Lee Congdon

VP of Operations

As an avid hiker who frequently explores the trails maintained by PATC, particularly in Shenandoah National Park, I have developed a deep appreciation for the club's work and its impact on our natural spaces. My involvement in the reengineering effort has given me a comprehensive understanding of various aspects of the club, which I am eager to leverage in this Executive Council role. I am committed to actively engaging with both the membership and leadership to better understand our opportunities and requirements, ensuring that the club continues to thrive and grow. Additionally, I intend to serve as a trusted advisor to the President, offering support and guidance to help achieve the club's goals. As a proud life member of PATC, along with my wife, I am deeply invested in the club's future and am excited about the opportunity to contribute at a higher level.

Relevant Experience

My experience as Chair of the IT Steering Committee for PATC has been instrumental in preparing me for this position. In this role, I have led the upgrade of our technology infrastructure, managing key initiatives such as the implementation of new applications for volunteer work reporting, replacing our legacy member management system, launching a new website, and co-leading the business process reengineering initiative. These efforts have been met with overwhelmingly positive feedback from the membership, as they have proven to be more cost-effective and adaptable to evolving needs. A central aspect of my leadership has been actively engaging with members and club leaders, fostering a culture of openness to feedback, and ensuring that our processes and systems meet the needs of the entire organization.

Before my involvement with PATC, I had a distinguished career in the technology sector, serving as Senior Vice President and Chief Information Officer at Ellucian, the leading independent provider of services, software, and analytics for higher education. Prior to that, I was Chief Information Officer at Red Hat. My educational background includes a Bachelor's and a Master's degree in computer science from Purdue University, along with an MBA from Northwestern University. These experiences have equipped me with the technical expertise, leadership skills, and strategic vision necessary to contribute effectively to this position.