MICHAEL J. LYONS
** ***** **** ****. – Yonkers, NY 10710
914-***-**** (H) – 914-***-**** (C) – ******@***.***
SUMMARY OF EXPERIENCE
COO/CAO with extensive experience of progressively responsible operations and business development involvement, who manages and leads successful organizations and cross-functional teams through complex start-ups, turnaround and high-growth periods. Expert in maintaining control of diverse business operations and establishing policies and processes. Superb communicator; visionary leader. US Army Vet. MBA.
Operations, Strategy and Execution – Led a $50 million company that delivered technology-related consulting services to Fortune 500 companies. Grew sales without M&A activity by 30% to $50 million by marketing a consistent message, changing delivery methods, and reengineering the sales organization. Managed multiple large implementation projects and vendor relationships in excess of $10 million over a 12-month time frame.
AREAS OF EXPERTISE
Strategic Operational Planning and Implementation Leadership and Coaching
Change Management New Business Development
Professional Services Consulting Merger and Acquisition Negotiations
Corporate Finance and Budgeting Human Capital Planning
PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE
MAI ADVISORS, Inc. New York, NY – 2017 - 2018
Boutique consulting firm which creates organizational IT Strategies that empower a client’s need to increase revenue and achieve operational efficiencies. We focus on auditing current processes, establishing governance and organizational change management processes.
COO – Principal Consultant
Provide consulting and advisory services to C Level executives (CEO/CIO) within the Professional Services and Higher Educational vertical market
Performed Zero Based budgeting process at world renowned university in order to align costs with requirements.
Developed detailed audit program wto develop a roadmap for network, infrastructure, and security performance improvement for a $60 million professional services firm.
VERIZON ENTERPRISE SOLUTIONS, New York, NY – 2014 - 2017
A global leader in delivering broadband and other wireless and wire line communications services to consumer, business, government and wholesale customers
Chief of Staff, Verizon Global Security Service - Professional Services
Manage all the operating functions of a 400-person global services implementation team for Verizon Enterprise Solutions as it relates to all aspects of Internet security.
Responds to reports of security breaches.
Conducts breach simulations with Fortune 500 CIOs so they better understand the security risks in their environment.
Educates business leaders on all aspects of cyber-security.
The team has had a 30% organic growth rate from last year to the current year.
REDHAT SOFTWARE, Raleigh, NC 2013-2014
American multinational software company providing open-source software products to the enterprise community
Professional Services Product Specialist
Responsible for consulting and recommending RedHat services and security solutions for the financial vertical market.
Continually met and exceed new business performance objectives quarter over quarter.
ALVAREZ & MARSAL, New York, NY, 2008 - 2011
An independent global professional services firm specializing in performance improvement, turnaround management, crisis management and business advisory services.
Director
Managed and led all eDiscovery requirements for the estate of the Lehman Brothers, the largest bankruptcy in modern business. Developed the process to support all stages of the Electronic Discovery Reference Model (EDRM) with emphasis on the review phase.
Implemented a review platform (Relativity) that enabled the organization to inspect over 22,000,000 documents used for litigation purposes.
JACKSON LEWIS, LLP, New York, NY, 2004 - 2006
A national labor and employment law firm with over 380 attorneys, 900 employees in 22 offices throughout the United States. Managed $150m Profit and Loss with focus on expenses.
Executive Director
Chief Operating Officer for all non-legal related functions of the firm, with direct responsibility for finance, human resources, marketing, information services, Information technology and real estate functions. Instilled processes and standard operating procedures within the finance organization to mitigate business risks. Oversaw the strategic implementation of technology, a project encompassing an upgrade of infrastructure, desktops and data centers with a budget of $10 million.
WILSON, ELSER, MOSKOWITZ, EDELMAN & DICKER, LLP, New York, NY, 2003 - 2004
NYC-based law firm with over 600 attorneys, 1,100 employees in 17 offices throughout the US and Europe. $120m P/L
Executive Director
Chief Executive of over 400 support staff employees for a large NYC-based law firm. Oversight included finance, HR, information technology, and 17 regional offices in the US and Europe. Implemented programs to ensure attainment of business plan for growth and profit.
WINSTAR COMMUNICATIONS CORP, New York, NY, 1995–2001
Publicly traded competitive local exchange carrier providing telecommunication, long distance, local and Internet services. Now IDT Corp. Professional Services Division sold to The Sayers Group in August of 2001.
Vice President and Chief Operating Officer, Winstar Professional Services, 1998–2001
Held full P&L accountability for $40 million operating budget and $50 million in revenues with 14 direct and 180 indirect reports. Established nationwide practice groups, lines of service and service centers for customers and clients. Led sales and delivery operations in eight cities across the country. Opened two new offices in Seattle and Boston. Solicited offers and negotiated sale of Winstar Professional Service to the Sayers Group in the second half of 2001.
Increased sales contracts and orders 89% while decreasing SGA 16% through improved business development, marketing, and sales.
Grew sales 20% every quarter using consultative selling, direct marketing, targeting, and cross selling in existing client base.
Negotiated $2,000,000 deals by establishing sound working relationships with vendors and suppliers.
General Manager, 1995–1998
Directed professional services operations, including product development and taking new products to market, in the New York tri-state area. Served as regional company spokesperson. P&L responsibility for $20 million budget. 6 direct and 75 indirect reports. Primary client base was the top 200 revenue generating law firms in the United States.
Oversaw and managed large scale implementation project with a budget of over $8 million dollars which impacted over 22 separate business units within the firm. The project lasted 8 months and came in on time and on budget.
Brought in $16,000,000 in annual revenues and more than $3,000,000 in net income, making New York the company’s most profitable operation.
Retained 90% of employees by recruiting and motivating top-tier talent and creating positive work environment.
DELOITTE & TOUCHE, New York, NY, 1993–1995
Audit and consulting professional services firm.
Auditor and Consultant
Rendered opinions on presentation of clients’ financial statements in accordance with accepted accounting principles as member of audit team, for $20 million to $200 million clients in service-related industries. Selected engagement client was IBM, where I provided litigation counseling and forensic accounting) to determine damages suffered in a patent and trademark infringement lawsuit.
U.S. ARMY, Stationed at Fort Knox, Germany and Holland for 6 years and deployed to Saudi Arabia, Iraq, and Kuwait, during Gulf War, 1983–1993. Retired Major, U.S. Army Reserves
Captain, Field Artillery
Selected to serve as Chief of Staff for senior U.S. Military Officer in Netherlands. Commanded a 123-man organization. Supervised maintenance program for 30 motorized combat vehicles, a $12 million logistics operation, with $500,000 operations and training budget. Initiated TQM program resulting in budget savings and accurate forecast of resource requirements for future training events. Served five months in Operation Desert Storm in command.
Awarded Bronze Star Medal, Defense Meritorious Service Medal, US Army Meritorious Service Medal, Southwest Asia Service Medal with three stars, US Army Parachutist badge.
Continually rated in top 5% of peer group.
START UP EXPERIENCE
REDOWL ANALYTICS, Baltimore MD, 2011 – 2012
Incubator start up Software Company focused on the analytics of large data sets in commercial markets in a Software as a Service business model (SaaS).
Early Stage Founder and Director
Red Owl's key target markets include financial services, legal, compliance, consulting, and business operations. Devised business plan, go-to-market and launch strategy, sales pipeline and initial use cases for the application.
WHENTECH, New York, NY, 2007- 2008 (START UP)
Early-Phase Software as a Service Provider (SaaS) providing a risk management tool for the pricing of commodities and options sold on the New York Mercantile Exchange
Chief Operating Officer
Established foundation, infrastructure and communication protocols in order to grow a small application service provider servicing commodities traders on all major commodities exchanges. Responsible for defining and establishing expanded business functions such as sales and marketing, finance, and human resources policies and procedures. Designed, staffed and built out data center to support company.
eSENTIO TECHNOLOGIES, Washington DC and New York, NY, 2006 – 2007
Washington, DC based systems Integration Company that implements technology solutions for the top 100 law firms in the United States.
Director of Operations
Developed back office Best Practices to establish a foundation for rapidly growing company. Researched, recommended and implemented a new time and billing system, which improved the efficiency of the billing process. Recruited the talent to meet aggressive growth targets.
EDUCATION
New York University Leonard N. Stern School of Business, New York, NY, Master of Business Administration, Finance and Accounting
U. S. Military Academy, West Point, NY, Bachelor of Science, General Engineering