Alec Palmer
Career Summary
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Energetic and results-oriented technology executive with extensive leadership and technical expertise.
Ability to conceptualize, launch and deliver complex technology projects in a variety of businesses: Application Service Provider, Internet publishing, printing, health care, newspaper, television, web development (B2B, B2C), financial services, retail, aerospace, high-tech manufacturing, hotel, golf, mining and oil and gas.
Unwavering determination in providing a robust and adaptable enterprise-wide technology architecture to support tactical and strategic business needs focused on exceeding customer expectations.
Chief Technology Officer, Ciraden, Inc. Fairfax, VA (2000 - Present)
Nationally recruited to fill this strategic position reporting to the CEO. Ciraden is a leading provider of comprehensive business services and technology solutions to dental practices throughout the United States. As a vertically focused application services provider (ASP), Ciraden offers Internet-native software solutions designed specifically to meet the needs of the dental community. In addition to its web-based software solution, Ciraden offers a full range of integrated business services that includes preferred partnerships with leading service and product providers.
Upon arrival promptly aligned technology priorities and strategic projects to support the vision of the CEO.
Recruited and hired software engineers, system architect, database administrator & developer, QA engineer, configuration manager, technical writer, functional experts, integration engineer, data conversion specialist, UNIX admin and network engineers. Manage 6 direct reports with a total internal staff of 23.
Immediately demonstrated creativity to work within budget limitations and also save an additional $2,000,000 while motivating staff to meet aggressive project deadlines.
Initiated a comprehensive development life cycle process including proper requirements definition, use case modeling, system design, development, deployment, bug & enhancement tracking and a comprehensive Beta program.
Established relationships with numerous technology partners for the express purpose of developing, delivering and supporting a World-Class ASP. Some of these Vendors are: Commerce One (Application Development) Web Hosting (Digex), CRM (Salesforce.com), Electronic Claims (WebMD/Envoy), Remote Customer Training (Web-Ex), Connectivity (WorldCom and Qwest).
Rapidly designed and implemented a multi-tiered technology architecture utilizing Sun ONE Web Server, WebLogic and Oracle running on redundant Sun Servers hosted at Digex. Other technology: Nokia firewalls, Cisco, RAID 0+1, Veritas, J2EE, JavaScript, servelets, struts, EJB, XML, DHTML, PL/SQL, INet, Rational ClearQuest, Visual SourceSafe, Robohelp, Webtrends, Sitescope, JRun, Apache, PGP encryption and VeriSign.
Engineered, built, deployed, maintained and enhanced a world class (ASP) dental software product.
Developed a HIPAA compliant dental application to address online appointments, scheduling, finance, accounting, insurance, purchasing, patient recall, marketing, patient demographics, referrals, pharmacy, human resource management and integrated clinical applications. Also ported this ASP application to run as a standalone desktop application for locations that do not have Internet connectivity.
Provided consulting and technology solution options for the US Military Dental Services Corp, they provide dental care for all 1.2 million military reservists.
Engineered Ciraden's integrated business services system enabling dental offices to order supplies, process electronic claims, handle patient statements, generate prescriptions, manage re-care, automate appointment reminders and facilitate collection services.
Created multiple sales tools (local and Internet based) including a VPN to support a national sales.
Spearheaded the development of a real time online registration and ecommerce application integrated with numerous business partners supported by real time credit card validation and authorization.
Provided integration with numerous strategic business partners: Dental supplies (Henry Schein), Document Processing (Expressbill), Payment Processing (Bank of America), Practice Financing (Matsco), HR Consulting (William Mullins), Automated Appointment Reminders (Televox), Prescriptions (Allscripts) and collections (ASB).
Developed a cost effective technology strategy and co-deployment methodology to allow technology savvy customers to co-locate Ciraden's ASP in their data center.
Produced middleware integration tools to automate the bi-directional transfer of patient information with third party dental office products such as Restorative & Perio Charting and Digital Radiography.
Developed an application that has world-class speed and reliability and performs faster than ASP's like Citibank, Salesforce.com and Oracle Small Business.
Developed and deployed a simplified version of the application to facilitate wireless access from mobile phones utilizing mini web browsers like Blazer and Xiino.
Provided business leadership via the establishment of an Executive Technology Steering committee. In addition, provided technology leadership for an external Dental Advisory Board, major dental shows and worked directly with The Board of Directors and Investors.
Created customer solutions utilizing Microsoft Data Transformation Services to convert data from PL/SQL (Oracle) to T/SQL (Microsoft) to meet unique customer data warehousing requirements.
Built an information portal (Intranet) for HR, sales, marketing, training, customer service, IT, accounting and operations to facilitate greater internal communications and better customer service.
Member of the senior executive council and reporting to the President and Vice Chairman. Manage 7 direct reports (43 total) supporting development, infrastructure, web hosting, operations and e-business functions. Cadmus Professional Communications has nine locations and is the world leader in printing journals for scientific, technical and medical associations.
Rescued the B2C online journal business from contract violations and grave revenue losses.
This was accomplished by a “hands-on” approach of implementing a redundant technology architecture (redundant T3's, load balancing switches, Sun Enterprise 450's, RAID5 and PIX firewalls).
Instituted policies, procedures, development standards and recruited highly skilled technical staff from NASA, contracted with third party vendors and investigated liability insurance for our B2C business.
Re-established confidence in our online business, resulting in attracting new customers like the American Medical Association, whose site went live on 10/99.
Provided a leading role and guidance in defining an electronic media strategy for Cadmus.
This approach carefully managed and maintained current value chains while planning for new technology solutions that eventually augmented or replaced old revenue models.
Implemented a Customer Relationship Management (CRM) system with a price tag of $18,000 annually, instead of the $227,000 price tag initially proposed by other vendors.
Current new media projects underway are Internet publishing, online peer review, online reprint ordering, customer content management, PDF proofing and B2B e-commerce.
As an entrepreneurial business leader and problem-solver composed strategic white papers including:
Implementing cohesive architectures (enterprise, business, information, data, and technology).
Executing a project approval, prioritization and management process supported by a technology steering committee, including the impact of SOP98-1 on capitalization of internal software development.
Initiating ASP analysis and Internet publishing strategies.
Reinventing the business by creating "killer apps" to invent new e-business revenue streams.
Chief technology advisor for acquisitions
Provided technical advice in the acquisition of an Internet development and consulting organization.
Engineered the unification of two IT organizations and guided efforts to consolidate disparate e-mail systems, networks and core business applications with the merger of a journal and magazine company.
Demonstrated strong organizational skills in creating an enterprise wide technical task force for transforming legacy systems into a successful ERP implementation process across two companies.
Initiated and directed a Y2K campaign for Cadmus Journal Services.
Cadmus has a technology environment that includes 54 major business applications, 370 major network appliances, 1,637 production and embedded systems, 188 desktop software titles, 2,135 workstations and 197 servers. Remediation was completed by September 99.
Current technology environment includes: NT, Office 97, Project 98, IBM (AS400), HP (9000), Lawson, Exchange, Hyperion, Oracle, Veritas, Sybase, Apache, SGI, Sun, Solaris, Linux, Java, Perl, C++, SGML, XML, SQL, Verity, Net Apps, Cisco, Foundry, Bay, Citrix, TCP/IP, RAS, DHCP, T3, Frame Relay and Wamnet (for high bandwidth requirements for digital workflow).
Chief Technology Officer - Vice President, Guy Gannett Communications, Portland, ME. (1997 - 1998)
As a senior corporate officer reporting to the CEO directed new technology initiatives in a collaborative manner that supported business leaders. In all cases, sought creation of new revenues via the application of technology. Guy Gannett Communications operated numerous television, newspaper, database marketing and new media companies (convergence of TV, Web and online newspapers). Newspaper and Television companies were sold.
Directed a comprehensive Data Warehousing/Data Mining initiative to leverage content in existing corporate databases and enhance the profitability of marketing services offered to outside agencies.
Focused on updating television and newspaper technologies to merge into future online communities.
Research, strategize and planned for the required changes to move to digital television broadcasting.
Provided information technology consulting for all divisions and business units. One of many projects our direct marketing group undertook was to assist the Bombardier Corporation increase sales of ski-doo's in Maine. Our efforts facilitated a 20% increase in sales in one calendar year.
Served as the chief technology advisor for new business acquisition strategies in the new market media market that would enhance the market strength of the newspaper and television markets.
Focused on standardizing systems for the television, newspaper and new media organizations.
Selected from a nationwide search involving over 700 candidates to fill the position as the chief technology executive in a $500 million diversified holding company. Responsibilities focused on providing a technology vision for all United Company businesses: Financial services, oil and gas, pharmaceuticals, hotel, real estate, coal and gold mining, high-tech manufacturing, golf, retail, electrical cogeneration and air transportation.
Served as co-chair of the technology committee for the World Golf Village. Facilitated the convergence of complex technology integration among six major partners and worked closely with the PGA. The World Golf Village located in St. Augustine, Florida is the home of the World Golf, Hall of Fame. Other amenities include: PGA tour productions, resort hotel, convention center, 54 holes of golf, golf academy, Mayo Clinic, Vistana corporate and time share villas, spa and upscale shopping.
Independently directed strategic planning for our Oil and Gas Company in Calgary and Austin. Successful in translating the business goals of top company executive's into a strategic technology vision. The successful implementation of an ERP system followed this vision and allowed the oil company to be the top financial performer in the corporation in 1996.
Directed the design of all system requirements for the cogeneration (electricity and heat) facility that was built in Las Vegas. The business system added tremendous value in tracking the performance of this investment and the subsequent revenue that was generated by selling electricity and greenhouse products.
Spearheaded and designed system requirements for our financial services division to track $250 million in investments. In 1995 this division was the top financial producer.
Other accomplishments included: Served as the chief technology adviser for all corporate acquisitions (Staktek). Established a software enterprise under the umbrella of The United Company to market and sell ERP software (ASP model) we developed for the coal mining industry. Reduced corporate IS budget by 36%. Reengineered business processes for our hotel business and provided greater return on equity. Investigated system solutions for gold mining operations in Tanzania. Designed and installed a corporate campus fiber optic network.
Division Manager Information Systems, Westinghouse, Abingdon, VA. (1989 - 1990)
Served as the divisional technology executive for all three plants in the electrical materials division.
Automated the manufacturing and shipping process and cut the delivery cycle time by 50%.
Demonstrated excellent project planning skills with consolidating systems into a shared enterprise.
Other duties included: Managing and supervising a group of contract programmers. Setting up EDI procedures. Provided direction and expertise in developing a divisional technology budget. Implemented a comprehensive disaster recovery plan. Created a cross-department technical task force for consolidating multiple systems. This Westinghouse division was closed.
Manager Computer Systems, Standard Aero, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1987 - 1989)
Standard Aero remanufactures aircraft engines.
Moved and merged two operational departments, from Minneapolis to Winnipeg.
Reorganized our US and British networks to produce annual savings over $100,000.
Served as the project manager for several large system and PBX conversions.
Managed support and software development for personal computers.
Implemented a disaster recovery plan that included a hot site location.
Senior Analyst, Unisys, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1980 - 1987)
This Unisys facility manufactures peripheral products for computers.
Project leader of the MRP implementation team.
Appointed the training coordinator for new system administrators for the division.
Maintained the manufacturing databases and trained users.
Served on the data center steering committee.
Plant Engineer, Jostens, Winnipeg, Manitoba (1978 - 1980)
This three-plant facility produces class rings, yearbooks and photographs. Managed an engineering department of eight people.
Directed efforts related to plant layout, design, economic analysis, preventative maintenance and time and motion studies.
Implemented a computerized printing program that increased production of school photographs by 50% and reduced staff by 30%. This increased customer loyalty and generated greater revenue.
Designed a new plant layout that dramatically improved production efficiencies.
Analyzed production requirements for all three plants and prepared detailed cost/benefit analysis.
Worked with the general manager to plan the annual budget to maximize production schedules.
PROFESSIONAL DEVELOPMENT AND EDUCATION
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Attended numerous management seminars and technical symposiums that included: 2002 HIPAA Summit, Seybold, Comdex, e-commerce, business process design, system mapping, project management, system development methodologies, performance management, Covey leadership seminars, Marriott School of Management, frame relay, disaster recovery, Internet, EIS, EDI, public speaking, TQM, finance and accounting. Favorite books: Unleashing the Killer App, Customers.Com, Information Rules and The Seven Habits of Highly Effective People.
PROFESSIONAL ORGANIZATIONS AND COMMUNITY ACTIVITIES
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Served on the board of directors for the Junior Achievement League. Past director of DPMA. Membership in Interex, American Management Association and the Blue Ridge Chapter of the BYU Management Society. Served the community by providing complimentary business reviews and system recommendations for the following organizations: The United Way of Bristol, The Paramount Theater, Sullins Academy and Southern Virginia College. Taught information technology classes at Emory and Henry College, the top liberal arts college in the Southeast.
I can be reached at 703 967 2088 (cell)
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