Meet the Expert
The people behind the work.
RJHeard Technologies is built on deep, hands-on expertise — not a bench of generalists. Every engagement is led by someone who has actually done the work.
Ryan J. Heard
Founder & Principal Consultant
Ryan Heard is a dynamic IT leader with 22+ years of experience spanning IT operations, infrastructure architecture, management, and cybersecurity — with deep roots in manufacturing technology environments. He has held roles at every level of the technology function — from hands-on systems engineering through IT management, Director, and executive advisory — giving him a rare ability to bridge the gap between technical execution and business strategy on the production floor and in the boardroom.
His core expertise spans Microsoft ecosystems, ERP systems including Syspro and NetSuite in active manufacturing and distribution environments, cloud IaaS and SaaS architecture, and compliance frameworks covering CMMC, NIST, ISO, IATF, ITAR, and GDPR. Ryan has a proven track record of driving cost savings through efficient configurations, automating business processes, and implementing robust cybersecurity controls — including multi-site manufacturing operations spanning the United States, Mexico, Europe, and Asia.
Ryan founded RJHeard Technologies, LLC to bring that depth of executive-level experience to organizations that need senior technology leadership without the overhead of a full-time hire — delivering the kind of practical, outcome-focused consulting that only comes from having been in the room when the hard decisions were made.
Core Expertise
- Syspro & NetSuite ERP Administration & Optimization
- EDI & ASN Integration Management
- Infrastructure Architecture (Microsoft, VMware, Cloud IaaS/SaaS)
- Cybersecurity Controls & Network Security
- IT Governance, NIST, ISO & IATF Compliance
- AI Governance & Data Protection Frameworks
- GDPR & International Law Compliance
- Disaster Recovery & Business Continuity
- Power BI & MSSQL Reporting & Business Intelligence
- IT Budget Forecasting & Vendor Management
- Business Process Automation & Cost Optimization
- Multi-Site IT Operations & Team Leadership
Prior Professional Certifications
Career history
20+ years of doing the work.
- Reported to President and CEO as part of senior management and executive staff; managed a team of 5 with diverse skillsets across a $780K IT budget, driving technology alignment to overall business strategy
- Owned Syspro ERP automation and management — maintaining operational and financial accuracy, and training the organization to leverage the platform efficiently across all business functions
- Delivered $140K in IT cost reductions in the first year through vendor negotiations, licensing optimization, cloud service restructuring, and environment architecture improvements
- Introduced AI tooling into engineering and development workflows — reducing time spent in R&D, 3D printing, and IT reporting functions
- Implemented CMMC 2.0 Level 1 and PCI-DSS compliance; developed and deployed a new Security Plan, policies, procedures, AI Use Policy, and governance controls across the organization
- Departed to found RJHeard Technologies, LLC — extending this depth of expertise to other organizations, and especially those who do not have the capacity or budget for a full-time hire
- Managed IT teams of up to 6 staff including MSP and MSSP contractors across budgets ranging from $350K to $1.2M; conducted GAP and risk assessments to redefine network and systems strategy, improving production uptime and eliminating errors in automation and business processes
- Built an IT department from the ground up — inherited an MSP-only environment, removed the MSP within one fiscal year, and grew the internal team to 3; took full ownership of Syspro ERP and EDI, developing training, SOPs, and operational processes including AR collections that reduced aging from 180+ days to under 30
- Executed full migration from on-premises and hosted systems to Azure cloud; transitioned perpetual licensing and on-prem software to SaaS including Microsoft 365, Foxit PDF, and VOIP to Vonage cloud; implemented NinjaOne RMM and MDM for IT governance across all endpoints
- Overhauled cybersecurity posture — implemented Watchguard firewalls, EDR/XDR systems, Bitdefender AV, and onboarded an MSSP for 24/7/365 monitoring with AI-assisted and human IDR tactics via Sophos MDR; developed cybersecurity policies, SOPs, and cyber awareness programs enterprise-wide
- Achieved and maintained ISO-14001, ISO-9001, IATF 16949, and ITAR compliance with full technology requirements; managed GDPR and international law compliance across US, Mexico, Europe, and Asia operations
- Led business development technology strategy using Google Workspace, Zendesk CRM, Zapier automation, Asana project management, and Slack — contributing to revenue growth from $65M in 2017 to $120M+ in 2024
- Restructured NetApp SAN, Hyper-V, and Cisco telecom/networking to drive efficiency for DevOps teams supporting SaaS product delivery; led cloud infrastructure buildout for a hosted SaaS platform; maintained PCI-DSS compliance and Microsoft Gold Partner status
- Virtualization and server administration across vSphere 5.0 farms and Windows Server environments; managed Active Directory, domain controllers, file servers, terminal servers, and early Microsoft 365 and Azure AD deployments
- SAN administration across EMC and NetApp platforms; managed storage provisioning, replication, and DataDomain backup infrastructure; supported AWS S3 and Azure Blob storage integration for offsite backup and archival
- Cisco L2/L3 routing, switching, and firewall configuration; designed and managed multi-VLAN environments with QoS for segregated Data and Voice networks; supported hybrid connectivity to Azure and AWS environments
- Field deployment lead for network buildouts at new-construction sites and acquired facilities; supported 250+ locations across four states; deployed and configured Microsoft 365 and cloud services at each site
- Tier 3 and executive-level end-user support; BES server and Exchange administration; infrastructure project ownership in lean IT environments with direct accountability to senior leadership
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