Gary Branning
9 George Street
Brampton, Ontario
L6X 0T6
Ph: 416-576-4279
garybranning@rogers.com
BUSINESS SYSTEMS, TRAINING AND APPLICATION SUPPORT
MRP / ERP Systems Planning & Installations, Upgrades, System Management, Testing,
User Training, Retail & Manufacturing Experience, Report Writing
An experienced IT Manager with a proven background implementing customized application
solutions that maximize productivity, streamline operations, and support business growth.
Extensive experience in managing the installations and supporting desktop, MRP, and ERP
applications influencing all functional business areas from head office locations to
production environments and shop floors. “Go to” technical and software specialist with
advanced problem solving and people skills.
Valued strategic partner providing the reporting and technical advice that helps business
leaders maximize their IT investment and advance business operations. Compliments technical
skills with strong leadership and managerial capabilities. Expertise offered includes:
* Systems Implementation
* Applications Support
* Systems Analysis
* User Training
* Project Management
* ERP/MRP Systems
* Software Upgrades
* Business Process Improvement
* Database Management
* Department Management
* Report Writing
* User Acceptance Testing
* Shop Floor Control
* Financial Reporting
* Queries
TECHNICAL EXPERTISE
* Crystal Reports 9.0
* MANMAN
* MRP
* ECOMETRY
* BY-REQUEST
* Supertool
* Quiz
* Bar Coding
* MPEX
* Audit 3000
* HTML
* MICROSOFT OFFICE
* HP3000 918/978
* ISO3000
BUSINESS APPLICATIONS SKILLS
* Installed, upgraded and supported MANMAN and Ecometry software packages, which included
All Financial Systems, Sales Orders, Billing, Distribution, Purchasing, Marketing,
Call Center, Inventory Control, Manufacturing, Shop Floor Control, Barscan and Warehousing
* Optimized software efficiencies in all key areas including Finance, Inventory, Purchasing,
Sales, Marketing, Billing, Distribution, Warehousing, Customer Service, and Contact Centre
* Researched new applications and MRP products to meet the strategic and tactical needs of
the company – evaluated individual department and production needs and negotiated all vendor
contracts
* Provided technical, software, and management support to all end users throughout the company,
with a reputation for speedy and effective resolutions to user issues
* Leveraged new bar scan technologies to better manage inventory and track production – designed
programs that slashed inventory counts from 4 days to <2 and reduced inventory errors to 0
* Tested, installed and oversaw new software releases, resulting in a seamless transitions to
the new software
* Analyzed, designed, and wrote programs to customize about 80% of the reporting programs to
fit the company’s requirements
* Supported a 24/7 business environment, routinely resolving system problems remotely to minimize
revenue loss
* Managed an HP3000 computer system and software package (MANMAN) from Computer Associates
in a 125 person manufacturing company, with sales of about $30M
* Installed 2 major software upgrades at The Shopping Channel, involving software that affected
over 400 users
* Recommended and successfully executed 2 offsite weekend software upgrades, saving the
company over $50,000 in potential consulting fees
INTERPERSONAL, TRAINING AND COACHING SKILLS
* Provided technical and software support for system users resulting in a robust company
that benefited from the increase in productivity, decrease in training costs, better morale
and knowledgeable staff
* Trained employees on making their office desktop tools more effective by automating processes,
and appending monthly reports to Excel spreadsheets: this resulted in huge reductions in
computer-processing times
* Took the initiative to train staff on how to automate standard processes, dramatically
reducing computer processing times
* Designed, facilitated and organized a 5-day in-house training program to educate staff
on the MRP upgrade – trained 125 staff in 5 days and saved the company over $75,000 vs.
off-site training
* Helped initiate the Canadian MANMAN Users’ Group, resulting in improved user community
influence and awareness of the MANMAN software product. Group was instrumental in influencing
major software changes for the Canadian market
* Established volunteer and leader in the community as a Baseball Coach (26 Years),
Scout Leader (20 years) and High School Alumni Committee member (10 years). Presented
with the Medal for Good Scouting and the Ontario Volunteer Award in 2003
IT MANAGEMENT PROFILE
* Extensive Business experience involving every functional department, including Financials,
Inventory Control, Purchasing, Sales, Marketing, Billing, Customer Service, Call Centers,
Websites, Shop Floor Control, and Warehousing
* Managed four major system upgrades to the MRP system, twice requiring trips to the Philadelphia
data centre to convert data and re-install the system, saving tens of thousands of dollars
in consulting fees
* Excellent supporter of system users, management and IT on a day-to-day basis
* Established leader and motivator, to ensure staff is well trained, informed and prepared
* Experienced tester of application software prior to enhancements and upgrades to company
software
* Respected liaison with third party vendors and IT Department for speedy and effective
resolutions to user issues
* Facilitating and coaching skills with experience in adult training and mentorship
* Superb communication and team player skills
* Published 10 User Group articles in the quarterly ASKUS International Manufacturing
Publication
PROBLEM SOLVING AND TROUBLESHOOTING SKILLS
* Solved user issues and administered support of integrated software from Ecometry in a
$220M company
* Used training, and software understanding to help users better cope with their daily
issues
* Customized production reporting, utilizing reporting tools Cognos Quiz, By-Request and
Crystal Reports
* Fixed data errors in databases containing tens of millions of records, using Supertool
and Query
* Provided documentation of updates and changes for security and Audit purposes
* Employed Supertool and Query to fix errors in databases containing tens of millions of
records
* Utilized By-Request, Quiz and Crystal Reports to customize production reporting and develop
custom programs in response to ad-hoc reporting requirements
IT INDUSTRY CONTRIBUTIONS
* Co-Founder & Chairman of the Canadian MANMAN User Group with over 14 member companies
* Wrote and published 10 industry articles for ASKUS magazine, a quarterly manufacturing
publication with global distribution
EMPLOYMENT HISTORY
Software Consultant
Speedware Inc May 2011 - Present
Photographer
LifeTouch Canada Sept 2010 – Dec 2010
Photographer
Lifetouch Canada Aug 2009 - Nov 2009
Consultant
Branning Computer Consulting April 2007 to Present
Message and Package Delivery
Atripco Oct 2009 – Dec 2008
Manager of Business Applications
The Shopping Channel 2000-2005
Data Processing Manager
Greey Lightnin (now Gratec) 1978 - 1999
ADVANCED TRAINING AND CONFERENCES
* MCSE Networking Essentials Exam Certificate
* MANMAN Quiz, Manufacturing, Barscan, Order Management, Financials, Databases
* Ecometry Supertool and Databases
* Crystal Reporting, Version 9
* ISO 3000
* Ecometry Software - annual 4 - day user conference – 4 years
* Trainer on 10 weekend Adult Cub Leader training courses for Scouts Canada