Bio

I explore new ideas and innovate to solve customer problems. My passion is helping companies identify new growth opportunities, improving operations / processes, and commercializing ideas quickly. During my career I have been a 2x startup founder, management consultant, and enterprise innovation leader. My Story: In 2002 I founded my first company, Charles River Web Connections, to build custom applications for small to medium sized businesses. This created my passion for innovation and entrepreneurship. I was then pitched an idea for a new business, BrandYourself.com, which I took over as COO and Head of Technology while we raised venture capital and scaled. After BrandYourself.com, I was recruited by Deloitte Consulting to focus on Innovation and Technology Strategy. I worked across industries with a primary focus on healthcare. I then applied my innovation mindset at Citizens Bank as the Head of Innovation across the enterprise. Most recently I moved to Northwestern Mutual to lead the post-purchase customer experience, applying my innovation expertise engage clients in new ways. Regardless of the role, I enjoy solving complex problems and there are a few core themes: Experimentation with emerging technology: • Developed the Artificial Intelligence strategy for a Fortune 10 company • Co-created the Blockchain / Cryptocurrency strategy and identified relevant use cases to begin experimentation • Wrote a white paper regarding applications of crowd-sourced testing methodologies and how to apply them within two-speed IT organization • Oversee Citizens’ portfolio of FinTechs and identify new partnership opportunities Empower colleagues while building a portfolio of new ideas: • Designed Citizens’ Innovation Fund which makes small scale, VC-like, investments in colleague ideas for exploration and quickly bring ideas to market • Built Citizens’ Innovation Forum, a community of practice of over 1,200 colleagues, who drive Innovation across the organization • Curated an Innovation Academy to train colleagues regarding a variety of topics including customer centricity, designing thinking, rapid prototyping, brainstorming, and emerging technologies • Launched StartUp Deloitte to empower >1,000 junior colleagues to create new ideas and present them to leadership Beyond work, I am always learning new skills. I am a commercial aircraft pilot, cyclist, apple farmer, retired sponsored motorcycle pro, professional scuba diver, woodworker, and more.