Resume

JAMES D. WILSON

Innovation-Driven Strategist | AI & IoT Leader | Scalable Systems Architect

Tyler, TX  | (678) 369-4522 | james@jameswilson.name | linkedin.com/in/jamesatjameswilsondotname

 

Professional Summary

 

Innovative leader with a proven track record of aligning emerging technologies with strategic business goals to drive growth and transformation. Expertise in AI, IoT, and ecosystem innovation, with a focus on scalable systems architecture and fostering cross-functional collaboration. Recognized for delivering transformative solutions through visionary leadership, technical depth, and a relentless focus on measurable outcomes.

Key Skills and Highlights

  • Transformative Product and Platform Innovation: Led Verasys IoT platform development at Johnson Controls, driving a 5% organic sales increase and earning industry awards for innovation.
  • Strategic Innovation Leadership: Delivered a high-stakes IoT solution for President Trump himself during a Foxconn flagship visit, operating under Secret Service protocols and tight deadlines.
  • Scalable System Architecture and Infrastructure Design: Developed SwanLeap’s logistics platform, contributing to 75,000% growth in 3 years and earning Inc. Magazine’s #1 ranking.
  • Emerging Technology Integration (AI, IoT, VR): Spearheaded diagnostic AI tools for cancer detection, improving accuracy and operational efficiency through innovative solutions.
  • Cross-Functional Collaboration and Ecosystem Development: Designed a gamified ecosystem for developer collaboration at Hiibo, fostering innovation and alignment across teams.
  • Resilience and Risk Mitigation in High-Stakes Projects: Built a secure co-working space solution with multi-tiered security (keycard, retina scan, etc.), aligning physical and digital systems.

 

Professional Experience

 

Private Consulting | January 2021 – Present (24 years)

Founder & Chief Strategist

 

With over two decades of leadership experience at the intersection of AI, automation, and business transformation, I specialize in guiding organizations through complex technological shifts to achieve sustainable growth.

Key Achievements:

 

    • AI & Automation Frameworks: Designed strategic frameworks to streamline operations, reduce inefficiencies, and enhance resilience.
    • Developer Ecosystem Strategy: Directed the creation of gamified ecosystems to foster innovation.
    • Public Speaking & Thought Leadership: Delivered impactful talks, including:
  • “Artificial Intelligence – The Good, Bad, and Ugly” at the Tyler Chamber of Commerce Cybersecurity Conference alongside DHS.
    • “Robots, Blockchains, and—Wait, What Just Happened?” for the East Texas Estate Planning Council on securing emerging digital assets.

 

VADE | February 2022 – March 2033 (1 year and 2 months)

Chief Strategy Officer

 

As Chief Strategy Officer at VADE, I led the development and deployment of innovative AI and smart city solutions. My expertise in AI, smart cities, and computer vision enabled transformative projects that optimized urban operations and improved system resilience.

I guided the development of real-time congestion monitoring systems, working with cross-functional teams to integrate cutting-edge technologies into practical solutions that aligned with business goals.

Key Achievements:

  • Smart City Leadership: Directed a smart city AI startup, earning recognition in Bloomberg, Forbes, and The New York Times for our urban efficiency contributions.
  • Real-Time Computer Vision Innovation: Designed and deployed a computer vision pipeline under strict timelines, optimizing multiple smart city projects.
  • Patent for AI Innovation: Secured a patent for an AI solution, further establishing the company as an industry thought leader.
  • Cross-Departmental Collaboration: Delivered analytics-driven products that reduced inefficiencies and improved scalability.
  • Strategic Systems Development: Led the development of systems for real-time operations monitoring, aligning technology with business strategies to drive efficiency.

 

Foxconn |  October 2018 to April 2021 (2 years and 7 months)

Strategic Director

 

At Foxconn, I spearheaded the integration of advanced AI, IoT, and emerging technologies to drive innovation and operational efficiency in large-scale industrial and smart city applications.

Key Achievements:

  • IoT Solution for President Trump: Fully researched, developed, and tested a secure IoT solution for President Trump during his first term, adhering to Secret Service constraints and rigorous security standards.
    • AI, IoT, and Emerging Technologies Leadership: Directed AI, IoT, VR, and autonomous vehicle initiatives to advance industrial automation and smart city development.
    • AI-Driven Healthcare Tools: Led the architecture and development of diagnostic tools for breast and skin cancer detection. Delivered end-to-end platform decisions, from framework selection to UI design, tailored for medical precision and business alignment.
  • WeWork Competitor Solution: Crafted software and hardware solutions for co-working spaces, including indoor tracking systems, tiered internet provisioning, and integrated security (keycard, retina scan, etc.).
  • AGV Status Web App Development: Designed dashboards for real-time AGV tracking across factories, integrating disparate location data for operational insights.

 

Johnson Controls | June 2016 – March 2018 (1 year and 10 months)

IoT Systems Innovation Architect

 

At Johnson Controls, I spearheaded innovations in IoT and cloud-based systems, delivering solutions for mid-sized commercial buildings.

Key Achievements & Contributions

  • Delivered Strategic Growth:
    • Contributed to a 5% organic sales increase in the HVAC & Controls sector by driving adoption of IoT-enabled services and products like Verasys.
    • Positioned Johnson Controls as a leader in scalable smart building solutions tailored to mid-sized commercial enterprises.
  • Verasys Controls System: Developed an IoT-based platform enabling real-time HVAC management, earning industry awards like the 2021 Commercial Comfort Products of the Year.
  • Enhanced Security Leadership: Championed encryption and robust credential storage after addressing real-world threats.
  • Cloud Integration Oversight: Provided technical oversight for Azure development teams to ensure scalable architectures.

 

SwanLeap (Formerly FreightSpoke) l April 2014 – September 2014 (6 months)

Founding Architect & Strategic Lead

SwanLeap became the #1 fastest-growing company in the U.S. (Inc. Magazine) during my tenure, driven by the logistics platform I developed.

Key Achievements:

  • Transformative Logistics Technology: Unified fragmented supply chain systems into a scalable platform, contributing to over 75,000% revenue growth in three years.
  • Strategic Planning & Vendor Management: Collaborated with cross-functional teams to ensure seamless system implementation and scalability.

 

Key Skills:

  • Requirements Analysis | Software Development Life Cycle (SDLC) | Strategic Leadership
  • IT Strategy | Vendor Management | Business Strategy | Project Management

 

Technical Skills (High-Level Focus)

 

  • Strategic System Design
  • Advanced Frameworks and Architectures
  • Developer Ecosystem Management
  • Agile and Lean Methodologies

 

Early Career Technical Leadership | 2011 – 2018

Foundational Roles Driving Innovation in System Design and Emerging Technologies

 

  • Held senior technical roles with industry leaders, including The Wall Street Journal, Canonical, and Johnson Controls, where I pioneered innovative solutions in system architecture, IoT, and digital transformation.
  • IoT and Smart Building Innovation: Designed and implemented the award-winning Verasys smart HVAC platform at Johnson Controls, optimizing cloud administration and operational efficiency.
  • Scalable Architecture Development: Led a team of developers at The Wall Street Journal, managing and scaling a dynamic platform tailored to global audience needs, while fostering a high-performance team culture.
  • Disruptive Tech Solutions: Architected transformative logistics platforms at Freight Spoke, earning national recognition for operational efficiency advancements and supply chain unification.
  • AI-Driven Tools and Interfaces: Developed Bitcoin trading engines, advanced user interfaces, and secure IoT frameworks during engagements with startups and private enterprises like Mimetic Markets and BookFuel.

By leveraging these foundational experiences, I developed a strategic innovation mindset, seamlessly aligning emerging technologies with business objectives—a skillset that underpins my leadership in cutting-edge AI, IoT, and digital transformation projects today.