RYAN GOUGH

Summary

Dynamic Solutions Engineer and AI automation leader with experience turning complex, manual workflows into scalable systems that save time, improve efficiency, and drive measurable business impact. Skilled at partnering cross-functionally to identify high-leverage opportunities, build practical automations and AI-enabled workflows, and drive adoption across teams through quick execution, practical guidance, and genuine enthusiasm. Passionate about helping organizations embrace AI-first ways of working through thoughtful implementation, strong communication, and fast iteration.

Overview

years of professional experience

Work History

Principal Solutions Architect

Smith.ai

06.2022 - Current

Designed internal automation pipelines that improved operational efficiency and supported scalable, measurable growth.
Evaluated the limitations of Zapier for internal operations and led the company-wide migration to Make.com, enabling more scalable, sophisticated automation workflows and improving enterprise-level control.
Trained internal teams on Make.com and automation opportunities, driving adoption through clear implementation, hands-on support, and practical use cases that built confidence and enthusiasm.
Delivered compelling demonstrations of Smith.ai’s automation capabilities to prospective clients, translating complex integration needs into practical solutions and long-term partnerships.
Developed tailored automation solutions aligned with client business goals and technical requirements.
Partnered cross-functionally with sales, onboarding, and customer success teams to deliver seamless user experiences and maintain high-impact integrations.
Built a custom booking system with advanced business logic to support complex scheduling requirements, helping secure and retain a high-value client.

Automation Consultant

Illumination Lab

07.2021 - Current

Founded a B2B consultancy focused on helping growing businesses streamline operations and scale through automation.
Designed and implemented multi-channel marketing automation systems for business owners, improving lead response speed, reducing manual work, and supporting stronger visibility into attribution and performance.
Advised clients on integrating chat services and other business tools using Zapier and custom scripting, translating business needs into practical technical solutions.

Marketing Director

The Modern Firm

01.2015 - 07.2021

Built the online marketing division from the ground up, scaling the client base to 300+ law firms and driving more than 70% of firm revenue.
Expanded the company’s service offering from basic web services to include SEO, PPC, email automation, review generation, and related digital marketing solutions.
Built and managed a six-person team responsible for executing marketing strategies and client programs.
Designed and implemented automation systems from scratch that improved scalability, strengthened client retention, and supported efficient delivery across a high-volume client base.

Education

Bachelor of Science - Economics

University of Michigan

Ann Arbor, MI

01-2009

Skills

Automation Platforms: n8n, Make, Zapier, Relevance
Programming & APIs: API Integrations, Python, JavaScript

CRM & Marketing Tools: Salesforce, HubSpot, Zoho
Marketing Expertise: SEO, PPC, Email Marketing

Timeline