Professional Profile

HEAD of TECHNOLOGY / DIGITAL STRATEGY

Executive Profile

Known for being an original thinker in the field of technology. I value a long-term vision, high standards, enthusiasm, innovation, and an entrepreneurial spirit.

To the organization I have an ability to assess situations with a critical eye, collaborate, find the best ways to push a way forward, motivate others with clarity, make considered judgments, and can be counted on to make logical decisions in a crisis situation.  I value an organization that focuses on a long-term perspective, leadership development, the well-being of their employees, the acquisition of talent, and the development of creativity and innovation to solve the opportunities of tomorrow.

Irish and Canadian citizen, allowing me to work in Canada and the EU.

Notable Contributions

• Visioning/Strategizing: Developed infrastructure solutions leveraging virtualization technologies for seven offices worldwide with over 1,500 end-users.  The solution has now expanded to one of the largest virtualization solutions in North America and the strategies have been adopted as industry standard.
• Leading: Developed individual technologists into a cohesive team environment to create a new approach in consulting using project management methodologies and business analysis to architect technology solutions for clients meeting business requirements, on time and on budget.
• Change Agent: Successfully worked with all levels of management and technical professionals in a wide variety of industries conducting business analysis and project management execution.  These efforts have allowed customers internal and external to see increased stability and revenue protection, an understanding of total cost of ownership to the business, and increased revenue streams once IT was aligned with the business.

Core Competencies

Vision ♦ Logic ♦ Strategic ♦ Entrepreneurial ♦ Enthusiastic ♦ Leadership Development ♦ Collaboration ♦  Program Management ♦ Business Analytics ♦ Change Agent

Professional Experience

BEST BUY CANADA LTD., Burnaby, BC:  Fortune 100, publicly traded retail corporation.

Senior Manager, Business Relations Management, 2012 – Present

Within the IT Department and reporting directly to the CTO of Best Buy Canada Ltd.  Responsibilities include:

• Business Support: Collaborate with business to define and manage the portfolio of business systems initiatives; provide financial forecasts and manage budgets dedicated to IT expenditures. Provide the business with counsel regarding possible solutions, innovative ideas and pragmatism in the execution of IT solutions for business requirements; integrate as a member of business management teams, executing business strategy and providing overall leadership.
• Portfolio Management: Assist in prioritizing IT initiatives across different departments. Work with business leaders to define project scope and requirements, alternatives and timelines.
• Business Operating Blueprint (BOB) / Architecture: Work with Architects to define and effectively communicate a vision and multi-year plan for IT to all constituents in the business (Canada and US).
• Relationship Management: Managing vendor relationships for respective area through understanding vendor processes, methodologies and contractual arrangements with Best Buy.

DTM SYSTEMS CORPORATION, Vancouver, BC:  Privately held technology consulting firm with a diverse client base.

Director, Business Development and Program Management, 2006 – 2012

Responsible for developing partner relationships with clients and vendors through business analysis, negotiation, strategy development, and portfolio management.   Developed and mentored a team of six senior technical consultants as indirect reports.

• Change Agent:  Developed a Project Design methodology using best practices from PMI and PRINCE2 to architect technical solutions to enable business objectives.
• Leadership:  Mentored and developed a senior technical team from being isolationist to synergetic and cooperative.
• Visioning:  Developed a partnership with an upstart vendor for an ERP for IT solution.  This exclusive partnership has increased services offering, revenue potential, and competitive advantage in our market.
• Negotiating:  Vast experience working with all levels of executive management to define corporate goals and corresponding solutions to better understand costs and technology enablement.  Selling strategy, approach, services, and solutions.

BUSINESS OBJECTS, Vancouver, BC:  Publically traded, Fortune 500, Business Intelligence software company with multiple international offices.

Project Lead, 2004 – 2006

Project Lead on a team of five individuals responsible for the technology systems, from desktop to enterprise infrastructure, to support the Customer Support department with 1,500 end-users in seven geographical locations in a “follow the sun” support model.

• Visioning/Problem Solving:  Invented a solution using enterprise virtualization technologies from VMware that allowed for a 40% reduction in storage budget requirements to support a virtual desktop solution for engineers.  Presented this solution at VMware in San Francisco and the method has now become industry standard.
• Negotiating:  Working with various teams and departments for resources such as personnel, equipment, software licensing, and budget.
• Project Management:  Responsible from initiation to closing of projects over $1M in budget.  Development of presentations to executives for approval, identification and delivery of communication to stakeholders.

OTHER EMPLOYMENT:
PMI CWCC, Vancouver, BC, Director Outreach, Technology & Resource (Volunteer), 2010 – Present
Crystal Decisions, Vancouver, BC, Technical Product Specialist, 2003 – 2004
Epic Information Solutions, Edmonton, AB, Technical Analyst, 2001 – 2003
Videotron, Edmonton, AB, Technical Support Representative, 1999 – 2001

Education

Royal Roads University, Victoria, BC – MBA Executive Management – Jan 2012 – June 2013

Specialization in:

* Leading Innovation
Considers the innovation process in organizations with particular emphasis on managing the process for the benefit of stakeholders. Examines the need for innovation; generating innovation; assessing the value of proposed ideas and solutions; and implementing innovations in an organization and its environment.

* Coaching for Performance
Develops a coaching philosophy and skill set to enable learners to support high performance cultures in organizations. Identifies strengths and challenges as coaching leaders, and help develop goals for enhancing their effectiveness as coaches through assessment and feedback coming from practice and real life situations.

NAIT, Edmonton, AB – Computer Systems Technology – 2002

Certifications, Licenses, and Citizenship

Project Management Professional (PMP) ♦ PRINCE2 Practitioner ♦ Project Management with Business Systems Analysis (UBC) ♦ Program Management (UBC)

♦ Irish and Canadian Citizen ♦