Dean Whitford

Dean Whitford

Spruce Grove, Alberta, Canada
1K followers 500+ connections

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About

A results-oriented business leader, entrepreneur, project / program manager, and software development manager with unusual ability to see the big picture. Able to envision, communicate, and execute the steps necessary to reach organizational goals in creative and achievable ways. Comfortable in high pressure and changing environments. Tackles problems calmly yet enthusiastically to achieve visionary and timely solutions. Proven ability to quickly learn the knowledge and skills needed to be effective in new fields.

Brought over 300 projects from initiation to completion in the last 25 years, ranging in size from $1000s of services up to $6.6 million--including a program of projects $12 million+ in value. All told, managed 270,000+ person hours of projects.

Expertise with: agile, waterfall, and hybrid software development methodologies; systems analysis; and intellectual property management.

A variety of experience: dynamic data mining system for large enterprise big data, an AI expert system for building electrical systems engineering, drafting + GIS software for municipal governments, drafting + engineering + GIS software for hybrid fiber-coaxial cable networks, mapping standardization for municipal government and cable company networks, CAD software sales management, and retail chain building & management.

Comfortable with the responsibilities and pressures of running multimillion dollar companies. 24 years of P&L responsibility. Hands-on and managerial experience in: HR management, sales and marketing, corporate finance, contract & corporate legal, bookkeeping & financial reporting, A/P & A/R, intellectual property management, R&D, and customer service.

Hired, managed, and nurtured well over 180 employees/subcontractors--maximizing their potential and worth to the organization while helping them to maintain work-life balance. At Kanotech's peak, responsible for 40 full time staff generating and fulfilling $5.6MM/year in services revenue.

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Activity

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Experience

  • Enbridge Graphic

    Enbridge

    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Canada Area

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    Edmonton, Canada Area

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    Alberta, Canada

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    Alberta, Canada

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    Alberta, Canada

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    Edmonton, Canada Area

Education

  • Graphic

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Licenses & Certifications

Volunteer Experience

  • Treasurer

    Mistik Ridge

    - Present 21 years 8 months

    Treasurer, board member, and a signing authority for our bare land condominium board. The association has a membership of 13 homes and an annual budget of ~$17,000.

  • Director

    Graminia School Foundation

    - 2 years 6 months

    Children

    The Foundation raises money to benefit students at Graminia School in Parkland County, Alberta. Our leadership and volunteers receive no compensation, so 100% of proceeds after direct out-of-pocket costs are spent on students and the school.

  • Parkland County Graphic

    Economic Development and Tourism Advisory Committee--Public Member

    Parkland County

    - 5 years 11 months

    Served as one of five public members on the ten-member Parkland County EDTAC. We met 6-8 times a year to provide input on County initiatives and issues related to economic development and tourism.

  • Parkland County Graphic

    Subdivision Authority -- Public Member

    Parkland County

    - 3 years

    Served as one of the two public members on the five-member Parkland County Subdivision Authority. We met monthly to review multi-unit subdivisions in Parkland County. In order to serve well, I invested time to learn a fair amount about the land use bylaws, subdivision regulations, and land use planning in general.

  • Parkland County Graphic

    Municipal Development Plan Steering Committee

    Parkland County

    - 2 years 1 month

    Served as one of five public members on the steering committee. The steering committee chose the consultant for the job and maintained a very active role in the entire Municipal Development Plan review process. In order to serve well, invested the time to learn much about municipal government and land use planning.

  • Big Brothers Big Sisters Graphic

    Big Brother

    Big Brothers Big Sisters

    - 8 years 4 months

    Children

    Joined Big Brothers and was matched with a little brother within a month. Had the same ‘little brother’ throughout the match term, which ended as required on his eighteenth birthday.

Publications

Patents

  • System and process for automated circuiting and branch circuit wiring

    Issued US 8,935,646 B2

    Continuation in part of application 12/626,612 in order to clean up the claims and to improve the description and drawings. This patent application is to protect part of DraftLogic Inc.'s expert system technology for building electrical design. Specifically, automated circuiting and multi-circuit automated branch circuit wiring determination/drawing.

    Other inventors
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  • System and process for client driven automated circuiting and branch circuit wiring

    Issued US US8738332 B2

    Patent granted in 2014, published May 27, 2014. This patent protects part of DraftLogic Inc.'s expert system technology for building electrical design. I served as subject matter expert for the entire application and participated directly in the writing of the Claims. I was also responsible for dealing with all of the USPTO requests and objections throughout the application process.

    Other inventors
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Courses

  • Azure Fundamentals part 1: Describe core Azure concepts - Learning Path 3 Modules

    AZ900

  • Azure Fundamentals part 2: Describe core Azure services - Learning Path - 5 Modules

    AZ900

  • Azure Fundamentals part 3: Describe core solutions and management tools on Azure - Learning Path - 7 Modules

    AZ900

  • Azure Fundamentals part 4: Describe general security and network security features - Learning Path - 3 Modules

    AZ900

  • Azure Fundamentals part 5: Describe identity, governance, privacy, and compliance features - Learning Path - 4 Modules

    AZ900

  • Azure Fundamentals part 6: Describe Azure cost management and service level agreements - Learning Path - 3 Modules

    AZ900

  • Computer Vision and Image Analysis

    DEV290x

  • Data Analysis in Power BI Learning Path on Microsoft Learn (2 modules)

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  • Data Science Research Methods: Python Edition

    Microsoft - DAT273x

  • Deep Learning Explained

    DAT236x

  • Essential Math for Machine Learning: Python Edition

    DAT256x

  • Ethics and Law in Data and Analytics

    DAT249x

  • Get Started with Microsoft Data Analytics Learning Path on Microsoft Learn (2 modules)

    -

  • IEC 61511 Edition 2 Update by the Institute of Hazard Prevention

    IEC 61511

  • Introduction to Artificial Intelligence (AI)

    DAT263x

  • Introduction to Python for Data Science

    DAT208x

  • Manage Workspaces and Datasets in Power BI Learning Path on Microsoft Learn (3 modules)

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  • Microsoft Professional Capstone : Artificial Intelligence

    DAT264x

  • Model Data in Power BI Learning Path on Microsoft Learn (3 modules)

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  • Object-Oriented Data Structures in C++ by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    CS400

  • Ordered Data Structures in C++ by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    CS400

  • Prepare Data for Analysis Learning Path in Microsoft Learn (2 modules)

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  • Principles of Machine Learning: Python Edition

    DAT275x

  • Reinforcement Learning Explained

    DAT257x

  • Unordered Data Structures in C++ by University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign

    CS400

  • Visualize Data in Power BI Learning Path on Microsoft Learn (4 modules)

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Honors & Awards

  • 1887th in 1998 Performance 2000

    Canadian Business Magazine

    A1 Computers Ltd. was ranked as the 1887th largest company in Canada in Canadian Business Magazine's Performance 2000 listing for 1998 (uses prior year's reporting).

  • 34th in 1997 Profit 100

    Profit Magazine

    A1 Computers Ltd. was ranked as the 34th fastest growing company in Canada in Profit magazine's annual listing of the fastest growing companies.

  • Young Entrepreneur of the Year for Alberta 1994

    Federal Business Development Bank

    Awarded by the Federal Business Development Bank for entrepreneurial achievement. Nominees were restricted to age 29 and under, one winner per province.

  • Shell Canada Scholarship

    Shell Canada

    Awarded for academic achievements in the third year of University by Shell Canada.

  • First Class Standing (2 years)

    University of Alberta

    Achieved by earning a GPA of 7.5 or higher in both the 2cd and 3rd years.

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