Previous Experience

Chief Technology Officer

March 1999 – September 2001

TECH INSPIRATIONS
Responsibility for Technology planning issues within the investment portfolio contemplated and managed by TECH INSPIRATIONS a technology Venture Capital enterprise.  Due diligence activities mix with consulting and planning execution focused on maximizing return on investment.

Director, Baan Business Associates

June 1998 – February 1999

Baan Research & Development
Under contract to BBA, developed an Internet Search & Cataloguing system against the Baan documentation repository.  Product released to Associate companies within Vanenberg Ventures company portfolio.  The process was based on proprietary technology from Infonautics in Philadelphia PA.

Director, Copernicus

 September 1997 – June 1998

Baan Research & Development
Direct a new R&D group, solely focused on the mass consumption market.  Research in future technologies and techniques.  Full details of staff size and direction are not publicly disclosed.

Director, BaanWare - Netherlands

September 1996 – August 1997

Baan Research & Development
Based in the Netherlands, directed the activities of 7 Baan Research and Development Departments, including Orgware Development, BaanCast, Logistics, Baan WWWapps, Baan Translation Group, Knowledge Development and Knowledge Transfer.  Strongly contributed to Baan’s transition to Internet technology components.  Encouraged heavy experimentation with emerging technologies such as PUSH and electronic learning environments.  Co-founded Baan’s Knowledge Transfer Board determining and sponsoring strategic Education initiatives.  Steered R&D sensitivities to the human interface needs of Implementation, Education and general knowledge transfer.

Director, Services/Managing Director - NORTEL

March 1996 – August 1996

Baan Canada Inc.
In addition to the Managing Director - NORTEL role, I assumed the Services management role as well due to the current Director changing duties.  This position was coupled to my previous experience in that responsibility but included sharing General Manager duties with four other senior managers.  This general management team was established in April 1996. 

Managing Director – NORTEL

August 1995 – August 1996

Baan Canada Inc.
Appointed to restore the Baan/NORTEL relationship to a position of stability and commercial growth.  Managed global activities of Baan implementation and sales that included detailed planning in Europe, Asia and the Americas.  Reference ability was completely restored, additional software purchased and implementation activity resumed.  Culmination of efforts witnessed by NORTEL’s July 1996 decision to spend $US 100 million to rollout Baan IV in all sites globally, by October 1998.

General Manager - Québec Operations

April 1995 - July 1996

Baan Canada Inc.
As General Manager, successfully re-organized Quebec operations to streamline and focus resources.  Successfully transitioned staff and operations from acquired company into Baan mainstream activities.  This included maintaining a development function in the Baan Process product.

Director, Client Services

 August 1994 - March 1995

Baan Canada Inc.
Developed leadership role of Account Support Managers within Client Services group to promote customer satisfaction and employee enrichment programs.  Directed the recruitment and training requirements of staff to build the strongest customer support organization in the Americas.  Presided over the launch of TRITON 3.0 in Canadian beta sites.  Worked with Product Development, Sales, Marketing and Administration to attain Baan quality control and customer satisfaction objectives.

Directed the strategy to adopt TRITON Target methodology and Alliance partner introduction in the Americas.  Played leadership role in the development of Americas’ Client Services strategy.

IMPLEMENTATION MANAGER

 March 1994 - July 1994

Baan Canada Inc.
Developed customer relationships and standardized implementation planning process.  Established operational norms via pay structuring, employee performance review and development plans.

ACCOUNT SUPPORT MANAGER

 October 1993 - February 1994

Baan Canada Inc.
Responsible for post and pre-sales activities, supporting Global implementation of TRITON software for Northern Telecom, Merchandise Order Management (MOM) Projects.  Overseeing three concurrent implementations.

·         Conducted TRITON optimization demonstrations, and detailed implementation planning activities to facilitate client’s restructuring process.

·         Secured purchase orders for client services and additional software modules and functional enhancements.

·         Managed teams, consisting of implementation and product specialists, to maximize customer satisfaction, and employee utilization.

PRE -SALES CONSULTANT, TRITON

 March 1992 - September 1993

Baan Canada Inc.
Responsible for pre-sales activities; demonstrating the capabilities of an MRP II system. Frequent consultations regarding APICS standard processes often lead to extended client involvement in traditional post-sales activities.

·         Conduct pre-sales TRITON demonstrations, both client specific and generic, focusing on Materials, Manufacturing and Distribution management processes.

·         Research customer/process expressed requirements and direct training sessions in workshop environments leading to shortened sales cycles and increased client satisfaction.

·         Managed immediate post sales implementation activities for NORTEL.

SAP/MRP II DEVELOPMENT MANAGER

October 1989 - April 1990

ICI Autocolor Inc.
ICI Canada representative on ICI International Corporate team studying MRP II functionality of SAP software version 4.3D & 5.0.

• Published findings to Corporate Steering Committee resulting in a worldwide review of ICI’s  SAP/MRPII strategy.
• Persuaded ICI Autocolor management to adopt software/hardware with more functionality and annual savings of approximately $500,000.

MANAGER SYSTEMS & OPERATIONS PLANNING

December 1987 - June 1988

ICI Autocolor Inc.
Responsible for detailed manufacturing planning activities including Sales & Operations Planning meetings and managing Master Production Scheduling Material Requirements Planning, Shop Floor Scheduling Departments. Responsible for all computing activities of the company; including acquisition and strategy.

• Coordinated Senior management planning activities regarding facilities, personnel, productivity targets, sales forecasting and research.

Managed the transition of MRP II implementation from project to operational stage. Results saw customer service levels increase dramatically and simultaneous reductions in working capital and man hours per batch.

SYSTEMS MANAGER / MRPII PROJECT MANAGER

January 1984 - December 1987

ICI Autocolor Inc.
Managed an MRPII (Manufacturing Resource Planning) project of 15 people that restructured the management process and philosophy of the company.

·         Directed the implementation of MRP II, including the introduction of Cycle counting, Master Production Scheduling, Material Requirements Planning, Shop Floor Control and Vendor Scheduling.

·         Established successful programs to increase Bill of Material and Inventory accuracy, improve Production and Vendor deliveries to schedule and align Forecast statements with customer demand patterns.

Prior to 1984

July 1972 - January 1984

C-I-L Paints Inc.

Working for C-I-L Paints these 12 years included logistics, accounting and systems roles for a large Canadian manufacturer of coatings as well as management responsibilities in a unionized environment.

INTERESTS:

Seemingly opposing trains of thought: Technology and The Great Outdoors.

Technology continues to fascinate me particularly in the development of communication tools from Wireless to Instant Messaging to Broadband and Peer to Peer.  Early adopter and architect of Internet applications and continuing protagonist for 'pushing the envelope'.

Numerous outdoor activities from canoeing to ATVing to snowmobiling to hiking etc.  Very full family life.  For a smattering of that fullness check out my web site at www.ryeland.com .

CERTIFICATIONS:  

Certified in Production and Inventory Management (CPIM) by the American Production and Inventory Control Society.

EDUCATIONAL BACKGROUND:

Honours Graduation Diploma
Dr. G.W. Williams Secondary School, Aurora Ontario