Mark Shead

President at Xeric Corporation

mwshead@mac.com

Summary

Dynamic professional with diverse technical experience and superior management skills. Proven success at developing an IT department from the ground up by building a talented team, creating cost effective processes, and creating strategic software. Excellent communication skills with the ability to translate business needs into efficient technical solutions and successful development projects. Easily interacts with executives, technical and non-technical staff, clients, and vendors. Accomplished leader with established track record in problem solving and software development as well as managing and motivating staff.

Specialties

Process creation and improvement. Ecommerce, CRM and ERP implementation. Teamwork and leadership development planning.

Java, Continuous Integration, WebObjects, Tapestry, JUnit, Eclipse, Build Management, Automated Testing, CruiseControl, Software Version Control, Source Code Management, Subversion, CVS, Maven, IT Consulting, Non-profit Management Consulting, Technology Management Consulting, CCNA (Cisco Certified Network Associate), SCJP (Sun Certified Java Programmer)

Experience

President at Xeric Corporation

February 2006 -Present (3 years 3 months)

Helping medium sized companies position their human and technical resources toward achieving business goals.

1 recommendation available upon request

Senior Software Engineer at Optimal Solutions Incorporated

June 2005 -January 2006 (8 months)

Seven month engagement to implement software engineering best practices for development team on an existing product. Implemented and managed version control, product build, automated unit testing, issue tracking and project metric reporting. Led the development efforts for product enhancement and issue resolution.

3 recommendations available upon request

Director of Information Technology at Resurrection Life Church

January 2001 -June 2005 (4 years 6 months)

-Led the development of web-based software for time and attendance, nursery check-in, forms

processing, project management, cost accounting, and other internal applications.

-Led the design and creation of the www.reslife.org website which provides online streaming of worship services, credit card donation processing, and news for local congregation and parishioners around the world.

-Hired, trained and supervised all technical personnel including Web Programmer, Help Desk employees, Graphic Arts and Media Production departments.

-Designed, implemented, and managed help desk, web and application development, firewalls and security policies, VPN for remote sites, electronic payment processing, voice and data contracts, and VoIP based PBX.

-Managed IT budget. Worked closely with the finance department to establish cost accounting systems to strengthen the organization#s budget process.

4 recommendations available upon request

Network Administrator at Sisters of Mercy Health System

May 1998 -December 2000 (2 years 8 months)

-Represented company at corporate level regarding technical policy and design issues.

-Maintained router and remote access device programming and security as additional sites were added and network topology was updated.

-Responsible for WAN connectivity for two hospitals and 12 small clinics.

-Obtained CCNA certification from Cisco.

-Enabled network connectivity of over 1200 devices including Exchange 5.0/5.5 server, Novell networking, and handheld PCs. Responsible for upgrades and maintenance of all client/server technologies.

-Developed and conducted training programs for Microsoft Office applications; efforts increased employee productivity.

-Created simulation software to test new network configurations without impacting operations.

Adjunct Professor at Fort Scott Community College

July 2000 -November 2000 (5 months)

Taught two short term courses on Internet technologies.

Network/PC technician at Mercy Health System of Kansas

May 1995 -May 1998 (3 years 1 month)

-Worked fulltime during summers and part time during school year.

-Implemented remote access connectivity to mainframe using PPP over modem dial-up connections. Efforts eliminated the need for leased lines saving valuable company resources.

-Installed and supported API automated time and attendance system that covered multiple locations. Wrote software to process payroll deductions; efforts resulted in a 50% reduction in payroll staff between the two hospitals

-Developed a method to connect network PCs to the proprietary mainframe system using TCP/IP instead of error prone serial connections increasing reliability and decreasing support calls to the MIS department.

Education

Harvard University

ALM (Masters), Software Engineering, 2001 -2009

Pittsburg State University

MMA, Music Composition, September 1998 -May 1999

Oral Roberts University

BMA, Music Composition, 1994 -1998

Mark Shead

President at Xeric Corporation

mwshead@mac.com

8 people have recommended Mark

"Mark is excellent. You can't put letters on the business card that reads "honesty", "wisdom" and "experience" -but Mark possesses all that!"

—
Jeff Ingle, Owner, Optimal Solutions, Inc, worked with Mark at Optimal Solutions Incorporated
"Mark has a solid grasp of the concerns and issues needed to achieve success in software development projects. In particular he demonstrated excellence with regard to building quality control and sound project management processes into the often chaotic realm of systems development. He is very smart, very capable and has good character."
—
Greg Ritchie, Owner, TopMind Systems, Inc., was with another company when working with Mark at Optimal Solutions Incorporated

"We contract with Xeric Corporation for Mark's programming skills, exceptional customer relations, and business vision. Mark has been a tremendous asset to Optimal Solutions' strategic thinking and planning."

— Scott King, DIrector of Converged Technology, Optimal Solutions, Inc., was Mark's client

"While working in the Systems Engineering Group at Optimal Solutions, Inc. I had many opportunities to work side by side with Mark on internal systems management as well as with some customer relations. Mark was always a proactive thinker with exceptional customer interaction skills."

— Scott King, Senior Systems Engineer, Optimal Solutions, Inc., worked with Mark at Optimal Solutions Incorporated

"Mark is someone who develops people under him. I had the honor of being brought into the field of Information Systems under the leadership of Mark. He is a innovator and does not settle for second best. His proactive and direct style keeps the big and the small running."

— Nathan Rinzema, Information Technology Intern, Resurrection Life Church, reported to Mark at Resurrection Life Church

"Without Mark our deptartment wouldn't have been able to be as effective or efficient. We could throw any problem at Mark, and he would always have a solution. You always knew, if you had a question... ask Mark!"

—
Phil Gungor, Producer, Laugh Your Way, America!, worked with Mark at Resurrection Life Church
"Mark stays organized and practical in all he does. He strives to maintain a standard of excellence. His projects always remain within the budget he is given. He has got great leadership skills and is a real joy to work with. I would highly recommend Mark!"
—
Jennifer Gardner, Project Manager, Resurrection Life Church, reported to Mark at Resurrection Life Church
"Mark is a foreword thinker, yet he stays extremely organized and practical as possible. He keeps projects in a constant "reality check" so that the final results are not only excellent, but on time and on budget. His work for Resurrection Life Church helped the organization grow by leaps and bounds. His skills as a leader allowed the church to increase its capabilities in a very short timeframe."
—
Dana O'Dell, Graphic Designer, Resurrection Life Church, reported to Mark at Resurrection Life Church

Expertise

Quality Management and Standards

Contact Mark on LinkedIn