John Lavazzo
Director Operations and Music
Anna,TX
Summary
I am seeking a church that needs a highly motivated and capable leader who will ideally oversee the worship music ministry. I am a fixer and a builder with a servant's heart. Nearly thirty years in tech sector management, twelve years of volunteer church ministry, and two years as a full-time church staffer over Operations, Education, and Worship Arts have prepared me for this next opportunity. My wife and I seek to relocate to Florida in the vicinity of Tampa, Clearwater, to Lakeland, and potentially communities in between and to the North, and South of the I-4 corridor.
Overview
30
30
years of professional experience
Work History
Director of Operations, Education & Worship Arts
Stepping Stones Church of McKinney
McKinney, TX
01.2024 - Current
- Manage daily functions of the church, including facilities, grounds, all education ministries (Life Groups), information systems, computer network, security, and Worship Arts
- Catalyzed nearly 8x growth in church membership since 2019, particularly during COVID-19 pandemic, when individuals sought open churches
- Initiated volunteer role as Worship Arts leader in January 2019 after work transfer, progressing to expanded staff position as detailed here in January 2024
- Responsible for two staffers and more than 60 volunteers across multiple ministries
- Leverage multiple technologies and platforms, including ACS Realm, Planning Center, Ableton Live, Planning Center, Proclaim, Constant Contact, networks, firewalls, audio visual, web and graphic design tools, and many more
Senior Director, Software Engineering
Tyler Technologies, Courts & Justice
Plano, TX
01.2019 - 01.2024
- Spearheading team of Directors and Managers overseeing more than two hundred employees and flagship product, Odyssey.
- Responsible for Software Engineers, Quality Assurance arranged in over twenty SCRUM teams.
- Oversaw budget management and resource allocation for multiple projects simultaneously.
- Mentored senior staff to develop leadership skills and improve team performance.
Director, Software Development
Tyler Technologies, Transportation
Latham, NY
03.2004 - 01.2019
- Lead team of thirty-two individuals covering entire spectrum of software development lifecycle, from strategic planning and requirements through design, development, quality assurance, and deployment.
- Provide strategic technology vision for all products.
- Engage with prospects, clients, and potential business partners to assess, outline, and establish effective Development and QA organizational frameworks and practices.
- Formulate, recommend, and direct execution of strategic product development plan and budget.
- Guided team in transitioning from waterfall to Agile software development methodology.
- Formulated strategic vision for innovative, cloud-based pupil transportation management platform, Traversa
- Analyzed competitive threats and crafted a strategic technology plan to position VersaTrans as industry leader
- Served as VP Product Development and VP Operations prior to Tyler title standardization initiative.
- Support General Manager and participate in senior leadership team
- Operated independently as Versatrans Solutions before acquisition by Tyler in 2008.
Manager, Information Technology
VersaTrans Solutions, Inc.
Latham, NY
03.2004 - 11.2004
- Deliver exceptional service and support for local and remote users.
- Managed centralized support for network administration alongside end-user assistance needs.
- Evaluate current network infrastructure, propose enhancements, strategize, and implement technological and policy advancements.
- Manage IT and development-related upkeep of company Customer Relationship Management software.
- Tasked with revamping department, initially fulfilling duties of two previous FTEs while boosting network security, reliability, and overall effectiveness of IT services.
- Upgraded Windows NT 4 network architecture to Windows 2003 Active Directory Network
- Administered and configured SalesLogix CRM to meet specific needs
- Rectified security flaws linked to earlier network security incidents.
- Strengthened and maintained Anti-Virus and Anti-SPAM defenses.
- Facilitated migration of Microsoft Exchange Server 5.5 to Microsoft Exchange Server 2003.
- Orchestrated technology-driven elements of office transition to new building, ensuring minimal disruption
- Orchestrated and directed implementation of IP-based telephone system in new building.
- Assisted management in identifying technology demands and issues for prominent prospects, acting as interim Project Manager during initial implementation phase for that client
- Acquired by Tyler in 2008
Manager, Information Technology
InfoEd International, Inc.
Albany, NY
01.2002 - 01.2004
- Serve as IT Manager addressing internal requirements and Operations Manager overseeing IT-related customer support, upgrades, and implementations.
- Supervise technical staff of three personnel, incorporating company DBA
- Executed strategic planning and project management to align technology with business needs.
Managed budget planning and hardware/software asset management to optimize resources.
Ensured software license compliance while overseeing vendor relations.
Directed purchasing activities to support operational efficiency. - Evaluated and resolved internal and external customer needs.
- Guarantee corporate and customer system availability, reliability, and security
- Deliver pre and post sale support to Product Services, Sales/Marketing while engaging directly with customers.
- Engage with Development team to ensure seamless support and collaboration.
- Active, hands-on managerial position.
- Serve as company's technical authority for IT, addressing all technical needs from routine support to complex escalated issues for internal and external customers.
- Established company's initial firewall and remote access VPN.
- Fulfill dual responsibilities as IT Manager and Operations Manager while supervising various business operations.
- Oversaw changes to application code and database schema while coordinating release management
Manager, Information Technology
Flow Management Tech./Saratoga Technology Accelerator
Saratoga Springs, NY
01.2001 - 01.2002
- Oversee daily operations of 24x7x365 mission critical data center and staff, emphasizing strategic planning and execution
- Direct accountability for both data and voice systems
- Communicate directly with President/CEO regarding strategic technology initiatives and formulation of comprehensive technology vision.
- Evaluated and addressed internal and external customer needs
- Direct assignment of help desk duties and guarantee consistent delivery of high customer satisfaction.
- Offer expert technical consulting support for internal and external clients.
- Maintain 24x7x365 readiness to resolve escalations concerning data, voice, and facilities.
- Preserved productivity levels despite 50% workforce decrease
- Reduced annual costs by $70,000 through strategic re-evaluation of telecomm support approach
- Redesigned backbone network, decreasing TCO while enhancing performance, reliability, and availability.
- Achieve near 100% data center uptime through diligent maintenance practices.
Network Manager
Atlas Copco Comptec
Voorheesville, NY
01.1999 - 01.2001
- Administered management of 275-node Windows NT/2000 network, ensuring optimal performance.
Managed 25 Windows NT 4 & 2000 servers and 250 workstations with daily oversight of data backups.
Researched, recommended, and implemented new technologies to enhance system efficiency.
Developed and executed comprehensive technology strategic plan for organizational growth.
Oversaw responsibilities of three staff members, ensuring accountability and productivity.
Proposed innovative projects to IS/IT executive committee while reporting on project status.
Negotiated pricing and contracts with vendors to secure favorable agreements. - Managed 275 node mission-critical Windows NT/NetWare network
- Established $650,000 year-long IT Strategic Plan/Budget to guide organizational initiatives.
- Eliminated $130,000 in costs by optimizing network backup software strategy
- Established and executed new Windows 2000 network infrastructure for sister company located in Cologne, Germany.
- Analyzed and recommended resource consolidation between Voorheesville, NY and Holyoke, MA locations.
- Deployed multiple economical site-to-site VPNs
Network Manager/Senior Administrator
National Finance Corporation
Clifton Park, NY
01.1999 - 12.1999
- Oversaw administration and management of extensive Windows NT network with over 500 nodes.
Managed a team of three support staff, improving response times and issue resolution.
Identified and integrated new technologies to advance system capabilities and efficiency. - Oversaw team of three and maintained 500+ node Windows NT Network.
- Engineered 200+ node data center and WAN architecture
- Engineered VPN solution yielding annual savings of $100,000
- Facilitated support for over 100 remote users
Manager, Information Systems
Keymark Corporation
Fonda, NY
01.1997 - 01.1999
- Managed administration and operations of 250-node Windows NT/Novell NetWare network.
Oversaw all telecommunications systems to ensure reliability and performance.
Researched, recommended, and implemented emerging technologies for organizational growth.
Developed and executed comprehensive technology strategic plan aligned with business objectives.
Supervised five staff members, fostering professional development and teamwork.
Proposed new projects to CFO and CEO, facilitating informed decision-making.
Negotiated pricing and contracts with vendors to optimize resource allocation. - Oversaw team of five and maintained 200+ node LAN
- Reduced annual expenses by $50,000 through strategic renegotiation of telecommunications contracts
- Converted existing NetWare LAN infrastructure to primarily Windows NT LAN.
- Established Microsoft Exchange messaging system
Network Administrator
Lydall, Inc.
Hoosick Falls, NY
01.1996 - 01.1997
- Oversee comprehensive administration and management of 100+ node Windows NT network.
- Managed 100-node NetWare 3.12/4.11 network infrastructure
- Coordinated remote maintenance of LAN established in Tennessee via WAN
- Administered and optimized GroupWise messaging system
Education
Associate Degree - Computer Information Systems Management
Bryant & Stratton College
Albany, NY01.1997
Skills
- Service Planning
- Volunteer Recruitment and Management
- Ableton Live
- ProPresenter
- Lightkey
- Musical Direction
- Production Design
- Budget oversight
- Strategic planning
- Change management
- Operational leadership
- Resource allocation
- Product design
- Software development lifecycle
- Quality assurance
- Customer relationship management
- Effective communication
- Problem solving
- Conflict resolution
- Mentoring and coaching
- Workforce planning
- Process improvement
- Performance analysis
- Operational efficiency
- Leadership training
- Organizational skills
- Interpersonal communication
- Needs assessment
- Policy development
- Cost reduction strategies
- Staff recruitment and hiring
- Project management
- Team building strategies
- Contract negotiation skills
- Multitasking abilities
- Written communication skills
Community
Highly engaged in local church community, serving in various volunteer leadership positions since 2012, primarily as Worship Leader.
Military Service
United States Navy, Honorably Discharged, 1995, FC-3, Advanced Electronics/Tomahawk Weapon Control System
Timeline
Director of Operations, Education & Worship Arts
Stepping Stones Church of McKinney
01.2024 - Current
Senior Director, Software Engineering
Tyler Technologies, Courts & Justice
01.2019 - 01.2024
Director, Software Development
Tyler Technologies, Transportation
03.2004 - 01.2019
Manager, Information Technology
VersaTrans Solutions, Inc.
03.2004 - 11.2004
Manager, Information Technology
InfoEd International, Inc.
01.2002 - 01.2004
Manager, Information Technology
Flow Management Tech./Saratoga Technology Accelerator
01.2001 - 01.2002
Network Manager
Atlas Copco Comptec
01.1999 - 01.2001
Network Manager/Senior Administrator
National Finance Corporation
01.1999 - 12.1999
Manager, Information Systems
Keymark Corporation
01.1997 - 01.1999
Network Administrator
Lydall, Inc.
01.1996 - 01.1997
Associate Degree - Computer Information Systems Management
Bryant & Stratton College