Driving the e-Commerce Breakthrough

Rewind to 2001 and you find Mike holding the position of Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Solutions in Microforum's Internet Solutions Group, completely immersed in e-commerce. At Microforum, Mike led the e-commerce team responsible for the development and implementation of Microforum's flagship e-commerce product - iFrontECS, an enterprise-level e-commerce solution, easy adaptable to any online store or business-to-business needs, including online ordering support through mobile devices - a ground-breaking innovation in Canada at the time. "Outstanding scalability" was Microsoft's conclusion about iFrontECS, after extensive testing in their labs in Redmond, Washington. During his tenure at Microforum, Mike's role grew with the company, from Solution Architect to Manager, e-Commerce Product Development to Chief Software Architect, Microsoft Solutions.

About Microforum: The company has been recognized in the CB Tec100 as one of Canada's largest and best-performing public technology companies; Microforum was also one of the 50 companies in the world included on Microsoft's Commerce Partner Advisory Board in Redmond, Washington; Microforum was credited as the fastest growing technology company by Arthur Andresen LLP, as featured in June 2000 issue of Canadian Business Magazine.

In 2000, Mike with a colleague in the Microsoft Commerce Server Product Unit.

Microforum's close relationship with Microsoft created the opportunity for Mike to work in Microsoft's Commerce Server Product Unit in Redmond. A 1999 invitation from Microsoft found Mike packed and ready to experience life at the largest computer software maker in the world. In Microsoft, Mike was responsible for the development of the B2C components for the next generation of Microsoft Commerce Server.

In addition to his work in Microsoft, Mike led Microforum's largest e-commerce implementations: Chapters.ca (now Indigo.ca) and its variants, Sony's Mainlymusic.com, Dada s.p.a. Brembo in Italy and worked as technical architect, search engine consultant or senior developer on a multitude of other high-profile clients and projects such as Dumex, J.J. Barnicke, Ford Motor Company, Ford of Canada, shop.businessdepot.com, Petopia (now Petco.com), NBC's vvtv.com, WasteClick, Westsylvania, GoFood, MedicalAlert, Unicrypt, FordApparel.com, StorageTek, and GamesMania.com, among others. Mike also led the R&D efforts in the wireless space, successfully implementing large-scale e-commerce on mobile devices.

Last but not least, Mike provided the necessary technical assessment to Microforum senior management during its Mergers & Acquisitions program. Mike evaluated feature sets and code quality for the Seattle, Halifax, Toronto and New York acquisitions in wireless, content management, peer-to-peer, and e-commerce.