Active Cambridge, Healthy & Active Lifestyle v Obesity

Oct 04, 2018
Alex Hourahine
Active Cambridge, Healthy & Active Lifestyle v Obesity

Biography

 

Alex Hourahine

 

 

 

Summary:

 

Extensive experience with IBM Canada Ltd. Held technical and management responsibilities for some of IBM’s major customers, which included the Department of Defence, the Canadian Banks and several high profile retail customers. Significant experience in developing service offerings that provide solutions for customers making physical changes to their Information Technology infrastructures.

Following my career with IBM I studied to be a personal trainer and have been offering my services since 2013.  Currently managing Grand River Fitness Studio in Cambridge.

Founding Member of Active Cambridge formed in 2007 and presently serving as an Officer and director on the AC Board of Directors. 

 

Experience and Accomplishments:

 

 

  • Retired from IBM Canada Ltd. April 2001 after 33 years of Service. Retired as the head of the of the Services development division. Continued to work with IBM as a consultant for four more years, in the banking services division. In that time instrumental in developing the Enhanced Maintenance program and the ABM Alert monitoring program currently being implemented.

 

  • Manager of Hardware/Software support business segment for IBM Global Services in Canada. Responsible for the successful growth of this support business in a shrinking marketplace.

 

  • Branch Manager in South Western Ontario for two years 1995/1996. Responsible for the 100 plus person team that delivered  sales and support functions in the Product Support Service portfolio. During that period Branch we delivered the two highest years for Revenue and Profit in the Branch history.

 

  • Built and implemented the strategy to re-engineer the Site Management Services department to bring its expenses in line with profit expectations of this fast growing area of services business.

 

  • As the Industry Service Consultant for the Retail Industry, developed and implemented a new support strategy for the point of sale products being delivered to customers from IBM. Resulted in significantly improved customer satisfaction with IBM solutions.

 

  • While Manager of New Service Development in Canada, Represented Canada in London and Paris on a world wide symposium to develop new service offerings.

 

  • Developed the first major connectivity installation for one of Canada’s banks. This project successfully delivered the upgrading of 1800 bank branches across Canada in nine months.
  • First Management role was as a field Manager in Toronto in support of the Insurance Industry.

 

  • Became a Technical Specialist on IBM Mainframe Computer systems in Toronto. Then promoted to Account Rep for two of IBM Major Customers, Scotiabank and Royal Bank.

 

  • Joined IBM in 1968 and supported the computer complex at the NORAD Defence Centre in North Bay for first seven years in Canada.

 

  • Graduated as an Electronics Technician in Heavy Electrics and Computer control systems in South Wales UK in 1967.  Worked as an Electronics Technician at the British Steel Corporation until 1968. When my wife and I immigrated to Canada.