Cannon Lord
Ozark,AR
Summary
Strategic data and technology leader with over 10 years of experience delivering enterprise-scale solutions across the utilities, transportation, and manufacturing industries. Proven record of building and scaling cloud-native data platforms, leading cross-functional teams, and driving data strategy from architecture to analytics. Hands-on technologist who has led transformations from on-prem to Azure, built secure and performant pipelines, and delivered real-time, AI-ready ecosystems. Passionate about aligning technical innovation with business growth, especially in data engineering, GenAI integration, and ML-Ops enablement.
Overview
18
18
years of professional experience
Work History
Manager, Data & Data Analytics
Summit Utilities
Fort Smith, AR
08.2021 - Current
- Built and scaled a high-performing Data & Analytics team from 1 to 12+ (Data Engineers, BI Developers, Data Analysts, and Data Architects).
- Led enterprise migration from on-premises databases (SQL Server, Oracle, SAP) to Azure, modernizing pipelines and architecture using ADF, Azure SQL, Blob Storage, and Fabric.
- Established foundational components of an AI-ready platform using Lakehouses, Notebooks, and managed identity integration.
- Delivered robust Power BI and reporting ecosystems, integrating disparate business domains with curated datasets.
- Initiated a GenAI proof-of-concept by developing an internal HR bot trained on company policy and documents using embedding and RAG techniques.
- Negotiated contracts with vendors to secure favorable terms and pricing.
Data Engineer II
ArcBest Technologies
Fort Smith, AR
04.2020 - 07.2021
- Designed and optimized ETL/ELT pipelines for multi-source ingestion (DB2, SQL Server, flat files) into Azure Synapse and Power BI datasets.
- Led the development of departmental star schemas and custom, performance-tuned reporting layers.
- Collaborated with analysts and business users to translate logic into efficient data models and visualizations.
- Maintained and tuned the DB2 LUW enterprise data warehouse for stability and scalability.
- Researched and integrated new data technologies and tools to keep the data architecture modern and efficient.
- Developed and implemented data models, database designs, data access and table maintenance codes.
- Optimized SQL queries and database schemas for performance improvements in data retrieval operations.
Database Administrator
ArcBest Technologies
Fort Smith, AR
09.2015 - 04.2020
- Supported enterprise-grade DB2 LUW/zOS, and SQL Server environments across subsidiaries.
- Led initiatives in disaster recovery planning, security audits, and database optimization.
- Created automation scripts and monitoring solutions to improve performance and minimize manual tasks.
- Partnered with application developers to streamline end-to-end data flow across key business systems.
- Monitored performance of queries and tuned them as needed using Explain Plan tool.
- Aligned systems with business needs to enhance scalability of database structures and recommend improvements.
- Conducted regular database capacity planning to accommodate business growth.
- Managed database security, backup, and recovery procedures to safeguard information.
Systems Analyst
ArcBest Technologies
Fort Smith, AR
05.2014 - 10.2015
- Supported and enhanced custom internal applications, with a focus on data reliability and integration.
- Participated in the design, testing, and deployment of key system modules.
- Conducted research on emerging technologies and provided recommendations for upgrading existing systems.
- Prepared and presented technical proposals for clients.
- Developed and executed comprehensive testing plans to ensure application quality.
- Utilized version control systems like Git for efficient team collaboration and code management.
- Contributed to the development of technical documentation and user guides.
- Designed, developed, and implemented software applications according to specified requirements.
Aviation Ordnanceman
United States Marine Corps
Beaufort, SC
06.2007 - 06.2011
- Led daily training of 12–20 Marines in technical operations, logistics, and safety protocol.
- Managed armament and munition systems, maintaining accuracy, inventory control, and reporting readiness.
- Supervised operation of aviation ordnance shops, armories and storage facilities.
- Maintained detailed records of maintenance activities performed during shift.
- Maintained and repaired armament, ammunition, and related equipment in accordance with technical orders.
- Performed routine testing on aircraft armament control systems in accordance with maintenance regulations.
- Provided guidance to other personnel regarding proper handling of explosives and hazardous materials.
Education
MBA - Business Administration
Harding University
Searcy, AR05-2019
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology - Database Administration
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
Fort Smith, AR05-2015
Skills
- Azure Data Architecture
- Data analytics
- Data engineering
- Cloud migration
- Power BI
- Data modeling
- GenAI (OpenAI, RAG)
- MLOps (CI/CD for ML)
- Microsoft Fabric
- Vendor Management
- Leadership and Team Development
- AI Strategy
- SAP, Oracle, and SQL Server integration
- Employee coaching and mentoring
- Project management
Timeline
Manager, Data & Data Analytics
Summit Utilities
08.2021 - Current
Data Engineer II
ArcBest Technologies
04.2020 - 07.2021
Database Administrator
ArcBest Technologies
09.2015 - 04.2020
Systems Analyst
ArcBest Technologies
05.2014 - 10.2015
Aviation Ordnanceman
United States Marine Corps
06.2007 - 06.2011
MBA - Business Administration
Harding University
Bachelor of Science - Information Technology - Database Administration
University of Arkansas-Fort Smith
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