About Me
I love business. I especially love the entrepreneurial aspects of business - identifying
under-served markets and unmet needs, analyzing competition, developing innovative
business models, creating new software applications, marketing new products, harnessing
the enthusiasm and creativity of employees, and the constant review and tweaking of "the
plan." This is my passion, and my story is punctuated by my attempts to innovate in
every aspect of the business I pursue.
My background is in software development, where I have played many roles, from customer
support to development, project management to product architecture. I designed and led
the development of an Internet product that became the highest-volume flight reservation
system in the world. What I've learned is that solving technical problems is
fundamentally the same as solving business problems - but the latter is so much more
compelling to me. Technology can reduce costs, increase distribution, provide convenience,
and enamor customers. But, there are so many other areas where the same problem-solving
process can be applied to identify and improve a business: data-driven, results-oriented
decision making, combined with measurable targets and ample post-decision analysis.
While working on my MBA at the
University of Utah, I focused my
study on business strategy and entrepreneurship. In the short time since starting that
education, I have applied those skills in two successful ventures. My day job, as
Manager of Professional Services for
Navitaire (a subsidiary of
Accenture), has given me the
opportunity to define and implement a strategic vision for the professional services
arm of the company. This new strategy resulted in a 98% growth in revenue, right in the
middle of the economic recession of 2009. At the same time, I founded
Elysian Community Management,
with my wife, to provide business management services to homeowner's associations. We
have met our targets in customer satisfaction, revenue, and profit. In both cases, the
thrill is in seeing success and growth in areas where no one else believed a problem
even existed.
I love the "people" aspects of business - defining a company vision that employees
believe in, building customer relationships, "expanding the pie", coaching employees,
analyzing social and authority-based hierarchies in organizations, and modifying company
culture and structure to align the interests of employees and customers. Once employees
believe in a vision, they can be entrusted to solve the company's problems with minimal
supervision. Customers will gravitate to you when you espouse what they believe.
When I'm not consumed with solving business problems, my attention turns to my wife, my
two beautiful daughters, my schnauzers,
playing
guitar in an office band, analyzing politics, or contemplating the mysteries of the
world as an armchair Ghost
Hunter.