About The Data Forge

I currently serve as Vice President of Data Operations at Xplor, a global technology company, where I lead data strategy, analytics, and automation across the organization. Before Xplor acquired us in 2021, I held the same role at Adaptive Analytics, where I built the data operations function from the ground up.

My career has taken me across the full spectrum of technology leadership — from writing .NET and SQL as a senior developer, to architecting enterprise solutions at Verisk (one of the largest data analytics providers in insurance and financial services), to leading technology strategy as VP of Information Technology at Ametros in the healthcare-tech space, to serving as Chief Operating Officer at AuthEntry, where I helped build advanced security solutions from startup to enterprise scale.

What I Bring to the Table

I've spent my career at the intersection of data, technology, and business outcomes. That means I don't just understand how models work — I understand why they fail in production, why data initiatives stall inside enterprises, and what it actually takes to deliver AI-driven value at scale.

Here's what nearly 20 years across the stack looks like:

• Data Operations & Strategy — Building and leading data teams, designing data platforms, and establishing governance frameworks that balance speed with control
• AI & Analytics — Deploying AI and analytics solutions in production environments, from traditional ML to modern LLM-powered applications
• Healthcare Tech & Insurance — Deep domain experience in regulated industries where data quality, compliance, and auditability aren't optional
• Startup to Enterprise — Scaled teams and systems from early-stage startups through acquisition and integration into global organizations
• Full-Stack Technical Foundation — Started as a developer (SQL, .NET, JavaScript) and solutions architect before moving into leadership — so I can go deep when the situation demands it

Credentials

• B.S. in Business Studies (IT and Business Administration) — Southern New Hampshire University
• Software Development Certificate — Southern New Hampshire University
• Certified SCRUM Master — Scrum Alliance

Why I Started The Data Forge

After years of leading data and AI initiatives inside enterprises, I kept running into the same problems — and having the same conversations. Teams excited about AI but stuck in pilot purgatory. Executives asking for "AI strategy" without understanding the data foundations required to support it. Security teams caught off guard by threat surfaces they'd never seen before.

The Data Forge is where I share what I've learned in the trenches. No hype. No vendor pitches. Just honest, practical insight on what it takes to build data and AI systems that survive contact with reality.

A forge is where raw materials are transformed into something useful through heat and pressure. That's what we do with data — and it's rarely as clean or easy as the conference talks make it sound. This blog is for the people doing the actual work.

What I Write About

• Enterprise AI Integration — The real challenges of getting AI from pilot to production inside organizations
• Data Strategy & Operations — Building data-ready organizations, governance frameworks, and scalable data platforms
• AI & Machine Learning — LLMs, agents, evaluation, MLOps/LLMOps, and practical applications
• Data Engineering — Pipelines, architecture patterns, and the modern data stack
• Leadership & Culture — Building data-driven teams and navigating the organizational side of technical transformation

Connect

I'm always happy to connect with other data and AI practitioners. You can find me on LinkedIn or check out what I'm building at Luminary Analytics on GitHub.

Have a question, feedback, or want to collaborate? Reach out on LinkedIn — I read every message.