Manager, Distributed Applications

TODD LAFONTAINE

** ******* **** *********: 905-***-**** St. Catharines, Ontario L2M 7J6 Email: ********@*******.***

PROFILE

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A skilled manager and IT professional, experienced at leading a diverse group of systems professionals within a sophisticated corporate environment. Competencies include: working with business units to identify and prioritize needs and to deliver the required results, managing commercial relationships with external vendors and outsourced service providers, participating with peers on cross-functional work teams, budgeting, project planning and scheduling, employee development, day-to-day systems management in support of business operations, and long term planning of system enhancements.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

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CANADIAN TIRE FINANCIAL SERVICES 1991 - 2009

Welland, Ontario

The financial services arm of one of Canada’s most trusted and recognized retailers, and the second largest issuer of MasterCard in the country.

Information Technology Manager 2006 to 2009

As a leader within information technology was the prime support to the customer service systems;

• Leveraged the power of technology to support the operational goals and interests of the ‘business’; planned work to be done each 6 week implementation cycle;

• Responsible for Information Technology support for the customer service system; negotiated with ‘ business’ partners to set priorities, schedules and resource allocation ensuring appropriate technical resources were assigned in-step with specific deliverables;

• Provided on-going technical support to ‘customer service’ call centre; leveraged customer service technologies, databases, networks to deliver new functionality to support a growing and changing business enterprise;

• Developed an instant credit system to support the business goal of providing safe and faster credit to retail customers;

• Provided on-going enhancements as part of continuous improvement; managed a 6 week update release cycle of ‘Chordiant’ based customer service system resulting in an enhanced customer experience;

• Led a team of 8 application developers, coached individuals, hired both experienced and inexperienced team members and managed each according to their level of capability and individual need;

• Established and managed budgets, schedules, resource allocations and personnel;

• Managed ‘Canadian Tire Financial Service’ internet presence; developed an on-line activation system for newly-issued cards;

• Developed on-line capability for customers to review account activity;

• Created and maintained on-line sales system for Canadian Tire Financial Services products; insurance, roadside assistance, credit protection and extended warranty;

• Developed a real-time information conduit in support of the retail banking initiative;

• Implemented all of the above system enhancements to be compliant with the high level of security and privacy required around personal financial information.

Senior Systems Developer and Team Lead 1991 to 2006

• Tutored and mentored junior staff members;

• Successfully led numerous projects from inception to post-implementation, achieving budget and schedule goals established by the business units that were being served;

• Utilized Canadian Tire Financial Services disciplines, and established work methods, in conjunction with generally accepted approaches to business system implementation to ensure the team achieved operational performance that was consistent with client expectations and service levels mandated by external regulators.

EARLY CAREER HISTORY

• Senior Programmer Analyst, Motorola Canada, North York ON

• Intermediate Programmer, Confederation Life, Toronto ON

• Course Marker and Tutor, Brock University, St Catharines ON

• Floor Staff Member, Canadian Associate Tire Store, St. Catharines ON

• Inventory Control Clerk, Canadian Tire Associate Store, Cobourg ON

PROFESSIONAL EDUCATION AND DEVELOPMENT

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ACADEMIC Brock University, St. Catharines ON

Bachelor of Science - Honours

PROFESSIONAL TRAINING Numerous leadership, supervisory and technical courses during the term of employment at CTFS including: Manage Yourself – Lead Others (MICA);

Influence Skills (Learning Tree); Survival Skills for New Managers; Identifying and Confirming User Requirements (Learning Tree); Designing Chordiant Solutions (Chordiant); Staff Consulting Skills

INTERESTS & COMMUNITY SERVICE

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VOLUNTEER Coach – Optimist Youth Baseball

Coach – CTFS company baseball team

Mentor – Brock University

Numerous CTFS Community Projects including: Extensive Fix up Work at a St. Catharines Women’s’ Shelter as Leader of the Planning and Organizing Committee; Painting and Landscaping at the Boys and Girls Club of Niagara

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