Quality Assurance Sales

Bob LaGarde

**** ********* ***. ******, ** ****5 919-***-**** **********@****.***

ENTREPRENEURIAL TECHNOLOGY LEADER WITH EXTENSIVE DOMESTIC AND FOREIGN BUSINESS EXPERIENCE

Program Manager candidate offering 20+ years of executive leadership experience in the software and technology

services market. Proven skills in successful product development and motivational, goal-driven team leadership.

Broad based experience in business process engineering and automation, digital marketing, ecommerce and

online transaction systems, digital media applications, social media based customer acquisition and engagement,

agile development methodology, compliance management and systems integration.

CAREER ANALYSIS INFOGRAPHIC

Professional Experience

Pioneering Central America

Entrepreneur

(2010-2013)

A self-funded exploration of the cultural and business landscape in Central America. This endeavor can’t be

distilled into simple bullet points. For 2 years I coached, advised, led and started a variety of businesses in

Central America, primarily in Costa Rica. I was co -founder of a disruptive media start -up offering a social network

driven, pay-per-view performance platform. I opened, staffed and led an offshore sales office for a hospital

pharmaceutical distributor. I executed a turn-around for an underperforming IT subsidiary of a major Costa Rican

tourism company. I advised a green-solutions supply chain start-up offering recyclable plastic shipping

containers to the fresh fruit export market. I negotiated a test market contract with a large, Columbia based

multi-national exporter. I developed and implemented a training and quality assurance program for a large

offshore business services provider. I even pulled guard duty for a Guatemalan hotelier one New Year’s Eve.

Through this experience I honed my ability to integrate, motivate and lead diverse, cross -cultural teams, navigate

and negotiate complex and often conflicting international business practices and sift out opportunity in unfamiliar

places.

AbsoluteWave

Co-Founder

(2009-2010)

Social network driven, ecommerce product sales fundr aising platform for the not-for-profit market.

- Led vendor selection process for technology platform and offshore development partner

- Developed product pricing strategy for the servi ce

- Led the sales strategy for introduction of the service to existing distribution channel of fund raising

suppliers

- Managed client implementations the services.

LaGarde Ecommerce Solutions

Founder

(1996-2008)

Venture-backed, market leading e-commerce software solutions company serving thousands of small and

mid-sized clients worldwide.

- Secured substantial business partnership agreements with Microsoft, Verisign, Intuit and other leading

technology partners

- Led the on-budget on-time development of 7 major software product offerings

- Managed the organic growth of the company to profitability

- Subsequently grew the company to a valuation of $26MM with 120+ employees

- Hands on leadership for all aspects of the growth of the company

- Secured $6MM venture partner investment

Humane Society of Topeka Kansas

Executive Director

(1994-1996)

Large metropolitan not-for-profit animal welfare organization providing shelter services to public and government

clients.

- Transitioned organization into a professionally managed, well-funded donor supported provider of animal

welfare services.

- Executed extensive public relations programs for increasing pet adoptions and fostering philanthropic

support

- Negotiated numerous business and government partnership programs.

- Developed and implemented industry leading veterinary service policies and procedures .

Education

Furman University (1975-1979) - BA degree with major in Philosophy and Political Science

Washburn University (1981) - graduate studies in economics and organization al leadership

Menninger Foundation (1980-1981) - fellowship in psychology

Professional Achievements

Co-Chair, Information Task Force, Senator Pat Roberts Committee on Science, Technology and the Future,

2006-2010; Founder, Software and Information Techno logy Association of Kansas, 2009; Founder and President,

Lawrence Technology Association, 1999; Presenter- Microsoft Tech-Ed, Ecommerce and Web Development, 2006;

Wicker Award for Student Achievement, Furman Univ ersity, 1979; Inducted-Blue Key Society, 1979;

President-Furman University Student Body, 1978; Ex Officio Furman University Board of Directors, 1978; Inducted

Quaternion Club, Furman University, 1979; Student Advisory Board, Furman University, 1978, 1979

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