Mark Chowaniec product leadership product innovation

www.linkedin.com/in/markchowaniec

professional summary

Product Management leader bringing ideas and people together to guide companies toward the goal of creating solutions which enable customer and company success. My experience has refined my ability to lead by example, listen to resolve technical and business challenges, utilize various data to identify opportunity, and collaborate with both technical and non-technical teams to successfully launch solutions across various industries and technologies.

Accomplished in redefining user experiences, promoting new-solution innovation and revitalizing stagnant product lines while creating strong partnerships with Agile Development Teams and User Experience (UX) Research & Design – emphasizing data-driven decisions and metrics for success around product roadmaps & portfolios

Repeated success with product strategy creation and implementation, Product Management leadership, and adaptability in guiding product innovation, vision, design, and efficacy – driven by research, analysis, and issue identification/resolution with customers, potential buyers, internal stakeholders & executive leadership to vet ideas and build consensus on strategic direction.

Evolved leadership style and genuine relationship/partnership development across External Customers, Internal Stakeholders, and Direct Reports – allowing for effective execution of plans, launch of products, development of best practices, and improvement of processes to ensure customer success and company revenue growth

skills

•New Product Launch Management

•Software & SaaS Product Management

•User-Centered Solution Innovation

•IP / Vision & Product Strategy Creation

•Cross-Functional Team Leadership

•Direct Report Management

•Pragmatic Marketing Certified

•Lean Canvass & Data-Driven Roadmaps

•Profit & Loss Ownership

employment details

ThinkCERCA Chicago, IL 2015

VP, Product Management

Recruited to lead Product Management and create and implement needed processes, functions, staff, and an Agile roadmap to scale product development for ThinkCERCA – an 1871 startup and an online platform for helping teachers develop critical thinking skills for their students.

Created and presented product roadmap to Board of Directors – strategy was a collaboration with CMO to drive free users to the site, while creating the necessary User Experience and Functionality to drive them to become paid and happy subscribers within a short time-frame

Aligned roadmap with company strategy by implementing Lean Canvass assessments for larger plans, and light-weight Product Requirement Overviews to align company and product strategy – provided greater visibility and understanding for everyone regarding product roadmap and development efforts without weighing down company in too much process

Implemented visual roadmap and requirements planning tool (Aha!), including creation of Customer Ideas Portal to provide for better organization, visibility, and metrics for development efforts – centralizing all outstanding requirements and requests in one location and improving planning and coordination between Content, Development, Sales, Marketing and Customer Success

Reorganized Customer Advisory board into three components and led UX Team to efficiently gather input and guidance for roadmap – one self-service group for quick iterative feedback on design, usability, and utilization, while the other two were more strategic and focused on future enhancements and market needs

Led the ideation, creation and launch of an innovative solution for new user onboarding and diagnostic – providing learners with practice and familiarization of the CERCA framework, allowing educators insight into trouble-spots with an easy-to-use visualized dashboard while also providing internal Sales teams with data for moving users from fee-to-paid

THE SAVO GROUP Chicago, IL 2010 - 2015

Director, Product Management

Initially hired to improve search, quickly given opportunity to lead the creation of the first platform app and then promoted to lead the creation of flagship product series for future growth (web, mobile and CRM integrated) for SAVO – a B2B SaaS software company which created the Sales Enablement space.

Created roadmap and led project team to develop and define product vision, opportunity assessment and success metrics for launch of a multi-faceted solution recognized with a 2014 Brandon Hall Group Excellence in Technology Award

Motivated and led Product Teams to deliver first release within four-month deadline – guiding User Experience to quickly enable rapid design & development, while partnering with Development Manager to overcome limited-resource issue

Enhanced new software launch process by creating framework for first-ever Early Adopter Pilot and partnering with Services Organization to create official program – resulting in sales opportunities and four new references directly attributed to program

Promoted product renewals and adoption by partnering with Account Management and Consulting Services to gather feedback from existing users & customer champions – creating best practices for better efficacy and satisfaction with the solution

Bolstered new SaaS bookings for product series by developing strong relationships with the Alliances team to influence and consult strategic partners – helping onboard four new partners to create additional sales channels

NAVTEQ – A Nokia Company Chicago, IL 2008-2009

Product Manager, Location Based Services (LBS)

Recruited to manage expansion of advanced traffic & weather services for NAVTEQ – a digital-map and data services company.

Led highly visible project with JD Powers to resolve data quality concerns of major automotive customers, including managing data-supplier search – guiding technical discussions to drive development and product launch

FOLLETT CORPORATION McHenry, IL 2004-2008

Follett Digital Resources – Product Manager, Digital Services and Solutions

Promoted after creating initial vision for new SaaS product strategy to lead product efforts within a new division of Follett in developing and implementing a new collaborative learning platform – helping division grow from start-up to self-sustaining company.

Delivered a complex new SaaS solution within seven-month deadline, including creating & implementing Business Case

Led 50-member Joint Application Development (JAD) team consisting of pilot & focus group members, educational consultants, & Development to vet new product and create an informed product strategy

Follett Software Company – Product Manager, Online Subscription Services

Hired to own the P&L and revitalize what would become an $11,000,000+ Subscription Services business to help grow revenue for a division within Follett Corporation and the leader in library automation software.

Revitalized stagnant product line by leveraging customer, market & sales data to realign disparate product mix & strategy, creating new messaging and adjusting channel strategies – increasing revenue 30% and eliminating annual royalties of $200,000

Originated a new market expansion product strategy to expand new revenue streams and overcame initial objections by gaining support of executive sponsor, building consensus around initial vision & presenting research – promoted to lead project

SIRIUS SATELLITE RADIO, INC New York, NY 2003-2004

Manager, Antenna Systems

Recruited to lead SIRIUS’ antenna roadmap and expand/improve portfolio as a result of previous work in automotive telematics.

Created multi-product roadmap, reduced manufacturing costs by 40%, created new distribution channels, and launched three new solutions while improving mobile antenna design and size – recognized with an Innovation Award at CES 2005

education, memberships & professional development

Pragmatic Marketing Certification Coursework: SEO & SEM Strategies Strategic Marketing Management Training

PRACTICAL PRODUCT MANAGEMENT UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO - Graham UNIVERSITY OF CHICAGO – Booth

Ravinia Associates Board BS, Business Administration Degree Executive Presentation Skills Training

RAVINIA FESTIVAL – Current Member NORTHERN ILLINOIS UNIVERSITY COMMUNISPOND

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