Russell LaAsmar
Clarksburg,WV
Summary
Adept in strategic leadership and innovation training, I spearheaded a business accelerator at the University of Charleston, achieving a 22:1 economic impact ratio, which resulted in being awarded the top business support accelerator in the nation by the Global Innovation Institute. Leveraging ideation facilitation and effective leadership, I've driven transformative programs and mentored emerging technology firms, demonstrating a profound impact on business growth and development.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Program Director
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV
02.2023 - Current
- Company Overview: Business Accelerator Program for growth-oriented small businesses.
- Designed and launched a business accelerator program, and received national recognition as the best ecosystem support organization by the Global Innovation Management Institute.
- Monitored performance metrics to evaluate the effectiveness of programs.
- Provided leadership in developing innovative approaches to meet program goals.
- Met or exceeded all EDA grant metrics within the first 18 months of operation on a three-year contract, with a 22:1 economic impact ratio.
- Leveraged ecosystem resources and subject matter experts to support and provide critical guidance for cohort firms to achieve their growth objectives.
Adjunct Professor
University of Charleston
Charleston, WV
01.2019 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: School of Business and Leadership
- Instructed and mentored students in business and leadership coursework, utilizing a pedagogically oriented facilitation to learning approach.
- Facilitated weekly class meetings, developed class content, graded, and assessed individual and team contributions
- Utilized a variety of instructional strategies to meet diverse learning needs.
- Evaluated student performance using appropriate assessment techniques and provided timely feedback.
- Mentored students in the development of their research skills and critical thinking abilities.
- Implemented different teaching styles to meet needs of diverse student population.
- Presented courses to undergraduate students and created lesson plans, tests and assignments to ascertain how well students retained class material.
Business Solutions Architect
Contractor
Clarksburg, WV
01.2017 - 01.2023
- Company Overview: Consultant
- Led cross-functional teams in developing solutions based on user needs assessment.
- Designed high-level solutions that are scalable, reliable, and cost-effective.
- Mentored junior members of the team by providing training and guidance.
- Provided expertise in system integration, application development, infrastructure architecture, and security.
- Analyzed existing systems and identified opportunities for improvement using new technologies.
- Developed and implemented innovative solutions to improve business processes.
- Managed multiple concurrent projects while meeting tight deadlines.
- Collaborated with stakeholders to design and implement technology solutions to support business objectives.
- Conducted post-implementation reviews to assess outcomes and capture lessons learned.
- Facilitated stakeholder meetings to align technology solutions with business goals.
President
Producer’s Wealth Spring
Warren, OH
01.2005 - 01.2017
- Company Overview: National Field Marketing Association (FMO).
- Owner-operator of a National Field Marketing Association (FMO) of more than 1,000 independent financial services professionals.
- Designed and delivered remote educational content to financial professionals on regulatory changes, continuing education, and new products in development, and mentored financial professionals on product changes, industry trends, and adaptations required to stay relevant.
- Co-created coaching objectives, and served as an active accountability resource for coaches.
- Trained financial services professionals on effective carrier contracting, and designed effective agency structures and hierarchies.
- Participated in carrier product design discussions.
- Developed go-to-market strategies and product-mix restructuring for new and evolving financial services firms.
Chief Operating Officer
Health Management Associates
Baltimore, MD
01.2002 - 01.2005
- Company Overview: An advocacy and adjudication firm that processes 3,500 cases per year.
- Oversaw the daily operations of this advocacy and adjudication firm, which processed 3,500 cases per year.
- Designed and implemented new back-office procedures to attain efficiencies, and reduce overall waste.
- Assembled a Social Security Administration/private-sector coalition to maximize beneficiaries' fiscal success.
- Identified new business opportunities through market research analysis.
- Facilitated change management initiatives to streamline operations.
- Implemented process improvements to reduce waste and optimize workflow.
- Collaborated with senior leadership on organizational objectives and initiatives.
- Monitored performance metrics to ensure quality standards are met.
Director of Business Development
Infodata Systems
Fairfax, VA
01.1999 - 01.2002
- Member of an Ernst & Young emergent technology review board that reviewed new business ventures for possible referral to venture capital groups.
- Mentored emerging technology firms seeking venture capital funding.
- Performed technical due diligence on select business ventures to assess software platform viability and scalability.
Education
Doctor of Executive Leadership -
University of Charleston
WVMBA - Project Management
Salem International University
BS - Business Administration & Management
Mount St. Mary’s University
Skills
- Ideation facilitation
- Strategic leadership
- Disruptive innovation
- Innovation training
- Innovation governance
- Innovation pipeline management
- Business oversight
- Effective leader
- Policy and procedure improvements
- Performance standards and analysis
- Customer service experience
- Strategic planning
- Program planning
Accomplishments
- Selected as a George Walker Fellow by my peers at the University of Charleston's School of Business and Leadership
- Selected as the top ecosystem support organization in the nation for 2024 by the Global Innovation Management Institute
Certification
- Chief Innovation Officer certification by the Global Innovation Management Institute
Timeline
Program Director
University of Charleston
02.2023 - Current
Adjunct Professor
University of Charleston
01.2019 - 01.2023
Business Solutions Architect
Contractor
01.2017 - 01.2023
President
Producer’s Wealth Spring
01.2005 - 01.2017
Chief Operating Officer
Health Management Associates
01.2002 - 01.2005
Director of Business Development
Infodata Systems
01.1999 - 01.2002
Doctor of Executive Leadership -
University of Charleston
MBA - Project Management
Salem International University
BS - Business Administration & Management
Mount St. Mary’s University
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