IT OPERATIONS / PROJECT MANAGEMENT / APPLICATION DEVELOPMENT
IT team leader with extensive experience in IT operations leadership, system analysis and software application development, and IT project management. Dedicated individual who is passionate about applying technology to improve business processes and to provide a significant competitive advantage for business enterprises.
KEY COMPETENCIES
> IT Operations Leadership - Skilled at hiring, training, and leading IT teams to manage multiple concurrent projects in application development and process improvement. Managed business systems operations, working the executive team to align IT with strategic business goals and to deliver greater productivity and operating efficiencies throughout the organization.
> System Analysis / Software Application Development - Skilled at identifying business needs and building/modifying software to solve business problems across the organization. Software application development has ranged from modernizing ERP systems to introducing supply chain portals, automating credit and collections processes, creating web-based purchase requisition processes, and selecting and implementing quality management software systems.
> IT Project Management - Proven ability to deliver projects on time and under budget, facilitate quick and effective resolution of project issues, and demonstrate strong customer focus through continuous education and communication.
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
KLEIN TOOLS, INC. - Lincolnshire, IL 2006 - April 2011 Family-owned hand tools manufacturer serving the electrical, construction, and telecommunications industries, with 1,000+ employees and an international network of 5,000+ distributors and retailers - including Home Depot.
Manager of Business Systems Operations and Application Development
Hired in 2006, and retained after the CIO and IT management team were released. Assumed responsibility for business systems operations, application development, and business process improvement. Hired, trained, and managed a staff of 12; oversaw the development, testing and implementation of all application modifications. Additional key areas of responsibility included maintaining system availability 99.9%, system backups, nightly job processing, operating system upgrades, and managing a 24/7 Help Desk.
* Oversaw the IT project portfolio. Gave priority to projects that were aligned with overall strategies of the company, that had the greatest probability of success and ROI, and would maximize resources of the IT department.
* Reduced IT costs 30% by using VM Ware to consolidate servers, thereby reducing leasing costs and software maintenance fees. Also consolidated faxing applications into one corporate-wide application. Reduced the dependency on outside contractors with permanent employees.
* Initiated movement to modernize a legacy ERP application (PRMS) with a graphical user interface, allowing the presentation of more information without traversing through multiple text screens, and resulting in greater productivity for the end user.
* Oversaw the rewriting of an antiquated Supply Chain Portal. Increased functionality by allowing suppliers to enter information and provide more information reducing supply chain management workload. The portal became the primary source of communication between suppliers and purchasing.
* Developed an IT solution to automate the credit and collections process. Increased the number of collections calls from 16 to 60 calls a day by reducing time required for customer research. Also instituted a fully-automated credit limit review process.
* Improved the document scanning process, by implementing OCR technology to extract data from ERP applications and automatically indexing documents, reducing the need to handle the documents multiple times and eliminating the need for repetitive data entry.
* Replaced paper-based purchase requisition process with a web-based process allowing electronic work flow approvals, data validations, audit trails, and historical information. The new system was integrated to the ERP system to eliminate duplicate data entry. Also set up a web site that interfaced with the corporate ERP system to sell obsolete tools.
* Introduced low cost technologies such as PHP and Zend Frameworks for graphical user interface. Evaluated other opportunities for low cost open source software to replace existing software.
* Key role in the selection and implementation of a quality management software system, integrated with the ERP system, to unify and standardize quality reporting amongst all of the plants.
* Implemented Vendor Managed Inventory (VMI) solution in 4 weeks enabling additional international sales with Canada. Also oversaw the implementation of flexible Canadian pricing, allowing Klein Tools to be more price competitive in Canada.
* Formed and directed a team that improved shipping processes by enhancing the current business model of shipping from a central location to drop ship directly from the vendor. This change allowed Klein Tools to access additional $1.2 million in sales from Home Depot.
* Upgraded Cognos, a business intelligence and performance management tool, from 7.3 to 8.4 to take advantage the enhanced dashboard capabilities to graphically communicate key performance indicators Initiated "lunch and learn" sessions to train personnel in the use of Cognos.
* Increased developer productivity and project completion rate by 25% through the use of change management software, modular programming, design review meetings (to eliminate redundant efforts), and improved project management.
RAPID SOLUTIONS GROUP (RSG) - Mount Prospect, IL 1998 - 2006
Manager of Application Development
Managed multiple concurrent, high profile IT projects representing over $6M in annual sales for a provider of customized electronic print to the financial and pharmaceutical industries. Worked directly with clients such as Pfizer, Morgan Stanley, Merck, Dreyfus, Ameritrade, Van Kampen, and Eli Lilly. Hired, trained, and managed an application development staff of five.
* Applied an Agile style to development and used modular design and reusable procedures to shorten programming by 30%. This enabled us to easily modify and sell new application features to other clients.
* Applied modular design and reusable code to shorten project duration by 30%. Encouraged extensive use of - Application Program Interfaces (APIs), allowing greater application functionality.
* Relocated the data center with multiple client accesses from Mount Prospect, Illinois to Kansas City, Missouri in less than 3 months, with no interruption to production.
* Supported sales efforts by delivering easily understood technical presentations to non-technical client company personnel.
* Recognized by Merck and Pfizer for high level of commitment to their projects; recognized internally as a hard working, results-oriented leader.
RUBIN BROTHERS INC. - Chicago, IL 1997 - 1998
Manager of Application Development
Recruited by Rubin Brothers Inc., a private company specializing in protective industrial clothing, and a client of Ed Paull and Associates, to manage application development in support of its manufacturing operations.
ED PAULL AND ASSOCIATES - Oakbrook, IL 1985 - 1997
Information Technology Consultant
Provided custom software and applications support to small to mid-sized businesses. Gained valuable experience in defining business problems, developing business requirements, and presenting technical solutions to resolve business issues.
EDUCATION / TECHNICAL SKILLS / ACTIVITIES
DE PAUL UNIVERSITY - Chicago, IL Bachelor of Science, Commerce; minor in Accounting
Technical Skills: AS/400 RPG/ILE; AS.400 SQL; Microsoft Office (Word, Excel, PowerPoint, Outlook, Project)
User Groups: OMNI and SystemiNetwork
Licensed Soccer Coach, Arlington Aces, 2000 - Present |