Christopher Clarke
Akron
Summary
Innovative and results-driven IT leader seeking to leverage over a decade of experience in infrastructure modernization, cloud transformation, and cross-functional leadership to drive strategic technology initiatives. Passionate about building resilient, cost-effective IT ecosystems that empower business growth. Looking to contribute my expertise in team management, vendor coordination, and enterprise-level migrations to a forward-thinking organization focused on digital transformation and operational excellence.
Overview
24
24
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Information Technology
Whiting Door Manufacturing
08.2024 - Current
- Lead and modernize the IT function for a manufacturing company with 500+ external and 160 internal users. Oversee enterprise-wide projects that improve resilience, security, and efficiency while supporting end-to-end business operations.
- KEY LEADERSHIP & STRATEGIC ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Cloud-first modernization: Led the migration of Exchange 2019 to Microsoft 365 and implemented SharePoint/Teams for 165 users—enhancing collaboration, uptime, and mobile access.
- Phone system transformation: Replaced legacy Avaya phone system with RingCentral across 260 users—improving call quality, scalability, and remote support.
- Infrastructure & security revamp: Replaced outdated switches, firewalls, and security systems with Meraki solutions; decommissioned 44 local virtual servers, boosting performance and security posture.
- ERP Migration (in-progress): Spearheading a 6-month project to migrate the on-premise ERP system to the cloud, consolidating infrastructure and enabling business continuity.
- ISP and communication upgrades: Transitioned from Windstream to Spectrum Enterprise to increase bandwidth and reliability.
- Helpdesk transformation: Implemented a cloud-based IT ticketing platform, replacing an inefficient email system—resulting in measurable improvements in ticket resolution time, accountability, and reporting.
- Cybersecurity enhancement: Rolled out MFA for all external users and established formalized network access policies to strengthen compliance and endpoint security.
- Vendor and team management: Direct and mentor a team of four internal IT professionals, including a Network Administrator and two Senior Programmers. Manage all third-party IT vendors, negotiating contracts and ensuring SLA compliance.
- Financial & operational agility: Established rapid budgeting strategies and eliminated high-maintenance on-prem solutions, leading to substantial cost savings and long-term ROI.
- Data-Driven Transformation: Designed and deployed a centralized data lake architecture, enabling seamless integration of ERP, CRM, and third-party data sources. Leveraged Power BI to build executive dashboards and self-service analytics tools, empowering department heads with real-time insights and driving data-informed decision-making across the organization.
- Additional Achievements:
- Introduced an internal Learning Management System (LMS) on SharePoint to support continuous IT and user training.
- Eliminated legacy Citrix dependencies, streamlining IT environments and reducing support burdens.
- Delivered a refreshed and mobile-optimized company website aligned with modern branding and accessibility standards.
- Implemented automated software deployment pipelines to enforce compliance and standardization across devices.
- Continually design and deploy IT improvement policies to reinforce a culture of proactive innovation.
Sr. Staff Business Analyst
Thermo Fisher Scientific
03.2022 - 08.2024
- Led global business analysis and digital enablement initiatives for a $33.5M client portfolio. Worked cross-functionally with enterprise teams to optimize regulatory compliance, IT product strategy, and client satisfaction. Managed a team of two remote analysts and collaborated with internal stakeholders to streamline delivery of over 160 precision lab and medical devices. Actively participated in the launch of Thermo Fisher’s AI team, contributing to initiatives that leveraged proprietary data to enhance customer and sales support systems.
- KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
- AI-Powered Sales Enablement: Co-led the modeling of proprietary data lakes using SQL and indexed PDF forms to build a dynamic knowledge base—empowering customer service and sales teams with instant access to complex product answers during sales calls.
- Data Governance & Compliance: Worked closely with customers and internal stakeholders to understand how sensitive data was stored, processed, and transmitted. Evaluated workflows and system designs to ensure adherence to data privacy regulations such as GDPR and CCPA, strengthening compliance and mitigating risk.
- Cybersecurity Innovation: Spearheaded the adoption of generative AI in cybersecurity, developing advanced threat detection algorithms and integrating them into enterprise AI chat systems.
- Data Security Modernization: Developed proprietary data vectoring architecture for chatbot integration, ensuring secure handling of sensitive medical and customer data.
- Customer-Centric Enablement: Strengthened market readiness and compliance of high-value medical equipment, increasing adoption rates and reducing delivery delays.
- Process Leadership: Drove transformation of the IT Product Enablement department, improving alignment between enterprise tech capabilities and evolving client needs.
Head of Customer Success
Warehouse Anywhere
01.2021 - 04.2022
- Joined Warehouse Anywhere at its early-stage growth phase and built the Customer Success department from the ground up, supporting over $30M in revenue. Played a pivotal role in defining and scaling customer operations in a startup environment, while serving as a strategic partner to both clients and internal teams. Worked directly with enterprise customers throughout the solution discovery, sales, and implementation lifecycle—delivering detailed process documentation, project plans, and hands-on guidance to ensure successful deployments. Led a cross-functional team of 12, including Support Specialists, Managers, a Trainer, and Project Managers.
- KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
- End-to-End Project Ownership: Managed customer engagements from initial discovery through post-sale implementation—developing detailed rollout plans, overseeing deliverables, and aligning internal resources to meet client-specific needs.
- Enterprise Client Retention: Personally salvaged a $5M at-risk account through direct intervention, contract compliance leadership, and executive relationship management.
- Operational Scaling: Designed the foundational support framework, enabling rapid team onboarding, SOP standardization, and issue escalation protocols.
- Professional Development Culture: Launched and led a “train-the-trainer” program to institutionalize coaching and accelerate new hire readiness—boosting team productivity and reducing ramp-up time.
- Startup Leadership & Adaptability: Navigated the demands of a fast-paced startup by delivering agile, customer-centric solutions and continuously iterating on operational processes to support evolving business goals.
Director of IT & Strategic Initiatives
Ashley Furniture HomeStores
10.2001 - 01.2021
- Oversaw enterprise IT operations across 22 retail stores and 6 distribution centers, supporting over 450 users across multiple states. Acted as a strategic technology advisor to the executive team, leading innovation and transformation across infrastructure, ERP, cloud, and security. Partnered cross-functionally to enhance logistics, streamline operations, and drive long-term value through scalable technology investments.
- KEY ACHIEVEMENTS:
- Workforce Optimization: Reorganized IT team structure, reducing headcount from 6 to 2 without compromising service quality—improving ticket resolution speed and achieving substantial cost savings.
- ERP Transformation: Led the $1M migration from PROFITS to STORIS, successfully transferring 25M transactional records over a year, modernizing operational visibility and reporting.
- Cloud Adoption: Integrated Office 365 and Azure platforms with ERP, enabling seamless access and achieving $540K in net annual savings.
- Cybersecurity & Uptime: Implemented a company-wide security protocol that reduced vulnerabilities by 70% and ensured 99.9% system uptime.
- Strategic Planning: Developed a 5-year IT roadmap aligned with company growth goals, resulting in a 30% increase in operational efficiency over three years.
- Cost Efficiency: Managed a $550K IT budget, reducing expenditures by 15% through vendor renegotiations and optimized resource allocation.
- Vendor Management: Negotiated vendor contracts, cutting costs by 20% while improving SLA adherence and service quality.
- Hybrid Cloud Migration: Transitioned core infrastructure to a hybrid cloud environment, improving scalability and reducing operational costs by 40%.
- Store Expansion Support: Designed and deployed scalable IT infrastructure for 24 new retail locations, ensuring consistency and reliability.
- Business Intelligence Enablement: Launched a Power BI-driven analytics platform, enabling real-time data visibility and contributing to a 10% increase in annual revenue.
- Disaster Recovery: Developed and tested a full disaster recovery plan, reducing potential downtime to under 24 hours during critical incidents.
- Innovation Culture: Led the internal development of three custom software tools that enhanced customer engagement and operational performance.
- Employee Enablement: Created and implemented a company-wide IT training program, reducing external consultant reliance by 50%.
Education
Bachelors - Computer Science
Alfred State University
01.2002
Project Management Professional (PMP) - undefined
PMI Institute
01.2015
Professional Business Analyst (PBA) - undefined
PMI Institute
01.2019
Certified Professional Jira Admin - undefined
Atlassian University
01.2020
Skills
- Cloud & Infrastructure: Azure, Microsoft 365, SharePoint, Meraki, RingCentral, Spectrum Enterprise
- Systems & Tools: Exchange 2019/365, VMware, IT Helpdesk Platforms, LMS, Avaya, ERP (Syteline)
- Security & Networking: MFA, Firewall/Switch lifecycle management, Meraki Security Suite, Citrix removal
- Management: Team Leadership, Strategic Budgeting, Vendor Negotiation, Change Management, Policy Design
Accomplishments
- redefined infustructure and budgets at Whiting Door saving over 300K in my first Year.
- Rescued a $5M enterprise client on Day 1 at Warehouse Anywhere by rebuilding trust, redesigning the implementation strategy, and leading direct recovery efforts—resulting in a successful rollout and long-term retention.
- Spearheading a full ERP cloud migration for Whiting Door, eliminating 44 legacy virtual servers, improving system security, reducing infrastructure costs, and positioning the organization for long-term scalability.
Timeline
Director of Information Technology
Whiting Door Manufacturing
08.2024 - Current
Sr. Staff Business Analyst
Thermo Fisher Scientific
03.2022 - 08.2024
Head of Customer Success
Warehouse Anywhere
01.2021 - 04.2022
Director of IT & Strategic Initiatives
Ashley Furniture HomeStores
10.2001 - 01.2021
Bachelors - Computer Science
Alfred State University
Project Management Professional (PMP) - undefined
PMI Institute
Professional Business Analyst (PBA) - undefined
PMI Institute
Certified Professional Jira Admin - undefined
Atlassian University
PROFESSIONAL SUMMARY
Strategic IT leader with a proven ability to modernize infrastructure, drive digital transformation, and lead high-performing technical teams. Adept at identifying opportunities for improvement, executing large-scale cloud migrations, and building scalable, secure systems. Skilled in budget planning, vendor management, cross-functional leadership, and aligning IT operations with organizational goals. Recognized for quickly mastering emerging technologies and implementing them to reduce risk, optimize costs, and increase operational efficiency.
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