Jefferson Heard
About Jefferson Heard
Jefferson Heard is the Chief Architect at Teamworks, where he focuses on integrating products to enhance user experience in the athletics ecosystem. He has held various engineering roles at Teamworks since 2017 and has a strong background in computer science, with degrees from the Illinois Institute of Technology and the University of Central Arkansas.
Current Role at Teamworks
Jefferson Heard serves as the Chief Architect at Teamworks, a position he has held since 2024. In this role, he focuses on integrating Teamworks products to create a seamless experience for users across various roles in the athletics ecosystem. He actively prototypes, designs, plans, reviews, and occasionally contributes code across all product development squads. His efforts aim to make Teamworks the central hub for professionals in the athletics industry, enhancing user experience and functionality.
Previous Experience at Teamworks
Prior to his current role, Jefferson Heard held several positions at Teamworks. He served as Vice President of Engineering from 2020 to 2024, where he played a key role in transitioning the company's technology stack to a more scalable platform. He also worked as Director of Software Architecture for one year and as Principal Software Engineer and Lead Architect from 2018 to 2020. His tenure at Teamworks has spanned multiple roles, allowing him to contribute significantly to the company's engineering and architectural strategies.
Educational Background
Jefferson Heard holds a Master of Science in Computer Science from the Illinois Institute of Technology, where he studied from 2004 to 2008. He also earned a Bachelor of Science in Computer Science from the University of Central Arkansas, completing his degree from 1997 to 2001. Additionally, he attended the UNC Kenan-Flagler Business School in 2012 for a course on Startups: KFBS Launch The Venture, further enhancing his knowledge in business and technology.
Coaching and Mentorship
In addition to his technical roles, Jefferson Heard coaches engineers and engineering managers at Teamworks. He focuses on fostering team autonomy while maintaining a cohesive vision for technology and cultural evolution within the organization. His mentorship approach supports the development of skills and leadership qualities among team members.
Career History Prior to Teamworks
Before joining Teamworks, Jefferson Heard held various positions in the technology sector. He worked as a Senior Researcher at the Renaissance Computing Institute from 2006 to 2014 and served as Chief Technology Officer at Intranet Mediator Inc from 2004 to 2007. He also gained experience as a Software Developer at Acxiom from 2000 to 2003 and as a Mentor at Thinkful in 2017.