IT Leadership · Generative AI Advisory · Manufacturing · Lean · Governance
Bridging advanced military communications field engineering, enterprise IT leadership in manufacturing, and Lean thinking to help businesses and institutions create real, measurable value.
U.S. Army Veteran17+ yrs Manufacturing ITGenerative AI AdvisoryLean & CIBoard Governance (7 yrs)Central Illinois
What I Do
Practical expertise across five disciplines.
Military
10 yrs U.S. Army. Advanced field engineering on military communications and network infrastructure. Leadership under pressure.
IT Leadership
17+ yrs at Watchfire Signs. Infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development & digital transformation.
Manufacturing
Deep operational context in a manufacturing environment. Systems integration & operational efficiency.
Mike brings a rare combination of advanced military communications field engineering, nearly two decades of enterprise IT leadership in manufacturing, and community governance experience to every engagement. He is not an academic - he has lived and worked in the same environments as his clients, which means advice that is practical, credible, and immediately actionable. Whether leading a board workshop on AI policy, helping a manufacturer identify where technology can reduce cost and improve decisions, or facilitating a community college workforce session, Mike meets organizations where they are and moves them forward.
Core Expertise
Five pillars. One perspective.
Military
10 yrs U.S. Army, active duty & National Guard. Advanced field engineering on military communications and network infrastructure. Leadership under pressure with incomplete information.
IT Leadership
17+ yrs at Watchfire Signs. Infrastructure, cybersecurity, application development, training, and digital transformation at scale.
Manufacturing
Deep operational context in a commercial manufacturing environment. Systems integration, ERP, and operational efficiency.
Lean / CI
Founding steering committee member, IMIN LEAN Network. Continuous improvement methodology applied to technology and operations.
Governance
7 yrs school board, 4 as President. Policy development, budget oversight, and institutional decision-making experience.
Credentials
Experience that speaks for itself.
Current Role
Director of Information Technology
Watchfire Signs, Danville IL · 17+ years
Advisory Role
Advisory Board Member
Rockford University, Generative AI for Value Creation
Community Leadership
Founding Steering Committee Member
IMIN LEAN Network · Since 2017
Board Service
Board President (4 yrs) & Member (7 yrs total)
Georgetown Ridgefarm CUSD #4
Military Service
U.S. Army - Advanced Communications & Network Field Engineer
Active Duty (4 yrs) & National Guard (6 yrs)
Earlier Career
Biomedical Field Engineer
Ventana Medical Systems · Chicago, IL
Let's have a conversation.
Every engagement begins with a free 20-minute discovery call. No obligation - just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to go.
Practical AI adoption for manufacturers and SMBs - use cases, tool evaluation, workflow integration, and responsible implementation.
WorkshopAdvisoryKeynote
Lean + Technology Integration
Connecting continuous improvement methodology with IT systems, data analytics, and automation for measurable efficiency gains.
WorkshopConsulting
IT Strategy for SMBs
Fractional IT director services - infrastructure planning, cybersecurity posture, vendor management, and technology roadmaps for growing organizations.
RetainerProject-based
Digital Skills & AI Literacy
Workforce and community workshops on AI tools and digital transformation - designed for non-technical audiences.
Community CollegeWorkforce Dev
Leadership & Team Development
Drawing on military and corporate leadership - decision-making frameworks, leading through change, and building high-performance teams.
WorkshopSpeaking
Board & Governance Advisory
Technology policy, AI governance frameworks, and board advisory for school districts, nonprofits, and public institutions.
AdvisoryK-12Nonprofit
Service Detail
What to expect from every engagement.
Hourly Advisory & Consulting
On-demand strategic guidance - when you need an expert in your corner
Overview
Hourly advisory is the most flexible engagement format - ideal when you need a thought partner for a specific decision, a second opinion on a technology direction, or expert input without committing to a full project.
What's Included
Pre-session agenda and context review
60-90 minute structured advisory session
Real-time answers to your specific questions
Written follow-up notes and key recommendations
Resource or tool recommendations as relevant
One follow-up email within 48 hrs
Ideal For
Business owners facing a technology decision
IT managers needing a strategic sounding board
Leaders evaluating AI tools or vendors
Organizations preparing for a larger engagement
Format
Video call, phone, or in-person
Minimum booking: 1 hour
Written notes delivered within 24 hrs
Outcome:You leave with clear direction, specific next steps, and a written summary you can act on immediately.
Fractional IT Director / Retainer Advisory
Ongoing strategic IT leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire
Overview
A monthly retainer gives your organization access to senior IT leadership on a part-time basis - available for questions, decisions, vendor negotiations, and strategic planning - without the full-time cost.
What's Included
Onboarding session to assess current IT state
Monthly 60-minute strategy check-in
On-call availability via phone and email
Vendor evaluation and contract review support
Cybersecurity posture guidance and oversight
Technology roadmap development and updates
Quarterly written progress and priority review
Ideal For
Small manufacturers without an internal IT director
Growing businesses scaling their technology
Organizations navigating compliance or cybersecurity
Companies evaluating new platforms or vendors
Format
Remote-first with optional on-site visits
3-month minimum commitment
10-20 hrs/month depending on tier
Outcome:Consistent, experienced IT leadership that keeps technology aligned with your business goals month over month.
AI Readiness Assessment
Understand where you stand and where AI can deliver real value
Overview
Most organizations know they should be doing something with AI - but don't know where to start. This assessment cuts through the noise and gives you an honest, practical view of your highest-value AI opportunities.
What's Included
Pre-engagement questionnaire and data collection
90-minute discovery interview with key stakeholders
Review of current technology stack and workflows
Identification of top 3 AI opportunity areas
Written recommendations report (10-15 pages)
Executive summary for leadership
60-minute debrief presentation with Q&A
Ideal For
Manufacturers exploring AI for operations or quality
SMBs unsure where to begin with AI adoption
Leadership teams needing a credible outside view
Organizations that tried AI pilots and need a reset
Format
3-4 week engagement
Remote interviews plus on-site option
Delivered as report plus slide deck
Fixed fee: $3,500 to $5,000
Outcome:A clear, jargon-free picture of where AI can help your business, ranked by impact and feasibility.
Let's find the right fit for your organization.
All engagements begin with a free 20-minute discovery call.
Real tools. Real work. Real results. Practical AI education built for the businesses and professionals of central Illinois.
This series is designed for working professionals, business owners, and organizational leaders who want practical, grounded AI education - not theory, not hype. Every session is built around real-world problems and draws directly on nearly two decades of manufacturing IT leadership, Lean process thinking, and hands-on experience implementing AI governance in an enterprise environment.
Introductory Session
Introductory Sampler · 2 Hours
AI at Work: An Introduction to the Series
Anyone curious about AI - no prerequisites required
A fast-paced, accessible 2-hour preview of the full workshop series. Includes a live AI demo using real audience suggestions, a hands-on prompt exercise, and an overview of all seven workshops. Designed as a low-barrier entry point - the best way to experience the format before committing to the full series.
2 hoursUp to 50 participantsDevices optionalIn-person or virtual
Full Workshop Series
Workshop 1 · 3.5 Hours
AI Basics for the Real World
General workforce · Career changers · No prerequisites
Plain-English foundations: what AI actually is, live tool demonstrations, where AI genuinely helps vs. where it fails, and how to use it responsibly. Includes a hands-on prompt exercise and a take-home AI Starter Kit.
3.5 hoursUp to 30 participantsDevices required
Workshop 2 · 3.5 Hours
AI Tools for Your Job - Hands-On
Working adults · Workforce program students
Practical prompt engineering, writing and communication tasks, research and decision support, and AI tools mapped by job type. Includes the Prompt Rewrite Challenge, group breakouts by industry, and a laminated Prompt Formula Card.
3.5 hoursUp to 30 participantsDevices required
Workshop 3 · 3.5 Hours
AI for Small Business & Operations
Business owners · Managers · Operations staff
Where AI delivers real ROI for small businesses, a practical use-case framework, AI for operations and marketing, cybersecurity basics, and how to evaluate and pilot a tool without wasting money. Includes an AI Opportunity Worksheet.
3.5 hoursUp to 25 participantsIn-person preferred
Workshop 4 · 3.5 Hours
Leading Through AI
Supervisors · Department heads · Decision makers
Why AI initiatives stall, building an AI-ready team culture, evaluating AI tool purchases as a manager, governance frameworks, and Lean-informed change management. Participants draft a real 90-Day AI Adoption Plan to take back to their team.
3.5 hoursUp to 20 participantsIn-person preferred
Workshop 5 · 2 or 4 Hours
AI Governance: The Three-Tier Classification System
IT leaders · Compliance teams · Department heads
How to build enterprise AI governance using a three-tier classification framework, a Tool Registry, and an AI Champion Program. Drawn directly from real-world implementation experience. Includes a hands-on tool audit and shadow AI scenario exercise.
2 or 4 hoursUp to 25 participantsPairs with Workshop 6
Workshop 6 · 2 or 4 Hours
AI Transcription & Recording: Consent Law & Risk
Managers · HR teams · Legal and compliance staff
Federal and Illinois consent law, all-party consent states, BIPA and voiceprints, cross-state exposure, and real 2025-2026 case law. Includes a consent audit, state map exercise, and policy gap analysis. Covers practical compliance, not legal advice.
2 or 4 hoursUp to 25 participantsPairs with Workshop 5
Workshops 5 and 6 can be paired as a full-day AI Governance event - covering enterprise AI classification in the morning and recording consent law in the afternoon. This combined format is particularly effective for corporate training days, HR and legal team retreats, and IT leadership off-sites.
How It Works
Built for working adults.
Pre-Session Primer
A 5-minute explainer or one-page resource sent 48 hours before each session, with a reflection question to prime the room.
Hands-On Activities
Every session includes facilitated exercises, group work, and real-world scenarios - not just slides. Participants do half the talking.
Takeaway Materials
Every participant leaves with designed workbooks, reference cards, and action templates specific to each session topic.
7-Day Follow-Up Clinic
An optional 15-minute Q&A session offered one week after each workshop - no new material, just clearing obstacles and sharing wins.
Bring this series to your organization.
Available for community colleges, workforce development programs, corporate training, and employer groups. Individual sessions or the full series. Contact Mike to discuss scheduling, format, and fit.
Every engagement begins with a free 20-minute discovery call - no commitment, no pitch. Just an honest conversation about where you are and where you want to go. Use the contact information to the right to reach Mike directly.
