Mike Strode Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Il

• Provided technical administration and entrepreneurial vision towards the establishment and expansion of timebanking as a practice of civic and social engagement within Chicago.• Cultivated partnerships with community organizations in order to facilitate the development of neighborhood anchors who might already be engaged in activities that seek to restore the civic and social commons.• Evaluated new opportunities to expand the engagement of the timebank against a commitment to its established mission, vision, and goals.• Established Solidarity Economies of Greater Chicago Working Group to facilitate resource sharing and centralized communication amongst organizations in Chicago working on community led economic practices and social enterprises.Mission• To promote and sustain a robust timebanking infrastructure which supports non-monetary transactions amongst individuals and organizations allowing a greater sum of the realized value of work to be retained and shared within local communities.Vision• To make social infrastructure visible within our communities. Social infrastructure describes the invisible bonds and relationships which constitute a generative capital that can be accumulated and circulated through timebanking.Goals• To improve the quality of life of members by linking them to a high value citywide database of skills and human assets.• To increase the accessibility of local skills pools to individuals, small businesses and community based organizations.• To develop and sustain a complementary community currency which decreases financial pressure, reinforces the fabric of trust and creates new opportunities for engagement between stakeholders within communities.• To develop a co-production pipeline which enables more agile delivery of human and social services by linking some recipients directly to services provided by members in their local communities.

The Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem initiative is dedicated to enhancing the capacity of the local cooperative ecosystem to generate genuine community wealth.In collaboration with the Democracy at Work Institute, we have launched the Chicago Worker Cooperative Developer Cohort through the Chicago Community Wealth Building Ecosystem Hub at UIC. This initiative aims to increase the number of worker cooperatives in Chicago while strengthening local capacity and expertise.Over a 12-month training program, cohort participants will develop a clear and effective project roadmap, enhance their development skills, and build relationships with experienced developers and technical assistance advisors who will support their journey.The cohort process includes: • Workshops • Skills-based Webinars • Goal Setting • Assignments • Coaching and Technical Assistance

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Managed a diverse portfolio of over 600 civic, social, educational, and mutual aid projects that collectively raised over $20M, supporting significant organizational growth from $2M under management from my start with the organization.• Designed comprehensive onboarding, support, community-building, and capacity-building processes for projects, enhancing operational efficiency and community engagement while streamlining support processes and improving project success rates.• Developed strategic partnerships with sectoral and institutional stakeholders, driving the long-term growth of our projects' social, financial, and cultural impact.• Provided thought leadership within the solidarity economy movement and cooperative networks, establishing Open Collective Foundation as a leading voice in the field.• Designed and implemented workshops and curriculum for the Solidarity School, improving projects' internal governance, operations, and participatory processes, including collaboration on the Full Circle Leadership training program, empowering groups to develop leadership structures aligned with their values.• Co-designed an equitable compensation structure for setting transparent team salaries, now a model for other organizations in the sector.• Facilitated internal governance processes, monitoring team dynamics and resolving conflicts, fostering a collaborative team environment • Provided backfill coverage for operational staff and the Executive Director, ensuring continuity during periods of staff unavailability or PTO.• Joined the Interim Leadership Team during the Executive Director transition, providing critical support and assisting the board in the search for new leadership.• Played a key role in transitioning the organization to a worker self-directed nonprofit, partnering with the Nonprofit Democracy Network and participating in their Collaborate to Co-Liberate cohort.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

The Mayor’s Office of Equity and Racial Justice has been leading a CWB Initiative to support models of local, democratic, and shared ownership and control of community assets (for example: worker cooperatives, housing cooperatives, community land trusts, community investment vehicles into commercial real estate, and more). As we move into the next phase of our work, the City of Chicago is looking to assemble a one-year advisory group made up of 12-15 individuals to help guide and advance the City’s CWB policies, strategies, and $15 million pilot project funded by the Chicago Recovery Plan.Roles & Responsibilities:• Advise on CWB pilot project design• Advise on CWB policy agenda• Advise on and help conduct broad community outreach strategy• Build the CWB skills and knowledge of government leaders• Review and contribute to a CWB report• Design democratic governance model for advisory council• Assist in meeting agendas and co-facilitate meetings• Serve as vocal champions and ambassadors of this initiative• Other responsibilities as discussed and mutually agreed upon

The Post Growth Fellowship was a nine-month opportunity to raise the visibility of the fellow's work while deepening our relationships with others who are leading the way towards a post-growth future. At the Post Growth Institute (PGI), they engage influential post-growth researchers, thought leaders, activists, artists, and entrepreneurs from a range of backgrounds, fields, cultures, histories, and geographies. The vision is to open up and broaden the conversation around post-growth ideas, information, and inspiration, in recognition that many post-growth approaches are emerging from, and continue to be stewarded in, the Global South and historically marginalized communities across the world.This fellowship consisted of:•Connection and Conviviality with other fellows• Offers and Needs Matching to support our work and collaboration around opportunities• Embodied, intellectual exploration of thematic and topical issues across our varied areas of interest• Access complimentary training opportunities run by the PGI.• Promotion of our published work & other aligned practices

Headwaters Apprenticeship was a three-month long, structured, hands-on learning experience for emerging anti-oppression facilitators that blended rigorous training with observation, roleplays, 1-on-1 mentorship, and opportunities to shadow experienced facilitators. Apprentices attended three Skill Up! Trainings, then learned and practiced concepts introduced with greater depth in a small group setting.Headwaters Apprenticeship consisted of:• Once a month 3-hour Skill Up! Trainings• Twice a month 3-hour cohort practice labs• Once a month specialization forums with all AORTA members and collaborators on topics like conflict work, race-based caucuses, and strategic planning• Once a month 1-on-1 1-hour coaching session with a mentor• Shadowing opportunities with AORTA facilitators in the field

Chicago, Illinois, United States

• Provided high-level technical support and troubleshooting services to faculty, staff, and students, enhancing user satisfaction and productivity across the university campus.• Managed the installation, configuration, and maintenance of hardware and software, ensuring optimal performance and reliability of over 500 university-owned devices.• Developed and conducted training sessions for university staff and students on new software tools and technologies, leading to a 40% increase in digital literacy among participants.• Implemented a ticketing system for IT requests that improved response time by 25% and increased user satisfaction ratings by 15%.• Collaborated with IT and administrative departments to align technology services with strategic university goals, contributing to a seamless digital transformation initiative.

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Drafted a map as part of a 13-member commission which would redistrict the 50 wards of Chicago in a more equitable manner that complies with legal guidelines for compactness and contiguity while keeping communities of interest and neighborhoods together

Chicago, Il

• Performed 2nd and 3rd tier on-site support and technical consultation in an Apple-G-Suite-Meraki environment for new Illinois subsidiary office.• Escalated tickets as necessary according to SLA and negotiated triage support for issues owned by third parties.• Provided imaging, rollout, testing and ongoing support for Mac OS X and iOS devices.• Developed policies and packages within JAMF Pro (Casper Suite) for improved performance of centralized device management and self-service functionality.• Provided technical insight on scaling and expansion strategies for office infrastructure including network support, wireless troubleshooting and video conferencing solutions.• Acted as technical liaison for vendors, suppliers and building management.• Negotiated terms of wireless service contract including line and device activation, leveraging available discounts and evaluating monthly usage to determine any changes to organizational plan.• Augmented user support and solution development with insight gained from both internal and external Knowledge Base material.• Performed device provisioning, activation and troubleshooting for Google Apps platform.• Managed onboarding, access provisioning, device support and application training for new employees.• Developed and presented training curriculum on for OS X and Google Apps to increase employee adoption and knowledge retention of productivity and collaboration functionality.• Provided training, development, coaching, and mentorship to junior analyst staff on technical troubleshooting, systems engineering, service delivery, and project management.• Developed and executed project management plan to facilitate transition and expansion of Chicago office including: negotiation of vendor agreements; procurement of hardware, software, and service solutions; implementation of backup and risk management strategies; and appropriate routing and processing of purchase orders internally.

St Paul, Minnesota, United States

The Cooperative Development Fellowship was a seven-month program targeted at individuals or consultants who would like to become cooperative developers, organizations wanting to add cooperative development to their services or incubate a cooperative, and other professionals who are interested in supporting cooperative development. This program was co-facilitated with Democracy At Work Institute.The Fellowship included:• Opening Retreat• 3 Intensive, In-Person Trainings• On-line Training Modules• Group Webinars with National Cooperative Practitioners• Local Site Visit (Twin Cities)• National Site Visit (Boston)• Project Design and Presentations• Coaching and Support• Closing Celebration

Pembroke Township, Il

• Served as a technical advisor on current and future technology implementation for Eco-Campus, rural and urban outreach programs.• Developed technical proposals for Board and Advisory Council on technology upgrades and opportunities which aided in evaluating their utility to the organization.• Assisted subcommittees with optimizing and aligning their processes with the limits of available technology.

Chicago, Il

• Developed front end processes to improve performance of Market Day tabulation, cashiering and checkout procedures including managing projects to implement point of sale and inventory management platforms while acting as primary liaison for merchant services provider.• Served as advisor to core committee on integrating front end processes with other roles in order to increase the throughput of customers who can be served by the market.• Advised membership subcommittee on implementing robust technical solutions which would help track, analyze and develop the membership of the Healthy Food Hub.• Provided input to the core committee on feasibility of proposals from other subcommittees of the Healthy Food Hub.• Developed communication strategy involving email and social media for 3000+ stakeholders to maintain consistent cross platform engagement on issues relevant to the mission of the Healthy Food Hub.• Managed point-of-sale upgrade from a patchwork of manual calculation methods to Clover system including development of consistent product naming schema, cultivating an operational process for onboarding new products, integration with a gift card program and training for other staff members within the Healthy Food Hub.• Provided technical consultation for the transition to EMV compliant infrastructure and software upgrades.

Chicago, Il

•Enhanced IT Support Operations: Successfully managed and escalated support tickets in alignment with IT SLAs, ensuring timely and efficient resolution of issues and maintaining high levels of customer satisfaction.•Strategic Leadership: Directed a team of service desk professionals, including student employees and interim analysts, focusing on onboarding, access provisioning, scheduling, and professional development, significantly improving team performance and service quality.•Cross-Team Collaboration: Excelled in negotiating triage support for complex issues involving multiple teams, adeptly maintaining open lines of communication with customers regarding the status of their problems.•Innovative Problem-Solving: Leveraged both internal and external Knowledge Base resources to augment user support and solution development, enhancing the overall effectiveness of the service desk.•Technical Proficiency: Played a crucial role in the rollout, testing, and troubleshooting of the Calgary Patch 3 release for ServiceNow, improving system reliability and user experience.•System Administration and Support: Administered critical systems, including NSIT AAMS for account provisioning, Zeppo for Exchange mailbox quota management, and UC Listhost for email list configuration, ensuring optimal system performance and user compliance.•Process Improvement: Managed the service desk intake queue with an eye for detail, evaluating submissions for clarity, priority, and routing accuracy and adeptly allocating workload based on resource availability, significantly enhancing operational efficiency.

Greater Chicago Area

• Provided support for the Help Desk and Desktop Technician staff at Beam Global Spirits and Wines following the acquisition of new businesses from Allied Domecq.• Provided support for the Greater Chicago Auto Auction for the deployment XP migration/imaging of 20 new PC’s.• Provided support Bank One IS staff in the deployment and XP migration/imaging of 180 new PC’s during the Chase merger.• Managed a 7-day PC relocation project for the Facility Services division of the University of Chicago.• Provided support for LaSalle Bank IS staff during the hardware upgrade, XP migration/re-imaging, and implementation of their new Core Teller system on 90 new and previously deployed PC’s.• Provided on-site hardware upgrades and tech support for Dell servers under warranty service contract.• Provided consumer product consultation for product releases from Toshiba, Netgear, and Nvidia.• Provided support for the office of Senator Dick Durbin for the deployment, software setup, and network setup of a PowerMac G5 system.• Provided support for the firm of KPMG on the hardware upgrade and XP migration/re-imaging of 300 previously deployed laptops.• Provided support for Charter One Bank IS staff during the hardware upgrade, XP migration/re-imaging, and implementation of their new Branch Automation system on 30 previously deployed PC’s during the Citizen’s merger.• Provided support for NiSource during encryption deployment for 800+ laptops located throughout their industrial plants in Indiana.• Performed imaging, configuration and deployment of WYSE terminals on site at Stroger Hospital.

Chicago, Il

• Performed phone and remote support for members of the Northwestern Hospital, University and Foundation community.• Escalated tickets as necessary according to IT SLA’s when customers had not received adequate follow up.• Provided feedback for the updating of the knowledge base on common issues arising during first level troubleshooting of hospital applications including Cerner, GE Centricity, Peoplesoft and Sharepoint.• Maintained a 75% first call resolution rate on average volume of 1200 calls per month.

Chicago, Il

• Performed MAC (Move/Add/Change) deployments to ad agency users at both Leo Burnett and Merchandise Mart facilities including machine imaging, department specific device and application configuration and delivery scheduling.• Tracked and recorded asset information within Asset Management for newly deployed and recently upgraded devices.• Serviced overflow trouble tickets for users at both facilities and maintained updated ticket information in ServiceNow ticketing system.

Warrenville, Il

•Managed and resolved an average of 300 monthly calls using the Heat Service and Support Ticketing system, ensuring detailed documentation from creation to resolution.•Provided comprehensive global phone and remote support to over 3,000 users and on-site desk side support at the Warrenville headquarters.•Specialized in Blackberry Enterprise Server support, assisting field users with activation and synchronization issues to ensure uninterrupted mobile communication.•Coordinated with third-party solution providers for the resolution of issues beyond the direct scope of the Help Desk, enhancing service quality and reducing downtime.•Administered an Active Directory Infrastructure for a domain with 3,000 users, managing user accounts, security, and distribution groups, and Exchange mail accounts post-domain merger and consolidation, ensuring organized and seamless integration.

Deerfield, Il

•Spearheaded the resolution of an average of 450 calls per month using the Heat Service and Support Ticketing system, ensuring detailed documentation from initiation to resolution.•Provided comprehensive global phone support to 2,500 users across five continents and delivered specialized onsite support at the Deerfield headquarters.•Facilitated a seamless organizational transition to a unified, global virtualized Service Desk through cross-training initiatives in Clermont, enhancing efficiency and knowledge exchange.•Developed and conducted virtual training sessions using platforms like GoToMeeting and WebEx, elevating team capabilities and service delivery standards.•Created a detailed Knowledge Base for the Help Desk, outlining critical processes for global locations and supporting a diverse array of systems.•Fostered strong collaborative relationships within the MIS community at Beam and with partner agencies, enabling quick, coordinated issue resolutions.•Managed an Active Directory Infrastructure for 2,500 users across 2 domains, handling user account management, security adjustments, and Exchange mail account troubleshooting.•Offered team lead guidance, provided initial training, and served as an escalation point for Service Desk members, ensuring team efficiency and expertise.•Acted as the primary liaison for Disaster Relief Coordination, maintaining and updating essential policies and procedures for offsite work by on-call agents during emergencies, guaranteeing operational continuity.

Chicago, Il

•Designed and executed comprehensive community training workshops focusing on the Microsoft Office Suite and diverse software packages such as Adobe Photoshop, Macromedia Dreamweaver, and Apple iMovie. These workshops empowered individuals with essential digital skills for personal and professional growth.•Managed and optimized a diverse lab network comprising 20 PCs, 6 iMacs, and 2 networked printers within the Community Technology Center. Additionally, provided ongoing technical support for the administrative staff network, comprising 50 PCs and 8 networked printers, ensuring seamless operations.•Developed and implemented a tailored weekly computer instruction curriculum for the Day School and After School programs, hosted at the Community Center. This curriculum not only imparted fundamental computer skills but also involved making informed purchase recommendations for educational programming, thereby enriching students' learning experiences and fostering academic advancement.•Collaborated with local businesses and organizations to secure donations of equipment and software licenses, significantly reducing operational costs and expanding access to resources within the Community Technology Center.

Melrose Park, Il

•Operational Excellence: Spearheaded the development and implementation of an average of 65 new Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) each month, significantly improving process efficiency, reducing errors, and ensuring regulatory compliance across all manufacturing operations.•Quality Assurance Leadership: Played a critical role in elevating the company's quality assurance standards by rigorously reviewing and optimizing existing SOPs. This initiative not only enhanced operational compliance with FDA regulations but also minimized risk, contributing to a notable improvement in product quality and safety.•Cross-functional Collaboration: Fostered a collaborative environment by working closely with the R&D, Quality Control, and Production departments. This synergy was instrumental in the seamless introduction of new SOPs, ensuring that all departments were aligned with the latest industry standards and practices, thereby accelerating the time-to-market for new products.•Early Adopter and Implementation Support: Actively participated in early training sessions and played a pivotal role in the successful migration to Documentum, a leading document management system. My contributions included providing critical implementation support, ensuring a smooth transition for all departments, and optimizing document control processes to enhance accessibility and compliance across the organization.