Chad Simpson

Information Technology professional with an extensive technology skill-set combined with executive level business and customer service capabilities. High level of experience in the legal and retail verticals. Experience with IT Infrastructure, security, mobility, virtualization, wireless systems, and vendor / contract management, budgeting, consolidation and simplification of processes. Constant focus on LEAN principles: continuous improvement, elimination of waste, pull based workflows, and the pursuit of perfection in entire workflow. Proven ability to execute short and long term projects. Past experience in IT infrastructure conversions from physical to virtual, traditional phone systems to VoIP, paper to paperless conversion projects. Current with latest technology trends influencing strategy with day to day execution of goals to maximize ROI while aligning with company wide strategic initiatives. Focus on solving real business problems, business architecture, research for disruptive technologies, big data, standardization, and process improvements.

SANDOW (www.sandow.com) is a leader in building multichannel, vertically integrated brands. Sandow is an innovative multiplatform company that creates content, builds brands, and informs, inspires and engages with highly coveted consumer and business platforms. Sandow is comprised of design, beauty, luxury and business information businesses, which empower the company to strategically cross-promote brands and create a new kind of media experience. Sandow includes more than 400 employees in 13 global offices around the world. As Director of IT Infrastructure, highlights of high level responsibilities & accomplishments include: - Continuous innovation and oversight of all IT systems including on premises & cloud platforms - Manage IT related contracts and vendor relations across all divisions and business units - Implementation of LEAN principles (continuous improvement, elimination of waste & non value add processes) - Successfully migrated 800+ Exchange mailboxes from premises to Microsoft Cloud bases Office 365 with no downtime, under budget and before deadline - Launch of innovative business unit products into AWS cloud platform ex: www.beautydna.com - Migrated 40+ servers and systems from colocated datacenter to on-premises data center and cloud based Amazon AWS cloud based platform - Implemented enterprise storage solution between New York and Florida offices complete with hourly asynchronous synchronization between sites and AWS S3 cloud storage platform - Creation and implementation of enterprise level IT policies and procedures (email retention policies, records retention, etc)

Managed complete IT infrastructure for 100+ user law firm, including 7 locations by using IT to align with strategic corporate initiatives; including all hardware, software, services, vendor relations, and telecommunications Provided world-class service to internal MKRS customers as well as external clients Improved internal customer satisfaction by 50% Led multiple long-term projects affecting all locations and users Created virtual workplace for attorneys allowing seamless remote connectivity (Citrix, Microsoft RDP) VoIP upgrade converting 7 Nortel PBX phone systems to VoIP (Cisco Call Manager, Cisco Phones) Converted firm’s entire server infrastructure to virtualized environment (VMWARE) leading to reduction in server count, maintenance cost, and an increase in redundancy, computing power, and user satisfaction Paperless initiative across all departments and offices over a two year period. Digitizing all paper files resulted in paper expenses cut by 90%, print / copier contracts reduced by 50%, and an elimination of paper storage costs Desktop upgrade of 80+ systems firm-wide with minimal downtime for end users Implemented Helpdesk ticketing and inventory system Responsible for creation and implementation of IT and telecommunications budgets of $250,000+ Managed all IT related vendor contracts and maintenance rentals Reduced telecommunications budget by 30% after year one by eliminating waste and analyzing invoices Coordinated and supported seven office relocations in two years with minimal planned downtime Implemented LEAN procedures and projects to eliminate waste in all processes, simplify and improve any and all activities

Directly oversaw security, design, and implementation of the IT infrastructure including expansions and new installations Managed IT and telecommunications infrastructure, including a $1,000,000 plus budget Implemented and supported MPLS network connecting 24 locations (Cisco 7200, 2800, 1800 Routers) Responsible for telecommunications / data implementations including VoIP to reduce costs Managed company wide data backup procedures to disk and tape (Symantec Backup Exec) Implemented PCI DSS mandates company wide: reduction of risk, sustainment of policies and procedures Perform root-cause analysis and resolution on network and firewall issues (Cisco Catalyst 4510 / ASA 5520) Lead conversion of a Layer 2 switched LAN to a Layer 3 VLAN network Troubleshoot business critical support issues & proactively implemented measures to reduce downtime Implemented LEAN methodologies to reduce waste and continuously improve critical business processes Lead multiple cost reducing projects: company wide paper reduction, Managed and supported 60+ wireless access points covering a one million plus sq foot distribution center (Cisco AP1200)

Managed IT technical support team responsible for 600 plus PCs and Point of sale terminals Managed helpdesk environment by assigning tickets and meeting SLAs (HelpStar – 3000 plus tickets / month) Supported all wireless communication devices including Blackberry and PDA devices (Blackberry Enterprise Server) Coordinated team based IT projects (Microsoft Project 2003, Visio) Successfully deployed IBM Tivoli Management Suite. Provided proactive alerts and streamlined support system Maintained Tivoli, Active Directory, Exchange, IIS, FTP services Utilized Tivoli to distribute software packages / collect Inventory information / license compliance Utilized AD policies for security and software deployments Provided point of contact for level I support issues