PDF version Dave Thoma
5118 Frost Ave
Carlsbad, CA. 92008
760-804-5923

RESUME

"It's not about technology...it's about RESULTS."

As a highly motivated manager, I possess a proven history of successful endeavors and have been fortunate to work with four profitable dot.com companies, which utilize the 3C’s (content, community and commerce). My background includes extensive experience in the management of custom software development projects, with a heavy emphasis on new business development and eCommerce implementations.

EXPERIENCE:

E-Business Consultant
Thoma Consulting
December 2005 - current
Carlsbad, California
  • Senior Project Manager / Director E-Business Development for Invitrogen's implementation of:
    • Replaced Google search appliance with FAST Search's guided search and navigation (ESP).
      • Reduced "zero results found" by 80+%.
      • Exceeded annual ROI goals within first month of deployment.
    • Day Communiqué 4 content management software
      • Reduced content management time to market from 40 hours to 2 hours.
      • Distributed toolset allows for subject matter experts to manage and maintain their own content, and not IT.
  • Successfully incubated Ministry Discounts which now supports 2,000 advertisers, and 60k subscribers.
  • Successfully implemented Endeca InFront search technology as the eCommerce replacement for two multi-channel retailers.
    • Shopping cart conversion rate has doubled for one retailer.
    • Average order size has increased 27% for the other retailer.
Vice President of Information Technologies & E-Business
Outreach, Inc
November 2002 - December 2005
Vista, California
  • Implemented a formalized software development process, establishing a known and repeatable process throughout the enterprise to manage the rapid development of new IT projects. This resulted in a 90% decrease in defects and eliminated 2.5 “man years” of wasted labor Year 1.
  • Led the upgrade of Outreach.com storefront which:
    • Improved the Outreach.com brand (before and after).
    • Implemented guided search and navigation using Endeca Infront technology.
    • Reorganized method of product merchandising and cross-sales.
    • Added a content management system. This upgrade resulted in a 42% increase in online orders, an 80% decrease in technical maintenance, and empowered subject matter experts to manage merchandise on a daily basis rather than quarterly.
  • Supervised 12 staff members in Technical Operations, Software Development and E-Business departments.
  • Profit and Loss responsibilities for Web Properties including Sermon Central, Pastor Finder, and Bible Master.
  • Introduced new websites such as ThePassionOutreach.com, OutreachMediaGroup.com, ChurchPlants.com, NationalOutreachConvention.com, ImpactSites, OutreachComedy.com and OutreachEvents.com, as well as re-branding efforts for Outreach.com and OutreachTraining.com.
  • Consolidated three server farms into one and implemented a “zero-maintenance initiative” which improved service up-time and availability from 98.7% to 99.999%. This initiative reduced maintenance by 600+ hours annually.
  • Designed and deployed a company-wide list management infrastructure, increasing customer contact by 750% and sales by 14% over a sixteen month period.
  • Realigned the goals and objectives of the IT department with those of the organization.
  • Successfully managed IT costs within a well-defined budget, coming in below budget three consecutive years. Consistently delivered projects on time and within budget.
  • Reduced department’s annual maintenance burden from 87% to 22% over a three year period by improving system design and streamlining operation procedures.
Director of Interactive Services
Pastors.com
December 2000 - August 2002
Foothill Ranch, California
  • Increased revenue by 300% over a four month period utilizing low-cost viral marketing efforts, resulting in sustained corporate profitability.
  • Designed and deployed weekly content and community-building events, resulting in a 150% increase in page views and 22% increase in customer satisfaction over the course of one year.
  • Improved online ordering capabilities, yielding an increase in online orders from 15% to 90%.
Director of Interactive Services
iBelieve.com
June 1998 - October 2000
Grand Rapids, Michigan (based in San Diego office)
  • Directed all online efforts, including eCommerce, merchandising, cross-promotion strategy, content management and development of interactive toolsets.
  • Managed three direct reports and corporate relationship with Anderson Consulting (Accenture) to implement its content management and eCommerce systems.
  • Negotiated 17 strategic partnerships, including Willow Creek Association, Hallmark, DaySpring Greeting Cards and seven nationally recognized publishers.
Founder / President / CEO
ClassiFIND Network, Inc.
February 1996 - March 1998
San Diego, California
  • Raised $3M in capital within 90 days from various angel funding sources.
  • Early ASP provider supporting 55,000 online affiliates.
  • As company spokesperson, responsible for audio/video/hard copy interviews, press junkets, press releases, and industry panel discussions.
  • Professional Services Group integration with Vignette, FutureTense and deployment of an API set for third party collaboration.
  • Assembled a world-class software development team in less than four months, producing the largest online classified advertising site in the world by 1998.
  • Supervised six direct reports (50+ staff members total) with heavy emphasis in Information Technology and software development.
  • Primary overseer of ClassiFIND Network branding.
  • Achieved the company’s single largest sales contract (3,620 licensees), generating a 250% increase in gross revenue during the first quarter 1998 and an estimated two-year increase of 400%.
  • Established personal and strategic relationships with Microsoft, Intel, Real Networks, Yahoo, Multi-Ad Services, Amazon.com, City Search, Homes.com, lnxsys Broadcast, Rent Net, and Auto-by-Tel.
  • Personally increased the ad base by 40%, distribution by a multiple of 2,300, and brought increased media exposure and credibility to a young company.
Internet Marketing Consultant
Thoma Consulting
May 1995 - March 1996
Carlsbad, California Founder / President
Medcomm
February 1993 - March 1995
Del Mar, California
  • Designed and implemented Pharmaceutical Recovery Program which reduced bad debt of participating hospitals by $250,000 annually. Utilized Visual FoxPro, FoxPro, and proprietary software.
  • Leads software development team which streamlines data management which increased productivity by 65% and raised data accuracy rate from 94% to 99.8%.
Operations Manager
StrongCo Products
October 1989 - November 1993
San Marcos, California
  • Directed three-person software/firmware development team in the design of a custom software project which regulates manufacturing assembly control as producing hard dollar savings of $1.1M annually, and a nine-month ROI.
  • Negotiated 100% replacement settlement with insurance company after an industrial fire decimated the manufacturing plant. Led plant reconstruction efforts, establishing 50% pre-fire capacity within four months, 85% capacity within six months, and 110% capacity within eight months.
Software Development Manager (July 1985 - August 1989)
SDFM, Inc.
March 1980 - August 1989
San Marcos, California
  • Managed 110-employee warehouse and sales force responsible for $52.1M in revenue.
  • Reorganized MIS under Operations. Managed programming and system administration, expanding LAN services by integrating purchasing, shipping and receiving into MRP system.

EDUCATION:

University of Phoenix
Major: Business Administration & Computer Information Systems

AWARDS:

  • Named in 1997 MicroTimes Top 100 Online Leaders as a result of achievements within the industry.
  • Awarded three Best of Show Awards for use of SQL, ASP and Transaction Server at the 1997 Microsoft World Summit in Orlando, FL, resulting in "Channel Partnership" with Microsoft. Consequently, ClassiFIND's services were showcased to more than 6,000 Microsoft employees and consultants.
  • 1992 StrongCo Employee of the Year.

PERSONAL:

  • I have a wonderful wife of 13 years and three children ages 12, 10 and 8.
  • Enjoy playing golf, softball and playing at the beach with my family.