Ryan Cotton
Rocky Mount,VA
Summary
Transformational Vice President and General Manager with 10+ years of experience leading high-impact teams, modernizing enterprise operations, and scaling service delivery in regulated environments. Adept at driving profitability, streamlining multi-department operations, and delivering user-focused, data-driven solutions. Known for aligning strategy with execution across Sales, Operations, and Client Services. Combines Lean Six Sigma expertise, Agile leadership, and hands-on platform modernization to enhance customer experience, improve compliance, and grow revenue.
Overview
9
9
years of professional experience
1
1
Certification
Work History
Vice President – Operations Manager
Wells Fargo
Roanoke, VA
03.2025 - Current
- Lead two national business units (Safe Deposit and Balance Confirmation) serving enterprise clients; modernized compliance-heavy operations while implementing automation and SLA controls.
- Developed divisional SOPs and a roadmap for platform modernization used by over 1,000 employees.
- Cut manual work by 40% through Lean Six Sigma process redesign and automation scaling.
- Created financial dashboards and capacity models to support resourcing and budget forecasting.
- Partnered across legal, audit, and tech to embed scalable, risk-mitigated solutions.
Fraud & Claims Operations Associate Manager - SAVP
Wells Fargo
Roanoke, VA
06.2023 - 03.2025
- Managed dispersed teams across Fraud Ops; introduced Tableau-based dashboards for KPI and SLA visibility.
- Secured executive funding for three automation initiatives, all deployed within one year.
- Improved SLA adherence by 70% via UiPath automation of high-volume claim processes.
- Drove performance and engagement through targeted feedback loops and accountability measures.
Lead Operations Analyst – Fraud & Claims
Wells Fargo
Roanoke, VA
11.2021 - 06.2023
- Led a $1M+ Lean Six Sigma project impacting over 1,200 users, reducing waste, and improving compliance.
- Built internal tools and macros that eliminated 5+ FTEs worth of manual work.
- Drove business continuity through cross-training, tool development, and risk-reduction strategies.
Performance Coach – Fraud & Claims Operations
Wells Fargo
Roanoke, VA
08.2016 - 11.2021
- Oversaw employee development and implemented coaching programs that boosted productivity by 25% and reduced errors by 50%.
- Conducted trend analyses and audits to implement corrective process actions, cutting escalation volume significantly.
Education
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering Technology
Old Dominion University
Norfolk, VA05-2026
Associate of Science - Electrical Engineering Technology
Virginia Western Community College
Roanoke, VA05-2023
Skills
- Strategic Business Leadership
- Cross-Functional Operations Oversight
- Sales & Client Service Management
- Budgeting & Forecasting
- Enterprise Process Improvement (Lean Six Sigma)
- SaaS Integration
- Workflow Modernization
- KPI Development & Executive Reporting
- Culture Building- People Development
Certification
- Strategic Leadership and Management Specialization – University of Illinois (Coursera)
- Finance for Non-Finance Professionals – Rice University (Coursera)
- High Performance Collaboration: Leadership, Teamwork & Negotiation – Northwestern University (Coursera)
- Lean Six Sigma Black Belt
- Certified Agile Leader
- Project Management Certificate
Selected Achievments
- $1M+ Annual Savings: Led enterprise automation platform across Fraud Ops improving throughput and risk control.
- Platform Modernization Leader: Designed and deployed internal tool serving 3,000+ employees globally with real-time dashboards and role-based access.
- Organizational Transformation: Led regulatory tech integrations and redesigns across risk, legal, and compliance units.
- People First, Process Backed: Consistently recognized for leading culture shifts that combine performance accountability with psychological safety.
Advisory & Community Engagement
- Advisor – Carly C Photography LLC
Strategic advisor to a local business, supporting technology adoption, client acquisition, and long-term growth planning.
Timeline
Vice President – Operations Manager
Wells Fargo
03.2025 - Current
Fraud & Claims Operations Associate Manager - SAVP
Wells Fargo
06.2023 - 03.2025
Lead Operations Analyst – Fraud & Claims
Wells Fargo
11.2021 - 06.2023
Performance Coach – Fraud & Claims Operations
Wells Fargo
08.2016 - 11.2021
Bachelor of Science - Electrical Engineering Technology
Old Dominion University
Associate of Science - Electrical Engineering Technology
Virginia Western Community College
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