Leifur Thor

Needs formatting assistance

WHO are you?

• Name: Leifur Thor
• Country: US
• Contact Information (email, skype, phone, site): leifthor@gmail.com, leif_thepilot, 415-933-5842 - www.leifthor.wordpress.com
• Leifur Thor – (LinkedIn and Facebook)

1072 Folsom St. #344, San Francisco, CA 94103, 415.933.5842, leifthor@gmail.com

Innovative, effective and versatile media and managerial professional who brings progressively increasing responsibilities and expertise to the media and operations of growing organizations. Proven track record for identifying important concepts/issues and presenting solutions in a clear, concise, articulate and persuasive manner. Skilled manager with the innate talent to conceptualize and blend managing abilities with hands-on problem-solving expertise. Proven performance in creating, implementing and directing major organizational and systems changes designed to improve service delivery. Natural ability to identify issues before larger problems occur and build mechanisms to alleviate potential pitfalls. Ability to effectively communicate sensitive issues to diverse populations.

HISTORY

Program Director, Alternative to Meds Center, Sedona, AZ July ‘08-Aug ‘09

Managed daily operations of a residential center (when it resided in San Francisco) offering a 24/7 full immersion program that helps remove additions for individuals who are addicted to prescription or street drugs.

• Planned, directed and evaluated operational procedures and protocols; instituted changes and upgrades whenever necessary.
• Served as liaison between the Center and other internal/external groups, agencies, businesses and local citizens.
• Established procedures to audit, monitor and evaluate departmental activities for effectiveness, sound fiscal management and adherence to legal requirements and county policies.
• Submitted reports and made recommendations to appropriate committee, agencies and government units.
• Hired, trained and coached a staff of 14+ employees with diverse skill sets (counselors, administrative, kitchen), establishing and enforcing rules and procedures for efficient management and proper job performance.

Operations Manager, SF Window Factory San Francisco, CA May ’07 - May ‘08

Ran the daily business operations for the sole vinyl window manufacturer in San Francisco which also provides installation services to government, commercial, and residential clients.

• Established new channels of distribution by building strategic relationships with architects, developers & general contractors).
• Made certain that the organization was operating in compliance to National Fenestration Rating Council (NFRC) values, standards that offer guidance towards the energy performance of all window-types.
• Re-launched the outward face/image of the company. Created a new name, logo, marketing collateral as well as an new and successful sales and marketing strategy that contributed to an increase in sales by 40%+ in the first six (6) months.
• Re-designed the company’s internal business systems to enable improved communication and product/service fulfillment. Set the strategic direction for the company website.
• Utilized a small facilities budget of $50K to remodel the company’s existing showroom.
• Responsible for recruiting, hiring and training a staff of four (4) employees with diverse roles.

Operations Manager, Hilltop Hotel, Phuket, Thailand Jan. ‘06 - May ‘07

Resurrected the business operations of a boutique hotel, overseeing the daily business operations for the 19-room property.

• Managed all accounting functions including A/P, A/R and petty cash. Produced the hotel’s monthly financial statements.
• Increased the hotel’s daily occupancy rate from an average of 47% in 2005 to 74% in 2006, increasing revenue by 53%.
• Responsible for ensuring that the front desk, housekeeping and food/beverage service were of the highest caliber.
• Conducted weekly inventory of linens, toiletries, food and other supplies and made the appropriate replenishments.
• Carefully evaluated and selected outside vendors to perform various specialty functions for the property (i.e. skilled craftsmen, food suppliers).
• Wrote the hotel’s employee manual. Responsible for managing 10 employees, most of whom spoke minimal English.
• Resurrected Rooftop Restaurant overlooking Phuket Bay, including a new chef, menu, and infrastructure.

Shop Assistant Manager, Scuba Cat Diving, Phuket, Thailand May '06 - Nov '07

Responsible for sales, marketing, supplier relations as well as the establishment of business protocols for a local dive shop that sold diving packages, equipment and accessories to tourists from around the world.

• Built and fortified profitable, long term relationships with name brand manufacturers.
• Responsible for the physical layout and design of the store. Oversaw all aspects of merchandising.
• Designed signage and sales collateral for shop. Assisted on the production of the store website. Collected success stories for future publication on their web site.
• Acted as a dive guide / instructor on dives of up to 100ft. Presented the Scuba Cat history book for clients on tours.
• Provided all clients with 1:1 customer service in the store as well as via telephone.
• Managed a staff of up to three (3) retail associates.

Operations Manager, Hawaiian Shave Ice Company, Phuket, Thailand Mar. '04 - May '06

Responsible for sales, marketing, vendor relations, design as well as the establishment of business protocols and processes for an established and specialty dessert shop

• As the highly visible Operations Manager, offered hands-on customer service to consumers and well as directly assisting employees in performing day-to-day responsibilities in compliance with Thailand’s strict labor laws. Routinely followed up with the customer to ensure satisfaction with the dining experience.
• Produced all monthly financial statements for the business; responsible for all bank accounts.
• Handled all of the ordering for food, beverages, as well as all snack bar and kitchen equipment/supplies pertinent to the operation of the business.
• Responsible for payroll, recruiting, training, performance review and other Human Resources functions for a staff of eight (8).
• Managed all accounting functions including A/P, A/R and petty cash. Reconciled all cash and credit receipts.
• Managed all relationships with vendors who offered a wide variety of products/services.
• Ensured that all necessary local licenses and inspections were secured and remained current.
• Teamed with local newspapers and other advertising outlets for building direct marketing/lead generation campaigns.

Other Experience – Art and Web Design Teacher, Montessori School and QSI, Phuket, Thailand 2004

EDUCATION

BA Academy of Art, San Francisco, USA 1987

Certificate of Completion, Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) Temple International Language School, Phuket, Thailand 2004

References Upon Request

WHY are you motivated to support/develop this work?

Do you endorse open source culture?

Yes

Why are you interested in developing or supporting this work?

General happiness comes from freedoms above all else. The more we as a people can make someone financially free, emotionally free, spiritually free, sexually free, and farming free the more happiness the person will likely experience. Not because they won't do anything and sit around like a bump on a log. No, when faced with having their basic needs met, there is a general tendancy among people, that we like to connect with one another, create, volunteer, share, and build because well, we're just built that way. So I feel it's not financial weath anyone should pursue, though that can and often does bring happiness, but freedom is what we should pursue, and it must be for everyone. We have certain freedoms now, great let's quadiple those, and then quadtriple them again. Like a never ending onion, I'd like to see how deep this experiment in human abundance can go. And I believe the core of getting these freedoms is through granting personal empowerment to the individual, ie everyone. And open source solutions are the key.

Bucky used to say we need more slavery, lot's more. Because electronic slaves don't care if they're run all day. And on every modern person, how many robots, or artifacts/mechanisms are there that aid and help us do whatever it is we want them to do every hour we're awake like our cell phones, car keys, and credit cards. They aid in empowering us making the world smaller therefore more travelable, understandable, and we hope more friendly.

How do you think that the GVCS can address pressing world issues?

I think it is specifically addressing the largest part of the problem, namely the way we problem solve. Or another way of saying it is, Nature uses Pull Technology which requires as little movement in any direction maximizing all available resources at the point of problem to resolve a solution. Un-complexifying and demystifying the building of complex robots/artifacts/mechanisms is also a bridge between the public and corporations granting similar power to a small group as a corporation might have, thereby empowering neighborhoods which are just as likely to build your items than an individual on their own.

WHAT are your skills?

List all of your skills in these areas: Communications (12yrs) - Computer Support (0)- CMS (0) - CRM(0) – Finances (4yrs) – Design (30yrs) - Natural Building (25yrs) – Electronics (0) – Automation (0) – Metallurgy (0) - Engineering(25yrs) - Fabrication (2yrs)- Prototyping (10yrs)– CNC (?) - CAD(1yrs) – CAM(?) - CAE (?) - Video Production (6yrs) - Information Architecture (15yrs) – Agriculture (.3yrs) - Energy(3yrs) - Architecture(10yrs) - Animation/Graphics/Art (20yrs)- PR/Marketing (15yrs) - Education (4yrs)- Construction(1yrs) - Industry(5yrs) – CNC(?) - Chemistry(0) - Product Design(20yrs) - Other

How have you already contributed to the project?

I have not as yet.

HOW can you help?

How are you interested in contributing to the work of GVCS development?

I'd like to find out more before answering that.

Can you volunteer to work with us, and if so, how many hours per week?

I'm currently job hunting and producing a short movie with a friend taking up much of my time.

Are you interested in working with us for pay? If so, what services can you offer, and what is your hourly or per-project rate?

If I could pick any company on the planet to work for, you guys are it. This is exactly what I've been tying to do yet going about it in an entirely backwards way. May I ask though, why stop there?

Why not open source building designs, politics, and natural sewage systems that only need grass, bugs, and mud (ocean arks).Why not be the voice of all physical or environmentally related open source material, unless this is what you're already heading towards and I've simply not read enough of your site and learned online. When we're talking about empowering people, why struggle or fight a system designed to control, when we can simply make that system obsolete.

What services I can offer- I'm very very good at seeing large scale patterns and their relationships. This ability helps these industries- Inventing, marketing, branding, prototyping, managing, selling, and team building. I've taken three failing companies and made all three a lot more successful though radical changes the owners signed off on. I've invented a new type of rail system that would make MAGLEV trains obsolete that Amtrak was seriously interested in back in 2002. Again, all due to an ability to see large scale patterns and relationships. If I had to lay blame, I'd say it's the generalist in me combined with my ADD which has an often overlooked advantage of hyper-focus to varying degrees. You appear to be a true generalist, and we generalists have the added advantage that we're exposed to the inherent synergy seen only through knowing many fields no?

Are you interested in a Dedicated Project Visit?

If I can make it out there, I'd love to.

Are you interested in purchasing equipment from us to help bootstrap development?

No, but I'd like to help find ways others could.

Are you interested in bidding for consulting/design/prototyping work?

I'm sorry I'm not sure what you're asking on this...

Are you a True Fan? If not, why not?

I'm sorry I'm not sure what you're asking on this...

Would you like to see yourself working with us on a full-time basis?

Hard to answer. Maybe. I have a son here in San Francisco, and this town is a vital center for the most up to date amazing technology news. I might be more useful here talking to people which I'm quite good at.

Are you interested in being part of the world's first, open source, resilient community?

YES The GVCS is the preparatory step for the OSE Village Experiment – a 2 year, immersion experiment (2013-2014) for testing whether a real, thriving, modern-day prototype community of 200 people can be built on 200 acres using local resources and open access to information? WHAT AN INTERESTING IDEA. I'D LIKE TO LEARN MORE. We are looking for approximately 200 people to fill a diverse array of roles, according to the Social Contract that is being developed. This may be the boldest social experiment on earth - a pioneering community whose goal is to extend the index of possibilities regarding harmonious existence of humans, ecology, and technology.

Great idea, I'd like to learn more!