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Experience & impact

Experience across program leadership and accessibility training.

Currently at Deque as Strategic Accessibility Training Consultant, leading enterprise accessibility training programs. Previously: 13 years at State Farm leading large-scale modernization including a $1.6B divestiture and $2B+ data center buildout. That dual experience, operating as both client and vendor, shapes how I read any program or governance challenge.

Here's the work that got me here.

Enterprise delivery Accessibility enablement Modernization & risk Vendor leadership
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Selected roles

Selected roles & impact

Not every bullet. Just the work that shows how I lead and where I’m most effective.

Deque Systems
2018–2024 · 2025–Present

Deque Systems

Strategic Accessibility Training Consultant (Jan 2025–Present · Apr 2020–Apr 2024)

Senior Project Manager (Oct 2018–Dec 2020)

Enterprise training Influence Frameworks
  • • Led enterprise accessibility training programs reaching 4,000+ participants across design, development, QA, and leadership.
  • • Managed programs end to end for Fortune 100 clients: scoping, curriculum design, delivery, and follow-through.
  • • Brought Lean and Agile practices into accessibility work across Fortune 500 clients, wiring it into how teams actually build and ship.
  • • Built instructional patterns using the "Teach, Try, and Revise" model and reused them across clients rather than starting from scratch each time.
  • • Translated WCAG into operational behaviors teams could apply day-to-day, not just pass audits.
  • • Served as primary client contact for end-to-end accessibility consulting using Agile (Scrum and Kanban).

How I created value

I made accessibility stick across 4,000+ learners. Standards turned into behaviors teams actually used.

Scope reduction

Client demanded a 16-hour course delivered in 8. Found the real constraint was time, not content. Restructured into 2-hour virtual blocks over several weeks. Full curriculum delivered. Client renewed.

Engagement pivot

Client purchased navigator hours for Q&A. After their audit, that wasn't going to solve the problem. Converted hours to a structured training program. Four role-specific teams trained over six weeks.

From this work

Building a Culture of Accessibility Leadership AI in Accessibility: Where Tools End and Humans Lead
AccessibilityFirst Solutions
Apr 2024–present (paused)

AccessibilityFirst Solutions

Founder & Principal Consultant

SMB model Audits Strategy
  • • Ran end-to-end client programs: assessment, training, strategy.
  • • Built a practical accessibility model for SMBs.
  • • Created reusable audit and reporting workflows.
  • • Balanced multiple workstreams with program discipline.

How I created value

I built workflows clients could actually use. Assessment and training outputs were clean, consistent, and ready to act on.

Erlinton Consulting Group
2016–2018

Erlinton Consulting Group

Founder & Principal PM Consultant

ERP delivery Higher ed Founder
  • • Led a university's Ellucian Banner ERP upgrade: task mapping, risk mitigation, and a clean go-live.
  • • Used Scrum and Lean to keep delivery moving when client priorities shifted mid-engagement.
  • • Managed all scoping, contracting, financials, and delivery as sole principal.
  • • Mentored internal client teams in PM practices so they weren't starting over when the engagement ended.

How I created value

I ran engagements like a proper program office, not freelance. Clients got structured delivery and left knowing how to manage the next one themselves.

State Farm
2005–2018

State Farm

Senior IT Program Manager (2005–2018)

Modernization Vendors High stakes
  • • Directed 300+ managers and analysts across major technology programs, including a $2B+ data center buildout and claims platform modernization.
  • • Led the $1.6B divestiture of State Farm's Canadian operations, aligning IT, legal, finance, and business stakeholders across a complex multi-year program.
  • • Directed Oracle PeopleSoft ERP implementation for HR, General Ledger, and Procurement.
  • • Governed multi-year program budgets consistently within ±5% of target; coordinated vendors including Cisco, IBM, and Oracle.
  • • Integrated DevOps and early cloud infrastructure into delivery models as the organization modernized.

How I created value

I kept critical programs stable under real constraints: vendors, regulations, legacy systems. Outcomes delivered without chaos.

What this work taught me

On the claims system redesign, the team escalated that they could not hit the committed date. I told them the date was the date. I never asked why they flagged the risk or what we were actually putting at risk. We delivered on time with significant quality issues and rework. That is the moment I learned what leadership courage actually means: understanding why a date matters to the sponsor before taking it to the team, giving the team the why so they can give you the how, and having the hard conversation early when it needs to happen.

Vendor enforcement

Hardware vendor at risk on the $2B+ data center. Reviewed liquidated damages clauses before any conversation, negotiated a partial delivery path, enforced SLA penalties, and briefed leadership proactively. Program continued. No surprises.

Build vs. buy

Led the claims system vendor evaluation using Kepner-Tregoe weighted scoring across competing bids. Recommended the internal build: lower cost, better fit, and delivered the specialized processing the business needed.

From this work

I Asked an AI to Run My Project Why Change Management Fails
Voices from the work

What colleagues and clients say

From State Farm program leadership through Deque accessibility training.

"Michael's approach was that of realism and enthusiasm with constant feedback. His decision to lay out clear, actionable, objective goals while adding detailed communications and financial accounting led to the successful turnaround of our program. He is comfortable working at all levels — from getting details from an analyst in the field to presenting plans in the boardroom."

Michael Brown

Aviation Leader · State Farm

State Farm
"He is one of the best examples of a servant leader that I know. He has the patience and aptitude to listen to experts and make informed decisions based on the information he collects. At the same time, I've seen him cut through some very technical problems to get to the crux of the issue. Michael is happiest when he's having a positive impact, whether that be on a project or in people's lives."

Ben Griggs

Information Security Analyst · State Farm

State Farm
"Michael's ability to command a room and get his team engaged, even across borders, is an additional bonus you don't often experience with success. He approaches issues in a very systematic and strategic way. He listens intently, coaches and mentors his teams while leaving his ego aside. He intuitively and through experience knows the project journey and how to deliver."

Nella Mangiapane

Strategic Advisor, Claims Solution Modernization · Desjardins

State Farm
"This man is quite possibly the best trainer in the world of accessibility. He knows and understands WCAG, but more importantly, he knows and explains WHO needs the things. His training style captivates his trainees in the same style that Netflix series made you sit on the couch all day last Saturday."

David Dauber

Accessibility Specialist · Deque collaborator

Deque
"Michael is quite possibly the most genuine, enthusiastic, dedicated professional that I've ever worked with. He is excellent at engaging an audience and his passion for accessibility shines through in his training, encouraging participants to want to learn more. He also possesses a ton of knowledge about project management and change management."

Ashley Haering

Senior Accessibility Software Engineer · Deque

Deque
"His enthusiasm for and knowledge of accessibility is second to none and he truly has a gift for sharing that knowledge with others. His trainings are thought-provoking, engaging, and inject just the right amount of dad jokes to keep things light and casual."

Justin Yarbrough

AVP, Lead Digital Accessibility Coach · PNC

Deque

View all recommendations on LinkedIn

Certifications & credentials

PMP — PMI SAFe Agilist — Scaled Agile CSM — ScrumAlliance CSPO — ScrumAlliance MS, Project Management — UW-Platteville

How this experience shows up if you hire me

You get someone who has shipped work at scale, built accessibility programs, and led people through change with care and clarity.

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