My Experience

Thomas Ackerman

Location: New York, USA

email: tom.ackerman@ackerman-advisory.com

LinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/toackerman

Professional Summary

Strategic and results-oriented technology executive with 20+ years of experience directing enterprise-wide IT transformation. As a Strategic Advisor, I specialize in guiding companies through periods of high growth and complex change, particularly within the high tech, biotech, mfg/distribution, and services sectors, and during M&A/divestiture events or IPO preparation. I translate critical business goals into robust technology strategy, leveraging expertise in cloud modernization, AI/ML, IoT, and stringent regulatory compliance (FDA 21 CFR Part 11, NIST-800, CSF 2.0, SOX) to drive innovation, mitigate risk, and unlock significant business value.

Areas of Expertise

  • Fractional CIO/CTO Services

  • IT Strategy & Roadmap

  • M&A IT Integration & Divestiture

  • IPO preparation (IT controls, audit, SOX))

  • Business Process Transformation

  • Biotech & Life Sciences IT

  • FDA 21 CFR Part 11 & cGMP compliance

  • LIMS & Lab Systems Strategy

  • Cloud Modernization (Azure, AWS)

  • AI/ML & IoT Solutions

  • Enterprise Architecture

  • Supply Chain Risk Management (SCRM)

  • Supply Chain Track & Trace

  • Manufacturing and Distribution Systems (ERP)

  • Go-To-Market Systems (CRM)

Professional Experience

APPLIED DNA SCIENCES | Stony Brook, NY | 2013-Present

Fractional CIO

  • Transform to fully cloud based, compliant biotech and crypto-treasury company listed on NASDAQ (BNBX)

Executive Director, Information Technology

  • Architected a proprietary, high-throughput LIMS for COVID-19 PCR testing, processing over a million samples in the NYC/Long Island region for Stony Brook University Hospital, local schools and all 26 CUNY colleges across New York City's five boroughs during the pandemic.

  • Spearheaded the development of an AI/ML model to determine the origin of cotton samples from isotopic testing data, reducing analysis time from days to hours and creating a key competitive differentiator.

  • Ensured enterprise-wide IT compliance with stringent industry standards for a public company, including FDA 21 CFR Part 11, cGMP, NIST CSF 2.0, ISO 9001, and SOX.

  • Engineered proprietary IoT and PLC controlled systems to enable remote in-field equipment monitoring and process control.

  • Led the strategic migration of all legacy on-premise systems to robust cloud platforms including Microsoft Azure, Google Workspace, AWS, and Salesforce.com.

  • Directed the development of multi-level supply chain track-and-trace technologies, leveraging enterprise mobility, multi-tenant cloud architectures, and forensic authentication systems.

MOTOROLA SOLUTIONS | Holtsville, NY | 2008-2013

Senior Director, Enterprise Architecture

  • Led M&A / Divestiture IT Strategy: Served as lead architect for the monumental separation of Motorola into two public companies ($10B cell phone and $8B Government & Public Safety businesses), as well as subsequent divestiture of the Networks division. Defined separation strategies for over 400 business applications and ERP systems.

  • Developed Multi-Year Transformation Roadmaps for enterprise-wide functions including Supply Chain, Finance, and Go-To-Market operations, planning the global consolidation of multiple SAP and Oracle ERPs.

  • Architected integrated solutions for Go-To-Market operations, covering campaign management, sales forecasting, channel partner management (PRM), and quote-to-order (Salesforce.com, Oracle, SAP).

  • Designed end-to-end solutions for external partner integration, including collaborative supply chain planning with contract manufacturers and pipeline management for multi-tier sales channels.

  • Transformed the IT architecture process from a tactical workflow into a consultative, early-engagement model with senior business leadership, directly influencing key design decisions to ensure project success.

SYMBOL TECHNOLOGIES | Holtsville, NY | 2002-2007

Senior Director, Business Applications

  • Directed a global CRM implementation across 3 theaters and 29 sales areas, integrating worldwide sales pipeline management with demand planning processes to provide critical analytics to senior management.

  • Led a department of 40+ IT professionals and consultants responsible for all worldwide Sales & Marketing business systems for the $1.5B global leader in bar code scanning and automated data capture.

  • Managed the development and support of a complex portfolio of enterprise applications including Field Sales (SAP), Field Service & Customer Support (Clarify), and Depot Repair.

  • Pioneered enterprise mobility solutions for Symbol’s own sales force, utilizing Symbol handhelds for account, opportunity, and document management.

STANDARD MICROSYSTEMS CORPORATION | Hauppauge, NY | 1996-1998

Manager – Sales & Distribution Systems

Led the design, implementation, and support of SAP Logistics (SD/MM) for a $300M semiconductor manufacturer. Developed customized ABAP reports and info systems to provide management with critical analysis of bookings, billings, and margins.

SAP AMERICA, INC. | Parsippany, NJ | 1994-1996

Applications Consultant

Provided expert SAP R/3 consulting (Sales & Distribution, Service Management) for Fortune 500 clients including Lucent Technologies, Ciba-Geigy, and Westinghouse. Guided customers through project planning, business process re-engineering, configuration, and testing.

Education

MBA - RUTGERS GRADUATE SCHOOL OF MANAGEMENT

B.S. Industrial Engineering & Operations Research - SYRACUSE UNIVERSITY


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