Michael Deal

Vice President of IT / CTO / CIO

Technology / Internet

Jacksonville, Cherokee

About Michael Deal:

As an experienced technology executive, I am passionate about leading organizations through digital transformation and operational excellence. With over 20 years of proven success driving global IT strategies, cybersecurity initiatives, and innovative technology adoption, I have consistently aligned enterprise IT operations with business growth objectives.

In my most recent role as Vice President of Global Information Technology and Global Security Officer (CISO) at TerrePower, I led cross-functional IT teams across eight countries, delivering scalable technology solutions, enhancing cybersecurity resilience, and optimizing enterprise infrastructure. I spearheaded the adoption of AI, machine learning, and cloud platforms, reduced disaster recovery times, and implemented ERP systems such as NetSuite, Workday, SAP, Salesforce, and Oracle with zero downtime. As an executive board member, I played an integral role in steering cybersecurity governance, digital innovation, risk management, and M&A integrations.

Previously, at N-TRON, I served as Vice President of IT and Security Operations, where I modernized core systems, built resilient disaster recovery frameworks, and drove automation initiatives that reduced operational risk and costs. Earlier in my career, my leadership at the University of South Alabama and Mobile County Healthcare demonstrated my ability to deliver transformational technology projects, enhance cybersecurity compliance, and realize multimillion-dollar savings through vendor and process optimization.

I hold a Master’s degree in Cybersecurity Law & Policies from Texas A&M University and a Bachelor of Science in Computer Information Science from Troy University. My certifications include CIPP/US (Certified Information Privacy Professional) and ITIL Foundation. I am also actively engaged with the FBI’s InfraGard program, contributing to national critical infrastructure protection efforts.

As a CIO or CTO, I bring a future-forward vision, strong business alignment, and the operational discipline necessary to build and scale secure, resilient, and innovative technology ecosystems. I am committed to fostering a culture of collaboration, continuous improvement, and customer-centric innovation, ensuring that technology remains a driving force behind business success.

Experience

SKILLS

Extensive knowledge of IT infrastructure, including networking, data centers, cloud computing, and enterprise systems.
Solid understanding of security protocols, encryption, compliance regulations, and data privacy laws.
Ability to evaluate, adopt, and implement emerging technologies that enhance digital capabilities.
Excellent leadership, communication, and interpersonal skills to work with diverse teams and stakeholders.

PERSONAL TRAITS

Visionary and forward-thinking with a strong business acumen.
Strong decision-maker who thrives in a fast-paced, high growth environment.
Customer-focused with a passion for improving user experiences through technology.
Proven ability to manage complex projects and deliver results with budget and ontime.

PROFESSIONAL EXPERIENCE

TerrePower, Daphne, AL 2014–2025

Vice President, Global Information Technology | Global Security Officer (CISO)

Led global IT strategy, aligning technology initiatives with business objectives to enhance operational efficiency and drive sustainable growth across international offices. Managed team of IT professionals across 8 countries while fostering culture of innovation, collaboration, and continuous improvement that increased engagement and productivity. Spearheaded adoption of cutting-edge technologies and cybersecurity measures, significantly reducing risk exposure and securing company data at all operational levels. Directed large-scale IT projects, including cloud migrations and enterprise resource planning (ERP) system integrations, ensuring timely delivery and adherence to budget. Played key role in executive leadership, serving on Executive Board, and IT Steering, Cybersecurity Oversight, Acquisition, and Risk Management Committees. Developed and mentored IT talent, implementing career development programs that cultivated future leaders and strengthened organization’s leadership pipeline.

Reduced IT downtime through implementation of predictive maintenance and IT Continuity of Operations Plan.
Develop and implement an overall IT strategy aligned with business goals.
Identify and leverage technology trends and innovations that drive business growth, customer satisfaction, and operational safety.
Oversaw digital marketplace technical operations by ensuring optimal performance, reliability, and security.
Enhance the user experience by managing platform development, user interface and user experience optimization.
Spearhead company’s digital transformation initiatives, keeping the platform at the forefront of industry trends.
Investigate and implement emerging technologies such as AI, blockchain and machine learning to drive innovation.
Established processes for testing, evaluating, and scaling new technological solutions.
ERP Implementations, including NetSuite, Workday, Salesforce, SAP and Oracle successful install with zero downtime.
Lead the cybersecurity strategy, ensuring the safety of sensitive user data and auction transactions.
Ensure compliance with data privacy regulations (e.g., GDPR, CCPA) and implement best practices for data governance.
Build and maintain a disaster recovery and business continuity plan for all technology systems.
Manage cloud infrastructure, servers, networks, and databases to ensure scalability and efficiency.
Oversee the integration of new systems and ensure seamless communication between technology platforms.
Optimize internal workflows through automation and system integrations.
Lead and mentor a high-performing IT team, fostering a culture of innovation and continuous learning.
Provide clear direction and set expectations for project timelines, quality assurance, and results.
Develop talent strategies to build a strong technical team and ensure resource availability for key projects.
Manage relationships with external technology vendors, service providers, and consultants.
Negotiate contracts and manage procurement of third-party technologies and services.
Managed the annual budget, ensuring alignment with strategic goals, cost efficiency, and financial accountability.
Led technology integrations during M&A transactions, ensuring seamless consolidation of IT systems, cybersecurity frameworks, and data governance while minimizing operational disruptions.
AI/ML frameworks to enhance cybersecurity, risk management, and business analytics, implementing intelligent automation and data-driven decision-making to improve operational efficiency and threat detection.
Integrated centralized Security Information and Event Management (SIEM) system, enhancing remediation efforts and reducing risk exposure.
Deployed cybersecurity frameworks and Cloud Security Posture Management (CSPM) solutions to safeguard cloud environments and sensitive data (HIPAA, PCI DSS).
Structured Software Development Lifecycle (SDLC) encompassing planning, design, development, testing, deployment, and maintenance to ensure high-quality, reliable software delivery.
Reduced disaster recovery times and significantly mitigated business risk by overhauling disaster recovery and business continuity plans, adopting scalable cloud-based solutions, and implementing regular training sessions and drills to enhance IT resilience.
Transformed IT and cybersecurity teams by fostering culture of innovation and continuous learning, implementing career development programs, optimizing security processes, and driving technology adoption to enhance operational efficiency and long-term organizational resilience.

N-TRON, Mobile, AL 2010 – 2014

Vice President, IT and Security Operations

Drove operational excellence, resilience, and innovation across enterprise systems. optimized security protocols, streamlined deployment processes, and enhanced disaster recovery capabilities to ensure business continuity. Implemented automation and cloud-based solutions to improve efficiency, reduce risk, and strengthen compliance. Led high-performing team of 27 with $10M budget, modernized IT infrastructure, and aligned technology strategies with business objectives to drive growth and scalability.

ADDITIONAL EXPERIENCE

University of South Alabama 2007 – 2010

Vice President of IT and Operations Division

In my role as Vice President of IT and Operations Division at the University of South Alabama, I led a $10M digital transformation project, automating workflows and improving business agility. I also improved cybersecurity posture by 40%, preventing potential incident costs of $750K. My focus on optimizing vendor contracts resulted in $2.62M in annual savings.

Mobile County Healthcare 2001 – 2007

Senior Vice President, IT & Security

In my role as Senior Vice President of IT & Security at Mobile County Healthcare, I oversaw data security for healthcare databases, managed the Ryan White Project, and mentored IT staff in data warehousing and budget management. I implemented security protocols to ensure compliance with industry regulations.