Chad L.

Product Engineering & Cloud Transformation Leader | AI Strategy & Delivery | Building High-Performing Teams and Meaningful Systems

Calgary, Alberta, Canada

About

Transformational IT leader with 20 years of experience, driving nine-figure sustainable benefits and fostering innovation through SaaS and AI solutions. Known for building happy, engaged teams with a 94% engagement rate and leading digital transformations that boost efficiency and growth. At Finning CAT, I spearheaded a global SaaS overhaul, achieving >$2XXM in sustainable benefits and advancing operational excellence. Leveraging AI-driven analytics, I improved customer relations and productivity while deploying 500,000+ digital safety checks to enhance workplace safety. I bring a passion for software development, strategic AI integration, product management, and cultivating high-performing teams. My goal is to drive success through innovative technology solutions that make a lasting impact on business and culture in a senior tech leadership role. #DigitalTransformation #SaaS #AI #SoftwareDevelopment #Leadership #Agile #CloudComputing #DataAnalytics #Innovation #TechLeadership #EmployeeEngagement #SafetyMetrics #WorkplaceSecurity #ChangeManagement #AILeadership #InnovationStrategy #TechInnovation #DigitalLeadership #CultureTransformation

Experience

  • Strategic Account Technology Strategist at Microsoft
    Oct 2024 - Present · 1 yr 9 mos

    As a Field Chief Technology Officer, I partner with strategic energy customers to create technology strategies aligned with business goals, focusing on AI + cloud + security. • Lead technology initiatives to drive digital transformation, leveraging Azure and AI to enhance efficiency & security for large energy sector companies. • Develop and implement multi-year roadmaps to accelerate cloud adoption and unlock new capabilities. • Collaborate with C-level executives to align IT strategies with business objectives, enabling innovation and growth.

  • Technology Strategy Designer at Chad La Fournie
    Feb 2024 - Present · 2 yrs 5 mos

    Lead strategic technology design and AI-driven innovation, empowering organizations to achieve operational excellence and competitive advantage through tailored solutions. •  Craft comprehensive technology strategies and roadmaps, aligning IT initiatives with business objectives to drive digital transformation across various industries. •  Design and implement AI strategies, leveraging machine learning and data analytics to enhance decision-making processes and operational efficiency. •  Provide leadership in Agile methodologies and project management, ensuring successful project delivery and client satisfaction.

  • Finning (Hybrid)
    • Director, Digital Transformation & Product Management
      Nov 2021 - Jan 2024 · 2 yrs 3 mos

      Delivered $200+ in sustainable annual benefits while leading a team of 30 to implement a global PaaS strategy, transforming sales, service, and safety processes. • Implemented strategic decision frameworks that enhanced governance and accelerated innovation across multi-cloud environments. • Championed DevSecOps practices, securing applications and ensuring operational continuity while driving a culture of continuous improvement. • Built a high-performing team that consistently exceeded targets by fostering an environment of collaboration, creativity, and growth.

    • Director, Digital Applications
      Aug 2018 - Oct 2021 · 3 yrs 3 mos

      Increased employee engagement from 50% to 94% by leading the global SaaS application Center of Excellence, driving digital transformation across key business functions. • Achieved $1.2M in annual software licensing savings through strategic vendor management and effective negotiations. • Led the development and deployment of cloud-based safety applications, resulting in over 500,000 digital safety checks and improved workplace safety metrics. • Encouraged a culture of innovation that empowered team members to take ownership of their work and drive continuous improvement.

  • ATCO Group (On-site)
    • Manager, CRM Enablement
      2018 - 2018 · Less than a year

      Spearheaded a CRM transformation delivering $1M+ in annual savings, while leading the CRM Center of Excellence to enhance process efficiency and customer engagement. • Negotiated vendor license costs, resulting in significant cost savings and improved resource allocation. • Developed and implemented CRM strategies that aligned with business objectives, driving enhanced customer interactions and operational efficiency. • Built and led a team focused on delivering customer-centric solutions, fostering a collaborative and high-performance work environment.

    • Customer Relationship Management Transformation Lead
      2017 - 2018 · 1 yr

      Led digital transformation initiatives that significantly improved IT service delivery and operational effectiveness across the Structures & Logistics division. • Introduced the formal Business Relationship Manager (BRM) role, improving IT service delivery and strengthening relationships with key business stakeholders. • Delivered the Office 365 cloud migration project and deployed CRM solutions across multiple continents, overcoming significant challenges to achieve success. • Fostered a culture of collaboration between IT and business units, ensuring that technology initiatives were aligned with strategic business goals.

    • Business Architect & Business Relationship Manager
      2013 - 2017 · 4 yrs

      Drove strategic business architecture initiatives that enhanced CRM capabilities, consistently exceeding leadership and performance targets. • Led the development of strategic business architecture frameworks that supported CRM enhancements and drove organizational change. • Collaborated closely with senior management to align technology initiatives with broader business objectives, ensuring sustainable growth and innovation. • Consistently exceeded performance goals by fostering a culture of innovation and strategic alignment within the IT department.

  • VP Technology at NeoStream Technologies Inc.
    Jun 2011 - Mar 2013 · 1 yr 10 mos

    Reduced product development costs by over 75% as part of the executive team, leading strategic technology initiatives and establishing a robust Application Lifecycle Management (ALM) methodology. • Bridged the gap between business and technology, driving cost efficiencies and accelerating product development timelines. • Established and led the implementation of a comprehensive ALM framework, enabling the successful launch of multiple products. • Fostered a culture of innovation and collaboration within the technology team, resulting in increased productivity and improved business outcomes.