Chris Gardner

About Chris Gardner

I help growth-stage, software-powered tech companies - often overloaded with competing priorities - gain clarity in their strategic direction, align on their most important objectives, and execute. I\'m passionate about transformation - helping businesses scale up, mature operations, and develop leaders and staff to prepare for and overcome the obstacles that arise with rapid growth. I have an extensive track record of successfully addressing major product and technology challenges, improving customer satisfaction and time to market to positively impact revenue growth, retention, and profitability. With over 25 years of technology, product, and operations focus primarily in SaaS and software-enabled BPO environments, I\'ve contributed on executive teams, as a board member, and in technical/product advisory roles.Leadership Competencies: • Business, Product, and Technology Strategy• SaaS and Enterprise Solution Design and Architecture• Business Process Re-engineering and Automation• Organizational Design and Staffing• Business Intelligence and Analytics• M&A Strategy, Diligence and Integration• DevOps and Technology Transformation• Globally Distributed Software Development• Product Management• Cloud and Back-Office Infrastructure Deployment• Financial Management• Data Privacy, Compliance, and Information SecurityOperating Environments:• Growth-stage PE-backed companies to Fortune 200\'s and M & As• Highly distributed, remote technology teams of up to 160 people, spanning multiple US and international locations• Substantial experience with both buyer and seller-side mergers and acquisitions (M&A)

Experience

1. Chief Technology Officer

   Geoforce

   Oct 2021 — Present · Plano, TX, US

   Geoforce is a Software as a Service (SaaS) and Hardware company providing ruggedized GPS tracking technology for high value equipment and vehicles operating in remote and often hazardous environments.Currently leading Product Management, UI/UX Design, and Engineering for Geoforce’s Software and Hardware R&D functions – managing up to 60 full time and contract staff in the Americas and eastern Europe. Responsible for the technology strategy and execution supporting over 1300 customers in 90 countries, operating over IoT devices which send more than 1 billion messages to the SaaS platform annually.

Education

• Southern Methodist University

  BS, Mechanical Engineering

  1990 — 1995

Skills

• Software Development
• Software Project Management
• Leadership
• Program Management
• Outsourcing
• Offshoring
• Sdlc
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)
• Solution Architecture
• Organizational Design
• IT Financial Management
• Change Management
• Mergers & Acquisitions
• Management
• Team Building
• IT Strategy
• Mergers
• IT Governance
• Technical Leadership
• Project Management
• Process Engineering
• Business Analysis
• Vendor Management
• Saas
• Technical Resource Management
• IT Management
• Strategic Planning
• Application Development
• Business Strategy
• .net