Clayton Sparks
Leesville,SC
Summary
Enterprise technology executive with 20+ years of experience owning and scaling digital platforms that power customer engagement, revenue operations, and enterprise integrations across Fortune 500 organizations. Proven leader in aligning technology with business outcomes across Sales, Customer Service, eCommerce, and Operations, driving platform strategies that improve customer experience, enable growth, and modernize enterprise systems. Recognized for end-to-end ownership of Salesforce ecosystems, cloud platforms (AWS), and integration architecture, with deep expertise leading cross-functional teams, managing vendor portfolios, and delivering complex enterprise transformations.
Experienced with leading technical teams and managing software development projects. Utilizes in-depth knowledge of programming and system architecture to streamline processes. Track record of fostering team collaboration and achieving project milestones effectively.
Overview
2027
2027
years of professional experience
Work History
IT Director Engineering – Enterprise Platforms
Thorne Research
South Carolina
03.2025 - Current
- Own end-to-end digital platform ecosystem including Salesforce, eCommerce, and OMS, supporting customer engagement, support operations, and revenue workflows
- Act as primary technology leader for customer-facing systems, partnering with Sales, Service, and Operations leadership to drive platform strategy and business alignment
- Lead integration architecture connecting CRM, ERP (Business Central), payment systems, and digital storefronts, enabling seamless order-to-cash and support lifecycle processes
- Direct delivery of $10M+ enterprise initiatives, managing vendor ecosystem and ensuring alignment with business priorities and architecture standards
- Lead cross-functional teams of 50+ (internal and vendor resources) across distributed engineering and delivery functions
- Drive improvements in customer support operations through case management optimization, workflow automation, and platform enhancements
- Introduced AI-driven capabilities to enhance service efficiency, analytics, and decision-making
Contract Director / Principal Architect
Hewlett Packard
Palo Alto, CA
03.2024 - 03.2025
- Provided executive-level leadership for enterprise cloud transformation initiatives, defining AWS infrastructure strategy and deployment models
- Established governance frameworks for cost optimization, scalability, and operational efficiency
- Influenced enterprise architecture direction across cloud and DevOps domains
- Partnered with cybersecurity leadership to strengthen platform resilience and reduce risk
- Oversaw budget management for multiple projects, ensuring optimal resource allocation and cost control.
- Guided the adoption of cloud-based solutions, improving system scalability and performance across departments.
Software Technical Architect
Cardinal Health
Columbus, Ohio
03.2023 - 05.2024
- Defined enterprise architecture strategy and standards supporting large-scale operational systems
- Led modernization of platforms supporting logistics, warehouse operations, and automation systems
- Improved system scalability, reliability, and performance across enterprise applications
- Provided executive guidance on architecture decisions and risk mitigation
Lead Architect | Cloud | DevOps | Platform Engineering
Duke Energy
Charlotte, NC
01.2018 - 01.2023
- Led enterprise cloud transformation initiatives migrating legacy systems to AWS-based architectures
- Directed platform strategy across multiple business units, aligning technology with enterprise objectives
- Delivered enterprise-scale applications supporting mission-critical operations
- Implemented DevOps and CI/CD pipelines improving deployment speed and operational efficiency
- Partnered with large consulting firms like Accenture and Price Waterhouse Cooper
- Oversaw implementation of advanced modeling tools to streamline design processes and enhance accuracy.
Technical Lead – Cloud & Integration Platforms
LPL Financial
Rockhill, SC
2017 - 2018
- Led enterprise integration platform strategy using MuleSoft and Azure
- Designed API frameworks enabling scalable, service-based architecture
- Managed distributed engineering teams and cross-functional delivery
- Oversaw software development lifecycle, ensuring adherence to best practices and quality standards.
- Implemented Agile methodologies, enhancing project delivery speed and team collaboration.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to gather requirements and translate them into technical specifications.
Education
Master of Science - Information Technology (Security & Information Assurance)
Purdue Global
West Lafayette, IN05.2012
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science / Information Technology
Purdue Global
West Lafayette, IN05.2010
Skills
- Salesforce (Sales Cloud, Service Cloud)
- AWS
- MuleSoft
- Business Central
- APIs & Microservices
- Terraform
- Kubernetes
- Docker
- Identity & Security
- IT budgeting
- IT process improvement
Timeline
IT Director Engineering – Enterprise Platforms
Thorne Research
03.2025 - Current
Contract Director / Principal Architect
Hewlett Packard
03.2024 - 03.2025
Software Technical Architect
Cardinal Health
03.2023 - 05.2024
Lead Architect | Cloud | DevOps | Platform Engineering
Duke Energy
01.2018 - 01.2023
Technical Lead – Cloud & Integration Platforms
LPL Financial
2017 - 2018
Master of Science - Information Technology (Security & Information Assurance)
Purdue Global
Bachelor of Science - Computer Science / Information Technology
Purdue Global
EXECUTIVE IMPACT
- Own enterprise digital platforms supporting customer lifecycle, support operations, and digital commerce transactions
- Lead architecture and delivery across Salesforce, eCommerce, ERP (Business Central), and OMS ecosystems, enabling end-to-end business workflows
- Partner with executive leadership across Sales, Service, and Operations to align technology strategy with revenue and customer experience goals
- Direct multi-million-dollar initiatives and vendor portfolios, ensuring delivery, scalability, and architectural integrity
- Improve customer support performance through platform optimization, workflow automation, and case management enhancements
- Establish cloud and integration strategies enabling scalable growth, operational efficiency, and long-term platform sustainability
CORE LEADERSHIP AREAS
- Enterprise Platform Ownership (Salesforce, eCommerce, OMS)
- Revenue Systems & Customer Experience Strategy
- Cloud Transformation (AWS, Azure, GCP)
- Integration Architecture (MuleSoft, APIs, Microservices)
- Executive Stakeholder Alignment
- Vendor & Program Leadership
- Agile / SAFe Delivery Models
- Identity, Security & Compliance (SSO, SAML, OAuth)
EARLIER CAREER (SUMMARY)
Senior leadership and architecture roles at Duke Energy, Bank of America, Palmetto GBA, CSC, Wachovia, and Blue Cross Blue Shield.