Connect:

Michael Portwood's Résumé

Summary

Executive with a track record of delivering value to global companies in the high-tech, consumer goods, health care, and employee recognition industries. Agile methodology expert and change agent with demonstrated experience creating cultures exceeding efficiency and quality expectations while improving employee retention and corporate governance. Technology innovator capable of architecting and delivering customer-facing enterprise solutions leveraging cloud computing, social media, and big data. Leader of teams exceeding 100 people across multiple locations including near-shore and offshore contractors. Successful implementer of ITIL, Deming, and Six Sigma process improvement disciplines.

Tools And Technologies

Experience

Michael C. Fina Company

, New York, NY

2013 - present

Director, Client Facing Technologies

Working directly for the Chief Operating Officer, architected the modernization of this leading global employee recognition company’s ecommerce and social media service offerings by leveraging cloud computing coupled with responsive web design to deliver optimized smartphone, tablet, and desktop immersive experiences. Managed the technology portfolio accounting for over 85% of the company’s income. Technologies include Amazon AWS, Ruby on Rails, Perl, PostgreSQL, Linux, Apache, Heroku, semantic markup using HTML5 and CSS3. Accountable for the business analysis, architecture, engineering, quality assurance, release management, and data development functions. Managed vendor relationships including offshore and near-shore contractors, usability consultants, and SSAE16 auditors.

The Nielsen Company

, Lancaster, PA

2003 - 2012

Team Manager and Vice President, Application Development

Directed the transformation of this consumer insights company’s offerings into a platformed web and mobile-based global presence leveraging the multi-tenant Software as a Service (SaaS) model. Client-facing services were delivered via web browsers, web services, and smartphone devices. Responsible for business analysis, architecture, engineering, quality assurance, release management, technical and customer support documentation departments distributed across seven locations. Managed the technology portfolio accounting for over 95% of the Spectra brand’s income.

Exuberance

, Baton Rouge, LA

2000 - 2003

Chief Technology Officer

Delivered the product technology roadmap for this enterprise rapid application development (RAD) software tool company. The Exuberance™ product simplified software development by automatically creating extensible internationalized Java-based applications that interacts with enterprise resources, like databases and CORBA, RMI, EJB, and COM objects. Exuberance applications auto-determine configuration and change behavior, allowing delivery as web applets, desktop, client/server, handheld, and Internet applications running on most modern operating systems without modification.

Delphinus

, Baton Rouge, LA

1996 - 2000

Chief Technology Officer

Directed the architecture, technology selection, and development for this automated patient pharmaceutical compliance services company. Nereus™ provided high availability medical information service that connects physicians, patients, and insurance companies, using the Internet and wireless technology to improve patient health while reducing healthcare costs.

The Portwood Group

, Baton Rouge, LA

1994 - 2000

Practice Principal

Helped global clients create a technological competitive advantage through the use of specialized rapid application development tools and techniques, emphasizing the integration of emerging technologies into existing business frameworks.

Texas Instruments

, Dallas, TX

1984-1994

Computer Engineering Manager

Performed as technical individual contributor, rapid response team member, technical manager, and customer technical liaison for this Fortune 50 technology conglomerate.

Optics Design Center:

Office of Governmental Affairs:

Automatic Video Tracking Systems:

Instructional Experience

Louisiana State University

, Baton Rouge, LA

1995 - 2000

Adjunct Instructor

Instructed undergraduate and graduate students in advanced Computer Science coursework. Designed and delivered original material for Introductory Java, Advanced Java (J2EE, JDBC, RMI, EJB, servlets, CORBA, I18N), Object-Oriented Design Patterns, and Project Management.

Invited Talks and Presentations

Presented numerous white papers and presentations on topics including agile leadership, business leadership and technology models, Java technologies, and wireless technologies at major international conferences.

For complete list see: www.MichaelPortwood.com

Education

MSc Applied Cognition and Neuroscience (Artificial Intelligence)

1992

University of Texas, Dallas, TX

Focused on computational neuroscience and cognition theory emphasizing artificial neural networks and Bayesian statistics.

BSc Computer Science

1990

University of Texas, Dallas, TX