Rick Thompson's Email Addresses & Phone Numbers

📖 Summary

Chief Information Officer @ Brownstein Hyatt Farber Schreck Prior to my arrival in 2011, the firm’s technology had become disjointed and dysfunctional. Mergers and acquisitions added offices around the country, and each had its own network, servers, and software. Sharing information was possible only via email. I was charged with the business objective of creating a foundation that unified the firm. After completing the largest technology initiative ever accomplished by Brownstein, lawyers and staff expressed the project was a great success. Vendors and other firms were impressed with the results. NetApp published a feature article describing the successful outcome (see below). Attention from the project resulted in my being invited to be a featured speaker for the 2013 ILTA conference and 2014 Citrix Synergy conference presenting a disciplined, methodical, business-focused approach to designing and deploying a large-scale, virtual desktop strategy for a national firm. My primary areas of responsibilities include:• Develop, implement the technology vision and strategy for an Am Law 200, 550-person law firm with 14 U.S. offices• Design and implement a plan for a technology transformation that fosters profitable growth and client service excellence• Manage a 20-person IT team comprised of Network Operations, Voice & Data Communications, Application Services, Training, Client Computing Services, and Project Management• Prepare annual budget and expense management process From 2011 to 2014 (3 years) Denver, ColoradoDirector, Information Technology @ Reinhart Boerner Van Deuren s.c. After selling my business in 1996, I filled a leadership position as the Director of Information Technology for the third largest business law firm in Wisconsin. Among my greatest accomplishments are building and developing the technology team, creating business efficiency through policies and process management, managing the transformation from physical to virtual desktops and servers, deploying a firm-wide VoIP phone system, and moving our entire virtual server and desktop environment to primary and secondary tier-4 data centers.My primary areas of responsibilities included:• Developing and managing the IT strategy for technology that supports the business goals of an Am Law 200, 450-person law firm with offices in Wisconsin, Illinois, and Arizona• Managing the functional areas of IT: Network Infrastructure, Technical Services, including Help Desk support, and Practice & Application Support • Preparing annual budget and expense management process From 1996 to 2011 (15 years) Greater Milwaukee AreaInstructor @ Milwaukee School of Engineering Conducted Novell NetWare certification evening courseConsistently received outstanding reviews and compliments from students From 1995 to 1996 (1 year) Milwaukee, WisconsinInstructor @ University of Wisconsin Milwaukee Prepared curriculum and conducted computer networking fundamentals course in the university's evening programConsistently received outstanding reviews and feedback from students From 1993 to 1996 (3 years) Milwaukee, WisconsinFounder/Owner @ NetWorx Inc Owning and operating a computer networking and consulting business was both challenging and exciting. At a time when the average networking company was selling network hardware and software as commodities, we developed a unique approach--one that employed project definition and management principles. We performed a "Network Study and Needs Assessment" that included a "Discovery" of their current environment, a "Design" with our recommendations, a "Plan" with all the essential components of the project, "Implementation" of the new systems, and "Review" to ensure all the client's goals were attained. I enjoyed hearing other network consulting companies tell me they didn't like competing with us because we most often won the business. We weren't the least expensive option, but we worked at being the best option. Primary responsibilities included:• Developing and managing network consulting firm of 25 employees• Performing business strategy and financial performance reviews• Preparing annual budget and expense management process• Managing and training Sales and Marketing team responsible for new business generation• Conducting client presentations and interviews to identify business process improvements and risk mitigation opportunities• Creating project plans for new network implementations• Managing network configuration and installation team• Conducting network administration/management training for clients From 1992 to 1996 (4 years) Milwaukee, WisconsinCIO @ Gray Plant Mooty As the Chief Information Officer for Gray Plant Mooty, I am responsible for the strategy, leadership, and management of Information Technology, Knowledge Management, and Practice Support functions. From 2016 to 2019 (3 years) Minneapolis, MNDirector of Professional Services @ Ticomix, Inc. • As a member of the executive leadership team, I develop and implement business strategies for a fast-paced, growing IT service management consulting firm specializing in ServiceNow and SugarCRM. • My team of consultants and project managers utilize Agile and Scrum principles to deliver client projects including process improvement consulting based on the ITIL foundation, ServiceNow implementation and customization, and SugarCRM implementation and customization, and training. • I am also responsible for recruiting, hiring, developing, and leading Senior and Principal ServiceNow certified consultants, SugarCRM certified consultants, Team Leads, and Project Managers. From 2014 to 2016 (2 years)