Arthur Agin
Verified Expert in Product Management
Product Manager
Falls Church, VA, United States
Toptal member since March 4, 2020
A seasoned product management leader, Arthur thrives on delivering customer-centric digital solutions that meet and exceed ambitious business goals. His strengths include creating visionary product roadmaps and translating complex product strategies into tangible results. Arthur is passionate about building products that make a positive impact on people's lives and is committed to using his skills and experience to develop digital products that make a real difference in the world.
Project Highlights
Expertise
- Agile Product Management
- Innovation Management
- Leadership
- Mobile eCommerce
- Product Design
- Product Leadership
- Product Management
- User Experience (UX)
Work Experience
Founder and Head of Product
FocusOn Software
- Founded FocusOn Software to develop solutions where existing offerings have become too functionally broad.
- Created mbition, an application tracking solution focused on improving job-seeker search efficiency and reducing time to employment. An iOS version is currently available, with web, Android, and macOS versions in development.
- Evaluated low-code development solutions and selected FlutterFlow as the appropriate platform. Used practical training to become an expert in its use.
Principal Product Manager
Ascensus
- Established a mobile-focused product management role within Ascensus Government Services for 529 education savings.
- Delivered the next generation of account enrollment using a new, modern, user-centric solution. The mobile app delivery is the 1st step in the future of digital solutions at Ascensus.
- Restructured and expanded the mobile roadmap to define a clear vision for the next 6, 12, and 24 months. This includes working with executive leadership to ensure the mobile strategy is tied to strategic goals.
- Drove the implementation of next-generation mobile application functionality, evolving the company's 529 mobile application to support the entire user journey from awareness to education success.
Principal Product Advisor
Centerboard Marketing
- Expanded consulting offerings to include planning, organizing, and delivering product advice to small and medium-sized companies.
- Facilitated industry evaluation and definition of requirements for the United States Army's next-generation virtual training system by over 30 AR/VR, machine learning, and hardware companies.
- Created keynote presentations to be delivered by the CMO of a leading cybersecurity company at their international partner conference.
- Drafted an RFP response for a video production company that led to the continuation of a multi-million dollar contract.
- Audited digital content for performance analysis and provided prioritization recommendations for a leading cybersecurity company.
Director, Mobile Product Management
Amtrak
- Hired as the first mobile expert to create and supervise a new group designing and introducing mobile solutions for customers. Headed this mobile eCommerce department in integrating and supporting unique applications for Apple and Android.
- Led the definition and rollout of iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone applications that were actively used by over one million customers each month, handling over $350 million in annual revenue.
- Enhanced a key functionality to improve usage by up to 200% as part of a new version of the Amtrak application while providing a framework for low-cost maintenance and rapid enhancements.
- Championed and delivered integrations with external partners such as Samsung Wallet, Apple Wallet, and Lyft.
- Updated and maintained the mobile website that continually increased the application user experience.
- Led the team in piloting high-performing Agile team environment; recognized as first-of-its-kind for Amtrak.
- Led the department of product managers and cross-functional teams with over 20 people to deliver exceptional solutions for customers.
- Managed analytics for all mobile channels, created analysis combining multiple sources, and drove requirements for a multi-channel implementation of Adobe Analytics.
Founder
Round Top Advisors
- Started and operated a consulting firm to provide a full range of business and marketing services. Challenged with advising high-tech entrepreneurs on a wide array of technology and business trends.
- Delivered consulting solutions to time warner cable (TWC) as part of Nokia Siemens’ managed services department. Defined Android client for TWC wireless services that enabled seamless service between WiFi, WiMax, and CDMA networks.
- Advised and guided startups through business considerations and wireless market entry for their iPhone and Android applications.
Group Manager, Device Product Management
Mobile Satellite Ventures
- Brought on to define next-gen satellite devices. Responsible for creating, testing, and deploying mobile phones, embedded devices, antennas, and enterprise-specific hardware.
- Succeeded in greatly increasing the company’s public profile and credibility—awarded as the first-named inventor and patent for the next-generation satellite-capable phone.
- Defined the framework for future applications and a developer ecosystem by selecting a smartphone operating system. Identified crucial functionalities and requirements and defined a developer SDK strategy.
Senior Product Manager, Push-to-talk Applications
Sprint Nextel
- Retained and transitioned to focus on expanding the total service portfolio into a very competitive marketplace. Guided all development tasks for interfaces and applications to extend PTT beyond cellular headsets.
- Conceived and initiated solutions to increase potential customer base by incorporating service into Palm, Windows, and Blackberry devices.
- Enhanced market appeal for applications with a new architecture for external developers and interface with company handsets; liaised with vendors to define potential service offerings.
Group Manager, Public Sector Products
Nextel Communications
- Spearheaded Nextel’s capability to deliver AMBER alerts to wireless devices—first through an internal trial phase and later rolled out by all US wireless carriers.
- Defined and navigated services portfolio and network roadmap, including video streamlining, enhanced telephony, broadband networking, and multimedia file transfer as the senior manager, 3G network services.
- Played an instrumental role in expanding customer satisfaction to 97%, usage to 60% in one year and revenue to over $100 million during tenure as the senior manager, cellular and voicemail services.
Project History
Amtrak iPhone and Android Applications
https://apps.apple.com/us/app/amtrak/id405074003Led the definition and rollout of iPhone, Android, and Windows Phone applications.
The Amtrak iOS app was launched by my team in 2011. Since then it has grown to be one of the top customer touch-points within the company. When I left Amtrak at the end of 2017 these applications accounted were actively used by over 1 million customers each month and handled over $350 million in annual revenue.
Integrated Satellite and Cellular Phones
https://gizmodo.com/touchscreen-satellite-phone-is-as-beautiful-as-a-normal-376436Led the design of concept phones for integrating satellite connectivity into a cellular phone.
Led the design and development of a suite of satellite-enabled cellular phones. These concept phones demonstrated to potential customers how the MSV system would work and could be integrated into small stylish devices.
One of the designs was successfully patented with me as the primary patent holder.
https://dustbowl.wordpress.com/2008/04/11/msv-concept-phones-by-altitude-inc/
Education
Master of Business Administration (MBA) in General Management
Cornell University - Ithaca, New York, USA
Bachelor's Degree in Mechanical Engineering
Georgia Institute of Technology - Atlanta, Georgia, USA
Certifications
Certificate in Marketing Graphics Design
Sessions College for Professional Design
Skills
Tools
Figma, Google Analytics, Adobe Analytics, Visio, Jira, Confluence, Adobe Experience Manager (AEM), InVision, Trello, Xcode, Sketch
Paradigms
Agile, Agile Product Management, Agile Project Management
Platforms
iOS 10+
Industry Expertise
Telecommunications, Marketplaces
Other
Product Roadmaps, Feature Roadmaps, Roadmaps, Technical Product Management, Product Management, Team Leadership, Leadership, Mobile Apps, Innovation, Innovation Management, Product Lifecycle Management (PLM), Product Development, Mobile eCommerce, Product Ownership, Product Owner, Wireframe to Product, Backlog Management, Feature Backlog Prioritization, User Requirements, Product Leadership, Apps, Mobile, Mobile UX, Mobile Applications, App Product Management, Product Vision, Executive Presentations, Ideation, Senior Executive Management, Technical Leadership, Resource Allocation, Mobile App Development, Mobile Design, Mobile UI Design, Strategy, eCommerce, Analytics, Photography, iOS, Android, Wireframing, Backlog Grooming, User Needs, Process Flows, Product Design, Digital Product Design, User Interface (UI), User Experience (UX), Customer Journey, Web, Product Launch, Market Research, Mobile Payments, Microsoft Office, Swift, Adobe Photoshop, Hardware Development, Product Strategy, Flutter, App Development, Scrum Master, Web Development, Pitch Decks, Feasibility Studies, Engineering, Mechanical Engineering
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