Don Kratzenberg

About Don Kratzenberg

Senior IT executive and VP of Information Technology with a track record of modernizing complex, legacy environments into secure, cloud-first platforms. I have led global teams across healthcare and retail eye care, owning multi-million-dollar budgets and partnering with C-suite leaders to drive growth, resilience, and operational excellence.I specialize in cloud transformation using Azure and AWS, cybersecurity with Sentinel, Defender, and MDR partners, platform engineering, and infrastructure and operations. At Now Optics, I lead a global IT organization that supports rapid store growth and digital transformation. At Quest Diagnostics, I delivered secure traditional and cloud-native platforms and partnered with application teams to modernize mission-critical services.My focus is always on measurable outcomes. I improve reliability and security, reduce run rate through FinOps and automation, and enable the business to move faster with confidence. I build and mentor high-performing, hybrid teams and create simple, pragmatic roadmaps that turn strategy into execution.Focus areas: Cloud Transformation (Azure, AWS), Cybersecurity and Security Operations (Sentinel, Defender, MDR), IT Infrastructure and Operations, Platform Engineering, Microsoft 365 and Office 365, Enterprise Architecture, Legacy Modernization, Digital Transformation, Vendor and MSP Management, IT Strategy, Technology Roadmapping, Budget Management, Team Leadership.Open to senior technology leadership roles including CIO, CTO, Deputy CIO, VP IT and IT Operations, Cloud and Infrastructure, and Executive Director IT.

Experience

1. Vice President of Information Technology

   Now Optics

   Sep 2021 — Present

   As Vice President of Information Technology at Now Optics, I lead the global IT organization for a fast-growing eye care company. My teams are located in the United States, Asia, and Latin America and support corporate offices, retail stores, labs, and remote users. I own the business technology strategy, the technical vision, and the modernization of IT systems while keeping security, reliability, and cost efficiency at the center of every decision.I manage a multi-million-dollar IT budget and a diversified global team, aligning technology investments with growth, profitability, and the overall patient and customer experience. I partner with executive and operations leadership to support aggressive expansion, including the opening of more than 100 new stores to date, and I ensure that infrastructure, network, and systems are delivered on time and within budget.My work includes driving a cloud-first transformation across infrastructure and applications using Azure, AWS, modern network design, and software-defined platforms to improve performance, scalability, and resilience. I have strengthened the company’s cybersecurity posture through modern tools, policies, and governance that cover endpoints, networks, cloud, and SaaS environments and support patient privacy and regulatory compliance.I also lead the modernization of collaboration and productivity platforms such as Microsoft 365 and Office 365, enabling secure and effective collaboration for distributed corporate and field teams. A key part of my role is building, coaching, and retaining high-performing IT, network, and operations teams and promoting a culture of ownership, transparency, and continuous improvement. In addition, I negotiate and manage key vendor and MSP relationships to improve service levels and reduce total cost of ownership.

Education

• Harvard Extension School

  Graduate Certificate, Cyber Security

• University of Central Florida

  Associate's degree

• Nova Southeastern University

  M.B.A., Entrepreneurship

• Capella University

  B.S., Mangement and Leadership

Skills

• Program Management
• Mobile Strategy
• Business Process Improvement
• Business Analysis
• Virtualization
• Integration
• Data Center
• Active Directory
• Sharepoint
• Networking
• Sdlc
• IT Management
• System Deployment
• Enterprise Software
• Emerging Technologies
• Enterprise Architecture
• Healthcare Information Technology (Hit)
• Laboratory/Hospital I/T
• Healthcare Information Technology
• I/T Program Management
• Disaster Recovery
• Cross-Functional Team Leadership
• Process Improvement
• Vendor Management
• Agile Methodologies
• Management
• IT Financial Management
• Requirements Analysis
• Cloud Computing
• IT Strategy
• Product Development
• Software Development Life Cycle (Sdlc)