Dave Richards

About Us

IT Consultant

Self-directed professional with broad based technical/business background in both entrepreneurial and corporate settings. Possesses an attractive combination of achievement and business success. Adept at business analysis, merger and acquisition analysis, strategic and financial planning, budgeting and forecasting. Able to build and maintain strong internal/external customer relationships. Personal performance is characterized by an ability to deal effectively with all organizational levels, the ability to apply creative solutions to business problems, high performance standards, intelligence, a commitment to critical business goals and objectives and a keen sense of professional integrity.

Business Experience

Bakos and Richards Consulting, Inc. 2001-
Partner and Co-Founder
Founded local IT services company to act as IT staff to small and medium sized businesses. Provide a single point of contact for clients for all technology including desktop systems, servers, network equipment and telephone systems.

Focuses in the areas of network, hardware design, implementation and maintenance
Projects have ranged from single desktop systems to multi-site multi-server based EMR systems
Service small and medium sized medical and hospitality clients

Midwest Lighting Services, LLC2009-
Partner
Local company that designs and implements lighting upgrades with an eye towards energy efficiency and cost savings. Provides turnkey solutions for clients.

Software development
Manage and maintain IT infrastructure
Maintain accounting systems and records
Lead engineer for gas and electric sales
Project manager for projects throughout the Midwest

Glacial Energy Holdings, Inc.2008-2009
Director of Forecasting
Electric and gas reseller to commercial and industrial customers throughout the United States.

Responsible for daily forecast of energy needs and posting on Independent System Operator web sites
Database administrator for forecast related databases
Analyzed and approved short term contracts for electricity and natural gas

MJs University2009-2011
Director of the School of Business
College started by a local physician to prepare students for jobs in the healthcare industry.

Developed Certificate of Business program
Responsible for obtaining state certification of school
Wrote all business college course syllabi
Reviewed textbooks and selected textbooks
Hired and supervised adjunct professors

Davenport University2001-2009
Department of Technology Coordinator (2003-2009)
Responsible for information technology curriculum on the Merrillville, Indiana campus.

Reviewed textbooks and made recommendations on which textbooks to adopt
Scheduled all information technology classes for the Merrillville, Indiana campus
Hired and supervised adjunct professors
Advised students

Adjunct Professor (2001-2009)

Taught computer and networking classes (Cisco, Windows 2000/XP/2003)
Taught business and economics classes

Indiana Business Research Center (IUN)2002-2003
Independent Contractor

Performed research for the Construction Advancement Foundation of Northwest Indiana
Aided in development of final report

Nebula Computer Systems, Inc.1995-1999
President and Co-Founder

Founded local company building IBM-compatible PC’s
Specialized in construction of PC’s, including upgrades
Performed networking installation and maintenance
Sold in 1999

NiSource Inc. 1979-2000
Senior Strategic Planning Analyst/LAN Administrator - Corporate (1993-2000)

Installed and administered departmental OS/2 LAN, with approx. 20 users
Migrated OS/2 LAN to Windows NT
Maintained all departmental computing equipment
Maintained departmental data bases
Performed Merger and Acquisition Analysis, helped close $6Billion deal
Oversight authority for subsidiary econometric forecasting efforts at 5 subsidiaries

Forecast Analyst/Senior Forecast Analyst - Nipsco (1983-1993)

Installed and administered Novell NetWare 3.11 LAN
Prepared econometrically driven forecasts of energies, customers and demands
Over-sight authority for short-term judgmentally produced budget forecasts
Automated forecasting process to fullest extent possible, reducing costs from approximately $250,000 per year to under $30,000, by installing and setting-up IBM-compatible PC’s and associated software

Field Engineer/Project Management - Nipsco (1979-1983)

Developed power protection equipment quality control program
Responsible for all power protection maintenance for high voltage transmission system
Designed and managed construction of power distribution substations
Developed and managed database of voltage regulators

Philanthropic Experience

Humane Society Calumet Area, Inc.2003-
Board of Directors (2004-2014)

Responsible for technology and for endowment fundraising
Wrote current strategic plan
Led effort to move organization to modern business structure
Treasurer and accountant

Volunteer (2003-Present)

Configure and maintain PC’s, servers and network equipment
Provide project management for construction projects

Schererville Parks Foundation 2010-12
Board of Directors (2010-2012)

President – 2012
Responsible for fundraising and rewrite of By-Laws

Education

MBA, Finance, Indiana University - Northwest, Gary, Indiana, 1988
M.S., Business Administration (Management/Finance), Indiana University - Northwest, Gary, Indiana, 1983
B.S., Electrical Engineering, Purdue - Calumet, Hammond, Indiana, 1979

Professional Development

Microsoft Certified Professional – 2002
Microsoft Certified Systems Administrator – 2002
Microsoft Certified Systems Engineer - 2002

Professional Accomplishments

Registered Professional Engineer - Indiana No. 204422, Illinois No. 062.064750
Young Engineer of the Year, Indiana - 1990

Associations

National Society of Professional Engineers - Calumet Chapter
Sigma Iota Epsilon - Honorary Management Fraternity
Beta Gamma Sigma - Honorary Business Fraternity