TechAID Solutions LLC (North Bergen, New Jersey)

Founder & CEO

May, 2014 – Present

A nearshore staff augmentation firm specializing in software testing focused on enhancing QA processes and reducing outsourcing costs.

Leadership & Strategic Planning:

• Company Vision: Founded TechAID Solutions with a vision to provide superior nearshore QA services, addressing the hidden costs and inefficiencies commonly associated with offshore outsourcing, such as time zone mismatches, language barriers, and cultural misalignments.

• Process Optimization: Developed and refined the company’s core processes to ensure seamless integration with client operations, significantly improving project delivery times and communication flows.
• Client-Centric Strategy Implementation: Pioneered a client-centered approach by implementing rigorous training programs that enhanced team expertise in client-specific technologies and business processes, leading to higher client satisfaction and repeat business.
• Overcoming Startup Challenges: Navigated initial business challenges by leveraging personal industry expertise to recruit and develop a skilled management team, fostering a culture of continuous learning and adaptation without losing sight of the company’s foundational values and vision.
• Promoting Transparency & Collaboration: Established a culture rooted in transparency, accountability, and mutual support, fostering a collaborative atmosphere where every team member’s contributions are valued.

• Driving Professional Growth: Actively promoted internal career advancement and ongoing professional development, aligning team motivations with the company’s strategic objectives and growth phases.

Operational Management & Strategic Decision-Making:

• Led Daily Operations: Directed daily activities by leading strategic meetings with executive teams and overseeing marketing, business development, and HR departmental efforts to ensure alignment with company goals.
• Client and Project Oversight: Engaged regularly with project tech leads and client executives (including QA managers, CTOs, and directors) to provide strategic consultation, ensuring seamless project integration and addressing operational challenges effectively.
• Recruitment and Resource Management: Played a pivotal role in the recruitment process, conducting final interviews to ensure all hires aligned with company culture and client needs, and made critical decisions regarding engineer placements, client rates, and employee compensation.

Financial Planning & Oversight:

• Financial Strategy & Budget Management: Collaborated with the Finance Director to make informed budgetary decisions based on detailed financial reports and analyses, ensuring optimal resource allocation.
• Regular Financial Oversight: Monitored key financial metrics and tool efficacy to assess company health and operational value, adapting strategies as necessary to maintain financial stability.
• Cost Management: Addressed unexpected costs and budget overruns through detailed retrospective analyses to identify learning opportunities and improve budget forecasting and management practices.

Business Development & Growth Achievement:

• Client Acquisition & Relationship Management: Successfully secured high-profile clients such as Vice Media, Auth0, Newell Brands, Verndale, and LiftIt, leveraging strategic business development practices and maintaining strong, productive relationships.
• Revenue Growth & Financial Success: Spearheaded the company’s growth to achieve seven-figure annual revenue, entirely bootstrapped, and implemented effective financial strategies and operations that maximized resource utilization and profitability.

Institute for Integrative Nutrition, Inc. (New York, NY)

Lead Software Test Engineer – QA Manager

April, 2010 – September 2014

The world’s largest nutrition school, providing comprehensive education and training on health, wellness, and nutrition to students globally.

• Leadership & Strategy Implementation: Directed the QA department’s efforts, collaborating closely with both internal QA analysts and offshore project teams to ensure the alignment of QA strategies with business objectives. Spearheaded the management of outsourcing vendor relationships to enhance operational efficiencies and integrate global talent effectively.
• Project & Resource Management: Oversaw the analysis of business and system requirements for medium-to-large scale projects. Managed resource allocation and budgeting, optimizing the use of resources across projects to meet financial and project-specific benchmarks.
• Quality Assurance Excellence: I assisted in developing comprehensive QA test plans and test cases, utilizing tools such as Jira and Zephyr to ensure thorough execution and validation of all major projects. I also led strategic integration, regression, black-box, grey-box, and functional testing efforts to uphold the highest software quality standards.
• Technical Expertise & Innovation: I mentored and trained QA team members in the latest technological tools and testing techniques, significantly enhancing team capabilities and performance. I also advanced the QA process by developing and implementing robust API and performance test scripts using JMeter.
• Problem-Solving: Collaborated with software development teams to debug and resolve complex software issues, determining root causes and implementing solutions that minimized future risks.
• Performance Optimization: Authored performance test plans and analyses, establishing benchmarks and protocols that consistently met or exceeded project goals.

VideoBank Media, Inc. (Northvale, NJ)

Software Developer – Software QA Engineer – Account Support

October 2008 – March 2010

VideoBank Digital is a premier digital asset management provider, serving elite clients like the US Army, NHL, National Geographic, and the US Senate with advanced media management technologies.

• System Analysis and Requirements Engineering: Spearheaded the analysis and documentation of business and system requirements to align software solutions with client needs, ensuring high satisfaction across diverse industries.
• Quality Assurance Leadership: Developed and executed comprehensive QA test plans and test cases, employing rigorous QA methodologies to ensure the reliability and performance of software products, expertly managed QA processes for white and black box testing, enhancing product quality and client trust.
• Project and Integration Management: I oversaw critical software deployment and integration projects, both onsite and offsite, ensuring seamless system functionality and client operations. My responsibilities included configuring hardware and software, installing and integrating VideoBank and third-party software, and troubleshooting complex network issues.
• Technical Documentation and Training: I created detailed test scenarios and training documentation tailored to specific client projects, facilitating effective knowledge transfer and system adoption. I also led training sessions for client staff on new systems and features, ensuring smooth transitions and continued client engagement.
• Client Relationship and Account Management: I maintained robust client relationships through strategic account management as a key liaison between clients and project managers. I also managed a portfolio of client-driven software change requests, coordinating timely updates and deployments to enhance client operations.
• Software Development Contributions: I was pivotal in developing proprietary software, including DVD authoring and project tracking applications, demonstrating versatility and technical acumen. I utilized various technologies (MS SQL, ORACLE 10g, HTML, JavaScript, CSS, VB6, C#, MS Access VB) to drive innovations and improvements in VideoBank’s product offerings.

J Knipper and Company, Inc.  –  Pharmagistics (Somerset, NJ)

Software Test Engineer – Lead Software Test Engineer

September 2002 – October 2008

Now part of Knipper Health, a healthcare marketing solutions and logistics leader, it offers innovative and efficient service to some of the largest pharmaceutical companies.

• Quality Assurance Oversight: I led comprehensive in-house software testing, including regression, black-box, and white-box methods, and effectively liaised between QA teams and external auditors, enhancing compliance with FDA regulations.
• Strategic Development & Database Management: I collaborated in developing and maintaining VBA (MS Access) reports to capture critical statistical data for the SA and DE departments, supporting data-driven decision-making.
• Software Development Support: As a key contributor in the software development lifecycle, I engaged in developing new features and enhancements tailored to meet complex client requirements.
• Compliance & Release Management: I managed and coordinated software releases, enhancing compliance with the Prescription Drug Marketing Act (PDMA) through meticulous documentation and version control, simplifying deployment processes, and improving compliance adherence.
• Change Documentation & Quality Assurance: I actively monitored and documented changes across software versions, supporting continuous improvements and adherence to QA standards, and ensured comprehensive validation through detailed change control documents.
• Training & Team Development: I developed and led training programs for all SA and DE department staff on new software releases, significantly improving feature acceptance and user competency due to my effective translation of technical details to non-technical staff.

Medix Resources, Inc. (East Brunswick, NJ)

QA Analyst – Jr. Web Developer

February 2001 – September 2002

A healthcare technology company specializing in providing innovative software solutions and services to streamline medical and administrative processes for healthcare providers.

• Quality Assurance and Software Testing: I conducted rigorous white-box testing of the web application’s workflow processes to identify and resolve issues, enhancing overall application performance and user experience.
• Product Development: Actively participated in developing “Cymedix III,” the company’s flagship web-based patient information system, ensuring high functionality and user satisfaction.
• Client Support and Issue Resolution: I managed direct client support operations, providing timely assistance for all company sites. I maintained comprehensive issue records, facilitating the rapid resolution of client concerns and improving service reliability.
• Collaboration and Reporting: Collaborated closely with web developers, providing detailed analyses and actionable recommendations for necessary updates and revisions to improve system performance and stability.