Justus Seely
Boerne,TX
Summary
Highly strategic and results-oriented Digital/Technical Product Manager Lead with 9+ years of experience driving the vision, development, and delivery of innovative technology solutions. Proven ability to define product strategy, create and maintain roadmaps, and translate complex business needs into impactful technology solutions. Expertise in agile methodologies, and fostering cross-functional collaboration to improve operational effectiveness and customer experience. Seeking to leverage a strong track record of product leadership to contribute to USAA's Contact Center technology initiatives.
Overview
22
22
years of professional experience
Work History
Product Manager Lead Platform Infrastructure
USAA
San Antonio, TX
10.2017 - Current
- Drove strategic roadmap alignment and backlog health for Platform Infrastructure and Dev Tools portfolios, ensuring prioritized features met PI Objectives and executive expectations.
- Led the migration of Platform Infrastructure owned pipelines and components into the CICD catalog, establishing a standardized process for future adoption and effectively delegating execution.
- Spearheaded innovation in the DAE space by leading the simplification of the CICD environment, instrumenting key metrics, and establishing a data foundation for future improvements.
- Developed Capability Maturity Model for CICD/Pipeline product, creating strategic framework to evaluate and prioritize technology and pipeline maturity.
- Managed complex product initiatives from concept through implementation, including the expansion of responsibilities to include the Mobile infrastructure product, requiring learning unique technology, processes, and challenges.
- Consistently leveraged expert data-driven problem-solving techniques and analytical rigor to understand and report on product performance against KPIs/KRIs, sharing best practices with team members.
- Proactively identified, communicated, escalated, and mitigated risks and issues during execution, partnering closely with Engineering Leadership and Architecture.
- Mentored and guided team members, acting as an escalation point and ensuring issues were resolved, contributing to a positive team culture and fostering belonging.
- Leveraged digital and market intelligence to identify opportunities, propose solutions, and enhance performance in Artifact Management and Mobile spaces.
- Successfully led the retirement of tech debt features and an unused mobile application, preventing rework and improving efficiency.
- Facilitated team planning sessions, managed training plans, and oversaw Quarterly Product Reviews, demonstrating strong organizational and leadership skills.
- Effectively communicated complex concepts to diverse audiences, including senior leadership, engineers, managers, and architects, adapting communication style as needed.
- Actively managed ambiguity, influenced others to bring in 'big picture' thinking, and drove clarity, solutions, and execution plans among teams and stakeholders.
Adjunct Instructor of Business
San Antonio College
San Antonio, TX
07.2007 - Current
- Developed and delivered engaging curriculum for Business Computer Information Systems (BCIS) and Intro to Business courses, enhancing student learning and collaboration outcomes.
- Collaborated with fellow instructors to improve course content, integrate emerging technologies, and enrich student experience.
- Presented technical concepts and software applications (e.g., Microsoft Office Suite) to diverse student populations, achieving consistently positive student feedback.
Senior/Lead Release Coordinator Change and Release Management
USAA
San Antonio, TX
03.2009 - 10.2017
- Led the Agile Workstream for Change Impact Analysis, optimizing processes and improving cross-team collaboration.
- Acted as Scrum Master for the Change and Release team, adapting Agile practices and Kanban methodologies to enhance team efficiency and delivery.
- Guided two teams of Release Coordinators, ensuring effective execution of release processes.
- Served as Practice Lead for Change and Release Processes, updating processes to APQC guidelines and driving continuous improvement.
- Monitored departmental metrics to identify key areas for improvement in team performance.
- Collaborated with Release Management, Build Management, WebSphere Build and Deploy Teams, TCOE, and development communities to streamline inter-group processes and enhance workflow.
Release Coordinator Change and Release Management
USAA
San Antonio, TX
04.2007 - 03.2009
- Managed the successful release of enterprise-level projects to production environments.
- Championed initiatives to identify and resolve changes hindering production, mitigating risks and enabling successful deployments.
- Directed and guided HUB Release Coordinator team daily, fostering clear communication and collaboration.
- Acted as the primary point of contact for WebSphere-related issues and inquiries, providing expertise and support.
- Developed and implemented training plans for new employees in Change and Release Management, facilitating smoother onboarding and role transition.
AutoPTS/Release Manager P&C Systems
USAA
San Antonio, TX
06.2004 - 07.2007
- Developed and maintained the Auto Release Calendar, ensuring visibility and coordination of all release activities.
- Established and enforced release processes, enhancing software quality and reducing risks in production releases.
- Managed configuration and release of AIMS components, ensuring seamless transition from testing to production.
- Developed and maintained internal website for reporting and analysis of release data, improving accessibility for stakeholders.
- Maintained, developed, and performed troubleshooting on the Auto AIMS Workbench.
- Provided on-the-job training to new hires in Release Management principles and practices.
Configuration Manager WebSphere Build and Configuration Management
USAA
San Antonio, TX
07.2005 - 04.2007
- Developed and implemented Configuration Management Processes that significantly improved quality and mitigated the risk of code deployment.
- Coordinated release of WebSphere applications to production, ensuring timely and efficient deployment.
- Managed Integration Test, Systems Test, and Release Test environments for USAA.com projects on WebSphere AIX servers.
- Developed team chargeback method for projects, improving cost allocation accuracy and clarifying project contributions for the team.
- Trained and mentored new employees, enhancing their integration into team and development processes.
Education
MBA - Finance
University of Texas at San Antonio
01-2006
BBA - MIS
Texas Tech University
01-2004
Business
South Plains College
01-2002
Skills
- Product Management: Product Strategy & Roadmapping, Agile Methodologies (Scrum, SAFe), Backlog Management, User Story Creation, Requirement Gathering, Market Analysis, Competitive Analysis, Business Case Development, Go-to-Market Strategy, Product Lifecycle Management, Build vs Buy Analysis
- Technical Skills: Cloud Technologies (AWS), CI/CD Pipelines, Mobile Infrastructure, Artifact Management (Artifactory), Data Analysis, Emerging Technology Platforms
- Leadership & Communication: Stakeholder Management, Cross-functional Collaboration, Team Leadership & Mentoring, Presentation & Communication Skills, Influencing & Negotiation, Problem-Solving, Risk Management, Vendor Management
- Tools: Jira, Confluence, Service Now, Clarity
Timeline
Product Manager Lead Platform Infrastructure
USAA
10.2017 - Current
Senior/Lead Release Coordinator Change and Release Management
USAA
03.2009 - 10.2017
Adjunct Instructor of Business
San Antonio College
07.2007 - Current
Release Coordinator Change and Release Management
USAA
04.2007 - 03.2009
Configuration Manager WebSphere Build and Configuration Management
USAA
07.2005 - 04.2007
AutoPTS/Release Manager P&C Systems
USAA
06.2004 - 07.2007
MBA - Finance
University of Texas at San Antonio
BBA - MIS
Texas Tech University
Business
South Plains College