon 5 on 5/01/2002.Venues include: The Turf Club (St. Paul, MN) The Uptown Bar (Minneapolis, MN) The Lab (St. Paul, MN) The 400 Bar (Minneapolis, MN) O'Gara's Garage (St. Paul, MN) The Fineline Music Café (Minneapolis, MN) The Terminal Bar (Minneapolis, MN) The Reverb (Cedar Falls, IA - SOLD OUT) The Cabooze (Minneapolis, MN) 7th St. Entry (Minneapolis) The 49'er (Omaha, NE) Red Carpet (St. Cloud, MN) Dibbo's (Hudson, WI) First Avenue (Minneapolis, MN - Headline) ...and many others...Record Releases:"No Frills" EP (2004) - Limited release"This is How Things Work" (2004) - available on CD, and all digital/streaming platforms (Amazon Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)."Feels Like it Should" (2021) - available on all digital/streaming platforms (Amazon Music, iTunes, Spotify, YouTube Music, etc.)....and many limited release demos and samplers.

Worked on a small founding committee that conceived and created a print media magazine focused on local music, arts and culture.Primary job duties included writing full-length articles and record reviews. Secondary job duties included guerrilla marketing and magazine distribution.

* Successfully configured, installed, maintained and troubleshot Windows 2000 servers.* Maintained and troubleshot Novell 6.0 servers and NDS and configured and troubleshot HP Integrated Lights Out Cards.* Attached Windows 2000 servers to the Xiotech Magnitude SAN.* Performed 2nd level support for Wells Fargo applications.* Racked and cabled new HP Proliant G3 servers.

Responsibilies Included:MS Windows Server and LAN administrator for 60 servers (400 Servers prior to closing of MSP data center).Migration of 400 servers from MSP to PHXClosing of Minneapolis Corporate Data CenterEscalation point for other MS Windows EngineersIncident and Problem Management and remediationCitrix AdministrationSoftware experience included:MS Windows Server OSBackup ExecArcserveMicrosoft ExchangeMicrosoft DHCPMicrosoft DNSCitrix

Lead a team of 3 onsite techniciansSmall to medium company IT resourceTroubleshoot IT issues as an onsite tech

LAN administrator for 1000 Windows and Novell servers

Responsibilities included:Setup of Windows Desktop and Server OS for external customers.Setup of Novell Server OS for external customers.Hardware installations on desktop and servers.

Summer internship program through 3MResponsibilities included:Business Unit LiasonMS Windows OS Installation, Maintenance and troubleshooting.Lotus Notes client installation and troubleshootingTroubleshooting of all Desktop OS and application related issues.