Varsity News Network (VNN), has announced the addition of industry veteran and software product expert, Lucian Taylor, as vice president of product. Taylor has more than 20 years experience leading software teams at technology companies including Rosetta Stone, Microsoft and Autodesk.
Using a couple of sports analogies, the addition of Taylor could be considered the equivalent of a college landing a five-star recruit, and VNN founder Ryan Vaughn attributes the hiring success to a team effort.
"We have a very talented internal recruiting team, led by Bob Barber and Hallie Dorsey, who led a comprehensive, nationwide recruiting search for this position," Vaughn says. "We had a number of amazing candidates, but Lucian really rose to the top, particularly when he visited Grand Rapids and had a chance to bond with our team."
Taylor will be responsible for directing VNN's current product lines and lead development of VNN 2.0, the company's new product initiative. Taylor says VNN 2.0 will allow for many more users to contribute and greatly increase community engagement.
"VNN's first-generation platform was a huge step forward in making an Athletic Director's life easier," Taylor says. "With VNN 2.0, we'll reach beyond the Athletic Director. We'll fully engage coaches, athletes, parents, and fans. The entire community that rallies around the excitement of local school sports. We'll introduce four new products that work together to increase community."
Taylor is excited about the prospects of living and working in Grand Rapids. "I think Grand Rapids is a great place for innovative companies and people. There's a great work ethic here that comes, I think, from a grounded, stable social culture and a midwestern sense of family and commitment. There's even a west coast, complete with dunes and beautiful sunsets!"
VNN provides high school athletic departments with a digital communication platform, enabling schools to seamlessly distribute critical information and promote school athletic teams. The Grand Rapids-based firm has 40 employees and taps into a network of 50 independent contractors.
For more information about VNN visit
www.varsitynewsnetwork.com.
Writer: John Rumery, Innovation and Jobs News Editor
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