Lisa Donbavand

LISA DONBAVAND

Director of IT & Operations | Infrastructure • Cybersecurity • Process Optimization

San Antonio, TX | 210-777-6524 | lisa.k@donbavand.com | linkedin.com/in/lisa-donbavand

Professional Summary

IT & Operations leader with 20+ years of experience aligning technology with business growth across real estate, e-commerce, consulting, and education. Proven record leading cross-functional teams, cutting operational expenses by 30%, accelerating project delivery by 65%, and improving revenue and retention through data-driven process redesign and modern IT solutions. Hands-on in infrastructure, cybersecurity oversight, cloud and web platforms, and vendor management. Open to Director/Head of IT & Operations roles in San Antonio or remote.

Core Competencies

  • IT Strategy & Roadmapping
  • Infrastructure & Cybersecurity Oversight
  • Systems Integration & Automation
  • Operations Management & Process Optimization
  • Budgeting, Cost Control & Vendor Management
  • KPI Development & Data-Driven Decision Making
  • Team Leadership & Cross-Functional Collaboration
  • Cloud & On-Prem Infrastructure (AWS, Unix, Windows)
  • Digital Transformation & Change Management

Technical Skills

Infrastructure & Platforms: Unix, Linux, Windows Server, macOS, AWS

Web & Applications: HTML, JavaScript, SQL, Liquid, Perl, CGI, JSON

E-commerce & Business Tools: Shopify, osCommerce, Mailchimp, OmniSend, Google Ads, Facebook Ads

Legacy Languages (working knowledge): C/C++, COBOL, ColdFusion, Visual Basic, Ada, Fortran

Focus Areas: Network security for internet-facing servers, hosting environments, system administration, automation and scripting

Professional Experience

Director of IT & Operations / IT Consultant | 2020 – Present

PAD Properties LLC – San Antonio, TX

  • Lead an 11-person cross-functional team across real estate development, property improvements & remodeling, and IT.
  • Support up to 50 active projects per month across 74 locations, improving field operations through technology and process changes.
  • Reduced operational expenses by 30% in 6 months through procurement optimization, contract consolidation, and vendor negotiation.
  • Streamlined project workflows and implemented standardized processes, cutting delivery timelines by 65%.
  • Designed internal tools and digital workflows that increased team productivity by 25% and improved project tracking and communication.
  • Implemented integrated digital tools for scheduling, documentation, and collaboration; monitored KPIs to support continuous improvement and reporting.

Director of IT & Operations, Owner | 2004 – 2025

SkinCareful – Texas (Remote/Online)

  • Built and scaled a direct-to-consumer skincare brand with online and marketplace channels, owning IT, operations, and digital strategy end-to-end, including P&L responsibility.
  • Increased revenue by 35% YoY through platform optimization, marketing automation, and conversion-focused UX improvements.
  • Reduced inventory waste by 20% via SKU-level tracking, demand planning, and improved forecasting.
  • Improved customer retention by 25% by refining user experience, support workflows, and post-purchase communication.
  • Led supply chain, 3PL partnerships, and budgeting; cut cost of goods sold (COGS) by 15% through strategic sourcing and contract negotiations.
  • Managed Shopify and related integrations, ensuring stable, secure, and scalable e-commerce operations.

Educational Program Director | 2003 – 2024

Oak Hills – Houston & San Antonio, TX

  • Directed tech-enabled programs for a private school system, coordinating ~20 rotating subjects across multiple locations and classes ranging from small groups to 30 students.
  • Implemented technology to standardize scheduling, administration, and communication, improving program efficiency and consistency.
  • Owned curriculum, staffing, budgeting, and vendor management while teaching foundational IT and programming skills.

Owner, Consultant & Developer | 2003 – 2005

Phillips & Son Consulting – Houston, TX

  • Improved patient intake workflows for medical clients by 65% through process redesign and technology adoption.
  • Developed tailored web presences and digital marketing strategies, increasing client inquiries by 32%.
  • Set up onsite networks and computer systems, providing end-to-end small business IT support.

Director of Information Technology | 2000 – 2003

Tenagra Corporation – Houston, TX

  • Led 12-person IT team delivering secure, scalable hosting and web services for enterprise clients including IBM, Harley-Davidson, and Shell.
  • Implemented automated server recovery and improved security posture for internet-facing systems, reducing off-hours workload and incidents.

Unix System Administrator / Developer | 1998 – 2000

NASA (via SAIC & Indyne Inc.) – Houston, TX

  • Administered and secured nine external web servers for NASA and partners, handling performance, hardening, patching, and monitoring.
  • Developed a secure web server and certificate authority for NASA's tunnel server, improving secure access to internal resources.

Mission Control Flight Controller / Engineer | 1996 – 1998

NASA (via Barrios Technology) – Houston, TX

  • Served as Flight Controller in NASA's Mission Control, administering Unix servers and supporting critical Space Station and Mission Control operations.
  • Led an 8-person team developing Mission Control displays and tools, reducing task time by 65% and human error by 55%; earned NASA's "Going the Extra Mile" award.

Education

Bachelor of Science in Computer Science & Human Biology | 1996

Stephen F. Austin State University – Nacogdoches, TX