Title: Fractional Chief Information Officer
Company: Northwind LLC
Location: Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, United States
Eugene Willard, Fractional Chief Information Officer at Northwind LLC, has been recognized by Marquis Who’s Who Top Business Owners for dedication, achievements and leadership in Information Technology.
Mr. Willard has established a distinguished career in information technology (IT), marked by his expertise in custom application development, project management and program management. Since 2018, he has served as a fractional chief information officer at North Wind Business Solutions LLC in Mount Pleasant, South Carolina, where he provides consulting services to businesses on IT infrastructure challenges, including cloud computing and cybersecurity. Mr. Willard also assists firms in Maryland with webinars on artificial intelligence (AI) and ensures compliance with Federal Trade Commission regulations.
Initially teaching at Duke University, Mr. Willard shifted to the technology sector due to a challenging job market and family commitments. His first role as a technical writer and editor at Computer Sciences Corporation laid the groundwork for his future endeavors in the IT industry. Mr. Willard’s ability to communicate complex ideas effectively, developed during his teaching years, became a valuable asset as he navigated through various roles.
At Marriott International, Mr. Willard made significant contributions as a senior director and group director of IT strategic planning from 1985 to 1999. He led the development of groundbreaking systems, including the first AI system and revenue management system for the company, which generated $150 million annually. His achievements earned him accolades, such as the Most Valuable Associate Award and the Hotel Business Quality Award.
In subsequent roles, Mr. Willard served as the chief technology officer and chief information officer at Carey International Inc., where he also held the position of chief information security officer from 1999 to 2013. He then joined Tatum LLC (now Randstad USA) as the chief information officer and partner for their Mid-Atlantic office between 2013 and 2016. Mr. Willard’s tenure as the chief information officer at LaserShip from 2016 to 2018 was marked by his leadership during a change of ownership transaction and the implementation of innovative customer service solutions.
Mr. Willard’s journey began with a solid academic foundation, earning a Bachelor of Arts in British and American literature from the State University of New York at Stony Brook in 1971. He furthered his studies with a Master of Arts in British and American literature from the University of New Hampshire in 1975 and pursued doctoral coursework in modern British and American literature at Duke University in 1979. This academic background honed Mr. Willard’s problem-solving skills and critical thinking, which have been instrumental throughout his professional life.
Beyond his professional accomplishments, Mr. Willard is an active member of industry-related organizations, such as the Gerson Lehrman Group Inc., where he serves as a council member. He is also involved with Lowcountry Stargazers, reflecting his passion for astronomy. Mr. Willard’s published works include articles like ‘Natural Language Processing and the Future of Customer Service’ in CIO Applications Magazine and presentations on topics ranging from cybersecurity to AI model monitoring.
Looking ahead, Mr. Willard aims to continue leveraging his extensive experience to help businesses overcome IT infrastructure challenges and enhance their growth potential. With a career characterized by innovation and leadership, he remains committed to making impactful contributions to the field of IT.
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