Jack Skates

Employment

• Digital Strategy and User Experience Consultant2003 to Present

  What's Next, LLC

  What's Next is a consulting company that helps organizations define and visualize the next step in the evolution of their products and services. This applies to digital platforms such as web, mobile, computer software, interactive television and proprietary devices. Clients include: American Honda, Cisco, Financial Engines, Jaman.com, Nissan Motors LTD (Japan), Nokia, and PayPal. Agencies include: Ammunition Group, ArcTouch, Carlson Marketing Group, Cibo Studios, Frog Design, Hydrant, MetaDesign, and Sapient.

• User Experience Lead and Partner2006 to 2008

  MetaDesign San Francisco

  Responsible and accountable for building and managing a team within MetaDesign that focused on developing useful and usable interactive experiences for our clients. Worked in partnership to drive business development, estimation, and account planning. Also participated in company management. Clients included: Autodesk, DIRECTV, eBay, Four Seasons, Fujitsu (Japan), and Samsung Mobile (Korea).

• Director of User Experience1999 to 2003

  Sapient

  Was hired to work on information architecture based problems which gave me the opportunity to engage with larger and higher impact projects ranging from financial institutions to high profile non-profits to overseas automotive manufacturers. Contributed to the IA practice by developing a standardized set of Visio stencils and shapes, as well as creating Visio courseware for training inside the company. Was involved in various aspects of people management including interviewing, hiring, mentoring and unfortunately laying people off when times changed. For a year I worked in Program Management before eventually being promoted to Director of User Experience. Clients included: American Cancer Society, Bank of America, Barclays Global Bank, Cisco, Janus, Nissan North America, Verizon Wireless, Wells Fargo, Kaiser Permanente, Motorola, and Sprint/Nextel.

• Project Manager / Cold Fusion Developer1997 to 1999

  Roundpeg

  Originally hired as a Cold Fusion developer, I eventually took over project management for the company and focused on process as well as enterprise communication for the company as it was growing. This included the implementation of Exchange and overseeing the web hosting for Roundpeg's clients. Clients included: Visa International, Athleta, Edwards Luggage, Pets.com, Match.com and more.

• Owner / Consultant1994 to 1997

  On The Edge

  On The Edge was one of the first digital agencies in Southern California. It was based out of Westlake Village and brought over 50 companies online with websites and email, as well as bringing several city governments online for the first time. Clients included: Dick Clark, City of Calabassas, City of Thousand Oaks, City of Westlake Village, and City of Woodland Hills. We also provided pro bono services for the United Way and over 10 local charities.

Education & Awards

• Political Science1982 to 1984

  University of Texas

  Lorem ipsum dolor sit amet, adipiscing elit. egestas.Vivamus sit amet ligula non lectus cursus egestas amet ligula non lectus cursus egestas.

• 1996 Winner of Activating the Internet Award1996

  Microsoft MSDN

  My company at the time submitted a web site that was truly interactive and allowed people to post music requests online for a radio dj that could see the requests in real time. Used a simple guestbook like script.