career highlights
President of Quite Healthy Technologies and ProVariant, Inc. (February 2000 – Present)
Company Profile: A division of ProVariant, Inc, this is a privately held IT business that develops and sells consumer-based software for improving health through diet, nutrition, and fitness tracking. Our products have appeared in Ms. Fitness, Woman's Day, Good Housekeeping, Smart Computing, Fitness Management Magazine, Fitness Business Pro Magazine, CNet, and WebMD. The company serves customers in over 50 countries and is located in Raleigh, North Carolina.
Summary of Accomplishments: I started the company with very little capital and transformed it into a profitable business in its second year. My development, management, and marketing skills have helped me stand out from the crowd in what is now a saturated market. The experience has turned me into a smart business person and savvy online marketer.
» Professional Experience
- Designed, developed, and launched a total of 7 software applications delivered digitally, including multiple web sites to handle marketing. Oversaw all IT and marketing efforts.
- Accomplished six-figure annual sales with an average margin of 17% over 8 years.
- Achieved a “big business” image on a tight budget through professionally designed web sites, savvy marketing, attractive design, and excellent customer support.
- Developed custom web-based processes to automate digital downloads, licenses, e-mail, customer support, and shipping integration. Enabled company to do the work of four employees with two, allowing the company to invest in other areas.
- Increased sales for a client by 29% during recession with a complete web site overhaul and redesign. Managed production of marketing videos, performed all graphic design, crafted new marketing copy, and revamped the shopping cart / checkout process.
- Designed and developed mobile applications. First health and nutrition developer to introduce integrated PDA and PC applications. Adept at designing user interfaces for mobile screens and dealing with form factors, screen orientations, and resolutions.
- Early adopter of Pay Per Click advertising (2001); leveraged PPC to maximize ROI.
- Optimized advertising costs by developing Search Engine Optimization (SEO) strategies, tracking conversion metrics, utilizing A/B testing, and crafting landing pages that sell.
- Experimented with pricing levels and bundling; achieved a 28% increase in revenue by doubling the price of the flagship product in year 6.
- Launched affiliate programs and managed 544 targeted affiliates.
- Developed strategic partnerships with other businesses in the industry. Successfully negotiated contracts, royalties, affiliate commissions, and reseller agreements.
- Created online videos and PowerPoint presentations to demonstrate software products, promote features, and ultimately increase sales.
- Created and tested headlines and Unique Selling Propositions (USPs). Researched potential brand names, registered domains, and conducted trademark searches.
- Acknowledged by customers and even competitors as having the most visually appealing, user-friendly solutions on the market.
Vice President of MIS at Syrus Restaurant Information Services, Ltd (March 1997 – May 2000)
Company Profile: This is a privately held business providing Information services for the fast food industry. Syrus collects data from Wendy's restaurant locations throughout the U.S. and provides reports to help each store reduce costs and increase profits. The service is saving franchisees as much as 4% of gross sales and is the recipient of the 2010 "Outstanding Technology Service Award" from TechColumbus. The business is based in Columbus, Ohio.
Summary of Accomplishments: I was instrumental in building the business and its IT infrastructure from the ground up. The business is based on a system that I designed and developed for the parent company — the largest Wendy's franchisee in the world. I started as the MIS Director and was promoted to Vice President of MIS as a result of my vision and contribution to the company's growth. I am grateful for the opportunity they provided and am proud of the success that Syrus has achieved.
» Professional Experience
- Hired and trained developers, managed development projects, oversaw all IT efforts.
- Developed a client/server application critical to the growth and success of the business; used by all employees to import register data, run calculations, and create reports for each Wendy’s store location.
- Reduced labor costs by developing automated processes and increasing productivity, which helped company achieve profitability in its second year.
- Led the development and deployment of remote reporting system for clients, utilizing telecommunication protocols to download, decompress data, and view reports.
- Led the development of a system utilizing bar code scanners to manage store inventory.
- Launched the company's first website in 1997, maintained in-house.
IT Consultant for Q Consulting, Inc. (June 1994 – March 1997 )
Company Profile: This privately held computer consulting firm in Columbus, Ohio served small businesses and Fortune 500 companies. It was adept at custom programming and automation technologies for a broad range of clients in a variety of industries.
Summary of Accomplishments: I began my career with Q Consulting right out of college and quickly learned how to create solutions for a wide range of businesses, communicate with clients, and adapt to many different business environments. The experience was invaluable for me and I was fortunate to be surrounded and mentored by quality individuals.
» Professional Experience
- Developed software applications for small businesses and Fortune 500 companies in a wide range of industries using the most appropriate tools for the job.
- Became the primary developer for large-scale database applications.
- Participated in development of company’s first web site and its internet connectivity.
- Analyzed projects, identified potential pitfalls, and prepared written estimates for time and cost.
