I’ve forged my career at the intersection of technology & business.
I've built my development & architecture expertise working on leading web platforms for innovative startups and global brands.
Early in my career, I founded a startup that built the world's leading smart communities and was a tech lawyer at the world's largest law firm. I also created a technology consulting company to pay my way through school, and before that grew up working in my family's businesses.
- My Bio
- Platform Architect (May. '11 - Present)
- Acquia (Feb. '14 - Nov. '17)
- Smart Homes (Feb. '02 - Apr. '11)
- Tech Law (Oct. '02 - Oct. '07)
- Ed Tech (Jan. '97 - Dec. '05)
- Family Biz (Jul. '98 - Jan. '01)
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Technical & Platforms ArchitectSkunk Works & Platforms Ventures (NYC)May. 2011 to PresentOver the last decade, I narrowed my focus to open source development, working with major enterprise clients on large websites, apps, products & platforms.TechnologyApart from hands-on development, I’ve built a particular expertise in application scoping and architecture. I also have a passion for performance, UX and design.BusinessI’ve worked with clients on scaling from product conception through to product market fit (and beyond). I’ve built strong experience around product management, team building, and project management (particularly on challenging, turnaround projects).AccomplishmentsIn addition to working on some of the world’s largest web projects, I’ve also contributed back to open source through community/sprint organizing (including leading one of the largest open source conferences in the world).
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Technical Partner EnablementAcquia (NYC)Feb. 2014 to Nov. 2017I lead technical enablement for Acquia’s largest partners; including distinguished agencies such as AKQA, B-M, Blue State, Digitas, Grey, Huge, JWT, MRM, Mirum, Ogilvy, R/GA, VML, Salmon, S&H, Wunderman, VML, and Y&R.TechnologyOver 3.5 years, we built a global team of hundreds of certified developers, spanning dozens of agencies. The open source centers of excellence we created built many leading websites & apps; including for ColumbiaU, Coors, J&J, NBA, NBC Olympics, Nestle, NFL, NYSTL, PGA, Puma, SAB Miller, Sony, UNICEF, USTA, Xerox.BusinessIn addition to developer enablement and certification, I helped these agencies with all aspects of their practice -- including project scoping, recruiting, training, and project execution & maintenance.AccomplishmentsWe built an unprecedented strategic alliance with WPP. Our work with WPP and other leading agencies helped build the backbone of Acquia’s annual recurring revenues to support its billion dollar exit.
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Smart Communities DirectorLiving Technology (Canada & Europe)Feb. 2002 to Apr. 2011I lead the creation of smart communities for major real estate projects, which featured innovative smart home solutions from technology industry leaders.TechnologyThe technology I architected and developed included hardware elements, related software solutions, and fiber optic network topology -- including turnkey triple-play fibre-to-the-home (FTTH) communications networks (which were eventually patented).BusinessIn addition to my technical responsibilities, I lead work on finance, branding, sales operationa. I also established strategic alliances with leading technology companies, including Rogers, Cisco/Control4, Best Buy/Geek Squad, and Commscope.AccomplishmentsWe established North America's first FTTH smart community with a tier-1 communication company (Rogers). Our work was the foundational template for Rogers new communities and other European non-Rogers projects. We also secured front-page national press coverage and exceeded all project sales expectations.
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Tech & Commercial LawyerBaker & McKenzie (Toronto)Oct. 2002 to Oct. 2007As a tech lawyer in the Toronto office of the world’s largest law firm, I worked for a variety of global clients (e.g., Accenture, Apple, Google, Nokia, Yahoo). We used industry leading technology tools and expertise to establish and expand a global technology practice.TechnologyI built websites and apps that were used to help create a practice, which expanded globally. The successful applications which we built were foundational to those eventually created by the firm's global IT group.BusinessI was able to craft a unique role at the firm which included a mix of lawyering (50-60%), business development (10-15%) and software development (30-40%). I was also able to practice a limited amount of commercial law, including finance, M&A, VC, JVs and real estate.AccomplishmentsTo secure this role, I helped create the above interdisciplinary masters at my university and an internship program at the firm. I also was admitted to practice law in both Ontario & New York.
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Higher Ed Technology ConsultingUniversity of Ottawa (Ottawa)Jan. 1997 to Dec. 2005I paid my way through undergraduate and graduate school by doing technology consulting for a variety of clients, particularly at the university I attended.TechnologyI architected and implemented apps & websites for the university faculties, professors and courses.BusinessIn addition to my software development work, I helped establish an interdisciplinary technology & law program at the university. The program also included an multidisciplinary tech, law and business internship program.AccomplishmentsMy work involved creating a leading distance education lab at the school and raising over $40M to support ecommerce research. The interdisciplinary master and internship program that I helped establish, also lead to my role at the world's largest law firm (see above).
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Family Real Estate BusinessesBusiness Inn, MacLarens & TrailWest (Ottawa)Jul. 1998 to Jan. 2001I began working in my family's businesses at age 12. I worked my way up from janitor & housekeeper, to eventually help manage the businesses (1996) and ultimately launch new ones (1997).TechnologyI helped with all aspects of several of the businesses (conception, strategy, branding, marketing, sales, hiring, etc.). However, my eventual primary role involved directing and implementing technology strategy, with a focus on hardware and (especially) software solutions to minimize operating costs and facilitate remote management.BusinessIn addition to my technical work, I helped build these businesses from scratch; including hotels, restaurants and real estate development/rentals (now with hundreds of units/inventory).AccomplishmentsMany of the technology solutions I helped implement are still used to run these businesses today, and in many cases have been expanded upon. These business have grown substantially, and are still run by my family.