Randy Pfeifer Email & Phone Number

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago, Illinois, United States

Chicago Metro Area

An independent senior consultant with a focus on organization assessments, leadership development, executive coaching and quality & process improvement. Providing rock-solid guidance for your project or organization. In association with SkeensMcDonell Consulting Group.

Chicago

Chicago, Il

Arlington Heights Il

Led a global team of >1100 engineers in 8 locations & 5 countries to design, develop & deliver LTE products.  Developed a next generation leading-edge FDD/TDD base station on a critical schedule for key customers using new, advanced silicon devices that set a new standard for product density (1U). Developed an EMS & EPC including the MME utilizing 3rd Party products and custom development. Integrated and tested the full end-to-end LTEsolution (including UEs) for delivery to critical customers leading to the successful on-time commercial launch of LTE service in Japan for KDDI (the world’s first multi-technology, multi-vendor self-organizing 3G and 4G mobile network) yielding >$250M in revenue. Decreased defect density by 50% from prior programs yielding a stronger, more capable team.  Proposed and led the integration of the Motorola LTE team into the NSN Global LTE organization resulting in a combined, stronger organization to compete in the LTE market.

Arlington Heights

Development of all LTE network elements for Motorola's LTE system including the eNB, EPC and network management subsystems. Managed a large (>1000) geographically diverse (8 location) team of engineers with clear commitments for delivery to critical customers. Heavily engaged in the day-to-day operations of the organization as well as setting long term direction for the team. Deep focus on process and quality improvements. Received the Motorola Networks Quality Award for putting the customer first.

Directed the efforts of a global engineering team (>300) to develop, deliver and support Motorola’s new EVDO data products when existing customer networks were reaching an overload condition.  Built lasting relationship with key Japanese 3rd party to specify and deliver elements of the system.  Internally developed a new hardware and software platform based on ATCA technology.  Without service interruption, deployed and supported the EVDO network for multiple customers.  Increased system capacity 3X, reduced product cost by 40% and improved availability (>99.999%). Avoided system overload in customer environments yielding revenue in excess of $200M. Recognized with the General Manager's award for advancing the “state of the art” in both product and organizational capability while satisfying critical customers needs.

Directed the efforts of an extended team of ~400 engineers to develop a new, low cost cellular base station applicable to multiple air-interface technologies and configurations.  Utilized an array of engineering disciplines across 5 global locations to create the next generation BTS. Defined key behaviors for program success and with deep personal engagement across the team, induced needed cultural and process changes to enable successful delivery of this new unique product. UBS base station family deployed and remains the foundation for the CDMA business. Upon successful launch, identified an opportunity to merge organizations allowing me to move to a new role. Recognized with the Quality “Star” Award for advances in quality and process improvement.

Directed the efforts of an extended team of ~400 engineers to develop and support new voice/data network elements on Motorola’s CDMA Digital Cellular networks. Delivered a 6X product (SDU) density increase while meeting all availability goals (>99.999% up-time). Grew team to meet demands of new program while improving quality focus and institutionalizing a “bet your paycheck” mindset resulting in consistently met commitments and “best-in-class” organizations. 100s $Ms ongoing revenue as customers adopted products and expanded networks. Delivered a new vocoding platform to be used with other CDMA components (SDU/XC) to increase system capacity and density by a factor of 12.  100% VPU field availability over the full field population for greater than one year from initial release. Demonstrated a dramatic advancement in quality (only 1 defect found in the field over first year of new product deployment). Negotiated the transition of XC product ownership to a 3rd party in India for on-going support to reduce cost $4M annually and free up engineers to work on other projects. The engineering team was revered as the strongest development organization in the entire Networks business and consistently cited as the “poster child” for others to follow.  Key leader of the quality transformation of the CDMA business that led to the Motorola CEO Quality Award and the retention of Verizon Wireless, KDDI and Sprint as critical CDMA customers.

Circuit Data - Directed the efforts of various groups of people responsible for defining, testing and deploying IS-99 / IS-707A CDMA Circuit Data for Motorola's CDMA cellular infrastructure. The work of the organization resulted in the first live demonstration of CDMA Circuit Data at the March '97 CTIA show and the industry's first FOA of CDMA Circuit Data in December '97. This effort included:Setting requirements for, and overall project management of the CDMA Circuit Data product and end-to-end testing of the CDMA Circuit Data product in a laboratory environment.Management of Inter-Working Unit (IWU) vendors (internal and external suppliers) to deliver IWUs to meet Motorola's aggressive schedules for CDMA Circuit Data deployments to domestic and international customers. Working in standards bodies (TR45.5, CDG) to ensure clarity as the IS-99 & IS-707 standards were implemented. Ensuring that the organization was working properly with key organizations such as other development groups, Product Management, Quality, Product Documentation, Marketing, etc. Future Data Features - Drove the process of defining future Data products for Motorola's CDMA cellular infrastructure (e.g., High Speed Packet Data, Analog Fax, 3rd Generation Systems). This included:Assigning and supporting staff in their active involvement in standards bodies (i.e., TR45.5).Setting architectural direction, defining requirements and deliverable dates in concert with key customers.Working with other development organizations to scope the size of the effort for new Data features and prioritize them in the context of the organizations overall commitments.Developing relationships with potential suppliers of key elements of the solution (e.g., IWU, mobile).

Wireless Data Organization - Managing activities directed at offering a range of data capabilities to wireless customers.; Directed the efforts of several teams of architects and systems engineers in an R&D environment to explore and deliver new approaches for data facilities for cellular systems. This included:Systems Engineering efforts for Lucent Technologies CDPD product line including vendor relationships. Approaches for wireless backhaul (T1) from cells to reduce cost and logistics problems.Microcell architectures to cost effectively support voice and data in a PCS environment.Architectures for data facilities to allow a wide range of roaming (in-building LAN to metro area to wide area).Matrix managing other organizations to help evolve the existing cellular architecture toward its next generation while supporting new data features.

Drove the definition of communications features as the key differentiating element of AT&T's PC products. Worked to define product family roadmaps which are consistent with this strategy. Directed the development activities of teams of associates focusing on various technologies which are relevant to communications aspects of personal computers (e.g., host based signal processing for communication focused applications using Native Signal Processing, voice recognition, in-home communications using existing wiring, Software Video CODEC using H.232).

Managed all hardware development activities and associated administrative functions of the Multimedia business unit. Acting Director of Engineering during absences, handling all tasks associated with that position Managed a diverse and extended team of 20 people domestically and internationally to produce the hardware architecture, hardware design, diagnostics and driver software for the AT&T Vistium 1300 and 1200 products. This included digital camera and audio peripheral design/OEM as well as ISDN interface development. Worked closely with members of other AT&T units to develop a new ISDN telephone for use in conjunction with the Vistium video conferencing product. Managed the certification (ISDN, EMC, etc.) of the Vistium product family in over 20 countries around the world.Negotiated with Japanese supplier for a unique digital camera design to integrate with the Vistium product line. The Vistium product line represented a number of industry firsts and has been recognized by several industry awards:First H.320 compliant desktop video conferencing system available.First video conferencing system to offer sharing of live MS-Windows* applications.First H.320 product to utilize software decompression technology for low cost solutions.Received PC Magazine's "Editor's Choice" and PC Professional's "Innovation of the Year" awards.

Master Of Science, Electrical Engineering; Computer Engineering

Bsee, Electrical Engineering