Thomas Ruzika
Summary
Experienced product manager with 20 years of experience creating, managing and growing SaaS solutions. Proven ability to organize software development teams to meet deadlines and increase profit.
Overview
26
26
years of professional experience
Work History
Head of Product (Octopart)
Altium Inc.
San Diego, CA
12.2023 - Current
- Responsible for octopart.com, a website that generates over $50 million in advertising revenue and 25 million visitors per year.
- Octopart is a one stop shop destination for electronic component purchasers to source parts across hundreds of distributors.
- Created five product teams, each headed by a product manager, designer, and engineering lead.
- Implemented a discovery roadmap, giving the product teams the proper time and focus needed to validate problems and solutions before committing them to delivery.
- Generated an additional $5 million in revenue via a varaible cost-per-click (CPC) model allowing advertisers to pay more for high margin parts.
- Built segments based on user behaviors, resulting in better targeted ads, click-through rates, and return on ad spend.
Group Product Manager
Ford Motor Company
San Diego, CA
12.2021 - 12.2023
- Managed the Ford Telematics application enabling commerical fleets to analyze and take action on data sent by their fleet's vehicles.
- Led a team of three product managers focusing on reporting, alerts and mapping services.
- Developed processes leveraging Jira to align roadmaps and releases with the executive, sales, marketing, customer service and engineering teams.
- Acted as voice of customer by consolidating feedback received via customer interviews, surveys, sales meetings and site's feedback button.
- Prioritized epics using competitor and market analysis and RICE model (Reach, impact, confidence, effort).
Group Lead Product Manager
SourceAbility
San Diego, California
06.2019 - 12.2021
- Developed a tool that helps purchasers source and procure electronic components in bulk. Generated over $2M in revenue in its first year of service.
- Oversaw go to market schedules to align engineering, marketing, sales and executive teams on upcoming releases.
- Ran sprint planning and bug triage meetings with engineering and data science teams to ensure timely delivery of product improvements.
- Provided business cases and strategy plans to the executive team to help prioritize market requirements and product direction.
- Started as a Senior Product Manager in 2019 and was promoted to Group Lead Product Manager in 2021 with four reports.
Head of Product Management - Software as a Service
SILICONEXPERT TECHNOLOGIES
San Diego, CA
05.2015 - 06.2019
- Managed a team of four product managers. Built best practices in Agile and Scrum methodologies to quickly deliver high performing features and products every two to three weeks.
- Ran a product that enables electrical engineers to identify and mitigate supply chain risk.
- Worked with data scientists to continually grow database of over 1 billion electronic components with new parts and attributes.
- Built partnerships with nine different electronic design automation and product lifecycle management tools. API solution delivers SiliconExpert's services in places where engineers are already working.
- Annual revenue grew by over 146% during my tenure ($13M to $32M).
Senior Product Manager - Advertising and Media
SUPPLYFRAME MEDIA
Pasadena, CA
08.2011 - 05.2015
- Product managed a network of 23 websites where electrical engineers research and discover electronic and mechanical components.
- Created an advertising product that matched ad delivery to a user's search behavior resulting in a 9x click through rate. Product grew from $11M to $28M in annual revenue during my tenure.
- SupplyFrame was acquired by Siemens for $700M largely because of the ad tech developed by my team.
- “SupplyFrame's experience and expertise in engaging and developing its sizeable ecosystem will be the nucleus of Siemen's digital marketplace activities going forward" -Cedrik Neike, member of the Managing Board of Siemens AG
Lead Product Manager - Software as a Service
SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC
San Diego, CA
10.2006 - 08.2011
- Worked with video recording, GPS guidance, cellular data networking and web technologies to deliver an IOT solution for fleet managers to identify and mitigate risky driving behavior.
- Hired and managed a team of four product managers
- SmartDrive completed a $42m round of funding and grew from 3 to 500 different locations served during my tenure.
- Led the creation of SmartDrive's enterprise application. Provides insights and coaching tools for fleet managers to mitigate risky driving behaviors.
- Omnitracs acquired SmartDrive for $450M largely because of the driving safety product my team built.
- "SmartDrive delivers real-time risk mitigation, streamlined data flows from the cab and vehicle sensors to dispatch and the back office, and a superior driver experience that improves safety, efficiency and operational excellence." -Omnitracs CEO Ray Greer
Program Manager
AT&T ENHANCED NETWORK SERVICES
San Diego, CA
05.1998 - 04.2006
- Managed a cross-functional team to build and manage a secured extranet used by the automotive industry to exchange mission critical data.
- Product was profitable by the third year and generated over $12M in annual revenue in its fourth year.
- Worked with Ford, GM and Chrysler to capture, prioritize and implement requirements.
- Helped define and manage all go-to-market activities for product releases.
Education
BA - International Business, Political Science
Boston University
Skills
- Running PM teams with P&L responsibilities
- Working with ad technologies
- Building product strategy and roadmaps
- Analyzing competitor and market landscape
- Defining personas and market segments
- Leading software teams using Agile & Scrum
- Creating and prioritizing requirements
- Managing all go-to-market activities
- Business and partnership development
- Pragmatic Marketing Certified
Timeline
Head of Product (Octopart)
Altium Inc.
12.2023 - Current
Group Product Manager
Ford Motor Company
12.2021 - 12.2023
Group Lead Product Manager
SourceAbility
06.2019 - 12.2021
Head of Product Management - Software as a Service
SILICONEXPERT TECHNOLOGIES
05.2015 - 06.2019
Senior Product Manager - Advertising and Media
SUPPLYFRAME MEDIA
08.2011 - 05.2015
Lead Product Manager - Software as a Service
SMARTDRIVE SYSTEMS, INC
10.2006 - 08.2011
Program Manager
AT&T ENHANCED NETWORK SERVICES
05.1998 - 04.2006
BA - International Business, Political Science
Boston University
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