The Backstory
I learned to code while I was attending Salem State College in Salem, Massachusetts. It was an Introduction to Programming course that I took during a summer session to meet the science requirement of my degree program in Political Science (prepping for law school). I learned the basics of computing, some Fortran, and how to apply these tools to solve problems. Little did I know how this “checkmark” course would change the trajectory of my career and my life. I overloaded my schedule for the next few semesters to take every computer science course the college was offering at the time. I was lucky enough to land a paid internship during my senior year at Blue Cross Blue Shield of Massachusetts coding COBOL on a Honeywell GCOS mainframe that led to my first full-time job out of college.
I spent the first six years of my professional career developing internal IT systems at Blue Cross, Honeywell, and Texas Instruments. I had the opportunity to work on a wide range of challenging business problems using multiple languages, architectures, and operating platforms including mainframes, minicomputers, and personal computers. I had some great co-workers, supervisors, and mentors who taught, inspired, and helped me hone my skills as a developer.
In the mid-eighties, Texas Instruments was planning on migrating its internal IT portfolio to the emerging IBM DB2 relational database platform. I got an opportunity to join a high-powered team in Dallas with TI that was developing an integrated computer-aided software engineering (CASE) platform that would generate complete DB2-base applications. This project was staffed by some of the most talented software engineers at TI. The CASE platform was based on the Information Engineering methodology that had been popularized by James Martin. Even though this started out as an internally-focused initiative, TI executives recognized there was a commercial opportunity and launched TI’s first stand-alone software business.
I joined the IEF group as part of the development team and then got the opportunity to work with some of our first external customers on their rollouts. I then had the opportunity to help grow a training and consulting team to support customers adopting the IEF. This was when I learned I could not only build things. I could sell them too! I then got the opportunity to take the IEF to market in Asia, Australia, and Latin America. This was one of the best jobs I ever had. I learned a ton, got to travel and “see the word”, made some pretty good money, and, most importantly, made professional relationships and friendships that I will always cherish.
I left TI in 1992 and had the opportunity to work at six great software companies over the next 16 years. You can see some of the details of these experiences in the timeline below. I had the opportunity to help start a company from scratch that created some great products, became a significant player in its market space, provided good jobs, and provided the investors with a great return. I had the opportunity to manage big projects with large teams and budgets. I learned what happens when a strong team and committed investors with a great idea miss the mark because we didn’t really understand the customer. I got to experience the amazing exhilaration and mind-numbing fear that are always there when you sit in the center seat as the CEO.
I started Outcome Labs in 2008 to have the opportunity to work hand-on again with clients on software projects that would have a direct impact on their business. We have delivered solutions for clients across a range of industries including financial services, loyalty marketing, organizational development, and book publishing. I have been the lead architect and project manager for thirty-two projects utilizing leading open source platforms. My responsibilities have included client management, requirements definition, project scoping, technology selection, resource management, scheduling, delivery, and budget management. I also contribute as a developer on key projects. I have served as the “virtual” CTO for three clients with responsibility for overseeing multiple development projects. I am grateful to the people and organizations that have given us the opportunity to contribute to their success.
After we moved to Tallahassee in 2018, I have had two opportunities to work in the public sector. As the COVID19 pandemic spread across the world in early 2020, I joined the team at the Division of Medical Quality Assurance at the Florida Department of Health. This organization is responsible for licensing health care professionals across the State of Florida. I managed a team of system developers and support personnel who were responsible for the operational systems used to provide services to applicants, licensees, the healthcare industry, and the public. I came away in awe of how dedicated and focused the MQA team is to their mission to develop and support the health care workforce and support great public health outcomes for the citizens of Florida. Earlier this year, I joined the team at the Florida Lottery. The Florida Lottery was established in 1986 and has grown to be the largest lottery in the United States. Since its founding, it has generated more than $42 billion in funding for education in Florida. We are currently making significant investments to modernize our technology infrastructure and applications portfolio to support the Lottery’s mission and long-term growth.
Professional Experience
2022 – Present
Responsible for development and support of the Lottery websites and business management applications. We are currently making significant investments to modernize our technology infrastructure and applications portfolio to support the Lottery’s mission and long-term growth.
2008 – Present
Founded company in 2008 to provide outsourced project management and software development services. Developed a network of offshore labs with stable, experienced workforces in South America that have language and cultural synergies with North American clients. Built a collaborative delivery platform to facilitate communications, provide transparency and automate as much of the development process as possible.
Since 2008, we have worked on projects for clients across a range of industries including financial services, loyalty marketing, organizational development, and book publishing. We have significant experience working with startups, non-profits, and local businesses. We have delivered solutions to solve our clients’ business challenges including websites, e-commerce, learning management, membership management, and custom applications.
2020-2021
As the COVID19 pandemic spread across the world, I had the opportunity to join the team at the Division of Medical Quality Assurance at the Florida Department of Health. This organization is responsible for licensing health care professionals across the State of Florida. I managed a team of system developers and support personnel who were responsible for the operational systems used to provide services to applicants, licensees, the health care industry, and the public.
2002 – 2008
As the Vice President, Collaborative Enterprise Sourcing (DASSAULT SYSTEMES), I was responsible for strategy, sales and market development of new brand with charter to expand company’s scope beyond product engineering. Developed channel strategy and recruited global sales team. Expanded key relationships including I2, IBM and major content providers.
As the Senior Vice President, GM Electronics SBU (MATRIXONE INC ), I was responsible for general management of $20 million dollar business unit including strategy, marketing, engineering, sales, service and business development. Successfully led company’s first strategic acquisition. Closed million dollar plus transactions with key customers including Intel, Texas Instruments, Freescale, Qualcomm and Xilinx.
As the Senior Vice President, Global Marketing (MATRIXONE INC ), I was responsible for marketing and business development including strategy, research, product marketing, public relations, investor relations, promotional programs, field training and partner marketing activities. Manage annual budget of $8 million with staff of 20. Drove a strategic OEM relationship with Cadence to broaden the company’s presence in electronics.
2000 – 2002
Responsible for general management of Israeli enterprise software company that provided solutions for corporate and commercial real estate organizations. Hired in November 1999 as Chief Operating Officer to build out North American operations with direct management responsibility for all sales, marketing, and business development activities of the company. Appointed CEO in May 2000. Hired US-based management, sales, marketing, and support teams. Developed a new brand image. Launched a new web-based product in May 2001. Established strategic relationship with a major industry consortium of four of the largest global commercial real estate providers (CB Richard Ellis, Insignia ESG, Jones Lang LaSalle, and Trammell Crow). New product deployed at Cisco, Microsoft, McKesson, and Ryder to manage their corporate real estate operations. Successfully led $13 million Series B financing round that was completed in May 2001.
1996 – 2000
Responsible for product marketing, marketing communications, and business development for a start-up that developed enhanced messaging platforms for ISPs, ASPs, telecommunications companies, and other commercial network operators. From 1997 to 1998, responsibilities also included direct management of the R&D team. Successfully delivered and launched the company’s first product. Closed strategic relationship with Cisco that resulted in $1 million in funded development. Directly involved in major sales including AT&T, GTE, and Singapore Telecom.
1995 – 1996
Directed global marketing activities for a $40 million EIS turnaround. Responsibilities included product marketing, communications, and business development with a staff of 20. Revamped the company’s brand identity, integrated multiple technologies into a single integrated OLAP offering, and completed three major product launches. Developed a focused marketing program targeting the retail industry that resulted in sales to K-Mart, Office Max, Taco Bell, and Bombay.
1994 – 1995
Responsible for product marketing of client-server development tools leader acquired by Sybase in 1995. Annual revenues exceed $120 million with a marketing budget of $12 million and a staff of 25. Responsibilities include strategic business planning, market research, competitive analysis, pricing, promotional programs, analyst/media relations, and field training. Developed programs to diversify product lines with a broader range of development tools and services that resulted in two key technology acquisitions.
1992 – 1994
The first employee for start-up developing applications based on leading computer-aided software engineering (CASE) tools. Signed a $1.1 million contract with an independent telecommunications company to develop a client/server access order and provisioning system. This became the primary product for the company.
1980 – 1992
Held a number of key operational positions for commercial software division that marketed the leading DB2 development tool, the Information Engineering Facility (IEF) As director of marketing, annual revenue exceeded $200 million with a budget of $20 million and a staff of 35. Responsible for product planning, communications, promotional activity, vendor relations, and key customer programs. As director of Asia-Pacific operations, established sales operations in Japan, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America. Established first overseas development lab in Tokyo to develop products for Asian markets, opened offices in 6 countries, and grew customer base to 60 sites in 14 countries. Reached profitability in three years with annual revenues of $10 million US. As the manager, professional services grew staff from 16 to 65 in two years with annual revenues of $16 million As the software lead for workstation products, designed, developed, and launched the client workstation products.
Held positions as a software engineer, project lead, and program manager in the internal Information Systems and Services division. Developed solutions across a range of platforms including PCs, mini-computers, and mainframes.
1978 – 1980
Software engineer responsible for leasing and asset management systems in a Honeywell GCOS environment.