Grant Koeneke Resume

GRANT KOENEKE

CTO and Consultant

A dynamic, innovative CTO with 20+ years of experience in diverse arenas. Solid background in business processes, technologies, and systems that support best-in-class operations, including high volume and high availability environments. Skilled in all phases of the project life cycle, from initial feasibility analysis and conceptual design through implementation and enhancement. Highly effective at building culturally diverse, team-centered operating units, with excellent business process and strategy development skills. Customer-centric with the ability to initiate profitable alliances with global vendors and suppliers, and to interface with stakeholders to solve complex operational challenges. Articulate communicator, able to build and maintain relationships at all levels.

Broad understanding of IT trends, their impact on business strategies, and implications creating and sustaining competitive advantage and transforming business.
Successfully directed project teams from initial planning to budgeting, marketing, staffing, vendor relations, to final deliverables.
Expertise includes design and delivery of cost-effective, high-performance technology solutions in support of rapid growth with budget responsibilities up to $27M annually.

· Strategic & Operational Technology Planning · IT Infrastructure Design & Implementation

· Technology & Business Linkage Planning · Sensitive Global Voice/Data Telecommunications

· Global IT Delivery & Data Center Operations · Emerging Technologies & Enterprise Architectures · Capital Planning & Investment Control · Technology Architecture & Integration

· Situation-Based Global Outsourcing Models · IT Skills Gap Analysis & Performance Optimization

· Master Data Design for Big Data Models · Cloud Based Infrastructure Models

· HIPPA Regulation Compliance · FINRA Regulation Compliance

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

BLINDLY, San Francisco, CA DEC 2017 – PRESENT

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Managed all software mobile and web development, data and business intelligence resource planning, operations and development budgeting for an international Dating application. Participated in strategic technology planning and annual budget planning meetings and had decision-making authority for development and innovations.

Responsible for creation of Dynamic Response Mobile Web applications, supported on Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android as a Suite of Node.js admin tools, including a social media curation tool and custom content management system (CMS).
Architected React.js and React NATIVE development of Mobile and Web single repository.
Established processes and procedures for development based on best practices.
Implemented QA process for the Software Development Lifecycle and managed all lifecycle phases.
Supported the company’s off-the-shelf computer hardware, network, and software applications.
In a constant state of hiring and onboarding development personnel.

DRIFTR, Los Angeles, CA DEC 2016 – PRESENT

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Managing all Software Development and System architecture along with the development team and roadmap. In charge of all things technical it is also part of my position to help with fundraising and any board or investor meetings that are planned.

Planned and established processes, procedures, and standards for IT Operations Department, QA Department, and the Software Engineering Department, which expanded all department capabilities.
Building a Machine Learning and Computer Vision backend system to make life easier for Millennials and Generation Z.
Creating a Micro-Services Oriented Architecture for a new platform using RESTful API.
Evaluating off-shore development shops as part of an RFP selection process.
Budget Planning and forecasting for Technology Department.
Architecting a new Computer Vision/Machine Learning platform.
Architecting and building and Analytics platform for the Travel industry.
Current technology stack is Node.js, React.js, iOS, Android, Web Sockets, Amazon AWS, Docker Containers, MySQL, MongoDB.
Helped create the Revenue Model for a Travel Industry application.

PULLBUTTON, Irvine, CA JULY 2016 – APRIL 2018

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Managing all Software Development and System architecture along with the development team and roadmap. In charge of all things technical it is also part of my position to help with fundraising and any board or investor meetings that are planned.

Planned and established processes, procedures, and standards for IT Operations Department, QA Department, and the Software Engineering Department, which expanded all department capabilities.
Created a new architecture to change search for a large-scale eCommerce platform that stretches almost any industry for any good or service.
Building a Machine Learning and Computer Vision backend system to make life easier for Millennials and Generation Z.

WEEDMAPS, Irvine, CA FEB 2016 – JULY 2016

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Executive Management of software, mobile, and web development for the company. Manage data and business intelligence resource planning for operations. Responsible for the development budget for a million+ users in an enterprise of online assets with a focus on system integration, emerging technologies, enterprise architectures, strategic alliances, and data security. Essential decision-making authority for all development and innovations with a budget over $20M.

Planned and established processes, procedures, and standards for IT Operations Department, QA Department, and the Software Engineering Department, which expanded all department capabilities.
Established Data Services team including Analytics, Business Intelligence, Database Development, and Data Architecture.
Organized Software Development Lifecycle methodologies and procedures around the Agile development process.
Maintaining current architecture and making additions per the product roadmap in the technology stack of Angular.js, Ruby on Rails, PostgreSQL, Elastic Search, Node.js, Python, PHP, Magento on AWS.
Architected a new Micro-Service Oriented Architecture (MSOA) based on Node.js, React.js, Elixir, Redis, MongoDB, MySQL, Docker Containers, iOS and Android on AWS that is completely scalable globally on a moment’s notice.
Generated a mobile monetization plan to generate revenue without losing Generation Y users to displeasing advertising.
Performed hardware/software support and managed the software development QA process to ensure consistent quality.
Participated in annual budgeting and strategic technology planning.

KLIQUE, INC., Miami, FL NOV 2014 – JAN 2016

CHIEF TECHNOLOGY OFFICER

Managed a $2M budget and directed software mobile and web development, data and business intelligence resource planning, operations and development budgeting for an international Group Chat and Meet-Up application. Participated in strategic technology planning and annual budget planning meetings and had decision-making authority for development and innovations.

Responsible for creation of Dynamic Response Mobile Web applications, supported on Windows, OS X, iOS, and Android as a Suite of Node.js admin tools, including a social media curation tool and custom content management system (CMS).
Established processes and procedures for development based on best practices.
Implemented QA process for the Software Development Lifecycle and managed all lifecycle phases.
Supported the company’s off-the-shelf computer hardware, network, and software applications.

REVOLT, Hollywood, CA JUL 2013 – NOV 2014

SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING

Managed a $12M budget for the company’s software development, which included mobile and web applications. Responsible for the resource planning of the 100+ employee workforce developing a global television network. Reported directly to the President.

Led development of TV Everywhere, a live TV network using Adobe Pass to authenticate with Time Warner Cable and Comcast.
Led and helped develop numerous projects, including:
- An over the top, Netflix like subscription product and service on the Web and 9 platform specific apps.
- VOD player that is adaptive streaming for VOD playback, accommodating external video sources, such as YouTube.
- An iOS and Android app with TV Everywhere authentication for live TV steaming and VOD playback.
- A 2-way video chat mobile feature in Google Hangouts LIKE session over the website to a TV studio’s live broadcast; 16 people at once, which had never been done on mobile before.
- Digital Ads Serve integrated API for web and mobile.
- A proprietary Push Notification service for both iOS and Android.
- A Federated Authentication and TV Anywhere Authentication single sign-on solution (SAML).
- Multi-Platform video player implementation.
- A 2-way video talkback function, from a web or mobile device, with the live studio, enabling users to be on live television.
Led application development projects to build out Enterprise Software Infrastructure to support Web and mobile initiatives.
Created metrics tracking system for to track operational performance against project milestones.
Technology stack is Node.js, React.js, iOS, Android, Elixir, GO, SQL Server, MongoDB, Redis, Docker Containers on AWS.

CREATIVE ARTISTS AGENCY, Century City, CA JUNE 2011- JULY 2013

VICE PRESIDENT OF ENGINEERING

Managed 7 direct and 37 indirect engineering professionals at different global locations, which grew to 14 direct with a $4M budget. Oversaw the transition of the company from broker to banker, directing completed hardware and software infrastructures, which included: defining system architecture, choosing technologies, making strategic alliances, and ensuring data security.

Led upgrades and application enhancements, including replacing obsolete systems, hardware, software, and headcount, resulting in a $2M annual savings.
Implemented API-driven centralized dynamic master data initiative to support company demand for more data in the Big Data movement and transitioned IT localized hardware to cloud using Microsoft Azure technology.
Established new ERP system with deep analytical reporting to support new business intelligence initiative including social media and other external data as part of the Big Data strategy.
Installed new development, build and deployment methodologies, tools, and standards for rapid application deployment.
Architected new system with a combination of Python on the backend with Node.js(Express.js) on the front end. Migrated from Python to Node.js on the backend after 6 months.
Engineered intake of data from the Internet to centralize comprehensive data store for Business Intelligence decision-making.
Developed metrics tracking system to track Operations performance against project milestones.
Created and automated data initiatives designed to save time, effort, and money, saving thousands of man-hours annually, along with pinpointing accurate detail of data, driving more efficient business decisions.
Architected iOS and Android apps developed against REST API for data feeds; Applications included: Client Profile: More Detailed IMDB with video, Project Profiles: Movies, Music and TV, Sports: MLB Arbitration and NHL Arbitration.
Used third-party data to enhance existing internal data from external vendor APIs (IMDB, Twitter, Facebook, Boxoffice Mojo, Rotten Tomatoes, Cinescore, Stats Inc, MLB.com and ESPN) for enhancement and sentiment analysis use cases.

FETCH TECHNOLOGIES, El Segundo, CA MAY 2010 – JUNE 2011

SENIOR DIRECTOR OF ENGINEERING

Hired to transform a desktop client software engineering company into a SaaS-based Big Data and Business Intelligence company. Decision maker for all levels of enterprise architecture, operational design, data center expansion, product development, data security, strategic alliances, and innovation. Managed $10M budget, 9 direct reports, and 47 indirect reports in various global locations while giving direction to Product, Sales, Marketing, and Operations. Reported CTO.

Designed and led development of Master Data-driven API/Service Layer SaaS product, which was core to the new business model, moving toward Big Data (before term was invented), costing $4M in 10 months, returning $5M per month.
Created operational infrastructure in 2 different data center locations to support a SaaS modeled business with implementation of hardware and software in a project plan requiring 12 months to deploy, succeeding in 8 months.
Spearheaded project using Amazon’s AWS EC2 services as new Cloud-based architecture of Big Data SaaS product; implemented after 6 months when Amazon’s pricing model made the change cost-effective, saving the company $2M annually.
Generated revenues in excess of $4M annually by implementing a web-based API and Analytics platform to provide customers with data from the Web in a timely and meaningful method.
Planned, staffed, and implemented departments for Operations, QA, Engineering, Product, Project Management, negotiated vendor contracts, and developed relationships with 3 offshore vendors for development of new products.
Utilized mobile applications to bring mobile dashboards to the customer’s hands in an iOS format.

LIVE OFFICE, Torrance, CA MARCH 2009 – MAY 2010

DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES

Managed data engineering and operations for over 50,000 users SaaS-based Financial Services e-mail archiving company. Developed annual budget, implemented process models, and created/mentored a 16-person SaaS Operations team. Initiated assessment programs and mapped them against planned milestones for operations and engineering.

Partnered with Microsoft and 3Par to create cost savings in space management of large amounts of data saving $1M annually.
Conducted needs analysis to determine application requirements for domestic and international user communities, resulting in the creation of new products adding $500,000 annually.
Designed and implemented new LAN/WAN architecture as part of a global design and disaster recovery model required by clients and FINRA.
Implemented operational model providing 24-hour, 7-days a week, 365-days a year support while minimizing impact on staff.

SPOT RUNNER, Los Angeles, CA APRIL 2008 – MARCH 2009

DIRECTOR OF DATA SERVICES

Directed all data, database, business intelligence resource planning, budgeting, operations, and development for 500-person startup in Internet-based television advertising and online advertising. Served as architect and principle liaison between technical analysts, developers, sales personnel, and non-technical client base.

Integrated all data into a globally unique data warehouse, giving business intelligence to a local television-advertising product.
Created mobile application that enabled geo-location through GPS for local focused advertisements.

MOMENTUM MARKET INTELLIGENCE, Portland, OR NOV 2006 – APRIL 2008

DIRECTOR OF DATA TECHNOLOGIES

Developed software, processes, and data designed to integrate survey data into one uniform and centralized format for consumption. Architected and managed the development of a $4M Internet-based application to drive business intelligence and understanding in the world of IT resourcing and hardware spending for IBM.

City of Vancouver, Vancouver, WA MAY 2006 to MAY 2007