Dave Higgins

About Dave Higgins

I have been building, revitalizing, and scaling technology organizations for 25+ years. I started my career with IBM in coding and customer care, advanced to the executive team at Lenovo (PC & Smart Devices), and then joined the executive leadership team at Benchmark Electronics, where I oversee engineering services in North America. Throughout my career, I have managed hundreds of employees in delivering leading-edge technologies—outperforming targets in quality, security, revenue, and user satisfaction. Together with my colleagues and global teams, I developed organizations that remained ahead of the curve as technology evolved, development methodologies shifted, and customers pivoted expectations from large, standalone applications to cloud-based apps, IoT, and AI.My background combines technology leadership (all aspects of software and hardware development) with business operations management—building, directing and merging international engineering groups with accountability for teams, budgets, performance, and P&L contributions. Highlights of my contributions include:• Developed and rapidly scaled a world-class IoT Design Center for Benchmark Electronics, and then transformed the group into a broadly focused engineering services organization.• Delivered 276% year-over-year revenue growth (2019). Influenced 2X growth in bookings (2020) for the Industrial & Semiconductor sector by partnering with sales leaders in quotes, bids, and client communication.• Restructured Lenovo\'s SW development team into a highly professional and efficient global operation.• Drove innovation across system, devices, and cloud software and peripherals. As the industry changed, reshaped priorities to cloud computing, contextual computing, and artificial intelligence.• Created customer-centric Agile model that translated user insights into future software sprints.• Built powerful organizations and garnered efficiency through M&A transactions, such as Lenovo’s acquisitions of IBM PC and Lenovo\'s acquisition of NECPC.• Directed all operations of 400-employee business; expanded China Development Lab from 20 to 300+ managers and staff.• Saved millions of dollars annually while improving security, quality, and efficiency.I thrive in start-up, turnaround, and high growth environments. If you do too, or if you\'re interested in connecting with other executives and peers who are passionate about innovation, efficiency, and continuous performance improvement, I can be reached through LinkedIn or via email at d••••••••@gmail.com.

Experience

1. VP of North America Engineering Services

   Benchmark

   Jul 2017 — Present · Tempe, AZ, US

   After establishing and scaling the IoT Design Center in my previous role, together with my colleagues, I transformed the newly created group into a broadly focused engineering services organization—one that closely aligned with the company’s core vision.At first, I directed the engineering operation in Tempe, Arizona, to design, prototype, test, and prepare innovative products for manufacturing. Our Tempe engineering team was able to grow revenue 276% in one year by creating a close collaboration with our sales leaders. In early 2020, with an eye on efficiency and customer-centric innovation, we restructured and consolidated our Arizona- and Minnesota-based engineering teams, and I embraced my current role: jointly leading the combined North American Engineering Services team with a focus on growing revenue and bookings in the Industrial, Semiconductor, and Telecom sectors.BUSINESS & ENGINEERING LEADERSHIP—FOR RAPID, SUSTAINED GROWTH• Fostered trust with the sales team to generate opportunities for the Tempe engineering group. This strategic effort yielded 276% growth from 2018 to 2019.• Provided vision and direction for the North America Engineering Services Team—yielding significant growth year over year.• Influenced 2x growth in Industrial & Semiconductor bookings by partnering with my colleagues and sales leaders as a key contributor in bidding, quoting, and business development processes.• Met changing organizational needs by balancing engineering leadership with business, P&L, and growth planning.

Education

• Penn State University

  Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering (BSEE)

• Rensselaer Polytechnic Institute

  Master's Coursework in Computer Engineering

Skills

• Saas
• Crm
• Solution Selling
• Operations Management
• Storage
• Product Development
• M&a
• Executive Leadership
• Agile
• Program Management
• Managed Services
• Product Lifecycle Management
• Integration
• Lead Generation
• Vendor Management
• Product Marketing
• Business Strategy
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Management
• Partner Management
• Cloud Computing
• Product Management
• Salesforce.com
• Sales Enablement
• Virtualization
• Direct Sales
• Restructuring
• New Business Development
• Strategic Partnerships
• Channel Partners
• Mobile Devices
• Channel Sales
• Sales Process
• Demand Generation
• Account Management
• Change Management
• Team Leadership
• Enterprise Software
• Sales Management
• Business Process Improvement