Dave Hawes

Information and Technology Leader focused on Business Outcomes

Summary

Driving value creation and desirable business outcomes through effective information and technology strategy. Leveraging nearly 30 years of experience to deliver strong business and IT engagement, end-to-end data governance strategies, holistic technology portfolio management, and reliable controls.

Resume Page

About Me

Michigander at Heart

I was born in Georgia while my father was in the Navy, but my earliest memories are from West Michigan where we moved when I was around 5. I've been in the Chicago area since 1996 where I met my wife and we are raising our kids. But they have come to love Michigan also, and we visit many times each year.

Career

When someone asks me to summarize my career, I say "I'm a business person...I've just been working in IT for almost 30 years!" At Indiana University, the focus of my MBA studies was operations and supply chain management. Little did I know in 1996 when I interviewed for a supply chain consulting role at a then less-known company called "SAP" how my career would be shaped. While initially I envisioned moving into a full-time business role, the importance for a company to have a strong business and technology partnership has grown stronger. As a result, I have chosen to remain a business-focused information and technology professional.

Professional Approach

Information and Technology Engagement

It's no longer enough to have a good "IT Strategy". Business units and functions should build information and technology components into their strategies and long-term planning, resulting in an achievable, corporate-wide IT portfolio. With the skyrocketing impact of Artificial Intelligence and the potential risks its use introduces, active business and IT engagement is essential to ensure that information and technology initiatives align with strategic objectives, create value for the organization, mitigate potential risks, and achieve outcomes that support a company's culture and core values.

Effective Controls

Effective governance is essential for all aspects of IT, not just those followed by Internal Audit. All functions ensure the right work is undertaken, resources are applied appropriately, and the work conforms to relevant policies and procedures. The success of any control framework depends on the commitment of those directly involved with the controls. Setting clear expectations about outcomes, and providing effective tools and training, are essential to firmly establishing governance accountability.

Leading through Service

As a leader, people want more than your time - they want your attention. This requires a commitment on the part of a leader to put aside distractions and engage with - and often empathize with - those around us. The most effective employees believe their leaders are listening and have given them the opportunity to apply their skills and seek growth. Leaders establish a culture that promotes the value of the individual while serving the shared goals of the organization. Individuals may approach a decision with what they believe or want, and provide only those facts which support that belief, ignoring other facts that might indicate a risk to that approach. Leaders support the success of the individual by being aware of confirmation bias, and setting expectations to encourage consideration for all relevant inputs.

Accomplishments

IT Demand Management and Portfolio Governance

Established and facilitated engagement and governance bodies, including an Artificial Intelligence council, that are owned jointly with the business, to evaluate, prioritize, and sequence projects in the IT portfolio. Designed tools and techniques to capture and moderate requests for IT solutions and resources. Deployed demand management practices to perform ideation, feasibility, and business case development for proposed solutions.

Data Governance Framework

Led efforts to build a Global Data Governance Program focused on data ownership, stewardship, and management practices globally. In collaboration with business data leaders, identified and promoted behavioral expectations for operational and informational data governance by setting achievable KPIs and SLAs based on documented business rules and data standards across all critical data domains.

Application Strategy and Management

Designed, deployed, and supported ERP solutions in various industries across multiple business functions. Managed the development and support of focused solutions in the areas of supply chain and logistics, product development, and master data management.

Project Portfolio Management

Drove standardization in project practices, including developing effective communication channels and timely metrics focused on project and team performance. Championed an approach leveraging online collaboration for program and project management. Strengthened visibility and accountability throughout the project life cycle.

IT Operations and Performance Management

Implemented streamlined processes for IT Finance/Budgeting, IT Vendor Management, and IT Procurement. Established an IT operational review framework to define, review, and adjust IT KPIs and SLAs. Partnered with IT GRC and Internal Audit to establish repeatable processes for demonstrating and improving General IT Controls (GITCs). Co-sponsored a global effort to identify, catalog, and deploy maintenance of technology assets, and enable a methodology to remediate technical debt in infrastructure, network, and cybersecurity operations.

Industry and Process Experience

Currently working with medical and hazardous waste processing and information destruction services. Several years of direct experience in Consumer Products, especially in food manufacturing and distribution, both branded and private-label. Over twenty years working with Supply Chain and Logistics business processes and associated analytics, including deep exposure to process manufacturing, warehousing, and third-party logistics.

Interests

Musician...Almost

Music has been part of my life since I can remember. Whether hearing my grandfather's Glenn Miller albums when I was little, or playing in a jazz band that toured Europe in high school, music seems to always be running in my head. It was really a flip of a coin that led me to choose business studies over music in college. It's a great source of joy to see my children's love of music too!

Fishing, Boating, and Hiking

Growing up in West Michigan, the outdoors was a four-season part of life. I learned boating and fishing from my father and both grandfathers from an early age, and I became an avid fly-fisherman hiking to trout streams with friends in high school. Many weekends are now spent with my family on trails, beaches, and fishing holes.

Reading

My reading library is diverse - from biographies to SciFi. My favorite authors though are those that make me laugh out loud while reading. Two that stand out are Terry Pratchett and Douglas Adams.

Genealogy

Several years ago, I began researching the ancestry of my grandparents. The information is fascinating and frequently surprising. While making connections, I discovered common ancestors with several US presidents including Abraham Lincoln and Ulysses S. Grant, as well as celebrities Elvis Presley and Shirley Temple.

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