Lead and manage North American strategic IT operations, and practices across desktop support, enterprise application support, database administration, and development support with a relentless focus on team engagement and growth.ENTERPRISE SYSTEMS:Ensure IT practices maximize up time and access to the trading systems for customers. Make enterprise hardware and software purchase decisions that enhance the end user experience. Manage enterprise-wide end user hardware and enterprise applications. Make certain trading, commercial, and business analyst teams have efficient hardware and software solutions.IT PROJECT MANAGEMENT:Bring a diligent approach to leadership, processes, and communication. Focus on constant improvement of processes and practices to meet trading regulatory requirements. Implement metrics to determine the impact of IT initiatives. Deploy streamlined, customer-centric helpdesk solutions. Oversee and continue to refine disaster recovery planning.OPERATIONS:Serve on the IT North America budget committee. Partner on all product, portfolio and business purchase decisions. Ensure appropriate IT controls and security models are applied. Select IT vendors to deliver relevant, cost effective software solutions. Interface with vendors such as ETRM, Market Data Vendors, Microsoft, and Oracle.LEADERSHIP:Direct IT team members across helpdesk, DBA, and enterprise application support. Infuse a relentless focus on productivity, teamwork, and support throughout the department. Mentor team leaders to ensure they have the necessary leadership skills to enable their teams of success.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:→ Successfully managed several complex enterprise upgrades across energy trading and risk management systems.→ Bring a proactive approach to continually assess IT systems and identify opportunities for improving upon deployed solutions.→ Implemented an ITIL compliant IT Service Management platform covering all aspects of IT service management.

Promoted from an individual contributor role to build, grow, and lead the application support team from the ground-up.MANAGEMENT & LEADERSHIP:Recruited, interviewed, hired, and trained new team members with a focus on rapid productivity and effectiveness. Grew team from one to nine, delivering day-to-day feedback and ensuring a strategic, aligned team approach. Provided technical guidance in transitioning the team to new processes, leading to higher levels of system stability.SCALABLE IT SYSTEMS & SOLUTIONS:Designed, implemented, and managed a scalable IT support process and approach across systems. Leveraged Microsoft SharePoint to capture and communicate all team processes, projects, and solutions. Ensured systems operated according to standard controls and managed onsite audit team visits and artifact requests.KEY ACCOMPLISHMENTS:→ Hired and developed a high performing IT team from the ground-up, aligning goals towards business initiatives. Developed team members with successful internal promotions to future leadership positions.→ Successfully designed and implemented stable and effective IT operations process for all aspects of the trading organization including energy trading, risk management, settlements, confirmations, G/L and tax reporting. → Developed and deployed testing, change control, and user access control procedures to minimize system downtime and to fulfill internal and external audit requirements.

Provided direct support of energy trading and risk management, general ledger and market data systems. Answered emails and resolved issues related to trades or systems issues from end users. Provided business analysis, Excel VBA solutions, and custom reporting to solve problems daily. Managed general computing controls audit preparation.

Served on the team that developed the ASP.net application to assist a power trading organization in gathering and analyzing ERCOT forecast and real time wholesale market data from multiple sources. Client: BP North America. Developed ASP.net application to assist commodities trading organization in analyzing price and weather data. 

Provided direct technical support to energy analysts and traders.

Assessed client needs in order to adapt and tailor technology solutions and approach. Deployed maintenance and enhancements to exiting power scheduling product, ACES. Attended ERCOT WMS & QSE meetings to glean requirements for system enhancements. Worked with offshore development team to facilitate problem resolution by developing specifications and mentoring team members on both technology and business expertise.

Technical software consultantClients include: Conoco, Valero Energy Corp., Service Corp International & Enron