Gary Starr.

IT Director & Technology Leader

An executive technical problem solver specializing in cross-functional leadership, enterprise architecture, and hands-on software development.

About Me

Hello, I'm Gary! For over three decades, I've worked across virtually every level of Information Technology. Over my career, I've spent over 13 years as an IT Director and 4 years as an IT Manager, leading cross-functional teams, executing organizational-scale infrastructure upgrades, and managing strict budgets.

I have a passion for creating dynamic, overachieving teams that take ownership for the success of the organization. While my background is in executive IT management, I love to be hands-on when developing software or system engineering. I'm a builder at heart. Whether it's running a project, solving a problem or need, designing or upgrading organizational-scale infrastructure, crafting high-performance scripts to stabilize complex websites, rolling out organizational database structures, or developing fully customized AI-based platforms, I love to build things that actually work.

Beyond the technology, my greatest asset is my ability to lead. I believe that high-performing cultures are built on collaboration, clear accountability, and inclusive leadership. I excel at bridging the gap between front-line technical execution and C-suite strategy, turning cross-functional teams into aligned, motivated units that deliver results under pressure.

"If you want to see something fixed that has been broken or done wrong, give it to Gary and watch it get resolved." — A running workplace philosophy I strive to live up to on every project.

Work Experience

Director of Information Technology

Over 13 Years Experience

Enterprise Operations & Infrastructure Leadership

  • Managed and scaled cross-functional IT departments.
  • Designed, mapped, and successfully maintained comprehensive corporate IT budgets.
  • Pioneered and built custom AI-driven platforms to streamline operations and business intelligence.
  • Overhauled standard operating procedures (SOPs) across departments, boosting organizational output.
  • Engineered stability scripts to optimize and secure enterprise Content Management Systems (WordPress).

IT Manager

4 Years Experience

Team Development & Core Systems Management

  • Directed and mentored direct reports, overseeing daily hardware and software support systems.
  • Collaborated on organization-wide tech migrations, bridging the gap between team workflow and systems integration.
  • Designed and implemented technology training for end-users, increasing the utilization of the tools available.
  • Identified and resolved workflows that were negatively impacting P&L

Portfolio

Operations Intelligence Platform

A deep dive into architecting a Flask/PostgreSQL platform that replaced 25+ interlinked spreadsheets with a single system of record for procurement, inventory, and pricing intelligence.

Project Portfolio Directory

My centralized directory of technology projects, development archives, and software implementations.

Live Application Demo

Launch and interact with a live environment demo showcasing clean frontend design, user flows, and real-time responsiveness.

Additional Skills

Leadership & Strategy

  • IT Budgeting & Cost Control
  • Multi-tier Team Leadership
  • SOP Development

Platforms & Databases

  • ERPNext Migrations
  • WordPress Maintenance
  • Database Normalization

Engineering & Web

  • HTML / CSS / Tailwind CSS
  • Script Stabilization
  • AI-Based Platforms

Education

Arizona State University

Bachelor of Arts in Organizational Leadership with Project Management Focus

Graduated 2023 4.0 GPA

Key Program Coursework

Intro to Organizational Leadership
Behavioral Dynamics in Organizations
Theory & Practice of Leadership
Foundations of Project Management
Project Leadership
Project Time Management
Project Cost Management
Resources Project Management
Project Procurement Management
Leading Organizational Innovation
Digital Citizenship
Organizational Ethics
Assessment of Leadership
Diversity and Organizations
Project Risk Management
Dialogue in the Workplace
Project Quality Management
Organizational Leadership Pro-Seminar

University of Pittsburgh

Bachelor's Degree

Graduated 1993

References

"The best hire I ever made."

Managing Director

"Gary led with empathy, structure, and direct execution. Working directly under him, I learned what it takes to organize complex projects and hit targets under pressure."

Systems Administrator

Former Direct Report

Additional professional references are gladly furnished upon request.

Currently Seeking My Next Role

I'm looking for an IT leadership position where I can combine hands-on engineering with cross-functional strategy. Let's connect.