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Steven D. Stern

Information Technology That Creates Value
STRATEGIC ■ BUSINESS DRIVEN ■ HANDS-ON

email: steve@sterndata.com
cell: +1-773-203-7491

SUMMARY

Experience in association management, higher education, commercial education, and commercial real estate. Hands-on technical skills and record as an effective manager who builds cohesive and effective team environments. Expertise in Windows and open-source environments, web portals, services and feeds, social networks, blogging platforms, and desktop systems.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

INDEPENDENT CONTRACTOR

GREAT HARVEST FRANCHISING, INC., 2010-present
Chief Information Officer
Great Harvest is the franchising and support organization for the 200+ Great Harvest Bread Company bakeries throughout the U.S. The CIO is charged with implementing and maintaining the IT Road Map, a strategic plan for Great Harvest's information technology. Currently redeveloping the primary intranet site, developing a social networking strategy, and creating a knowledge management system.

LUMITY, 2010-present
Contractor and Consultant
Lumity is a Chicago-based non-profit that provides IT and financial management services to non-profit organizations. Currently creating proposals and contracts and redesigning internal project management processes.

CCIM Institute, 2004-2009

Chief Technology Officer

The CCIM Institute is an association of commercial real estate professionals. It grants the CCIM designation (Certified Commercial Investment Member) to members who have completed education and experiential requirements. Member benefits include access to a sophisticated set of technology tools. The CTO manages the day-to-day operations of the CCIM Institute’s infrastructure, software development, and technology and telecommunications infrastructure. I was responsible for developing and implementing a technology strategy to add services, improve support for members and support the Institute’s continued growth. In addition, as a senior manager of the Institute, I was part of the Board of Directors' Strategic Planning Committee.

• Created proactive customer service via Facebook and Twitter
• Led the gut and rebuild of the Institute's office space at 430 N. Michigan Avenue
• Developed a preference-based member to member email system (CCIM MailBridge)
• Introduced a standard LAMP stack for web services
• Redeveloped the Institute's website using Drupal
• Implemented an ecommerce platform for course registration and dues billing
• Improved Infrastructure and delivered a $30K annual reduction in hosting costs
• Replaced the telecommunications system, with reducing maintenance and conference call services costs
• Began the transition from TIMSS to Personify, a new association management system (AMS) 

STERN DATA SOLUTIONS, 2002-2004

Consulting and support for small offices. Hardware acquisition, software installation, security, network configuration, upgrades, etc. using Windows, Windows servers, and Linux. Experience working with insurance agencies supporting Applied Systems’ TAM and Apres Systems document manager. Website development using Apache, Linux, PHP, and MySQL for profit and non-profit organizations.

THE UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO, Booth School of Business, 1995-2002

Executive Director of Computing Services (CIO)

Computing Services develops and operates the GSB’s administrative systems and provides computing support, help desk and network services to students, faculty, and administrative staff. Responsible for strategic planning, communications with students, staff, and faculty. Also, management of application development, external data exchange, instructional technology and audiovisual systems, computer operations, and email. Staff of 32. Operations budget $2.7M. Capital budget over $750K.

• Conceived, developed, and deployed wireless networking for the 4 GSB campus buildings.
• Planned and implemented new mail and calendaring system for 28,000 users based on SunOne (Planet) software and Sun hardware with only a $125K budget.
• Developed the $5 million technology plan for the GSB’s new 425,000 sq. ft building, including networking, smart classrooms, conference rooms, and media center.
• Delivered customer focused, web-based systems for students, faculty, visitors and alumni, including a student/alumni directory, course registration, recruiting/career management systems, and program applications.
• Created an integrated UNIX and Windows NT server environment serving 2+ TB of storage and 50+ printers.
• Introduced and maintained standards for hardware and software to deliver reliable support and predictable end-user computing budgets.
• Deployed a portal-based intranet.

JMB REALTY CORPORATION, Chicago, IL 1979-1995

Vice President, Information Services, 1988-1995

Manager of Computer Services, 1981-1988

Technical Writer, 1979-1981

EDUCATION

Ph.D., M.S. Experimental Psychology Northwestern University, Evanston, Illinois

B.A., Mathematics and Psychology Grinnell College, Grinnell, Iowa

Negotiation and Strategy, Management Accounting Executive Education at The University of Chicago Graduate School of Business

Introduction to Commercial Investment Real Estate Analysis, CI 101 - Financial Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate, CI 102- Market Analysis for Commercial Investment Real Estate CCIM Institute

COMMUNITY

Webmaster, South Lakeview Neighbors, 2009-present
Board of Directors, Executive Network Group of Greater Chicago, 2003-2005

KEY TECHNOLGIES

PHP, Python, C, Microsoft SQL Server, MySQL, Redhat Linux, CentOS Linux, Fedora Linux, Windows XP, Windows Vista, Windows Server 2003/2008, Exchange Server 2005/ 2007, Google Search Appliance, sendmail, Avaya IP Offfice, WordPress, Drupal, Microsoft Office, OpenOffice, VMWare, Virtualbox, Atlassian Confluence, OS/X